Sacred Symbols+, Episode 278 | A Completely Political Conversation About JK Rowling
Added 2023-03-18 16:03:01 +0000 UTCWeeks ago, I (Colin) endeavored to cover the controversy surrounding Hogwarts Legacy with as much balance as I could. I feel like this is the kinda stuff Sacred Symbols+ undoubtedly does best: Diving deep into sometimes-heated, often-complex issues in and around our industry. To that end, I sought out two different people in the political sphere that I thought could help me deconstruct this mess, but I only partially succeeded. As you'll hear during this episode's intro, I failed to find someone to take on the so-called anti-Rowling side, one prominent seemingly everywhere except for in front of a microphone in a challenging setting. And frankly, I don't find this surprising, as the attacks on JK Rowling and Hogwarts Legacy have been indefensible. Nevertheless, I would have liked to deliver and defend my case, but found no takers. I did, however, find a taker 'on the other side,' and that's previous + guest Noam Blum. Thus, we had a decision: Publish only the Noam conversation, which was meant to be half of the show, hold out for the unlikely event someone says yes to us, or simply publish nothing at all. We went with the first choice. Please understand: This episode has nothing to do with Hogwarts Legacy as a game, but the culture surrounding the drama. By clicking play, you understand that you're getting a completely political conversation. With that said, enjoy.
Comments
They’re not though… 🤷♂️
Adam Barnes
2023-11-22 05:18:35 +0000 UTCAndrew Klavan plays and talks about games.
Tony Starrk
2023-06-10 14:58:52 +0000 UTCJust got around to listening to this - the reason why the daily wire doesn’t have a gaming arm is because Ben Shapiro, Matt Walsh, Candace Owens, and Michael Knowles all think gaming is for children and any adult who plays games is a loser. They have all said so in one way or another. Matt Walsh is currently trying to say he never said that and doesn’t believe it but he’s literally lying about it. They even made his article he wrote about video games a few years back, much harder to find. Unfortunately the right is just like it was back in the 90s. Gaming is attacked from the outside still from the right and from the left with self censorship and agenda pushing
PairOfShuse
2023-05-04 15:56:17 +0000 UTCIt's very telling that the trans person wasn't willing to identify themselves because their own side would cancel them for it....but team reality are the bigots or something
Chris King
2023-03-31 23:53:45 +0000 UTCOverall pretty fair episode. Really enjoyed it. And I know this was the episode in favor of Rowling, but steel manning arguments against Rowling and arguing against that would have been even more interesting.
Dennis
2023-03-28 17:42:50 +0000 UTCI wanna forward this too. Grab Destiny (Steven Bonnell II, streamer) for any social-political talk. Not only will he take an interesting pro-trans stance, in this particular case, but will also walk with you into acknowledging that a lot of the discourse is shite right now. His opinions are nicely rounded and nuanced when it comes down to it. Frankly he's top of the game rn.
Keith Golfer
2023-03-27 16:31:51 +0000 UTCCould you elaborate? I have a take but I’d rather hear yours first.
Kid-Organic
2023-03-27 06:02:37 +0000 UTCColin have you tried reaching out to Vaush? I feel like he would talk.
ProjectS
2023-03-24 13:54:23 +0000 UTCColin doing a political episode, let's fucking go!!! The Athletics body has just banned trans women from competing in the women's athletics
Zack Fair
2023-03-24 10:50:27 +0000 UTCA little surprised at the responses to the pretty respectful criticism that’s occurred on this episode.
Owen
2023-03-23 12:17:59 +0000 UTCThanks, I'll check this out!
