Joanne Rowling and other TERFs

I do wish the critics would get their facts straight and realise that Marietta Edgecombe was the snitch in Order of the Phoenix, not Cho.

Yes this is all very ugly, but the lack of racially diverse characters in pre-NOW children's fiction is hardly new or surprising. Choose the correct battles to fight, Twitter.
 
Chlammy said:
It's hard to navigate but is it wrong to say that there is probably some truth in suggesting that you can be supportive of trans rights and support the notion that trans women are female whilst also raising the point that women born biologically female endure inequalities and discrimination that are exclusive to them?
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I mean, she is definitely a TERF. There is a way to make the points she makes without being such a fucking TERF about it!

The problem with TERFs is that they try and draw the line of diversity in the female experience between being trans and being cis, when in reality there is no universal female experience. For example, there at are a fair number of things discussed as women’s issues that don’t really apply to lesbians.

The problem is with drawing that line in terms if experience is that that a white, working class, conventionally pretty, heterosexual, cis girl is likely to share more experiences with a white working class, conventionally pretty, heterosexual trans girl than a middle class, less conventionally pretty, black, cis lesbian.

I agree that there are unique experiences that you have growing up as a cis female (although I would also argue that these are likely to vary too, depending on upbringing). I think the problem is that when you are discussing adults, some of these experiences are also shared by trans men (for example, getting your first period). Essentially, it is easy to discuss these topics using inclusive language and without being a massive TERF about it.

Another important point to make is that a fair few trans women feel that it is a misnomer to suggest their childhood experiences were the same as a cis male, particularly if they were struggling gender identity from a young age.
 
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my god she actually did tweet this. i genuinely thought it was some PARODY account that was taking the piss. :D
 
The “I know and love trans people!” thing is basically the same as “I’m not racist but... (racist rant)” or the classic “I have lots of gay friends” response to criticism for homophobia.

Jark said:
I know we all know we're living in the darkest timeline but did anyone actually foresee the author of Harry Potter morphing into the writer of The IT Crowd on the social channel designed for self-important nutjobs to broadcast their most offensive inner monologues a mere three years ago? This shit cray.
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Not in the slightest. I loved the HP books and thought its anti-bullying messages were great along with hearing how the author genuinely was a massive anti-bully. Twitter really brings out “never meet your heroes” in some people - really sad to see her continuing to try and claim she’s anti bullying while choosing to bully trans people. Hypocrite
 
NO-ONE THINKS SEX AND GENDER AREN'T REAL FOR FUCK'S SAKE :angry:

Where the fuck do they get these ridiculous ideas?

The timing of this is just insane. Find the right cause love.
 
I think the biggest headache for me here is that Rowling, or at least the Potter franchise, has an irritatingly devoted fanbase.

It would be great if they could separate work from author (as many fans of Father Ted, Black Books and The IT Crowd now have) but if not then we might have scores more TERFs in the ranks thanks to her wielding her enormous platform on this shit. :zombie:

I was just thinking about the “diversity of female experience” thing. I think it actually says something that the majority of TERFs appear to be middle class white women. It makes sense that they think their experiences as middle class white women are universal. You would expect better of Rowling given her origins but NAH.
 
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I never got into the HP books and SOME boyfriends over the years tried to make me watch the movies (made it to the third one). So I already have zero nostalgia and can easily declare her a rancid CUNT.
 
I am well aware that her books were massive but I'm really dumbfounded that they have had such a CULTURAL IMPACT that grown adults are referring to her FAIRLY MEDIOCRE PROSE and CLICHÉD CHARACTERS as some sort of BOOK OF REVELATIONS. These books are what the Famous Five and Secret Seven were for older generations, you are meant to grow out of them by the time you turn TEN for god's sake, PULL YOURSELVES TOGETHER!
 
Peekaboo said:
I am well aware that her books were massive but I'm really dumbfounded that they have had such a CULTURAL IMPACT that grown adults are referring to her FAIRLY MEDIOCRE PROSE and CLICHÉD CHARACTERS as some sort of BOOK OF REVELATIONS. These books are what the Famous Five and Secret Seven were for older generations, you are meant to grow out of them by the time you turn TEN for god's sake, PULL YOURSELVES TOGETHER!
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Well you have you to remember that Harry Potter's longevity was infinitely amplified by the existence of social media and huge blockbusters.

I still agree though. Get a grip indeed.
 
Peekaboo said:
I am well aware that her books were massive but I'm really dumbfounded that they have had such a CULTURAL IMPACT that grown adults are referring to her FAIRLY MEDIOCRE PROSE and CLICHÉD CHARACTERS as some sort of BOOK OF REVELATIONS. These books are what the Famous Five and Secret Seven were for older generations, you are meant to grow out of them by the time you turn TEN for god's sake, PULL YOURSELVES TOGETHER!
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Same. I was 16 when the first book was published and 20 when the first film came out. I have older friends also without children who have religiously read them all. Not a clue what the draw of them is, but I’ve always had an aversion to most Fantasy.

I did always like JK though for her stance on honestly paying taxes and Brexit.
 
Ellie said:
I did always like JK though for her stance on honestly paying taxes and Brexit.
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Same. She honestly has some great views on many other things, single mums too, she wrote a really moving piece about how she is indebted to the welfare estate when she was poor etc. But for me personally the wheels started to come off when she started attacking and ridiculing Palestinian activists because "all sides". Her utter demonisation of Corbyn to the point I would call obsession was also quite something to see.

