Yeah, it's why, among a number of issues I have with the property itself, I can't justify even enjoying the Wizarding World much less do anything that gives her money. She posted recently upset...
Yeah, it's why, among a number of issues I have with the property itself, I can't justify even enjoying the Wizarding World much less do anything that gives her money.
She posted recently upset about International Asexuality Awareness day. First that is not one of the more well known identities, second to get told when the awareness day is requires either intentional tracking or being surrounded by queer culture, third, WTF is her (fictional) problem with asexuals?! What did they do? She goes so far out of her way to be hurtful under the guise of "protecting women" that she's come out against the people that don't want to have sex. WTF.
(Disclaimer: Asexuality and the broad Ace Spectrum is more complicated than this as everything queer is but like COME ON. )
J.K. Rowling is using her wealth attained from the Harry Potter series to create an organization dedicated to removing transgender people's rights "in the workplace, in public life, and in protected female spaces.”
The author announced in a Saturday post to X, formerly Twitter, that she would be founding the J.K. Rowling Women’s Fund, using her personal fortune. The website for the group states that it “offers legal funding support to individuals and organisations fighting to retain women’s sex-based rights in the workplace, in public life, and in protected female spaces.”
I knew she'd been transphobic for some time, saying many stupid things. I've long pulled back from her work, but hadn't really gotten to the level of a formal boycott. But this really pushes me...
I knew she'd been transphobic for some time, saying many stupid things. I've long pulled back from her work, but hadn't really gotten to the level of a formal boycott. But this really pushes me over that edge and seals the deal. I probably should have before now, but I had only paid some attention, not enough.
I know that there are a lot of people who take the approach of something like And that is fair enough. I just really struggle to understand how you can continue to enjoy a property when you know...
I know that there are a lot of people who take the approach of something like
I like the books and movies and will continue to enjoy them and just not give her any more money
And that is fair enough. I just really struggle to understand how you can continue to enjoy a property when you know how much damage that it helped create. When I try to watch movies with actors that have done awful things since filming, I just get this sense of ick that I can't shake and just enjoy the movie.
The Naked Gun movies might be my only exception to that purely because I was not old enough to have a clue what was going on with OJ.
For a lot of people, they literally grew up with Harry Potter. They built friendships and relationships off a shared interest in it, its world provided an outlet and escape during rough times, and...
For a lot of people, they literally grew up with Harry Potter. They built friendships and relationships off a shared interest in it, its world provided an outlet and escape during rough times, and it just heavily influenced their lives. And at this point, it's expanded so far beyond Rowling and even the actual books or movies, as the fandom has taken on a life of its own and built up so much original content. There's not really many other franchises with that sort of impact except maybe... I don't know, Star Wars? Lord of the Rings??
So I won't begrudge people for still having a soft spot for it and engaging in the fandom without supporting Rowling herself. It's genuinely shaped so many people into who they are today. I just feel bad that it's been tainted for so many people, given the importance it played in their childhoods. It sucks when something that brought you comfort and joy is suddenly soured because one woman decided to be an angry bitch.
And a lot of those same people now have her throwing millions of dollars at trying to eliminate them from society. Trans people are not some separate population who didn't love Harry Potter. It's...
For a lot of people, they literally grew up with Harry Potter. They built friendships and relationships off a shared interest in it, its world provided an outlet and escape during rough times, and it just heavily influenced their lives
And a lot of those same people now have her throwing millions of dollars at trying to eliminate them from society. Trans people are not some separate population who didn't love Harry Potter. It's just harder for us to ignore it when she tries to destroy us.
I saw a post today that said (summarizing) that other trans folks may be willing to talk you through your decision to watch or consume HP content, but don't come to us for absolution. And that...
I saw a post today that said (summarizing) that other trans folks may be willing to talk you through your decision to watch or consume HP content, but don't come to us for absolution.
And that won't leave my head. I've joked about Chick-fil-A "queer indulgences" before (you venmo me five bucks and you're forgiven) but I think I feel similarly. Make your choice with HP, but don't talk to me about it and don't come explaining why it was so important and why, see, you're an exception, won't I forgive you? 🥺🦁🟥🟨
Fully agree, and I'm counting them as a chief number of the people who had it tainted for them. Transgender fans who grew up with Harry Potter are probably the worst off, given they very likely...
