It's not the monied elites who have to worry about the consequences of 'cancel culture' though. JK Rowling is not in a position to be sacked or face meaningful financial consequences for her opinions. The regular and the marginalised are the people who will suffer if they are on the wrong side of some performative middle class outrage.Muttonbirds wrote:Point I'm trying to make is that the people have spoken and no matter how much monied elites talk about free-speech, those that don't have it are bound to get angry. They have and the monied elite had better digest that.eldanielfire wrote:And you have the nerve to call others idiots.Muttonbirds wrote:You are right, I haven't read the letter, but that hardly matters does it.CM11 wrote:That's a particularly bad take on the letter to the extent that you'd almost have to have not read it but were just told about it in a rant by someone looking to silence them.
Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
I’d say ‘may suffer’ is more accurate since it is not a given that shrieking in the tw@tmosphere will have a material effect on the person on the receiving end, but your broader point seems on the mark.robmatic wrote:It's not the monied elites who have to worry about the consequences of 'cancel culture' though. JK Rowling is not in a position to be sacked or face meaningful financial consequences for her opinions. The regular and the marginalised are the people who will suffer if they are on the wrong side of some performative middle class outrage.Muttonbirds wrote:Point I'm trying to make is that the people have spoken and no matter how much monied elites talk about free-speech, those that don't have it are bound to get angry. They have and the monied elite had better digest that.eldanielfire wrote:And you have the nerve to call others idiots.Muttonbirds wrote:You are right, I haven't read the letter, but that hardly matters does it.
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
I enjoyed Gladwell’s reaction to that.CM11 wrote:One of the more ridiculous things I've just read is someone apologising for signing the letter, not because he disagreed with the content, but because of who else signed it (he didn't know apparently).
We really are into burning down society and starting again territory.
"I signed the Harpers letter because there were lots of people who also signed the Harpers letter whose views I disagreed with. I thought that was the point of the Harpers letter,"
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
Mr Mike wrote:I enjoyed Gladwell’s reaction to that.CM11 wrote:One of the more ridiculous things I've just read is someone apologising for signing the letter, not because he disagreed with the content, but because of who else signed it (he didn't know apparently).
We really are into burning down society and starting again territory.
"I signed the Harpers letter because there were lots of people who also signed the Harpers letter whose views I disagreed with. I thought that was the point of the Harpers letter,"

Very good!
- eldanielfire
- Posts: 32405
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Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
Mr Mike wrote:I enjoyed Gladwell’s reaction to that.CM11 wrote:One of the more ridiculous things I've just read is someone apologising for signing the letter, not because he disagreed with the content, but because of who else signed it (he didn't know apparently).
We really are into burning down society and starting again territory.
"I signed the Harpers letter because there were lots of people who also signed the Harpers letter whose views I disagreed with. I thought that was the point of the Harpers letter,"




- RodneyRegis
- Posts: 16117
- Joined: Tue Jan 31, 2012 11:05 am
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
Anyway, apropos of nothing, I was chatting with a mate of the missus the other day, who is a midwife. Apparently pre-op trans women are given sanitary pads on the NHS. 'women who menstruate' are of course not provided with sanitary towels on the state's coin.
And most of them wear them.

And most of them wear them.

Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
He sounds very annoying
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
Yes, let's make sure he loses his job. That seems proportionate.EverReady wrote:He sounds very annoying
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
As good a reason as any and now he gets his dream job working for a libertarian rag
-
- Posts: 2600
- Joined: Tue Jan 31, 2012 11:05 am
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
Well, he's sort of already there. Just with added race realism.EverReady wrote:As good a reason as any and now he gets his dream job working for a libertarian rag
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
Yup, the generation coming up behind these ejits will have plenty to be angry about and want to change.msp. wrote:
After reading the letter, and reading Billy Bragg's (who normally i quite like.. I think Billy missed the mark, he is again attacking the singatures of the letter rather than the content.
It one of the marks of society now where the messanger is attacked irrispective of the content of the message. We have banded ourselves into tribal groups, and the most important thing is to attack other groups.
Young people being angry and wanting to change the world is nothing new..
Time will sort this nonsense out.
- Muttonbirds
- Posts: 2019
- Joined: Sat Mar 21, 2020 11:22 am
- Location: Aotearoa
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
Harveys wrote:Yup, the generation coming up behind these ejits will have plenty to be angry about and want to change.msp. wrote:
After reading the letter, and reading Billy Bragg's (who normally i quite like.. I think Billy missed the mark, he is again attacking the singatures of the letter rather than the content.
It one of the marks of society now where the messanger is attacked irrispective of the content of the message. We have banded ourselves into tribal groups, and the most important thing is to attack other groups.
Young people being angry and wanting to change the world is nothing new..
Time will sort this nonsense out.

- koroke hangareka
- Posts: 3181
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Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
Wouldn't be surprised. Little shits.Muttonbirds wrote:Did a millennial steal your ice-cream?
- eldanielfire
- Posts: 32405
- Joined: Tue Jan 31, 2012 11:05 am
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
koroke hangareka wrote:Wouldn't be surprised. Little shits.Muttonbirds wrote:Did a millennial steal your ice-cream?

Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
Given the chick is worth about a billion dollars, I don't really care how much Rowling's feelings are hurt. She can handle it, but read the letter and don't see what is particularly controversial about it.
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
Chomsky on the reaction to the letter about the thing that is definitely not happening.
https://twitter.com/UD880/status/128231 ... 15075?s=19
https://twitter.com/UD880/status/128231 ... 15075?s=19
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
The controversy does not appear to be about the words of the letter, but by who signed it, and therefore the "dog-whistles" within the letter. The interpretation of "dog-whistle" seems rather subjective..Dark wrote:Given the chick is worth about a billion dollars, I don't really care how much Rowling's feelings are hurt. She can handle it, but read the letter and don't see what is particularly controversial about it.
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
Apparently Yglesias was silenced by Vox(told to shut up) on the matter.Dobbin wrote:https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53330105
One signatory - Matthew Yglesias, co-founder of liberal news analysis website Vox - was rebuked by colleague Emily VanDerWerff, a trans woman, who tweeted that Yglesias signing the letter "makes me feel less safe at Vox".
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
The whole thing was insane.
If I was Matt Y I’d keep the job for as long as needed (not exactly a thriving industry), and try to jump if/when possible.
I’d certainly never engage with Emily at work again. Just someone who’s potential trouble for anyone working with her.
If I was Matt Y I’d keep the job for as long as needed (not exactly a thriving industry), and try to jump if/when possible.
I’d certainly never engage with Emily at work again. Just someone who’s potential trouble for anyone working with her.
- kiwidutchie
- Posts: 2026
- Joined: Tue Jan 31, 2012 11:05 am
- Location: Wellingdingdington
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
"Signatory Jennifer Finney Boylan, a US author and transgender activist, apologised within hours of the letter being published, tweeting "I did not know who else had signed that letter"."paddyor wrote:Apparently Yglesias was silenced by Vox(told to shut up) on the matter.Dobbin wrote:https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53330105
One signatory - Matthew Yglesias, co-founder of liberal news analysis website Vox - was rebuked by colleague Emily VanDerWerff, a trans woman, who tweeted that Yglesias signing the letter "makes me feel less safe at Vox".
which kind of proves the point the letter was making?
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
Interesting article.. It's going to be a mixture of science, politics and social pressure that determines the future of transgender women and man participating in sport..
- eldanielfire
- Posts: 32405
- Joined: Tue Jan 31, 2012 11:05 am
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
The weird thing is, it should just need some common sense and basic everyday obviously knowledge. Not some claims of 'The latest science'.msp. wrote:Interesting article.. It's going to be a mixture of science, politics and social pressure that determines the future of transgender women and man participating in sport..
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
eldanielfire wrote:The weird thing is, it should just need some common sense and basic everyday obviously knowledge. Not some claims of 'The latest science'.msp. wrote:Interesting article.. It's going to be a mixture of science, politics and social pressure that determines the future of transgender women and man participating in sport..
It got strong emmotions attached to it (both for and against allowing transgender women to participate), any decision needs to be backed off with research.. Even if that reserach basically says "allowing a bigger person to hit a smaller person will mean the smaler person is more likley to be injured and a person who has gone through male puperty is likley to be bigger than a person who has not.."
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
Send that post in to be peer reviewed. Job done.msp. wrote:eldanielfire wrote:The weird thing is, it should just need some common sense and basic everyday obviously knowledge. Not some claims of 'The latest science'.msp. wrote:Interesting article.. It's going to be a mixture of science, politics and social pressure that determines the future of transgender women and man participating in sport..
It got strong emmotions attached to it (both for and against allowing transgender women to participate), any decision needs to be backed off with research.. Even if that reserach basically says "allowing a bigger person to hit a smaller person will mean the smaler person is more likley to be injured and a person who has gone through male puperty is likley to be bigger than a person who has not.."
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
I can live with a 30% increased likelihood of injury if it saves some hurt feelings.
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
Santa wrote:I can live with a 30% increased likelihood of injury if it saves some hurt feelings.
It will just add to the sport being ruled by old white guy image..
- Fat Albert
- Posts: 1232
- Joined: Tue Jan 31, 2012 11:05 am
- Location: Trantor
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
Be afraid, trannies, be very afraid, they're coming to get you... I know I am
Why Allies Are Becoming TERFs
Wish I could write that well when pissed off
Why Allies Are Becoming TERFs
Wish I could write that well when pissed off
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
Brilliant. You post an article all about how self defeating it is to alienate people who might otherwise be on your side, in a post calculated to alienate anyone who might be thinking about being on your side.Fat Albert wrote:Be afraid, trannies, be very afraid, they're coming to get you... I know I am
Why Allies Are Becoming TERFs
Wish I could write that well when pissed off
- terryfinch
- Posts: 5557
- Joined: Tue Jan 31, 2012 11:05 am
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
Santa wrote:I can live with a 30% increased likelihood of injury if it saves some hurt feelings.
So if, as an example, Maro Itoje suddenly self identified as a woman, she took hormone suppressants for 12 months and then rocked up to play for England’s women’s team, would that be a good idea for the game?
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
FFS. It’s Santa posting. He’s being ironic. He agrees with you.terryfinch wrote:Santa wrote:I can live with a 30% increased likelihood of injury if it saves some hurt feelings.
So if, as an example, Maro Itoje suddenly self identified as a woman, she took hormone suppressants for 12 months and then rocked up to play for England’s women’s team, would that be a good idea for the game?
- eldanielfire
- Posts: 32405
- Joined: Tue Jan 31, 2012 11:05 am
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
It'd be a f**king good idea in terms of the England Women's Rugby team chances at the next World Cup. Think outside the box.terryfinch wrote:Santa wrote:I can live with a 30% increased likelihood of injury if it saves some hurt feelings.
So if, as an example, Maro Itoje suddenly self identified as a woman, she took hormone suppressants for 12 months and then rocked up to play for England’s women’s team, would that be a good idea for the game?

Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
Mike Brown could resurrect his England career if he changed genders. 

Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
Is it not more sarcastic than irony?Mahoney wrote:FFS. It’s Santa posting. He’s being ironic. He agrees with you.terryfinch wrote:Santa wrote:I can live with a 30% increased likelihood of injury if it saves some hurt feelings.
So if, as an example, Maro Itoje suddenly self identified as a woman, she took hormone suppressants for 12 months and then rocked up to play for England’s women’s team, would that be a good idea for the game?
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
Probably. No matter how often I read attempts to define it I’m never quite sure where the line between them is.
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
Yep and then someone throws in satire to make it more difficult..Most of the time it is easier to use the word "funny"..
- eldanielfire
- Posts: 32405
- Joined: Tue Jan 31, 2012 11:05 am
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
One publication who called her transphobic has published an apology, probably on legal advice:
https://theday.co.uk/pdf/jkrowling-apology-2020-07.pdf
"The article was critical of JK Rowling personally and suggested that our readers should boycott her work and shame her into changing her behaviour. Our intention was to provoke debate on a complex topic. We did not intend to suggest that JK Rowling was transphobic or that she should be boycotted."
This is more ridiculous then someone out of the early Simpsons or Yes Minister. You couldn't make it up
https://theday.co.uk/pdf/jkrowling-apology-2020-07.pdf
This part:
On 10 June 2020, we published an article entitled “Potterheads cancel Rowling after trans
tweet”. We accept that our article implied that what JK Rowling had tweeted was objectionable
and that she had attacked and harmed trans people. The article was critical of JK Rowling
personally and suggested that our readers should boycott her work and shame her into
changing her behaviour. Our intention was to provoke debate on a complex topic. We did not
intend to suggest that JK Rowling was transphobic or that she should be boycotted. We
accept that our comparisons of JK Rowling to people such as Picasso, who celebrated sexual
violence, and Wagner, who was praised by the Nazis for his anti- Semitic and racist views,
were clumsy, offensive and wrong. Debate about a complex issue where there is a range of
legitimate views should have been handled with much more sensitivity and more obvious
recognition of the difference between fact and opinion. We unreservedly apologise to JK
Rowling for the offence caused, are happy to retract these false allegations and to set the
record straight. We shall be making a financial contribution to a charity of JK Rowling’s
choice.
22 July 2020
"The article was critical of JK Rowling personally and suggested that our readers should boycott her work and shame her into changing her behaviour. Our intention was to provoke debate on a complex topic. We did not intend to suggest that JK Rowling was transphobic or that she should be boycotted."
This is more ridiculous then someone out of the early Simpsons or Yes Minister. You couldn't make it up

Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
This part:
"The article was critical of JK Rowling personally and suggested that our readers should boycott her work and shame her into changing her behaviour. Our intention was to provoke debate on a complex topic. We did not intend to suggest that JK Rowling was transphobic or that she should be boycotted."
This is more ridiculous then someone out of the early Simpsons or Yes Minister. You couldn't make it up
It is full of contradictions, the last thing they wanted to do was "debate" only condem anyone who disagrees.
obviously released as part of a legal agreement..
- unseenwork
- Posts: 17807
- Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2014 12:28 am
Re: Why is JK Rowling suddenly evil?
Rowling's money sure buys silence pretty effectively.msp. wrote:This part:
"The article was critical of JK Rowling personally and suggested that our readers should boycott her work and shame her into changing her behaviour. Our intention was to provoke debate on a complex topic. We did not intend to suggest that JK Rowling was transphobic or that she should be boycotted."
This is more ridiculous then someone out of the early Simpsons or Yes Minister. You couldn't make it up
It is full of contradictions, the last thing they wanted to do was "debate" only condem anyone who disagrees.
obviously released as part of a legal agreement..