In cases like F.'s, I believe the relevant phrase is "intent doesn't
matter." If someone does something or says something that's identifiable to
other people as biased, and does not work to understand that bias and how
to avoid it in future, then they get marked down in the "Not Trying To Do
It Right" column.
I have a tendency to presume the best of everyone until proven otherwise.
Please notice I didn't and won't call in angry fans of color to tell you
why you might not wish to endorse F.'s project. In the first place, they
have other things to do and I can copy links with the best of 'em. In the
second, I figured you didn't know about the layers of history F. has
accumulated in this arena, and I was right.
I'm sorry a reader's offense at the use of spirit animals has made you
afraid. The only defense I know of against giving offense of that sort is
to do your research, write with awareness, find people from the cultural
background you're writing about, engage with them honestly, and take their
feedback to heart before you publish something.
Yes, I did not know of F's history, so again TYK for putting me in the loop.
Sometimes there is no telling what will offend someone. I deleted the fic that made the one single reference to the Raven being Erik's spirit animal. It's due South canon so I still don't really get why it set that person off (btw, the person who harshed on me was a white person, so even more mystifying to me).
Also, I have been harshed on for writing Jewish!Fraser fic where the commenter said I was being "insensitive to the sensibilities of Jewish people". I stood my ground on that one because...duh...I am Jewish by birth.
Someone who gets mad at you for writing something as it appears in canon is looking for a place to yell about something *they* just learned is offensive, I suspect. I assume you told the commenter that the use of spirit animal was dS canon, regardless of whether Erik's tribe had/have spirit animals in reality.
As for being insensitive to the sensibilities of Jewish people, oy vey. Though now I want to poke one of my Jewish friends who is fascinated by golem into writing Fraser as a golem.
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ride_4ever) wrote2017-04-22 01:44 am
no subject
In cases like F.'s, I believe the relevant phrase is "intent doesn't matter." If someone does something or says something that's identifiable to other people as biased, and does not work to understand that bias and how to avoid it in future, then they get marked down in the "Not Trying To Do It Right" column.
I have a tendency to presume the best of everyone until proven otherwise. Please notice I didn't and won't call in angry fans of color to tell you why you might not wish to endorse F.'s project. In the first place, they have other things to do and I can copy links with the best of 'em. In the second, I figured you didn't know about the layers of history F. has accumulated in this arena, and I was right.
I'm sorry a reader's offense at the use of spirit animals has made you afraid. The only defense I know of against giving offense of that sort is to do your research, write with awareness, find people from the cultural background you're writing about, engage with them honestly, and take their feedback to heart before you publish something.
no subject
Sometimes there is no telling what will offend someone. I deleted the fic that made the one single reference to the Raven being Erik's spirit animal. It's due South canon so I still don't really get why it set that person off (btw, the person who harshed on me was a white person, so even more mystifying to me).
Also, I have been harshed on for writing Jewish!Fraser fic where the commenter said I was being "insensitive to the sensibilities of Jewish people". I stood my ground on that one because...duh...I am Jewish by birth.
no subject
As for being insensitive to the sensibilities of Jewish people, oy vey. Though now I want to poke one of my Jewish friends who is fascinated by golem into writing Fraser as a golem.
no subject