Read on Twitter
This is a dizzying order of events:
1. Do something you believe to be benign. Say, paint a picture or write a song.
...
1. Do something you believe to be benign. Say, paint a picture or write a song.
...
2. Get criticized for some cultural faux pas you donât agree with and werenât even aware of. Letâs say you paint an eel, and youâre told that it reenforces the patriarchy and puts women in danger of rape.
...
...
3. Clarify that while you know sexism is real, your intentions were otherwise and you think the accusation in this case is a stretch.
4. Be told context matters. (Of course it does, youâre arguing over which bits of context are relevant).
4. Be told context matters. (Of course it does, youâre arguing over which bits of context are relevant).
5. Be told that words and art can be damaging (but you didnât deny that, youâre arguing over the threshold)
6. Be told that the very fact that youâre arguing shows youâre a denying peopleâs experience. (But you werenât denying it, you were contributing another perspective)
...
6. Be told that the very fact that youâre arguing shows youâre a denying peopleâs experience. (But you werenât denying it, you were contributing another perspective)
...
7. Get compared to a movement of reactionaries (but they pigeonholed you into that group to begin with)
8. Half your friends call you a bigot, the other half are silent
8. Half your friends call you a bigot, the other half are silent
9. Be told that you have the power in this situation because in a completely different social context it would be judged differently.
ââ
I understand that context matters. I understand words can hurt. I understand people have different experiences than me and they have the right to their interpretations.
I understand that context matters. I understand words can hurt. I understand people have different experiences than me and they have the right to their interpretations.
But I donât want to use superficial facets of context to render critical thinking on difficult topics taboo.
I anti-anti-sjws are often insightful and working in good faith. I think they have a lot of valid criticisms.
But I donât think they in general get the enormity of how badly this rhetoric is used, how looney toons it is, and how isolated we feel before we meet others online.
But I donât think they in general get the enormity of how badly this rhetoric is used, how looney toons it is, and how isolated we feel before we meet others online.
Arguments like âdonât deny experiencesâ or âdonât blame the victimâ are often good and important. I agree with them. But I wonât write a blank check to them because they can go totally bananas off the wall.
