I’m not even saying she’s not a terrible person (she’s a self righteous harpy who I do believe is doing actual harm). The books weren’t great but they were okay. But like. At the same time people read for a plethora of reasons and I don’t think it’s fair to be like “it’s not good so you shouldn’t enjoy it”. People are allowed to enjoy things. They don’t have to be good.
There are plenty of reasons to avoid her books without crapping on people’s personal tastes.
Its not the books that are problem. Its the weird self gratification unchallenge cuddle-treats uncritical or even anti-critical consumption of media thats the problem.
But that’s about the psychology of human nature, how it forms memories and attached feelings to them as much as anything else.
That’s pretty much why people feel like they are personally being attacked when you ask them to avoid something that is now seen as problematic. Lots of authors (even childrens book authors) dumb down themes and use tropes that are well known on media to make broad strokes for their audience who don’t at that time understand nuance.
That’s a lot of the “controversy” that comes up around books like the red wall series. Some people think the books are sexist, classist, and possibly racist and I can see their points. At the same time there’s an argument to be made for dumbing down certain themes, removing nuance from them so that they are more palatable to a younger audience.
Either way that’s not really what you mean. I am not trying to take away from what you said. There are plenty of fans who have been critical of Harry Potter as a media franchise for various reasons including sexism, classism, racism and the allegories associated with each as they come up in the story. Accusing HP fans of not being able to do that is a bit disingenuous because they have been taking these books and movies apart to the bedrock for quite some time now.
What I think you mean is that you want them to be critical of why they enjoy the series so that they can do some introspection in order to part with it, but I’m not sure you understand exactly what you’re asking for. There are people who owe their sanity (something they almost lost to the lowest points in their lives) to HP and books like it. The escapism is important for a lot of children who are in dark places.
If the person in that comic had used HP to get them through childhood rape or other abuse, wouldn’t that make a lot of sense as to why they react that way to other people who don’t know them or their trauma trying to take that away from them?
No this is not me saying that because they have trauma they are allowed to inflict trauma on others.
I look at it this way. The way we inform people and talk to people matters. Treating people like our adversaries makes them defensive and less likely to do what we are asking.
I didn’t mean it as you specifically. Just in general. My family has a history of sexual abuse because of my grandfather so it was a pretty pertinent example from my own life experience.
Or, maybe, look at those books with critical eyes for the first time in your life, and realise how shit it is, and how much it is littered with awful terrible takes. And read another book maybe.
The problem isnt that the author is a fascist monster livint in a castle full of nazis and absolutely no glorious robot body with machine gun hands that rumor is totally unsubstantiated.
Many talented authors were pieces of shit. Yukio mishima killed himself because the emperor of japan wasnt fascist enough fir him, but god damn could that deranged piece of shit write beautiful prose.
The problem is that the books are trash and people have fucking insane relationships to them.
Disliking a chefs dish based on their political stance or personal opinion no matter how wrong isnt going to solve anything about it, just a giant waste of energy
I’ve never had a gumbo that engaged in apologetics for slavery or that was steeped in antisemitism. Must taste weird. What would you even do? Write on the rice?
Just don’t pay for it and be done with it.
Enjoy Harry Potter, just don’t give money to scumbag author.
Read some genuinely good fiction? What do you like about them? I guarantee theres better books for that.
As someone who did grow up with the series but doesn’t interact with it anymore, I’m gonna tell you that not everyone needs things to be good.
It doesn’t have to be good for you to enjoy it. Fanfiction alone wouldn’t exist if it had to be good.
I don’t understand this the same way I don’t understand burning books you already own. It’s performative but it doesn’t show any actual thought.
Lack of thought is part of the problem.
I’m not even saying she’s not a terrible person (she’s a self righteous harpy who I do believe is doing actual harm). The books weren’t great but they were okay. But like. At the same time people read for a plethora of reasons and I don’t think it’s fair to be like “it’s not good so you shouldn’t enjoy it”. People are allowed to enjoy things. They don’t have to be good.
There are plenty of reasons to avoid her books without crapping on people’s personal tastes.
Its not the books that are problem. Its the weird self gratification unchallenge cuddle-treats uncritical or even anti-critical consumption of media thats the problem.
