Hope you all are having a lovely day today, whatever this day means to you (or doesn’t). Consider this an open thread, to discuss whatever, from presents to politics to cats to whatever holiday stress you might be feeling.
And here’s some stuff I found on the Twitter.
— David, who is hanging in there
Merry Christmas, everyone! 🎄🎅 pic.twitter.com/YfyTsQ95de
— Maggie Serota (@maggieserota) December 25, 2017
At this time of year, take a few moments to remember who Christmas is truly about… pic.twitter.com/TQ9tSP5EED
— Larry the Cat (@Number10cat) December 24, 2017
I haven’t laughed this hard in a while. I needed this. pic.twitter.com/2aQFpugdis
— deray (@deray) December 7, 2017
Brian Eno, Paris, 1973 (with Christmas 2017 augmentation) pic.twitter.com/hRwMDTOUKv
— Brian Eno News (@dark_shark) December 25, 2017
“Fun” pic.twitter.com/tsAdsZeez8
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) December 24, 2017
#MerryChristmas 🎄🤶🏻 pic.twitter.com/IahMZhf5gc
— Melania Trump 45 Archived (@FLOTUS45) December 25, 2017
Same. pic.twitter.com/kcNPdrLy6R
— Adrenalin (@adrenalindenver) May 24, 2017
🎈🐾🐅🎈🐾🐅🎈🐾🐅🎈🐾🐅🎈🐾🐅
All of a sudden …
🐾🐾🐾🐾 pic.twitter.com/fza8NZioI0
— The Cult Cat (@Elverojaguar) December 25, 2017
Human: My cat has an easy life
Me: pic.twitter.com/e8kvlVhUdR— Curious Zelda (@CuriousZelda) December 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/awwcuteness/status/945193410662682624
@abars
No, it really doesn’t. 1st of all, whether or not trans women or women of color feel included in a movement by and for women as a whole isn’t inconsequential. 2nd of all, unless one is a trans woman and/or a woman of color (and even still), saying that their feeling excluded is silly… well, the concerns of the marginalized are always silly until they aren’t. 3rd of all, what lends credence to the idea that ‘SJWs are just oversensitive cucks looking for things to be outraged about’ is people like you saying that line of argument is legitimate. Stop giving fascists ammo and a shield. ‘See, even that lefty agrees with us.’ Quit. It…
Now, as @kupo said, I’ll listen to what those groups hafta say on the matter, and hold my peace until then
Discussing the inclusivity transwomen and WOC amidst left-wing movements is all well and good – I’m not saying that it isn’t. But I can’t help but suspect that getting the Democrats back into power will do more to advance LGBT and POC rights more than critiquing a hat will. I mean, the last time the Democrats were in power, we got the United States’ first black president and nationwide gay marriage, among other things. On those grounds, I contend it’s counterproductive to do things which might make it less likely that the Democrats get back into power.
But okay. I’ll stopping posting before this devolves into another endless, pointless shouting match.
@abars
If we can’t critique straight white people’s straight white bullshit, then the Dems can’t save us. Also, the Democratic party didn’t let a black dude be their nominee or back marriage equality for their health or outta the goodness of their hearts. Black and queer activists ‘on the ground’ got these things done. The blue team isn’t the champions of the downtrodden. They’re the vector thru which grassroots progress becomes law. There’s a looong history of Cishet White Liberals(tm) getting theirs and going home when the rest of us are ignored in the conversations. Pretty tired of that shit, frankly…
I don’t think the Democratic party can or even should win without being inclusive. Remember when Roy Moore was defeated in large part because of black women voting and making sure others voted in the special election? There’s a reason the Republicans push voter ID laws that target people of color, young people, trans people who might be denied ID that reflects their gender, poor people, etc.
Just to clarify that I don’t believe that progressive movements being inclusive is trivial.
I am skeptical that large numbers of trans women are saying that people are transphobic if they go to the women’s march because pussy hats though. People around here are not known to be shy about calling out transphobia. Yet nobody here last year who talked about wearing a pussy hat to a protest was called out.
It’s likely that one of three things are happening. Some trans women said something along the lines of “hey, the pussy hats are cute and all but just a friendly reminder, not all women have pussies” and some people (trolls, Republicans, TERFs etc.) disingenuously spun that as “OMG trans women are telling people not to go to women’s marches!” Or a very small number of people actually did say women’s marches are too problematic to attend and it went sorta viral. Or some trolls posing as straw SJWs sent tweets to some feminists calling them transphobes.
This anniversary of the women’s march was sad for me. The march in my city was canceled due to infighting. WWTH, I want to believe that trolls are over-hyping the conflicts within the feminist movement, but I worry more and more that I’m being naive. I have to keep telling myself that it can’t be as bad as it seems or I start getting really depressed. I’m still pissed that there was no march in my city and if there’s something I should have done differently (like getting way more involved, but I have social anxiety and I know that’s not an excuse but boy does it make it difficult.)
@calmdown,
It is definitely an excuse, a legit one. Happily, there’s more recognition that not everyone can be on the frontlines – and that we can still make essential contributions.
