It isn’t for “no real effect”. Harry Potter is a merchandise empire and it’s important to see how that empire is being utilized. Open fan support of Harry Potter is often used as a direct open signal of anti-trans support and Terf ideology. Here in Vancouver where we have a larger than average population of trans and non-binary folk and more open accommodation to the community a billboard was put up saying “I❤️ JK Rowling” downtown because it’s a more nebulous dogwhistle that wouldn’t immediately ping Canada’s hate speech laws so that the whole “Freedom of Speech” ploy could be envoked.
Whenever a new HP franchise item comes out there’s a wave of people who flood online and sometimes in person trans spaces who use the barest veneer of support of the franchise as a means to say some truely awful things about trans people. Some don’t even bother mentioning the franchise they just participate in the storming because they have the opportunity. Those spaces are often filled with vulnerable people seeking support and solidarity and these rushes can leave isolated trans people without community for weeks.
Here in Van someone wearing HP merch in any queer space is throwing up a flag that says “I am potentially an unsafe person.”
Article of the billboard.
You don’t have to give up your books. All we ask is that people do not white knight the author or the publication and merchandising empire which keeps making her influence into an active memetic weapon.
Duke_Nukem_1990@feddit.org 4 days ago
Hmm on the one hand is kicking trans people down the stairs and on the other hand is having enough self discipline to not consume a single franchise. Yeah you are right, this is a tough choice! lmao, personal sacrifice my ass
gamermanh@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 days ago
This level of hyperbole makes you sound like the MAGA crowd, dude
arya48@lemmy.world 3 days ago
Hyperbole is when person asks you to not play one single video game to show support for trans people when you can easily play anything else instead. How dare they, so mean. Exactly like the fascists who support MAGA 🙄
gamermanh@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 days ago
Wow, that comment makes you look fucking dumb, not knowing what hyperbole means
I_Has_A_Hat@lemmy.world 3 days ago
Except the hyperbole in this case is comparing someone who has played “one single video game” as the same as kicking trans people down the stairs.
You get that right? The insufferability comes not from saying “please show support by not playing this game” but from saying “if you play this game, you are a bad person”.
omarfw@lemmy.world 3 days ago
Hyperbole and bad faith arguing is not compelling anyone to support your cause or your point of view
arya48@lemmy.world 3 days ago
Literally hundreds of games, movies and books out there not made by a monster leading the anti trans movement but you’re still unwilling to give up on one video game to show support for trans people. They are absolutely right about you, nothing hyperbolic about what they said.
omarfw@lemmy.world 3 days ago
I haven’t played the game nor do I want to. What I said is still true nonetheless. If you want to convince someone to boycott a piece of media, being a presumptuous dickhead is the exact opposite way you accomplish that.