Fully agree, and I'm counting them as a chief number of the people who had it tainted for them. Transgender fans who grew up with Harry Potter are probably the worst off, given they very likely used it as an escape from real-life transphobia or even a way to explore being trans before Rowling's stances were revealed.
I was never a fan of Harry Potter, but I can still respect that it did play a major role in the lives of a majority of my generation though. It's hard to completely disavow something that played such a major role in your life overnight, especially if you're more engaged with the fandom side and community than the source material. So I won't judge people who can't bring themselves to abandon it completely right away, at least so long as they don't line Rowling's pockets or try to defend or minimize her views and actions.
Hopefully this latest news will give some of those people the final push they need to fully pull away from it though. I don't expect the fandom to ever fully vanish, but I don't want it to gain any popularity with newer generations who didn't have any pre-transphobia memories of the franchise. People who decide to get into it after knowing her views—them, I will judge.
Its one of those phenomena I can't understand mostly because I don't really see it outside of online discussions. In the start (back when it was about Dumbledore being gay, Slytherin apologists...
Its one of those phenomena I can't understand mostly because I don't really see it outside of online discussions. In the start (back when it was about Dumbledore being gay, Slytherin apologists and wizard poop) it was a topic of debate and my social circles struggled to find the nuance since it was some out of pocket behavior for a beloved author. But over the years she crossed the line of practically everyone I know and we just don't engage with any of her works.
HP was among some of my favorite books and movies. The themes were incredibly important to me and many of my friends. We did RP games and cosplays and themed events. Taking my mom to Wizarding World in Orlando is among some of my most treasured memories.
Now I dont engage with it beyond this topic. Theres also much less merch around. Zero presence of the brand at the local conventions I attend. We don't bring it up in discussions beyond the confused worldbuilding. My wife was not exactly opinionated on Rowlings stances, but even she is exhausted at the toxicity the woman radiates any time she speaks. She quietly phased out the Christmas movie marathon and doesn't really care for finding rare merch or editions of the books anymore.
I think of it parasitic media. Something that almost compells its consumption while takes away more joy than it gives back. And it forces you to make compromises and concessions that you otherwise wouldnt. If you are around people you love and respect, why should you have to defend and justify something you enjoy? Why is it hard to not do something as a curtosy and respect for someone? You're not "giving her money" and its a personal choice, but you have to accept that some people will also choose to think less of you.
Hell, even if you enjoy it in private, is it worth doing the moral math to remove yourself from the association? And now you're being forced to isolate from your community and risk falling in with people who are more accepting. Its probably easier to break from media that hurts you because then you can at least preserve that genuine joy you once had and not smother it under layers of fresh BS and lame excuses or have that emotional connection leveraged and weaponized. It helps that most Wizarding World projects are mediocre at the moment. But what happens if there's an amazing future book, or the new theme parks are must see attractions or the next game is GOTY material.
Consuming art should enrich your life. The choice to not consume does not equate to being deprived. We're all sitting on mountains of nostalgia to draw from and there are countless artists and works out there just begging to be discovered. Its probably not going to be a conveniently packaged, global mixed media sensation. But do we love art because of its brand presence, growth potential and licensing/merchandise opportunities. Or because it speaks to you.
This reminds me of my ex relationship with Rick and Morty, which I eventually came to understand as an abusive relationship. I was interested in seeing a tender side of Rick: some kind of rememant...
This reminds me of my ex relationship with Rick and Morty, which I eventually came to understand as an abusive relationship. I was interested in seeing a tender side of Rick: some kind of rememant of love under the torture and evil and cynicism, where after everything he actually cares about Morty's. The writers knew this, proceeding to repeatedly mock the audience for desiring to see any shred of decency in any of its characters. Instead of merely portraying them as terrible people, though, the writers delighted in presenting the hope of hidden decency first before revealing a ha-ha gotcha plus a new level of degeneracy.
