burning at the centre of time

Right, so, on the Elizabeth Moon WisCon issue. I suppose I will speak in bullet points, because I've had a long day and due to high school competitive civics, I now think that way 90% of the time. (e.g. concise and clear points with facts to back them up.)

Thanks, Mrs. Ratway. Thanks.

Carrying on, if you don't know what I'm talking about, consider ye deepad's post and link collection. I could go on for pages on why Moon's thinking is seriously fucked up on multiple levels (anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant, assimilationist dogshit), but I don't think that's really necessary unless you aren't convinced by real people's feelings and need a privileged person to provide historical evidence for the incorrect nature of her screed.

- Firstly: Nisi Shawl is also GoH at WisCon 35. I am not using this as something to push people towards going, it is just that Ms. Shawl's work is very good (yes, I have read some) and she does not deserve erasure when we're talking about another person erasing people. EMoon is not THE GoH, she is A GoH.

- I'm basically sitting here writing a post telling you that I don't think what happened was right, but I don't know if rescinding the invite would have done anything effectual either wrt the big picture of SFF as a whole, and that Cat Valente's slippery slope analogy, while problematic, applies on one level (though not to the extent she thinks, honestly).

- So basically I'm being a fence-sitter as usual. Fabulous.

- Thing is, I'm leaning towards disinvite, though, because having her at WisCon seriously hurts a lot of people and discomfits many others. And I do not want her to be there if that is the case, because that is like a turd in the damn punchbowl. And then next year people sit around and talk about going to parties, and they don't want to go to the party where there was previously turd punch, regardless of any steps to ensure punch clarity. It might take ages to restore party reputation, or some other party having worse punch in the meantime.

- That metaphor simile went on too long, sorry.

- Speculating, though, my guess is that the concom did do this for a single reason: PR. Moon's work does well in mainstream SF. Publicly alienating her could quite possibly lead to mainstream SF writing off WisCon as solely radical fringe instead of far-left. Which is bullshit. The productive things at WisCon need to hit mainstream SF, because it is so often a bigoted minefield. But we all know how well mainstream SF likes to listen to criticism and how slowly, even when there is willingness to change, things actually happen.

- So we're at a quandary. I mean, I would have preferred disinvitation, but even so, I can't help but wonder if there's some sort of middle-ground action that could have been taken at the very least, instead of this vague waving at constructive action. Censure? Is that possible? Not allowing her to do panels save a free-for-all where she'd be put under the microscope? Though that probably wouldn't do much good either.

Fuck, I don't know. The best thing would be if she didn't think like a fucking wankbucket in the first place.

(next up on this DW/LJ: Rhi's long tirade about how US jingoistic nationalism knows no political party and how she is tired of it.)

A preface: I am not endorsing the current mental health system in the US or the diagnostic procedures currently in place with mental health. I do think, though, that the evidence in this proves that the establishment is slightly more in the right...you'll see what I mean.

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On yesterday's topic, apparently the main US doctor concerned with PANDAS (and with the Saving Sammy story) was linked to the highly problematic and debunked chelation bullshit treatment for autism. See this post from 2007 by Autism Diva, or this post from Respectful Insolence in 2008.

( I sorta linkspam here, but it's important. )

Forthcoming: meta on the Torchwood US casting call that's going around, because there are multiple levels of fail there (race [any non-white person is interchangeable!], gender [she's in love], disability [he's an insane but clever criminal] and...well, what I get into in the subject line).

Not that I was expecting much from RTD, but nothing this bad.

Anyway, I've got to go to the orthodontist and deal with my father today, but this...I've got things to say.

It may tie into my 'the dominant UK paradigm about US people is about as fucked as what the dominant US paradigm about the UK' concept.

Edited because I made a blanket statement that I thought better of.

Post on authorial intent (along with other plans, e.g. RP) again derailed by a low-spoon day, a bit of an emergency here at home, and some news.