Kyle Fox
2023-03-23 10:29:51 +0000 UTCThis is exactly why I feel like LSM commentary on JKR is so bogus
Kyle Fox
2023-03-23 10:28:59 +0000 UTCSuch a good podcast - I'm up to the most recent episode
Caleb Miller
2023-03-23 05:51:22 +0000 UTCAnyone else listening to the Podcast "Witchunt of JK Rowling"? It's awesome - all sides, really well produced and the entire back story. Get on it
Caleb Miller
2023-03-23 05:50:45 +0000 UTCIt’s legitimately hilarious that Colin posts an explicitly anti-trans podcast and then frames his inability to find a pro trans view as “pussies were too afraid to debate me” and is super confused why some people hate him and don’t wanna talk to him. I fuck with Colin on all things games but this whole situation is why I basically ignore any remotely political conversation he has.
YaBoyStevieJay
2023-03-23 04:43:58 +0000 UTCI wish you two could’ve reread Rowling’s post(s) when saying “she didn’t say anything”. To establish context would’ve been beneficial to the listener who might not know all the fact or is deep in the Twitter-verse, i.e. me.
Kid-Organic
2023-03-23 01:43:48 +0000 UTC*aren’t
Kid-Organic
2023-03-23 01:41:14 +0000 UTCColin saying Trans women isn't women is the most Trans hating thing I heard this is the last episode I'm listening to fuck Colin and his bullshit
Amber
2023-03-22 21:02:01 +0000 UTCCame here to say something similar. Just because no one wanted to come on this particular show that fits the criteria you want, doesn’t make it indefensible, and making a statement like that is is pretty surprising. There’s a podcast series going on right now called the witch trials of J.K. Rowling and the most recent episode brought in critics that meet this criteria.
Owen
2023-03-22 15:09:53 +0000 UTCAn important topic and great discussion! Good on Colin for trying to get both sides and their views and deciding not to do the interview with such weird stipulations but I thought Colin and Noam covered this in a fair manner. Happy to support LSM on Patreon.
Matthew Guilford
2023-03-22 14:30:46 +0000 UTCJames Stephanie Sterling comes to mind. Did a great Jimquisition on the topic. Perhaps reached out already though.
Aaron
2023-03-22 04:20:53 +0000 UTCI enjoyed the episode but the presence of an opposing opinion was greatly missed. I understand that Colin wanted to get a trans person, but as others have said, I’m not entirely sure why that was a requirement. It would be great to elaborate on why that was so essential and pivotal to Colin. In any event, it seems a bit unfair to look at the absence of someone to speak on the issue as evidence that the “anti-Rowling” side/arguments are indefensible. Especially when Colin has narrowed the universe and placed additional constraints on finding such a person. The pro-Rowling side was not limited to someone who was a complete transphobic person who thought bad things should happen to trans people.
Nicole Humphrey
2023-03-21 21:26:26 +0000 UTCCould someone tell me if JK Rowling's public statement on transgenderism is referenced in this discussion before listening?
Kyle Fox
2023-03-21 21:10:13 +0000 UTCIndeed
TexasTaterSalad
2023-03-21 20:45:48 +0000 UTCI'm giving Colin the benefit of the doubt here that he had the best of intentions by pursing guests who were specifically, and explicitly, trans (although I do agree with some other commenters that it doesn't always come across that way in his opining on the topic). I think it was a really missed opportunity to not be willing to pivot to someone who is more of a vocal ally of the trans community and has been critical of Rowling. Whatever Colin or others believe about the specific nuances of the debate, both as it pertains to Rowling's role and trans people more broadly, it seems completely overlooked by Colin that the trans community is still a hugely stigmatized, marginalized group of people. Like other marginalized communities, as they pertain to race, gender, etc, the exhaustive work of sharing a platform and educating should not exclusively belong to them. In a cooperative and morale society, more privileged people need to have and use these platforms as well.
PluuusRyan
2023-03-21 20:18:05 +0000 UTCThe Free Press started a podcast a few weeks ago called “The Witch Trial of J.K. Rowling” which includes an interview with J.K. Rowling and she goes into what she actually believes and it is a good listen. The most recent episode was a talk with two transgender people and why they felt hurt by Rowling.