I feel that Rowling is doing the same thing, where she is actively delighting in the delicious tears of ex fans who wish for some reasonable explanation and recovering a deeply covered nugget of decency, only for her to yet again double down with new awfulness in order to make a mockery of those feelings.
Things like that are especially irritating, as for me, I've come to realize that one of my favorite genres of comedy involves what I call "assholes bickering". Thinking of the bad people in...
Things like that are especially irritating, as for me, I've come to realize that one of my favorite genres of comedy involves what I call "assholes bickering". Thinking of the bad people in Blazing Saddles, or the "bags" scene from Django. It's just a joy to see bad people having a hard time. lol
So to have this enjoyment going for bad people but for there to be no redeeming quality of either them failing hilariously or being redeemed somehow just..... sucks. Or worse, the creator turns out to be a real shit, e.g. JK Rowling.
That's actually a good example of a property that's better knowing about an actor's misdeeds, for a couple of reasons: first, OJ is at best a supporting player, and second, his entire role pretty...
The Naked Gun movies might be my only exception to that purely because I was not old enough to have a clue what was going on with OJ.
That's actually a good example of a property that's better knowing about an actor's misdeeds, for a couple of reasons: first, OJ is at best a supporting player, and second, his entire role pretty much consists in him getting absolutely destroyed by Drebin's incompetence. It's almost as though the filmmakers knew OJ was a shithead and wanted to torture him.
A lot of nice buildings from the past were built on slavery, you also don't enjoy looking at those? I get what you're saying, but it's too hard to draw a line here. I'd say, just enjoy what she...
I just really struggle to understand how you can continue to enjoy a property when you know how much damage that it helped create.
A lot of nice buildings from the past were built on slavery, you also don't enjoy looking at those?
I get what you're saying, but it's too hard to draw a line here. I'd say, just enjoy what she made in the past and be critical of her present/future work.
The difference is that usually those slave-built houses aren’t directly benefiting the slave owners and admiring them doesn’t involve financially supporting the pro-slavery movement. I think it’s...
The difference is that usually those slave-built houses aren’t directly benefiting the slave owners and admiring them doesn’t involve financially supporting the pro-slavery movement.
I think it’s fine to enjoy the Harry Potter books, but only if you do it from a library loan or a used book which will not give a payout to Rowling. Just don’t build your self-image off of it and avoid developing a compulsive need to purchase licensed products.
If you buy a new set of Harry Potter books or watch a new adaptation or buy Harry Potter merch, your money is going to this anti-trans "charity". That is a lot more clear-cut than your house...
If you buy a new set of Harry Potter books or watch a new adaptation or buy Harry Potter merch, your money is going to this anti-trans "charity". That is a lot more clear-cut than your house example. If your enjoyment of what she made in the past entails your spending money that goes into Rowling's pockets, it's not something harmless you can brush away like that.
In addition to the other replies, knowing does make a difference. There's an overlay of pain over everything. I've become far less "in awe" of buildings and other objects as I've grown older,...
In addition to the other replies, knowing does make a difference. There's an overlay of pain over everything. I've become far less "in awe" of buildings and other objects as I've grown older, because I know history.
But tbh this is far more like hosting your wedding at the plantation turned luxury spa, where you can Airbnb the former slave quarters... (If the owner was still spending the money on pro-slavery causes and bragging about it on Twitter. )
And that burned to the ground (oh no) without me ever stepping a foot there, because it's easy not to support places like that.
Yeah, it's why, among a number of issues I have with the property itself, I can't justify even enjoying the Wizarding World much less do anything that gives her money.
She posted recently upset about International Asexuality Awareness day. First that is not one of the more well known identities, second to get told when the awareness day is requires either intentional tracking or being surrounded by queer culture, third, WTF is her (fictional) problem with asexuals?! What did they do? She goes so far out of her way to be hurtful under the guise of "protecting women" that she's come out against the people that don't want to have sex. WTF.
