why are you hitting yourself stop hitting yourself

[whynot]

One of the many things that makes me :-/ about the J2 BB Haitifail is the following reaction to other people's frustration:

"If this has taught me anything, you shouldn't even try to write POC."
"Yup. This is definitely what I've taken away from the whole clusterfuck."

It is pretty saddening (if unsurprising) that concern over misrepresentation only gets you promises of non-representation. What this attitude is implying is that minorities are to be blamed for their own erasure. If only we had presented our case differently! If only we hadn't got too angry! These race/culture discussions aren't meant to be roadblocks. If anything, they're speed bumps: they make you slow down for the good of everyone and actually make you watch where you're going. Voila relevant links:

Three Forms of Rhetoric Which Are Obnoxious
"Damned if you do, damned if you don't." Please please please please retire this phrase! ... A better way to phrase the feeling of frustration at being unable to get an advance guarantee of never being criticized by POC is this: "No writer is immune from criticism."

I really like this one: Being An Imaginary Conversation Which I Have Been Silently Holding in my Head With Many, Many People I Have Seen Around the Internets Lately
IMAGINARY DAVID RAVINE: So you're saying that this is how to be smooth and avoid a flamewar?
ME: No! I am saying that this is how to be a dipshit and still avoid a flamewar!

This one is more a general how-to than specific to the topic at hand, but still awesome: Derailing for Dummies.
The best part is, you don't even have to be a white, heterosexual, cisgendered, cissexual, upper-class male to enjoy the full benefits of derailing conversation! Nope, you can utilise the lesser-recognised tactic of Horizontal Hostility to make sure that, despite being a member of a Marginalised Group™ yourself, you can exercise a privilege another Marginalised Group™ doesn't have in order not to heed their experience!

[originally posted at http://whynot.dreamwidth.org/24977.html | comments]

Comments

[animus-wyrmis.livejournal.com]

Because if one of the cards goes, does the whole house tumble down? Or can you reconcile it, maybe, your religion isn't true in this version of reality, but you feel it, so where does that leave you? Who can you pray to now? Or maybe it doesn't matter, because they're all the same, in the end--you made them up, so you can change them too.

[twoskeletons.livejournal.com]

you made them up, so you can change them too.
OMG. YES, HUMANITY AS CREATOR. God has humanity angst! God is finding humanity! God's faith in humanity! God asking humanity for forgiveness and penance! God wanting humanity to save him!

That was me wot just added you on my gchat, don't be scared!

[animus-wyrmis.livejournal.com]

YESSS. Because God needs people, right? Or else what is the point of the sacrifices and the temples and everything?

alksjd have you had gchat this whole time??

[twoskeletons.livejournal.com]

It's the whole thing about how, by protecting something, you are giving it power. Dean does this to Sam, humanity to God, and soooo God to humanity! WHAT FIC CAN BEST EXPLICATE THIS THEME I WONDER.

I only just got gchat like... last month? But now I am on it all the goddamn time, so WATCH OUT. (It was timely also, as I had forgotten my password to AIM at the time and couldn't be bothered pursuing that a third time.)

[animus-wyrmis.livejournal.com]

alksjd YES EXACTLY. And you think it makes you the powerful one in the relationship, and it does, but also it doesn't, because you are conferring status.

since I haven't met God stuff in SPN yet I am going to say NARNIA. Where Aslan protects and loves them, but damn, he went really far to make sure a couple of kids would know him.

<33333

[twoskeletons.livejournal.com]

I really like the idea of a god who is lonely and frustrated. PYGMALION AND GALATEA, YANNO.

[animus-wyrmis.livejournal.com]

And then your creation doesn't live up to your expectations all the time! IT'S HARD, OKAY. You make someone to love you but then sometimes they don't. You make them to love you but you're kinda distant, you don't know how to be a good parent, you give gifts but you don't answer the phone.

[twoskeletons.livejournal.com]

You make someone to love you but then sometimes they don't.
GAAAAAH THIS IS THE THING, RIGHT. Because if you're really an excellent creator, and you like to think you are, your creations tend to take on a life of their own. And this tends to bite you in the ass. You love them so much that you give them everything, so much so that they don't need you, and when they do need you, sometimes it's in ways that you don't understand or can't cater to.

[animus-wyrmis.livejournal.com]

You think maybe they just need food, and shelter, but it turns out they need someone to talk to too. It turns out they have all these problems, problems you never through about because you're immortal, so what do you know about it?

[twoskeletons.livejournal.com]

God just wants to be looooooooooved :( omg HE IS TRYING SO HARRRRRD, CREATING'S SO HARRRRRD. lol, apparently he is the biggest woobie. <333 I like this God, I wanna know more about his/her/its deal.

I feel like I mention this every other whenever, but have you read 'Abandon' by Pico Iyer, because this is what it's about.

[animus-wyrmis.livejournal.com]

Lol, God is just, like, out of his depth or something. Like those people who adopt a puppy because they think it'll be nice but don't know what the hell to do.

No...::amazons::