to the failboats!

[such_heights]

Oh god, and I was having such a nice day!

So, Roman Polanski. WHAT THE FUCK, WHAT THE FUCK. I did not need to know that there were this many people just jumping at the bit to rush to his defence. Here is a great rebuttal of all the crap people are spouting, and here's another.

Also, I think this is the most depressing thing I've ever seen: a list of people who've signed a Free Polanski petition.

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Fail of a different kind (this mostly comes via sheafrotherdon): the Lamda Literary Foundation, dedicated to promoting LGBT writers & work dealing with LGBT subjects, has recently changed its criteria for the annual awards that they give out such that awards should focus specifically on LGBT authors. This has raised questions that rm talks eloquently about here - personally, I don't actually know how I feel about it. I can see the perspectives for and against, and I think it's complicated issue that's worth talking about, the right to know and/or the relevance of someone's sexual and gender identity. I didn't have the spare brain power to give it much thought, however. But NOW some straight, cisgendered people have become all outraged about the notion, and this is all so predictable.

I really, really do not have the energy to read through the all the links, comments and discussion, and all the fail therein, but I will signal boost and say that there are link pages here and here and also linkspam.

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SERIOUSLY, PEOPLE. A NICE DAY. THAT IS WHAT I WAS HAVING. I'm going to get back to that now.

Comments

[gorgeousnerd]

Ugh, I saw both of these things, and I've been doing my best to ignore them. Of course, I can believe that the Lambda Literary Foundation's trying to do some good, even if the end result is highly problematic. (I haven't seen much of the fail in conjunction with this, but I'm sure it's as cringeworthy as it sounds.)

But I honestly can't see why so much of Hollywood wants Roman Polanski freed. I remember when he won the Oscar for The Pianist and the crowd gave him a standing ovation. I didn't understand it then, and I don't understand it now. He committed a crime, pled guilty, and fled the country; making movies doesn't give him a free pass to act however he wants. Just skimming the list you linked to made me nauseous.

[fallingtowers]

The list is just -- I truly have no words. There are these incredibly gifted, educated, erudite and creative people, including not only creeps like Woody Allen, but smart women like Tilda Swinton or Yasmina Reza, and they want to give a rapist a pass.

I do think that Polanski made some wonderful and brilliant movies, but that does not prevent him from having committed a sex crime. Full stop.

[gandaki]

But NOW some straight, cisgendered people have become all outraged about the notion, and this is all so predictable.

This makes me so angry. I do understand the need to discuss what literary rewards mean, who or what they honor and how they have an effect on the community and how people choose (or don't choose) to publicly identify themselves, and that is an issue that is not simple.

But I really, really do not understand the outcries from straight, cisgendered writers making it All About Them and Their Hurt Feelings.

[glass_icarus]

Oh god, I was reading some of the linkspam too. D: rm's post was really amazing, as were some other folks'- I've forgotten the links now- about the differences between "awards for stories featuring LGBTQ characters" and "awards for LGBTQ authors," which I think is something many people are having trouble with. (The straight cisgendered fail is, of course, UGH all the way around.)

&hearts

[miss_haitch]

...
I'd read about the Lamda award, but didn't know about people jumping to Polanski's defence. Just. It has nothing to do with art. He raped a child. There's no question what should be done but these people think there is?

[afterthree]

I second your WHAT THE FUCKING FUCK.

[isagel]

Fuck, but that Free Polanski list IS depressing. It hurts to see names on there of people whose work I love and for whom I've previously had nothing but respect and admiration. Christ.

The only thing I have to say about the LAMDA awards thing is that at some point it's bound to result in controversy about who is LGBT and who isn't. It looks to me like a disaster waiting to happen for the organizers, even without the heaps of fail the straight and privileged are committing right now.

[ex_flipside466]

WHY?

1. Drugged child.
2. Raped child.
3. Admitted guilt.
4. Fled country.
5. Profited!

What is there to defend? It makes me sick to my stomach.

[briar_pipe]

WORD on Polanski. That is so messed up on so many levels.

And wow, I think rm hit the nail on the head this time. I'd been on the fence, but that was compelling. Thanks for the link!

[builtofsorrow]

If you would like another rebuttal re. Polanski, this is worth reading. I find it even more intriguing because the author discusses the Polanski case in light of the fact that the Polish Sejm just passed a law mandating chemical castration of convicted pedophiles (highly ironic, I find, given that Poland is one of the countries petitioning the US to drop the charges).

[sunnyrea.livejournal.com]

Seriously, yeah, Roman Polanski I do not get anyone thinking that just because bad things have happened in a person's life that makes it ok to do bad things to other people. Yeah so a lot of shit happened to him that means he should be allowed to rape a 13 year old girl and get away with it? Seriously, WHAT!?

[hanuueshe.livejournal.com]

I... don't know how to do html.

Anyway, I just wanted to make sure you knew that rm on LJ started a "put Polanski on trial" petition, to counter the stupid one.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/art-does-not-excuse-rape-polanski-must-face-justice

[such_heights]

Thanks! I saw that and am much cheered by it.

[ontology]

Why that's right, I do have a Dreamwidth account. Hi, me! :p

Gah, this Polanski nonsense. If I could picket, I would, is how pissed I am in regards to all of this. (Technically I could march up and down the busiest street in town with a sign, but seeing as this is small-town Pennsylvania, I would be alone and nobody would have any idea what I was talking about and it wouldn't be any use to anyone.) I'm so glad for the Do Not Free Polanski petition, though. (Also, you are my awesome source of human interest topics! ♥ Even if I don't comment half as much as I mean to, I've learnt so much about things going on in the world online and off and ideas as to how I can help.)

Also, does this mean that when I get a parking ticket or something, I can show the officer a couple of poems and he'll be obligated to let me off on account of my amazing brilliant fantasticness making up for any infractions?

[such_heights]

Hi, you!

Even if I don't comment half as much as I mean to, I've learnt so much about things going on in the world online and off and ideas as to how I can help.

Thank you, sweets, that is so nice to hear! I like to think we're all in this together, helping and learning along the way.