(Disclaimer: Asexuality and the broad Ace Spectrum is more complicated than this as everything queer is but like COME ON. )
Archive: https://archive.ph/O0xHn
I knew she'd been transphobic for some time, saying many stupid things. I've long pulled back from her work, but hadn't really gotten to the level of a formal boycott. But this really pushes me over that edge and seals the deal. I probably should have before now, but I had only paid some attention, not enough.
I know that there are a lot of people who take the approach of something like
And that is fair enough. I just really struggle to understand how you can continue to enjoy a property when you know how much damage that it helped create. When I try to watch movies with actors that have done awful things since filming, I just get this sense of ick that I can't shake and just enjoy the movie.
The Naked Gun movies might be my only exception to that purely because I was not old enough to have a clue what was going on with OJ.
For a lot of people, they literally grew up with Harry Potter. They built friendships and relationships off a shared interest in it, its world provided an outlet and escape during rough times, and it just heavily influenced their lives. And at this point, it's expanded so far beyond Rowling and even the actual books or movies, as the fandom has taken on a life of its own and built up so much original content. There's not really many other franchises with that sort of impact except maybe... I don't know, Star Wars? Lord of the Rings??
So I won't begrudge people for still having a soft spot for it and engaging in the fandom without supporting Rowling herself. It's genuinely shaped so many people into who they are today. I just feel bad that it's been tainted for so many people, given the importance it played in their childhoods. It sucks when something that brought you comfort and joy is suddenly soured because one woman decided to be an angry bitch.
And a lot of those same people now have her throwing millions of dollars at trying to eliminate them from society. Trans people are not some separate population who didn't love Harry Potter. It's just harder for us to ignore it when she tries to destroy us.
I saw a post today that said (summarizing) that other trans folks may be willing to talk you through your decision to watch or consume HP content, but don't come to us for absolution.
And that won't leave my head. I've joked about Chick-fil-A "queer indulgences" before (you venmo me five bucks and you're forgiven) but I think I feel similarly. Make your choice with HP, but don't talk to me about it and don't come explaining why it was so important and why, see, you're an exception, won't I forgive you? 🥺🦁🟥🟨
Ugh
Fully agree, and I'm counting them as a chief number of the people who had it tainted for them. Transgender fans who grew up with Harry Potter are probably the worst off, given they very likely used it as an escape from real-life transphobia or even a way to explore being trans before Rowling's stances were revealed.
I was never a fan of Harry Potter, but I can still respect that it did play a major role in the lives of a majority of my generation though. It's hard to completely disavow something that played such a major role in your life overnight, especially if you're more engaged with the fandom side and community than the source material. So I won't judge people who can't bring themselves to abandon it completely right away, at least so long as they don't line Rowling's pockets or try to defend or minimize her views and actions.
Hopefully this latest news will give some of those people the final push they need to fully pull away from it though. I don't expect the fandom to ever fully vanish, but I don't want it to gain any popularity with newer generations who didn't have any pre-transphobia memories of the franchise. People who decide to get into it after knowing her views—them, I will judge.
Sooooo, I'm about to start on the books for the very first time ever! Can't wait!
;-)
ಠ_ಠ
Its one of those phenomena I can't understand mostly because I don't really see it outside of online discussions. In the start (back when it was about Dumbledore being gay, Slytherin apologists and wizard poop) it was a topic of debate and my social circles struggled to find the nuance since it was some out of pocket behavior for a beloved author. But over the years she crossed the line of practically everyone I know and we just don't engage with any of her works.
HP was among some of my favorite books and movies. The themes were incredibly important to me and many of my friends. We did RP games and cosplays and themed events. Taking my mom to Wizarding World in Orlando is among some of my most treasured memories.
Now I dont engage with it beyond this topic. Theres also much less merch around. Zero presence of the brand at the local conventions I attend. We don't bring it up in discussions beyond the confused worldbuilding. My wife was not exactly opinionated on Rowlings stances, but even she is exhausted at the toxicity the woman radiates any time she speaks. She quietly phased out the Christmas movie marathon and doesn't really care for finding rare merch or editions of the books anymore.