If you wanted to go find the Holocaust fic I mentioned the other day? It's now unlocked. With the author insisting that she shouldn't be called 'sick' or 'disrespectful'. (Report by nestra here, via dagas_isa.)

Trigger and squick warning in effect.

I got nothing, regarding this. I really, really don't.

( except (possibly triggery links) sarcasm in an eta. )

A few random thoughts that I need to have more energy to write about. Tomorrow.

- Yes, the previous post on vidding was frustrated hyperbole. I do feel like vidding is an exclusive community, though, if a welcoming one in some cases.

- I think I need to talk about warnings again. I'm a user of warnings...and I write extensive author's notes because I am a bit like that. However, as someone with OCD, my triggers are so fucking weird and random that I can see how it's impossible to warn for them...COMPLICATED. That does not mean other people should not warn, mind.

- And you shouldn't keep from warning because of Your Art. This post by thingswithwings makes me want to write about that.

- I did take the warning label off Iowa Stubborn because 'Author Chooses Not To Warn' is NOT accurate for me, but anything I might warn about is not covered by the AO3 code. I wasn't aware some people automatically read that as 'Author Is An Inconsiderate Wankbucket', which is not how I roll.

- There needs to be another option on AO3, like 'No Warnings Apply' and 'No AO3 Warnings Apply', because I do see a distinction. Sigh.

- It's Independence Day, which is ever so fun for someone who no longer believes in Dictionary Definition patriotism, per se, with regards to any nation. I am now going to try to figure out how to say this without the hegemony that it implies.

Anyway, my country, you are borked and twisted and fucked up. Hell, even the holiday itself is fucked up, because the Declaration of Independence was bullshit for most people, and it also wasn't the beginning of the war. (As I've said plenty of times, American Studies is the major for emotional masochists.) But at the same time, I feel a certain amount of claim and maybe a bit of pride, sort of. We fuck up so badly, so often, and we have a superiority complex that needs to be kicked firmly in the metaphorical balls. But there are unique cultures, POVs, and ideas here, and those are what I believe in with regards to the US.

So yeah. I don't know. I can't quantify it; cognitive dissonance, perhaps. And perhaps I am wrong. As Jackson Browne puts it:

I have prayed for America
I was made for America
I can't let go till she comes around
Until the land of the free
Is awake and can see
Until her conscience has been found

Though I mean it in more senses of kyriarchy smackdown than Browne did, I think that sums up my POV pretty well.

Says she who is bunking off to Britain in a matter of weeks.

Source material on the fail aspects of The Last Airbender. No arguments in this post, just resources:

- a post on why representation matters by bossymarmalade

- a linkdrop and analysis by reflectedeve

- a collection of review info and links by glockgal

Seriously, I think that yours truly or anyone else out there in fandom land interested in social justice could be the fail police, and it would be a full-time job, but SORRY NO SPOONS. Suffice it to say, at the moment, I do not have anything to say about the massive trans* and genderfail fuckup that is the latest to come out of fandom.

Except that:
- The complete lack of apology and massive defensive idiocy by the author makes me want to vomit.
- I feel a bit numb. Not being angry is a bad sign.
- You know, honestly, while fail does happen across the scope of fandom, why does this keep cropping up in RPS of late? Are the answers difficult ones like what Vito and Thoracopagus were saying this week? (see Primer post for those links.) I must chew.

Collecting links, though. Please be warned that there are assault triggers in the author's comments and possibly in the posts due to discussion.
original report by sinuous_curve
analysis by sohotrightnow
analysis by the_future_modernes
analysis by cofax7
analysis by inkstone
followup of even MORE fail by sohotrightnow
a few pointers by tanyad
reaction and analysis by misscam
analysis by globalfruitbat

Before I do my other post of the AUGH WHITE PEOPLE varietal, I've got something else to say that shouldn't get in the way of that. It's on the topic of fandom as an ethnic group, because this really pissed me-the-cultural-studies-geek off.