Ingberg
2023-03-21 18:33:50 +0000 UTCWhat a well constructed comment
Timothy Martin
2023-03-21 16:42:22 +0000 UTCYeah, he has made his views clear. As have many others. The difference is, he offered to give a platform to those he disagrees with, while many others throw potshots on Twitter, but when given the chance to verbally back up their position they refuse. Philip Muicin and Mr. Abandoned had more balls than most people, and they arguably had no ground to stand on. How did Colin treat those people? With respect.
Tonys_Always_Write
2023-03-21 16:23:35 +0000 UTCJust picked up the game and can’t wait to dive into this :)
Pisqueak
2023-03-21 15:47:06 +0000 UTCNo worries. Yeah Colin knows the person he was speaking to is trans. The issue is that the person did not want to come onto the show and put a big arrow on top of their head that says “I’m trans” (I know a lot of this community is cool, but it’s obvious why they would want to not advertise the fact that they’re trans on this show,) and so he chose not to move forward with the conversation.
MJ SKA BOI
2023-03-21 14:14:09 +0000 UTCHey Colin, thanks for broaching the topic. While I may or may not agree with your positions or your methods on certain things, I appreciate you putting yourself out there and being willing to publicize your positions. I’m sure a lot of the responses to these kinds of episodes can be discouraging, but PLEASE keep diving deeper on more complex topics. This kind of content is yet another thing that makes this community different and interesting from other online group. And yeah I’d like to hear you talk to a trans person too but I’d settle for Jaffe! Or just have Jaffe on for some games stuff. I miss hearing the two of you talk. Keep your head up my dude
Kameron Dunlap
2023-03-20 23:55:54 +0000 UTCI enjoyed and appreciated this episode. Thanks for your great work Colin.
Alex Gould
2023-03-20 22:02:50 +0000 UTCI thought Colin has stated he was explicitly looking for a trans guest, so how would Colin know to reach out to this person if they weren’t already “out”. Sorry I’m probably missing something here.
Cai
2023-03-20 21:24:02 +0000 UTCAs you stated this episode is unbalanced, not sure what folks were expecting. And I don’t think a representative from the Trans Community not stepping into this episode is a huge mystery. A group seeking mostly affirmation isn’t going to speak to people who aren’t going to provide that. It’s a tough issue, but I think both sides should understand that it isn’t easy to dissect. There’s a lot of nuance here and discussion is the best way forward. I do think it would be way more interesting to hear those against Rowling here, but that type of content isn’t hard to find outside of Last Stand if you want to. As a final note, I appreciate that Last Stand doesn’t tell me I’m a bigot by not being onboard with every aspect of a social issue (some of you know which communities are doing so). Do I agree with everything said here? Not always. And thats OK, as that’s a two way street.
Noah Trujillo
2023-03-20 20:23:47 +0000 UTCWhat a disappointing episode
TexasTaterSalad
2023-03-20 15:46:13 +0000 UTCSome episodes are a hit, some are a miss. This episode is a miss. Colin sounded pretty dismissive towards the the situation in the podcast and in the write up. It's no wonder people from the other side didn't want to talk to him. I'm not gonna join a podcast to be berated.
Jorge Aponte
2023-03-20 13:13:32 +0000 UTCI mean you are the one emphasizing how you can’t get the “other” side on, so how can you not expect there to be conversation about that and what that even means? This whole thing is just silly, but it’s annoying seeing even some in the comments act like “see see see the “others” won’t even come on here”. Time to move on.
Zack E
2023-03-20 12:35:08 +0000 UTCI know it’s early in the morning but what a strawman that was. Again, trans people shouldn’t be made to feel like they have to disclose the fact that they’re trans. As it turns out, being trans isn’t about letting everybody know what you were assigned at birth. If you (the host) know a person is trans before bringing them on the show, that should be enough for you to work with them. It’s just not fair for you to pretend that the plan fell apart because they’re afraid to debate you. The reason it fell apart is that you didn’t want to let the person come on without outing themselves as trans.
MJ SKA BOI
2023-03-20 12:06:06 +0000 UTCI don't care, I wanted to talk to a trans person.
