Where do we stand on Harry Potter?

[Irlo]

How is it acceptable in a forum that has rules against politics to post a picture of Tony Blair as a deatheater?

The double standard here is astounding.

Did you report it?

Edit: I’m not really asking if you reported it. That’s private info. What I mean is that if the political post was not reported, then to assume it’s acceptable and a sign of a double-standard is probably premature.

 

[Gradine]

I don't know. Maybe you should talk with them?

Might you imagine a reason why that might be unsafe for someone like me?

I disagree with Rowling. I think, she lives in a rich little out-of-touch bubble, surrounding herself with people who say they agree with her. In such a bubble, it is easy to believe you are right, and that most people agree with you. And it is very hard to imagine you are wrong.

I don't believe in how Rowling paints this issue. And I don't agree that liking her work is an endorsement of her views.

I'm glad to hear it.

 

[TheSword]

I was just trying to share an opinion piece, I didn't know just putting the URL would bring up the article's header image.

And the article itself never calls Blair a Death Eater so I don't know where the imagery comes from.

Ok. But you did post that image and it does portray that and now you know it. So how is that acceptable in a forum with a no politics rule?

Or is the Labour Party now fair game for attacks just because 20 years ago JK donated some money to them?

 

[Cadence]

Do I really? You can't imagine that there are people who are uncomfortable with trans people, yet do not wish them dead?

I'm really trying to figure out how this doesn't read really badly.

It kind of reminds me of how cringe-worthy it was in the 1990s when a relative born in the 1900s commented on what the <minority group> family that just moved into the neighborhood would do to it, or another relative born in the first third of the century explained why it was good to have volunteer fire departments. And now I'm trying not to picture how unfomfortable a member of that minority group would be knowing that their neighbors thought those things enough to say them out loud, and I can't even imagine verbalizing to them that I needed to worry about how uncomfortable they made my relatives.

 

[Vael]

It's one of my most treasured possessions. And I will go to my grave absolutely furious with JK Rowing, for tarnishing it.

The thing with Rowling that is especially infuriating is that there is a sense of betrayal. Years ago, I thought she was an ally to the queer community. One can caveat and point out the myriad of problems with how she outed Dumbledore, but she still did it and at the time I called it a win for gay representation. That is gone.

I don't know if Rowling was conscious or not of the anti-semitic tropes in HP, but I do know I have no desire to defend her on it or even find out what her views are. Because regardless of her views, she now allies herself with a few fellow transphobes who also attack the entire queer community and push anti-semitic conspiracy theories. Her words are used by right wing politicians pushing anti queer legislation, and I haven't heard a peep of outrage from her on that.

And it sucks, I was never a super fan, but I did enjoy the books and movies and I'm not interested in exploring them further.

 

[Undrave]

Ok. But you did post that image and it does portray that and now you know it. So how is that acceptable in a forum with a no politics rule?

Or is the Labour Party now fair game for attacks just because 20 years ago JK donated some money to them?

Well, for one I removed the picture and replaced it with a link. Took a few tries to get it to not automatically shift to the picture.

If the article is too political I'll just remove it.

 

[AnotherGuy]

I have no real dog in the fight, I'm no Potterverse superfan (never saw the movies at the cinema, never bought or read the books, and I'm not on Twitter and haven't played PC games in years). Furthermore I also don't know any trans people in RL. My only association with anyone trans are the ones who have identified themselves on here. So with that out of the way...

At the end of the day, do you think it's possible to discuss the Potterverse in a + thread without derailing the thread into JKR's personal views?

Personally, I think it is possible and should be allowed. And besides the FoS issue, here is why:

If I stopped watching movies and TV series because of the personal beliefs of some of the actors (and sadly too many of them feel the need to share the oneTrueway on things), I'd likely have little to nothing to watch.
Like Anthony Hopkins once said, actors are "pretty stupid"

Now just replace the word actors with entertainers (inclusive of authors etc)

My two cents on the topic.

 

[billd91]

If I stopped watching movies and TV series because of the personal beliefs of some of the actors (and sadly too many of them feel the need to share the oneTrueway on things), I'd likely have little to nothing to watch.
Like Anthony Hopkins once said, actors are "pretty stupid"

Meh, they're people - no more or less than anyone else. There are some who are well informed on issues, and others who are not. They just happen to benefit from a cult of celebrity and thus have access to a broader audience. Some use it well, some don't.
I'm not a fan of people saying "stay in your lane" unless someone shows pretty strongly that's where they belong and nowhere else.

 

[ValamirCleaver]

There are also people who are conflicted. Who are both trans supporters and Potter fans. There are those who are indifferent. Neither ally nor enemy. There are those who dislike trans people, but do not want them dead.

Pretending it is trans people and their allies versus trans haters and their supporters is flat out wrong. The discussion is way more complicated than that. And I think you all KNOW it is way more complicated, and don't need me to lay it all out for you.

"Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."
"The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference."
- Elie Wiesel

 

[Gradine]

"Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."
"The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference."
- Elie Wiesel

Almost like it's not a choice between what is right and what is wrong, but what is right and what is easy

(Like we can make fun of the shoddy worldbuilding and plotting all we want but that's still a hell of a line)