Hmmmm. Racism 101.

[alissablue]

Ok, I usually avoid racial issues like the plague. I keep it far, far away from my fangirling ways and I never get into racial issues in fandoms etc. Partly because I simply do not always feel like dealing with it. I’ve dealt with racism in real life, I don’t want to deal with it in my “fictional” life as well. And I’m posting this here and not on

Comments

[slayerkitty]

I am right there with you. Not only in fandom, but in real life, because about half of those statements basically insulted or invalidated five of my nieces and nephews. They're all mixed and beautiful.

[alissablue]

*sigh* Yeah, I'm just getting so sick and tired of seeing things like this in fandom. Especially with these very young fangirls, who don't realize that the things they're saying and the way they're spreading hate (like hate tweets and all that) is incredibly hurtful. Despite its intensity, fandom is still supposed to be fun and enjoyable, but the more time I spend in fandom (especially the Glee fandom and especially with a couple like sam/mercedes), the more I find myself getting angry and frustrated.

[slayerkitty]

*hugs* I get that, it must be awful to see that kind of hate. Unfortunately, Glee fandom is full of haters.

[alissablue]

*hugs* to you too. Fortunately, the Glee fandom also has awesome people like us.

[sleeper6]

Yeah, I don't like to talk about it either when it comes to fandoms; it's never pretty.

Anyway, I cannot even believe people are posting such opinions publicly. WTF indeed! I''m not Caucasian so I'd definitely be put off by people insisting that a person like me could not be with someone with different skin color because we don't look the same. *shakes head* Wow, just wow. That is racist, plain and simple.

#4!!! I can't even . . .

Sorry you have to witness all that. *hugs*

[alissablue]

People posting things like that always takes me by surprise, you know? Even though it really shouldn't. I mean, it's 2012. We’re supposed to be closer to judging people “by the content of their character”, instead of the color of their skin. I’ve dealt with racism myself, in real life, and fandom is supposed to be enjoyable and “colorblind” and race shouldn’t even be an issue in fandom, imo.

And to think that some people (and what's especially sad about all of this, is that I mostly see these things from teenagers) still think like this and are apparently teaching their children these things... And if they're posting such vicious things about fictional characters and couples, then I have to wonder what they're like in real life.

So, yeah, it sucks.

[moerlin]

My reactions were pretty much OMG, WTF and WOW. :( Seriously?! What is wrong with people. Totally understand your anger. Ugh.

Especially this:

4. If you say that Michael Fassbender dating his new (black) girlfriend is a “waste of his beautiful Aryan genes” and that “mixing of black/white and latino/white” rarely leads to attractive results, chances are you are being racist.

No... just no. If I had that Futurama "I don't want to live on this planet" picture, I'd post it now.

[alissablue]

No... just no. If I had that Futurama "I don't want to live on this planet" picture, I'd post it now.
MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY. I need that picture for situations like this. I also enjoy the phrase "I weep for humanity."

#4 is definitely the worst one of all, because that's not even about a fictional couple, but real people with real feelings. Ugh.

[bluemagicrose]

This is why I keep my ass out of fandom as much as possible. It's why I got out of True Blood (well, that and the fact that I don't have HBO any more), it's why I'm barely hanging on by a thread with the Merlin fandom. Fandom is sickening and I think part of it is the anonymous nature of it. None of those people making those comments are going to meet the actors that portray the characters, the writers who create the characters, etc. And if they did they wouldn't be saying those things to their faces. So they say it in an area where no one knows them (unless they know the people IRL or have told been told who the person really is) and they can relatively get away with it.

You know what gets me? When people try to make these comments and say they aren't racist. You know what? Own your racism if you want to be racist. Don't make the comment and then act like you didn't say it or that's not what you mean or you're not being extremely ignorant at the very least. You said it, you meant it, own it when people call you out.

[alissablue]

I'm not in those fandoms, but I'm well aware of the disproportionate hate towards characters like Tara and Gwen(?). I also once read an interesting article on fandom's tendency to dislike minority characters, most notably black female characters. :/

And I agree. I think that if those same fangirls would ever meet the actors and writers, especially the ones they're bashing online, they would pretend to be their biggest fan.

You know what gets me? When people try to make these comments and say they aren't racist
I've seen so many people make racist comments, only to then (when they're confronted about it) claim that they're not being racist, because "I dated a black boy once, he was really nice", "One of my best friends is black" etc.

[bluemagicrose]

How bad is it that you're not even a part of those fandoms and the hatred is that well known? But they're not being racist. And I saw that article too. I shouldn't take that personally, but as a black female I can't help but. No way is any of that a coincidence. No way. (And yes, it's Gwen.)

Yes, the ole "I'm not racist because I dated/friends with/know [insert minority here]" claim. I want to smack those people sometimes.

Why does the comment box have that "tinypic this image or video has been moved or deleted" message? Maybe I'm the only one getting this...?

[alissablue]

It’s not just you, I’m getting the tinypic thing, too. I promise to fix it next week, after my exams. I just have to figure out what part of my CSS stylesheet is causing it. XD