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rynlingI finally finished a stupid two-panel comic (this one here) about my fantasy of taking direct action against oligarchs. The no-minimum tariffs bullshit absolutely wrecking the small businesses of indie artists was the straw that broke my back.
I am not and have never been wealthy myself (not even remotely), but I went to school with the children of people who were. My wealthy friends and their parents were kind and lovely people, and it’s because of their help and support that I survived my own family. I currently teach the adult children of the ultrawealthy at a fancy university famous for its business school, and these kids are just sweet and wonderful as my friends growing up.
It’s been my experience that wealth – even extreme wealth – doesn’t actually corrupt people. On the contrary, guaranteed financial stability and opportunity makes (most) people very chill and happy and interesting to talk with. Still, I firmly believe that we should not live in a society that allows billionaire oligarchs to exist. Nobody’s happiness should be based on the incredible suffering that sustains that level of wealth. Obviously.
I was once accused of “glorifying the wealthy” by writing stories about princesses and kings (ie, Legend of Zelda fanfic) by someone who prefers sci-fi to fantasy. My actual response is that I don’t think science fiction’s glorification of military technology and imperial expansion is ideologically superior, and people need to touch grass.
Still, as much as I yearn for a proletarian revolution, I’m also interested in the willing abjuration of power and wealth. “You can’t have a bloodless revolution” okay but what if we did though. What if the princesses and kings of this world realized that empires are unsustainable and used their incredible privilege and resources to actively make the world a less horrible place. And what if normal people realized that there’s nothing special about the wealthy, and that any one of us is just as empowered to dismantle neoliberal capitalism and the imperial state as anyone else. What then.
But also, listen. In actual reality, hammers.
I am not and have never been wealthy myself (not even remotely), but I went to school with the children of people who were. My wealthy friends and their parents were kind and lovely people, and it’s because of their help and support that I survived my own family. I currently teach the adult children of the ultrawealthy at a fancy university famous for its business school, and these kids are just sweet and wonderful as my friends growing up.
It’s been my experience that wealth – even extreme wealth – doesn’t actually corrupt people. On the contrary, guaranteed financial stability and opportunity makes (most) people very chill and happy and interesting to talk with. Still, I firmly believe that we should not live in a society that allows billionaire oligarchs to exist. Nobody’s happiness should be based on the incredible suffering that sustains that level of wealth. Obviously.
I was once accused of “glorifying the wealthy” by writing stories about princesses and kings (ie, Legend of Zelda fanfic) by someone who prefers sci-fi to fantasy. My actual response is that I don’t think science fiction’s glorification of military technology and imperial expansion is ideologically superior, and people need to touch grass.
Still, as much as I yearn for a proletarian revolution, I’m also interested in the willing abjuration of power and wealth. “You can’t have a bloodless revolution” okay but what if we did though. What if the princesses and kings of this world realized that empires are unsustainable and used their incredible privilege and resources to actively make the world a less horrible place. And what if normal people realized that there’s nothing special about the wealthy, and that any one of us is just as empowered to dismantle neoliberal capitalism and the imperial state as anyone else. What then.
But also, listen. In actual reality, hammers.
no subject
Date: 2025-09-05 01:34 pm (UTC)Man, I like writing about fantasy royals because it's a fun way to crank up the stakes on family drama. What if the family business isn't a good fit for you? What if Dad always liked your sibling better? Okay now what if similar types of problem but [there's a ton of real or potential collateral damage] / [you live in a pressure cooker] / [assassinations are on the table]? I once made a post explaining that I can think this stuff is fun in fiction while still believing that a hereditary ruling class is a dumb-as-fuck thing to have in real life. I think there's enough handwringing about this kind of fiction and people should be able to create and enjoy it guilt-free, especially in the context of amateur or fan works. Naturally I got responses like "so you're saying poor people never stab each other at estate sales?" and "ummm excuse me monarchies are not just a fantasy concept, some of us live in them in real life."
Big mood to this whole post, basically.
no subject
Date: 2025-09-06 12:05 pm (UTC)And you know, it’s funny. There are actually “European pride” people in the Legend of Zelda fandom, but no one bothers them because they write popular and unproblematic stories about straight white characters falling in love, having lavish weddings, and making white babies. More than anything else, this is what convinced me to stop worrying about fandom flamewars masquerading as cultural critique. Haters gonna hate.