Colin Moriarty
2023-03-20 05:23:20 +0000 UTC"Why did you want to have a trans person on to talk about trans issues?" It really is damned if you do and damned if you don't, and I truly don't know why I even bother trying to do deeper content. If I had some random activist on, I'd be shouted down for not having a 'trans voice' on the show. This isn't at all worth the aggravation at this point in my life. Not even that people like or don't like the episode, which is irrelevant, but that people pretend they don't understand the intent, which is willful obfuscation. Not a huge surprise, I suppose, consider the subject matter. I should just bang toys together and tell the audience to buy everything. Nothing would change, except I wouldn't have to deal with relentless pedantry.
Colin Moriarty
2023-03-20 05:22:08 +0000 UTCYou should have Destiny on the show to speak on this topic! I don’t think he completely buys into the typical left wing narrative and I feel like he might be able to shed some light on the negativity surrounding Rowling’s effect on the trans community. He is not trans himself but I don’t think that should be a prerequisite for coming on the show to talk intelligently about providing the other side to the argument.
Taylor Laduron
2023-03-20 03:04:17 +0000 UTCSorry Colin I gotta agree with B-A-M-B here. I think it’s.....odd how you declined a discussion because the person didn’t want you to highlight the fact that the person was trans. Which I’m a bit confused why it even matters in the first place, I thought the point was to get someone on that is an opponent against supporting Hogwarts Legacy and/or JK R. Why did the person literally need to identify as trans and why would that need to be specifically mentioned? Seems totally counter to some of the ideas you preach in terms of content of thoughts and ideas over whatever characteristics of an individual. I understand why you’d be curious of that focused perspective, but that is not how you’ve pitched this whole thing or at least how I interpreted it, maybe I’m wrong in how you described it previously.
Zack E
2023-03-20 03:04:13 +0000 UTCThe majority of people boycotting Rowling and calling her a TERF aren't, so why limit the opposing view to transgendered people only? Jaffe is an outspoken ally, has a trans son, and is happy to talk to people with differing opinions, so he would've been the perfect counter balance. I hope you can get him on for a follow up discussion.
Gafferman
2023-03-20 01:39:01 +0000 UTCColin said the person in question was a prominent trans person. So I don’t think that’s the issue. Sound to me like she was trying to undercut Colin’s argument. Or not. But that’s the point. Weird request!!
Jesse V
2023-03-20 01:20:44 +0000 UTCHa ha no, trans people simply shouldn’t be made to feel like they have to disclose the fact that they are trans to an audience they do not feel comfortable sharing that information with. Again, though I’m sure you don’t mean it, your choice of language gives bad optics and makes you appear hostile. Lol members of this community have called me a “disgusting groomer” because I correctly pointed out that Mrs. Doubtfire was a film in which Robin Williams did drag! I wouldn’t want to come on your show and out myself as trans either.
MJ SKA BOI
2023-03-20 01:04:34 +0000 UTCNot only that - but a big point of contention in this topic is language and words. So you would be going in with a SEVERE handicap to the conversation.
Jesse V
2023-03-20 00:44:47 +0000 UTCI’m not going to have a conversation with a trans person about trans issues wherein IT CANNOT BE ACKNOWLEDGED THEY ARE TRANS. That is truly strange, and got an immediate ‘no’ from me, which is a shame since we were on our way to planning it out. No self-respecting inquirer would ever accept those terms, it’s laughable. I want(ed) to have a conversation with a trans person, not a trans activist or a trans ally or a trans-adjacent person. I spoke with four prominent trans creators in an attempt to make it happen. I did the best I could to deliver balance (again, more effort than virtually any content creator ever would, particularly in this space). And like I said on the show: I don’t blame them. I wouldn’t want to defend that stance either.