Please note that this is my take on this, and I'm not a sociologist. In fact, a sociologist would be able to tell you far more clearly why this is wrong. I am also working from a place of pure pedantry for a reason, so that I don't have to go deconstruct and deal with stupid questions and lots of BUT THIS. I personally understand the difference between ethnic group and subculture. It's just not easy to put into words.

Which is a shame, because then I could tell people more specifically how this is wrong.

Please also note that I am a very firm believer in the idea of fandom as subculture overall; I'm inclined to think a lot of things are subcultures or subsets of culture. However, some people think it may not even be a subculture...and then it's even MORE not an ethnic group, ffs.

I'm assuming that the 'fandom is an ethnic group in the broadest sense' comes from the OED definition, emphasis mine:

2.a. Pertaining to race; peculiar to a race or nation; ethnological. Also, pertaining to or having common racial, cultural, religious, or linguistic characteristics, esp. designating a racial or other group within a larger system; hence (U.S. colloq.), foreign, exotic.

I can sort of see where, in reading that, someone would make the call that fandom has cultural and linguistic characteristics in common and is therefore an ethnic group. However, this would be incorrect for several reasons:

- The definition is vague on purpose, to be inclusive of various groups that do not always stem from race or nation alone but from a very long tradition with very definitive cultural aspects (e.g. Judaism).

- Therefore, ethnic identity comes out of one's birth or adoption into a sociopolitically distinct and long-standing culture.

- We are already existing within cultures. In fact, we are all already existing in one or more ethnic groups, but we were born or adopted into them.

- Even if your parents were fans, I am not sure what sociopolitically distinct culture comes out of liking to read fanfic about two dudes going at it or dress up as Harry Potter.

- I really don't know.

- No, it's not a diaspora, because we're all already settled within cultures anyway, and we are not bloody DISPLACED, particularly due to sociocultural disenfranchisement, at least not as fans. (If you are a member of a diaspora anyway, not to negate your identity--that is what it is, it has nothing to do with fandom.)

- You're not born into fandom. Sorry. It's also not really that old a phenomenon, nor is it distinct. Fandom is not a culture, but a subculture. Why? Fandom comes out of and is in response to several existing aspects of highly varied cultures, which is basically the definition of subculture. Period. It's not even response to culture overall, per se, merely response to popular culture and/or media.

- As essential as it may seem, being a fan is a choice. It is a privileged position for all of us, regardless of our other privilege. We're privileged to be in the right time and place, with the access and technology that we have, and the societal standards that allow this kind of interaction.

- And that doesn't even get into nationality, genetics, and all sorts of other things that play into ethnicity that have nil effect on fandom.

- Now, go take a look and tell me if any subcultures--goth, punk, BDSM, whatever--are on this list.

- Now you should understand the distinction between a subculture and an ethnic group.

- Furthermore, to claim that fandom is an ethnic group denigrates the identity politics that come into the concept of ethnicity, and the problems surrounding ethnic conflict worldwide.

- Don't make me come over there and explain this again.

While I've been mulling over how to explain this for a long while, littlebutfierce's post about someone's massive fail just now is pretty much an example of why I don't regularly read metafandom.

I know I'm missing out, but I'm sure I would probably have a bloody stroke at the ridiculousness of Some People's Opinions on a daily basis.

Funny how I never seem to end up on there, by the by...

I would like to state for the record: FANDOM IS A SUBCULTURE. FANDOM IS NOT AN ETHNIC GROUP. I CAN EXPLAIN THIS, BUT I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO DO SO. FUCK.

ALSO, BANNED BOOKS ARE NOT THE SAME AS RACIST FANFIC.

It's sort of ironic that I'm wearing my Smith College American Studies faculty band t-shirt today.

So I was gonna post about other things, but it stormed and I got angry. So.

With regards to what happened at Cornell and anything remotely like it, I have one thing to say to medical science overall:

If it ain't broke, don't 'fix' it.

Hell, that can apply to the cops, particularly with regard to the Neli Latson case, too.