I can agree with that up to a point.
But that’s about the psychology of human nature, how it forms memories and attached feelings to them as much as anything else.
That’s pretty much why people feel like they are personally being attacked when you ask them to avoid something that is now seen as problematic. Lots of authors (even childrens book authors) dumb down themes and use tropes that are well known on media to make broad strokes for their audience who don’t at that time understand nuance.
That’s a lot of the “controversy” that comes up around books like the red wall series. Some people think the books are sexist, classist, and possibly racist and I can see their points. At the same time there’s an argument to be made for dumbing down certain themes, removing nuance from them so that they are more palatable to a younger audience.
Either way that’s not really what you mean. I am not trying to take away from what you said. There are plenty of fans who have been critical of Harry Potter as a media franchise for various reasons including sexism, classism, racism and the allegories associated with each as they come up in the story. Accusing HP fans of not being able to do that is a bit disingenuous because they have been taking these books and movies apart to the bedrock for quite some time now.
What I think you mean is that you want them to be critical of why they enjoy the series so that they can do some introspection in order to part with it, but I’m not sure you understand exactly what you’re asking for. There are people who owe their sanity (something they almost lost to the lowest points in their lives) to HP and books like it. The escapism is important for a lot of children who are in dark places.
If the person in that comic had used HP to get them through childhood rape or other abuse, wouldn’t that make a lot of sense as to why they react that way to other people who don’t know them or their trauma trying to take that away from them?
No this is not me saying that because they have trauma they are allowed to inflict trauma on others.
I look at it this way. The way we inform people and talk to people matters. Treating people like our adversaries makes them defensive and less likely to do what we are asking.
Im not saying they should necessarily part with it. Only interrogate their fucking relationship with it.
You had no way to know how funny it is to tell me this but i really hope none of my neighbors were asleep.
Its like how one cant criticize lenin in front of a tankie without them throwing a fit.
I didn’t mean it as you specifically. Just in general. My family has a history of sexual abuse because of my grandfather so it was a pretty pertinent example from my own life experience.
I’m sorry if that seemed insensitive.
3D print your own merch
Or, maybe, look at those books with critical eyes for the first time in your life, and realise how shit it is, and how much it is littered with awful terrible takes. And read another book maybe.
how can people enjoy shit made by absolute hags?
like, if you have standards, and you should, that ought to make said products gross, because it really fucking does.
there’s so much more to this world than this one shitty, played out franchise, just move on in life people ffs
I dont see a prpblem with it as long as you dont pay them. Some of gaiman’s stuff was genuinely good.
The problem is making it your identity. Consuming uncritically. Worshipping. Not reading any other kinds of shit.
enjoy your terfy garbage
No i dont read absolute trash. I think as a kid i stopped reading after they made a pro slavery charicature.
I’m confused by someone who knows it’s racist garbage, but still advocates consuming racist garbage. bone apple teat
The problem isnt that the author is a fascist monster livint in a castle full of nazis and absolutely no glorious robot body with machine gun hands that rumor is totally unsubstantiated.
Many talented authors were pieces of shit. Yukio mishima killed himself because the emperor of japan wasnt fascist enough fir him, but god damn could that deranged piece of shit write beautiful prose.
The problem is that the books are trash and people have fucking insane relationships to them.
well put
Richard Wagner was a bigtime nazi who wrote some of the best classical music ever.
Wagner died in 1883. like 50 years before the rise of the Nazis in Germany.
You’ve got it backwards. Nazis were a big fan of his music.
And apparently Gene Roddenberry wasn’t an entirely perfect human being either.
ride of the Valkyries is shite and if you think it’s great, that’s prob your inner der fuhrer trying to drive the bus.
Disliking a chefs dish based on their political stance or personal opinion no matter how wrong isnt going to solve anything about it, just a giant waste of energy
I’ve never had a gumbo that engaged in apologetics for slavery or that was steeped in antisemitism. Must taste weird. What would you even do? Write on the rice?
Sure, but it’s reasonable to stop going to the restaurant because of the chef’s political stance or personal opinion.
lol, keep telling yourself whatever lies you need to stay happy.
but if you had a shred of decency in you, you’d know better already.