TL;DR: The current Mastodon-signup is only removing the confusion of users on first glance, because it either hides the server-choice altogether, or leaves them with a choice that is impossible to make at this point of their Mastodon-journey. Instead, it should introduce them to decentrality on a lower scale, with a handful of handpicked servers to choose from, such that the decision makes sense to them and shows them the merits and fun of the concept instead of scaring them away. Ideal would be to give them a sense of agency. Then, chances are higher that they consider migrating again in the future and eventually internalize it as a permanent option of the digital world.
Bad example, given that Hogwarts-house-in-bio is a reliable transphobic dog whistle, and transphobia is very much unacceptable in the fediverse.
Is it really? Can someone not just like the potter series and either disagree with or ignore the politics of the author?
Given how strident the author has been about her views, and that she is still a living person, earning royalties and materially contributing to anti-transgender causes, proclaiming oneself a fan of these books is as least saying that the author’s anti-transgender activism is not a dealbreaker. Making part of one’s identity an aspect of the books’ universe is even more so, to the point where there’s a correlation between people proclaiming their Hogwarts house in their bio and expressing anti-trans views. (TERF/“gender critical” activists having suddenly discovered that they were Slitherpuffs or whatever a few years ago, despite not having expressed any interest in YA fantasy novels before Rowling’s statements, is an observed phenomenon, to the point where such a statement in one’s bio is more likely than not to serve as a feeler for scouting out fellow anti-trans sympathisers.)
No, you’re not allowed to like things. I know because I’ve been told this as a fan of H. P. Lovecraft, comedy, old movies, books, and music. Everything is bad and you should feel bad for liking it.
I don’t agree that this type of response is productive, there’s a lot more nuance to these arguments. It is however interesting which things we’re no longer allowed to like. Disney for example, despite their history of anti-Semitism don’t nearly get as much hate as they deserve and at a time where even suggesting something that Israel did to Gaza is bad becomes conflated with hating Jews
Tbh, I pirate digital anyway and only buy physical, so it isn’t like I’m giving them money.
I do however think saying someone is a bad person for having nostalgic feelings for something like lion king (to use your disney example) because a long dead man who created the company hated the jewish people is pretty dumb, for example, which is actually something some well intentioned anti-enjoyment activist has suggested to me before (not that you were here, of course).
I understand when it’s something like the Lord’s Chicken, you have to give them money, but buying a book from H. P. Lovecraft’s estate doesn’t help his corpse at all, nor does it mean I support his xenophobic views or the name of his stupid cat, I just like cosmic horror. Yes I like Clark Ashton Smith too (and maybe more) just let me enjoy Innsmouth ffs lol.
In Rowling’s case it seems to be due to her being alive and directly benefiting from the financial success of her work. Pirating seems like a fair compromise. “I like what you make enough to consume it, but don’t like you enough to pay for it”
Maybe good creators are just horrible people
Yeah so pirate, buy used, you don’t have to contribute to her net worth. And I’m not talking about just “Just Kidding Rowland,” it doesn’t mean I’m transphobic for reading HP though. You can like the books and disagree with their author.
You can of course add it to your bio if you’re a fan, but you might want to be aware that it will increasingly not be interpreted innocently.
More reading here:
I’m dismayed by Rowling’s too-real controversies but have a deep affection for the imaginary universe she gave the world.
It’s good to know this, that at a minimum disclaimers are critical forever more it seems.
Thanks for the perspective. I’m not a member of the community (or much of a potter fan, other than enjoying the movies as a kid. Nostalgia) so it’s probably a lot easier for me to separate author from work.
It just concerned me that people would be unintentionally flagging themselves as an adversary. The generalisation also seemed unfair and alienating in the same way many marginalised groups are. I do understand though that one side is something you enjoy and the other is something you are.
Agreed. Wonder if it’s worth pinning a post in the HP subLemming about it / rejecting anti-transism.