@WWTH,
That’s… that’s exactly what I saw unfolding on Twitter this morning, on my way to work. You’re good!
On a somewhat lighter note, but still related to the women’s march, here’s my favourite sign (and the competition was fierce!):
Also, apparently if you call the White House right now, the voicemail will inform you that the line’s closed thanks to Dems holding the govt hostage. I would love to hear this recording. Perfect Pettiness ???
As a trans woman I can tell you I love the hats, never even thought for a second there was anything wrong with the hats. Great hats!
Infighting over hats? Fake news I calls it.
I remember a tiny bit of kerfluffle over the march and the hats last year:
1. one transgirl on Twitter said she didn’t go because it was too cis and TERF-y for her;
2. another transgirl drew a cartoon about her sadness at not feeling that she could march, and she was horribly attacked by TERFs.
So…
That contributes nothing to this current conversation. Oops.
@Misophistry
Seconding your sentiments. If there’s any infighting over hats I sure as hell don’t know about it.
The hats are fine. Terfs on the other hand are scary.
I seen someone in Twitter talk about these hats because they are pink and this is ‘super racist’. but I didn’t see any thing about this from transwomen and woc who I follow. also (maybe too much information) but I know not even all white women will have pink colour in this place.
I think it is about this comment from trump. maybe there are better hat ideas – but I didn’t yet see anyone who is trans or person of colour make this argument. so like kupo and axe I think we should judge by what they say or don’t say.
and finally. yes fuck terfs. they are aggressive and dangerous and threatens safety of trans people. we should fight them – not hats.
this tweet shows what is a real problem at the women’s March
[content warning]
https://twitter.com/myhairisblue/status/955170311334395904
ps. it’s Terfs
@Shadowplay and @kupo, thank you! Now I know exactly where to look, I can be sure that it’s not just me and my eyes – there was something wonky at my end, but it’s ok now 🙂
@Valya,
First, ew.
That woman in the photo… why oh why would anyone be like, “Ooooh, I’m going on the women’s march; I’d better make a great sign! I know – this one, it’s perfect!”
Weird priorities. Also, ew.
Second, yes, that’s the kind of stuff I’ve seen, for the most part. Although that’s no doubt shaped by who I follow on Twitter, so hey, @abars01, this isn’t having a go at you, ok? ?
From that twitter thread: https://twitter.com/Genyi1681/status/955213184381661184
Much more like it.
Valya,
Considering Trump just announced his intention to make it legal for healthcare providers to discriminate against trans people because of their “conscience” I’m wondering if that women is marching in support of or against Trump.
And in non-human animals are better than people news, this is Preston the therapy dog who has been comforting survivors speaking at Larry Nassar’s sentencing.
https://twitter.com/nickmonacelli/status/953353876215918593
What a good, sweet boy. Those puppy eyes!
This article recently added to my views about gossip. For a while I had primarily been describing it as a bad thing and using that as a tool to pressure people criticizing accusers of harassment, abuse and bigotry to put up or shut up while also pointing out problems with their conduct. But Glenn Close made me see how gossip is a neutral (I love it when this happens) and that while it’s good to be able to pressure and call-out very concerned swarms, it also relates to the whisper networks and whistle blowing.
Fortunately it’s not a matter of changing strategy, it’s a matter if adding to it and development of new rhetoric.
Glenn Close on the Weinstein Effect and Why Gossip Is Good by Rich Juzwiak
Messing around with a game that’s still in alpha – Tangledeep. It’s kind of fun, a little steep on the learning curve, and there is a long thread on Steam on the fact that all playable characters are “female.”*
Think it’s the longest discussion thread on the Tangledeep board. Some people need to get a life. 🙁
Game’s fun though. Great dev too, very responsive.
*Seriously, the sprites are about 36px tall. They don’t really have a visible gender under their class clothing. Yet people are complaining. One fool got a refund, several others are holding off buying the game until “male” sprites are added.
As a crafter, my opinion on pussy hats goes something like this: “We turned out thousands of those on short notice for people to wear. Respect the knitters and crocheters who donated their efforts.” Anything else, I have to think about a little more.
In other news, my oldest cat is still taking a long time to leave this world. She’s (possibly) going deaf, and is definitely cranky, but she’s still active enough and affectionate enough that I can’t just say, “Time to take her in for that final visit.” Stubborn ol’ broad. She’ll leave when she’s good and ready.
Do any in the commenter community have reassurance that Dave Futrelle is alright? I know he has chronic discomfort, but I worry that we’ll “lose” him. Sorry, this country’s health care system scares me, and Dave has been gone for weeks. I probably missed an update, but maybe someone doesn’t mind repeating the news.
Something about the current political climate lends itself to me worrying about something like “is Dave OK?”
Shadowplay:
IDGI. Have all other roguelike crawlers suddenly disappeared, forcing dudes to play this one?
@Mish
Thanks for this. This year I do want to find some ways that I can contribute. Ps- love that sign!
Sheriff Clarke’s Twitter was hacked by the Turks.
https://twitter.com/SheriffClarkeTC/status/955509547283763200