What in the world?
So, I'm checking in on Tenkar's... sorry, I mean Karen's Tavern when I see this post about a DriveThru product with a dumb pseudo-political message at the bottom of the product description.
Apparently, Erik was offended enough by "All Cops Are Bastards" to email DriveThru with a complaint. Later that day, the product was nuked from orbit.
Now, I'm not a fan of ACAB or much of anything coming from the Antifa, BLM, and rioting leftist area of the culture. But I'm not going to complain, I'm not going to say it shouldn't be there, I'm not going to suggest that products with offensive slogans (political or not) should be removed from shelves (virtual or not).
Last time I checked, this was a free fucking country. The category of "offensive speech" like "hate speech" doesn't exist. It's made-up. But you know what's not make-believe? Cancel culture. It's as real as a heart attack, and people like you and me are living on its edge. We're just one bad tweet away from disintegration, my friend. And the pathetic pearl-clutching authoritarians and losers who believe in such things are only doing it for control.
Part of the reason why I wouldn't want "All Cops Are Bastards" to be censored, other than the fact that it's none of my god damned business, is because it's a slippery slope.
I also wouldn't want products or product descriptions with "Jeffery Epstein Didn't Kill Himself" taken down... or "Black Lives Matter" or "Blue Lives Matter" or "All Lives Matter" or "Social Justice Warriors Need Not Apply" or "Jesus Saves" or "Hail Cthulhu" or "Vote In November" or "Don't Tread On Me" or "I Love The USA" or "Babies Are People, Too. Don't Murder Them."
It's 2020. I don't have to tell you that things are pretty crazy. Let's not make things worse intentionally by calling out every little thing that might not fit the status-quo or our own personal views of what might be safe or proper or appropriate. Who knows, maybe we need to get a little problematic in order to right the ship?
While Karen is asking the clerk if she can speak to the manager, I hope the rest of us can go about our daily lives without succumbing to the desire to crush everything that isn't exactly tailored specifically to us.
We're individuals without the need for safe spaces. Our sensibilities aren't that delicate.
VS
p.s. Cha'alt: Fuchsia Malaise is out, and I hope you grab the PDF... especially if it offends you (and it probably will).
Why do you think OneBookShelf is neutral? Was it when Evil Hat complained? Or the Anti-Zak Smith/James Raggi brigade? They are a business. They are not a bastion of free speech and don't pretend to be because they can be sued.
ReplyDeleteIn my comic store I only ordered Alan Moore's Lost Girls as special order. I don't keep it on my shelves because, IMO, its pornography. I will sell to a person but I won't stock it.
I never said DriveThruRPG / OneBookShelf was neutral.
DeleteDo they have a "no politics" clause in their terms of service? Did they ever mention Black Lives Matter anywhere on their site? If so, they broke their own rules. Who decides what is or isn't political? Customers complain about Kort'thalis Publishing products all the time, but OBS tells them to go take a hike, thankfully.
Does anybody ever think about the future? Where does this end? What kind of country do we want to preserve?
I just saw that Tenkar himself said that if a political statement had appeared inside the actual product, he would have complained to the publisher. By his own admission, even the slogan "Blue Lives Matter". Does that not bother you?
DeleteI cancel (Block) people all the time, for sharing stupid s**t I don't agree with, or care to see in my feeds. Especially those that dunk on HPL and REH.
ReplyDeleteBut that's me, on my timeline, on my screen. I don't care what they put out there on their screens, and some other folks might appreciate it. If I disagree with a person's message I am free not to buy their product. Who am I to tell them they can't sell it?
As far as I'm concerned, label your products as you see fit. As I've said before, you are welcome to march down my street with any dumb sign you want. Just stay off my grass, unless I invite you in.
Well said, hoss.
DeleteSounds like Tenkar just admitted that it wasn't so much political as it was racial prejudice and tribalism prompting him to complain.
ReplyDelete"I pointed out a white skinhead community motto that was irrelevant to a product description." ~ Eric "Karen" Tenkar
Also, he just closed comments on that blog post. Feel free to comment here!
If it really was as neutrally motivated as Karen claims, why then take it to the highest, loudest platform available to Karen, and wave it around like a flag to signify victory. Like a damn trophy. Oooh 12 year in IA... what, because you willingly perpetuate the illusion that law enforcement polices its own? To aid and abet them in closing ranks whenever they are in the wrong? So excuse me if I don't believe Karen would equally report pro-police messaging.
ReplyDeleteEven if he would report pro-police messaging, that still stinks!
Delete100% agree, I was attempting to highlight Karen's feeble attempt to knock over a straw man.
ReplyDeleteI tried to reply before but I think I wasn't logged in or something... so if I reply roughly the same thing twice sorry.
The Vanishing Tower on blogspot had a fit about Swampfox1776 using a waving Confederate flag for his avatar.
ReplyDeleteSeems like a third of the country is having a fit about something or other. Personally, I don't have a problem with individuals who use the Confederate flag.
DeleteIn the original, uncensored and unrevised HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE by Dale Carnegie, he told a story about how young Benjamin Franklin was opinionated and was told that his opinions had a slap in the face for anyone who disagreed, and a friend told him to mend his ways...and he did! He would present his views in a milder way by saying things like, "Normally on this matter you might be right, but in this particular situation I see some difference." That softened things and gave people respect and a chance to listen to him.
ReplyDeleteSo I see "some difference" here besides an A or B opinion. You can debate how a society should be run, but once you set the rules you have to stick to it for a society to function as intended. The police enforce the laws as written, so it is suicidal for a society to have songs that say "Fuck the Police!" or argue to ban or defund the police. I say censor that stuff the fuck away! I would also not bend to any musician's open-mindedness crusade to let the radio air his song, "All we are saying / Is give pedophilia a chance". Hell no! I don't think traumatized children manipulated into fucking are going to grow up to be very effective or stable members of society. Censor that too! Look at the suggested pillars of society: all men should get a job, all women should not have children they can't afford to raise, and everyone refrains from violence. You need the police watchdogs to prevent the violence, so any counter-productive movements to smear the police or urge that they disappear, uh-uh, go ahead and ban that perp.
A lot of content here, but I agree with pretty much everything you said.
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