Going on Holiday
Aug. 17th, 2017 11:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rynlingI’m going to be taking a break from Tumblr for a while. The polarization of the politics there has convinced me that it’s not a safe or sane place to be right now.
According to the dictates of what’s become known as “purity discourse” on Tumblr, media that contains elements deemed to be “problematic” is a direct threat to human life and civil liberties, and fans who create work referencing the wrong character or romantic pairing must be violently called out for the good of the community. This is why, between April and October of 2016, I received messages containing murder and rape threats on a weekly (and sometimes daily) basis. In addition, multiple Tumblr users who didn’t even bother to send messages anonymously bombarded me with detailed instructions on how to commit suicide.
Although these intimidation tactics reflect those of alt-right communities on 4chan and reddit, they are a direct result of global reactionary political movements. In other words, people who justifiably felt as if they were under attack in the real world vented their frustrations on the targets within their reach, many of whom unfortunately happened to be members of other marginalized groups on Tumblr.
In the wake of the American presidential election, this activity intensified, and many people have responded to aggressive radicalism by discounting progressive ideas altogether. Since purity discourse has shut down a number of conversations concerning issues such as race and representation, what has filled the void is content that has become popular because it presents a facade of the diversity privileged by Tumblr culture while actually supporting conservative beliefs.
Within my own particular corner of fandom, almost every progressive voice was driven away by the same sort of harassment I suffered; and now, in the absence of these voices, expressions of white supremacy are tolerated and occasionally even tacitly encouraged. To speak out against these sentiments is tantamount to identifying oneself with purity discourse, thus inviting backlash and ostracization.
I refuse to choose between ideological purity and casual racism, and so I think it’s best if I distance myself from Tumblr until I can clear my head a bit.
According to the dictates of what’s become known as “purity discourse” on Tumblr, media that contains elements deemed to be “problematic” is a direct threat to human life and civil liberties, and fans who create work referencing the wrong character or romantic pairing must be violently called out for the good of the community. This is why, between April and October of 2016, I received messages containing murder and rape threats on a weekly (and sometimes daily) basis. In addition, multiple Tumblr users who didn’t even bother to send messages anonymously bombarded me with detailed instructions on how to commit suicide.
Although these intimidation tactics reflect those of alt-right communities on 4chan and reddit, they are a direct result of global reactionary political movements. In other words, people who justifiably felt as if they were under attack in the real world vented their frustrations on the targets within their reach, many of whom unfortunately happened to be members of other marginalized groups on Tumblr.
In the wake of the American presidential election, this activity intensified, and many people have responded to aggressive radicalism by discounting progressive ideas altogether. Since purity discourse has shut down a number of conversations concerning issues such as race and representation, what has filled the void is content that has become popular because it presents a facade of the diversity privileged by Tumblr culture while actually supporting conservative beliefs.
Within my own particular corner of fandom, almost every progressive voice was driven away by the same sort of harassment I suffered; and now, in the absence of these voices, expressions of white supremacy are tolerated and occasionally even tacitly encouraged. To speak out against these sentiments is tantamount to identifying oneself with purity discourse, thus inviting backlash and ostracization.
I refuse to choose between ideological purity and casual racism, and so I think it’s best if I distance myself from Tumblr until I can clear my head a bit.
no subject
Date: 2017-08-19 04:33 am (UTC)...I keep thinking of how progressives screamed about President Obama not doing enough, and the circular firing squad of the American left, and how the perfect is constantly the enemy of the good, and I hate it so much. Yes, we didn't make giant steps that could never be retracted, but we made a damn lot of progress given what we had to work with, and we're holding on to it as hard as we can right now. That people don't realize that breaks my heart.
I hope you find soothing space and healing. ♥
no subject
Date: 2017-08-19 02:21 pm (UTC)It's going to be difficult, but I'm going to force myself to stay away. It's not just the politics, but also what Auronlu has called the constant fire hydrant blast of content. I'm not getting paid for this, so why do I feel like I have to work so hard to maintain weekly updates of my stories and art? Fuck the constant encroachment of capitalist ideologies!
In the meantime, I have a browser bookmark folder full of fic on AO3. I have been hoarding these bookmarks for months, and now that I'm finally starting to open them it feels like Christmas. It's incredible that all this gorgeous writing specifically tailored to my interests is free, right? Sometimes I forget what a gift fandom is.
no subject
Date: 2017-08-25 12:54 am (UTC)I have a huge bookmark pile on AO3 itself. I really need to get back on it.