I know it's quite REDUCTIVE to do ARMCHAIR PSYCHOLOGY but I think having 40m people following you on Twitter and latching onto your every word with constant dopamin hits coming to you via likes and retweets will end up making even the sanest of people believe that they're some fucking SAVANT and that everything they say is right.

The uncomfortable way in which she picks on certain people knowing the power she has behind her tweets is all on her though. I can't remember who was in this thread (Nancy?) that described her as "radicalised" but that's exactly what she's become.
 
I'm an adult and enjoy media that's made primarily for kids.. DEAL WITH IT :D I think there's never any harm in refreshing ourselves on the "messages" either - be it standing up to bullies, being a good friend etc.

And I still love Harry Potter, it just happens to have been written by the same author as the excellent IT Crowd: HATSUNE MIKU
It's okay to like stuff and not like who created it.
Becoming a NEW fan and buying her books to fund her ivory tower would be a bit more of a problem but you know... not all piracy is bad...
 
I love lots of things aimed at children. Her stuff just doesn't seem PARTICULARLY ORIGINAL or (sorry) GOOD ENOUGH to warrant the sort of CRAZY ATTENTION it continues to gather with fully-grown adults.
Ursula Le Guin or Hayao Miyazaki she AIN'T!
 
Peekaboo said:
I love lots of things aimed at children. Her stuff just doesn't seem PARTICULARLY ORIGINAL or (sorry) GOOD ENOUGH to warrant the sort of CRAZY ATTENTION it continues to gather with fully-grown adults.
Ursula Le Guin or Hayao Miyazaki she AIN'T!
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Justice for Mildred Hubble!
 
I was never interested in Harry Potter anyway, but what a disappointment she has become.
 
I never read Harry Potter but I guess this would be like Geri finally confirming she voted for Brexit (we know she did but still).
 
Ellie said:
I did always like JK though for her stance on honestly paying taxes and Brexit.
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Yeah, she was really good when she was taking on Brexit. I’ve never read the Harry Potter books so all my goodwill towards her was because of her being such a devout remainer.

She really needs to pipe down on the trans issue, though. She hasn’t quite worked out that she can be an advocate for women’s rights without throwing trans women under the bus.
 
ButterTart said:
Yeah, she was really good when she was taking on Brexit. I’ve never read the Harry Potter books so all my goodwill towards her was because of her being such a devout remainer.

She really needs to pipe down on the trans issue, though. She hasn’t quite worked out that she can be an advocate for women’s rights without throwing trans women under the bus.
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This.

I still like her despite the questionable way she is going about things.

I was never a Harry Potter fan.
 
JK Rowling is a dick

Add her to that list with Evil Ellen and Lea Michele
 
ButterTart said:
She hasn’t quite worked out that she can be an advocate for women’s rights without throwing trans women under the bus.
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Oh she’s worked it out alright, this is not some kind of dumb celebrity making an ignorant statement where they get corrected (see the Jonathan Ross tweets). She’s been doing this for a while now and the latest tweets are just a full admission of her position.
 
His first tweet is SHIT. "Oh I was here eating brownies in my perfectly normal day but I guess I'll have to defend my friend JK Rowling on this thing that I'm FLIPPANTLY commenting about. Just be nice and listen to her because she's a great woman and my friend :)". More power to his daughters but his second tweet with "Let's keep talking" :manson: is just an attempt to save face without having the balls to actually apologise. It implies that "there is a conversation to be had". So fuck that.
 
Daniel Radcliffe has cast EXPELIARMUS on the witch :disco:

I realize that certain press outlets will probably want to paint this as in-fighting between J.K. Rowling and myself, but that is really not what this is about, nor is it what’s important right now. While Jo is unquestionably responsible for the course my life has taken, as someone who has been honored to work with and continues to contribute to The Trevor Project for the last decade, and just as a human being, I feel compelled to say something at this moment.

Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I. According to The Trevor Project, 78% of transgender and nonbinary youth reported being the subject of discrimination due to their gender identity. It’s clear that we need to do more to support transgender and nonbinary people, not invalidate their identities, and not cause further harm.

I am still learning how to be a better ally, so if you want to join me in learning more about transgender and nonbinary identities check out The Trevor Project’s Guide to Being an Ally to Transgender and Nonbinary Youth. It’s an introductory educational resource that covers a wide range of topics, including the differences between sex and gender, and shares best practices on how to support transgender and nonbinary people.

To all the people who now feel that their experience of the books has been tarnished or diminished, I am deeply sorry for the pain these comments have caused you. I really hope that you don’t entirely lose what was valuable in these stories to you. If these books taught you that love is the strongest force in the universe, capable of overcoming anything; if they taught you that strength is found in diversity, and that dogmatic ideas of pureness lead to the oppression of vulnerable groups; if you believe that a particular character is trans, nonbinary, or gender fluid, or that they are gay or bisexual; if you found anything in these stories that resonated with you and helped you at any time in your life — then that is between you and the book that you read, and it is sacred. And in my opinion nobody can touch that. It means to you what it means to you and I hope that these comments will not taint that too much.

Love always,
Dan
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I just made the mistake of looking at Graham Lineham's twitter feed. It is even worse than you are imagining. What the fuck happened?
 
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