J2 Racefail

[sparkfrost]

I imagine those of you in the SPN fandom, or those who read Fandom Wank have already heard about the epic J2 racefail involving the fic set in post-quake Haiti. If you haven't, or if you'd like to learn more about it, there is an excellent wrap-up post here, complete with links to not only the original fic but to other essays and responses to the issue.

I'm white. I've made no secret about that, I'm a WASP who was born and raised outside of DC. Even living in such a "blue" area, I've struggled with my own subconscious racial issues. I work really hard to NOT look at everything from my priveleged point of view, and to also not make it an "exploring the other" exercise. I try my best to think of and treat other people as just that- people. And when issues like RaceFail come up, I look really hard at my own beliefs and actions, and if I find myself acting or thinking in a questionable manner, I work really hard to correct it! But most of all- if someone calls me on an action or post that is fucked up- I DON'T THROW A FUCKING HISSY FIT! I don't claim that I can't possibly be racist because [insert x reason here], and I don't say I'm so fucking hurt that someone called me racist!

That is what I find most despicable about the J2 Racefail and the one last year- if you do something fucked up, and people call you on it, FUCKING DEAL WITH IT LIKE A GROWNUP! Apologize, retract your statement (or fic, or fanart, or whatever), and WORK ON YOUR ISSUES!

Fuck, man. Fandom, as awesome as it can be (see help_haiti), can be epically fucked up.

Comments

[xsnarkasaurus.livejournal.com]

while I agree with that, whole heartedly, there's a whole sector of the internet that won't let people retract. they throw royal fits about how people are trying to cover things up and why can't they just take it like a man/woman/grown up person. It seems that no matter what anyone does, they get lambasted. No, it's not fair to anyone, and i'd much rather people own up to what they've done, apologize and fix it, but as someone who is trying to help a friend through what has already been religion fail (long story. :/ ) I know that an honest attempt at apologizing and trying to understand why people are so angry and where they're coming from gets turned into racism and other such ridiculous things.

...i have no idea what i just said.

[sparkfrost.livejournal.com]

I do know that there is a part of fandom that won't let it go. But from what I've read, the majority of fandom isn't even bringing the discussion to the author in question anymore. It has, for the most part, moved into a series of meta posts on race and fandom. But there is yet another part of fandom who is doggedly backing the OP and saying that she did nothing wrong. That is the part that I find to be most bullshit.

[xsnarkasaurus.livejournal.com]

ah! i see. (clearly I should be more awake when I respond to things...) yeah, I've never understood that. I mean. it is quite clear that there was something wrong. If nothing else, using the backdrop of a RECENT tragedy. Hell, people get upset with one that took place less than 100 years ago, why would one less than 6 months old be okay?

and yet...

That's the one thing I'm firm on, as I help my friend deal with the fall out from her admittedly really, really poor choice: she. messed. up. and now she has to deal with it. I'll help her deal with the fall out and all, but the minute she starts in with "but I don't understand!", I'm right there to point out why this was a Really Bad Choice. I just wish the J2 fic writer had someone to do that for her instead of a cadre of people defending her. :(

[sparkfrost.livejournal.com]

Indeed! I think people have pointed it out to her, but from the responses I read, she still seems to mostly be pulling the "But I didn't mean to!" line. However the fanartist, who was also criticized, has edited her post to include an apology, to change the art to links to the art so no one has to see it who doesn't want to, and to state that she will be taking the art down (but didn't want to just delete and pretend it never happened). In my opinion, that is how you react when you're told that you've done something offensive.

[xsnarkasaurus.livejournal.com]

This. this, so very very much, this.

[droewyn.livejournal.com]

I've noticed that Fandom is really susceptible to the idea that We Can Never Be Racist, Sexist, Or Classist Because We Are Open, Inclusive, Tolerant, Intelligent, and Enlightened. ... Now Excuse Me While I Go Freak That Mundane I Saw With The Jesus Fish On His Car. Fucking Christians.

OpenSourceBoobFail was an excellent example of this.

[sparkfrost.livejournal.com]

Indeed! OPenSourceBoobFail was an incredibly interesting example, because there was extreme fail on both sides. I read the original post before fandom exploded, and it seemed to me that the author had *no idea* that people might take offense to the actions of him and his friends. To all the people involved, it was a fun Con game. Then, of course, fandom exploded. Which I didn't blame them for, until they started *berating* the women who had been involved in the Open Source Boob Project, and denying them their ability and right to make choices for themselves.

General fail all around, imo.

[barbituratecat.livejournal.com]

This ONE thing has shown up no less than 3 times, in completely separate journals and communities, on my friends list. At this point alone, I'd consider that a fail of epic proportions.

[sparkfrost.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it is a fail of epic proportions. Made larger because people keep *defending* the OP, instead of admitting that yeah, she did something fucked up. She didn't mean to, apparently, but it was still fucked up.