I think of it parasitic media. Something that almost compells its consumption while takes away more joy than it gives back. And it forces you to make compromises and concessions that you otherwise wouldnt. If you are around people you love and respect, why should you have to defend and justify something you enjoy? Why is it hard to not do something as a curtosy and respect for someone? You're not "giving her money" and its a personal choice, but you have to accept that some people will also choose to think less of you.
Hell, even if you enjoy it in private, is it worth doing the moral math to remove yourself from the association? And now you're being forced to isolate from your community and risk falling in with people who are more accepting. Its probably easier to break from media that hurts you because then you can at least preserve that genuine joy you once had and not smother it under layers of fresh BS and lame excuses or have that emotional connection leveraged and weaponized. It helps that most Wizarding World projects are mediocre at the moment. But what happens if there's an amazing future book, or the new theme parks are must see attractions or the next game is GOTY material.
Consuming art should enrich your life. The choice to not consume does not equate to being deprived. We're all sitting on mountains of nostalgia to draw from and there are countless artists and works out there just begging to be discovered. Its probably not going to be a conveniently packaged, global mixed media sensation. But do we love art because of its brand presence, growth potential and licensing/merchandise opportunities. Or because it speaks to you.
This reminds me of my ex relationship with Rick and Morty, which I eventually came to understand as an abusive relationship. I was interested in seeing a tender side of Rick: some kind of rememant of love under the torture and evil and cynicism, where after everything he actually cares about Morty's. The writers knew this, proceeding to repeatedly mock the audience for desiring to see any shred of decency in any of its characters. Instead of merely portraying them as terrible people, though, the writers delighted in presenting the hope of hidden decency first before revealing a ha-ha gotcha plus a new level of degeneracy.
I feel that Rowling is doing the same thing, where she is actively delighting in the delicious tears of ex fans who wish for some reasonable explanation and recovering a deeply covered nugget of decency, only for her to yet again double down with new awfulness in order to make a mockery of those feelings.
Things like that are especially irritating, as for me, I've come to realize that one of my favorite genres of comedy involves what I call "assholes bickering". Thinking of the bad people in Blazing Saddles, or the "bags" scene from Django. It's just a joy to see bad people having a hard time. lol
So to have this enjoyment going for bad people but for there to be no redeeming quality of either them failing hilariously or being redeemed somehow just..... sucks. Or worse, the creator turns out to be a real shit, e.g. JK Rowling.
That's actually a good example of a property that's better knowing about an actor's misdeeds, for a couple of reasons: first, OJ is at best a supporting player, and second, his entire role pretty much consists in him getting absolutely destroyed by Drebin's incompetence. It's almost as though the filmmakers knew OJ was a shithead and wanted to torture him.
For anyone who missed the teaser trailer… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8-N8IIq_8I
I think they've got a good handle on it. lol
A lot of nice buildings from the past were built on slavery, you also don't enjoy looking at those?
I get what you're saying, but it's too hard to draw a line here. I'd say, just enjoy what she made in the past and be critical of her present/future work.
The difference is that usually those slave-built houses aren’t directly benefiting the slave owners and admiring them doesn’t involve financially supporting the pro-slavery movement.
I think it’s fine to enjoy the Harry Potter books, but only if you do it from a library loan or a used book which will not give a payout to Rowling. Just don’t build your self-image off of it and avoid developing a compulsive need to purchase licensed products.
So then we both agree I guess? You can still keep looking at old DVD's/books of Harry Potter you already purchased. Just don't buy new stuff.
If you buy a new set of Harry Potter books or watch a new adaptation or buy Harry Potter merch, your money is going to this anti-trans "charity". That is a lot more clear-cut than your house example. If your enjoyment of what she made in the past entails your spending money that goes into Rowling's pockets, it's not something harmless you can brush away like that.
In addition to the other replies, knowing does make a difference. There's an overlay of pain over everything. I've become far less "in awe" of buildings and other objects as I've grown older, because I know history.
But tbh this is far more like hosting your wedding at the plantation turned luxury spa, where you can Airbnb the former slave quarters... (If the owner was still spending the money on pro-slavery causes and bragging about it on Twitter. )
And that burned to the ground (oh no) without me ever stepping a foot there, because it's easy not to support places like that.