Colin Moriarty
2023-03-20 00:31:01 +0000 UTCColin- you opened this episode by saying that a trans person asked you not to “out” them on your podcast, and that you refused to give them that courtesy were they to guest. You can’t say you’ve tried to provide any balance at all when you won’t even do the bare minimum at showing a trans person this respect (despite saying early in this talk that you would treat a trans person with said respect.) That’s not balance. This is an hour of two cis people agreeing with one another on a trans issue. “They asked me not to mention that they’re trans, which I found strange?” Really? You’re smarter than that, dude.
MJ SKA BOI
2023-03-20 00:08:06 +0000 UTCStephanie Sterling is one of the four people I reached out to to do this show.
Colin Moriarty
2023-03-19 23:02:31 +0000 UTCDavid Jaffe isn't trans.
Colin Moriarty
2023-03-19 23:02:03 +0000 UTCI'm under zero obligation to take the ideas or notions seriously. Doesn't mean I'm afraid to let my audience hear it.
Colin Moriarty
2023-03-19 23:01:47 +0000 UTCThank you.
Colin Moriarty
2023-03-19 23:01:26 +0000 UTCI asked four prominent trans people. That's enough legwork.
Colin Moriarty
2023-03-19 23:00:59 +0000 UTCEnjoy.
Colin Moriarty
2023-03-19 23:00:41 +0000 UTCNever fails.
Colin Moriarty
2023-03-19 23:00:38 +0000 UTC=)
Colin Moriarty
2023-03-19 23:00:33 +0000 UTCThank you.
Colin Moriarty
2023-03-19 23:00:27 +0000 UTCThanks.
Colin Moriarty
2023-03-19 23:00:24 +0000 UTCThey're so often brave and willing.
Colin Moriarty
2023-03-19 23:00:21 +0000 UTCNothing anyone says is going to convince me a man can become a woman, but I tried to give someone the platform to say that, so that at least folks can hear it from the horse's mouth. That puts me under no obligation to go into a conversation about this topic with a so-called open mind, or to not speak my mind on said topic. In trying to provide balance with guests, I've already done far, far more than most commentators would ever do.
Colin Moriarty
2023-03-19 22:54:12 +0000 UTCDon't you think if you were that confident in your side of the argument it shouldn't matter if someone claims they could tear your argument down? If you firmly believe in your side of an argument and are confident in what you say, why would someone claiming they could tear down your argument matter? Sure maybe some people may not want to have an "antagonistic" conversation but with the way a lot of people acted around this doesn't seem like they mind antagonism much. If someone simply saying they could tear down your argument makes you avoid a conversation with that person you aren't very confident in your argument. I concede that maybe Colin sounded a LITTLE aggressive, but any conversation around a hot button political issue is going to be a little aggressive, and possible get heated. The person that wrote the wired review should be the first one to step up, if you give a game like that a 1 star review for purely political reasons, you god damn well better be able to back it up, even if someone says they can tear down your argument.
Brian Bolejack
2023-03-19 21:06:43 +0000 UTCThere is a huge investigation done by a BBC presenter named Steven Nolan called "Noland investigates Stonewall". Podcast series on the trans issue in the UK and the huge effects, recommend if your interested of how things got this far at least in the UK.
Hozi
2023-03-19 20:16:57 +0000 UTCWould've been interesting for a Colin & Jim Sterling reunion based around this topic; real shame the "other half" of this conversation couldn't take place.
Richard Darling
2023-03-19 18:57:04 +0000 UTCLast thought: there are quite a few people here saying that Colin didn’t look hard enough to find opposition viewpoint. I agree that Colin can be too dismissive of the “other side,” but as we’ve seen with other guests (the EIC of The Gamer) once you sit Colin down he is very cordial. However, I do believe that he couldn’t find anybody. This is where the totalitarian aspect of this issue comes in. Which is that many on the other side don’t want to talk about this issue because they feel that any opposing viewpoint is inherently bigoted. And why engage with a bigot? So there can’t be any conversation. It know sounds hyperbolic- but that is a totalitarian mindset.
Jesse V
2023-03-19 15:14:48 +0000 UTCIf I say I’m an attack helicopter, and if what I mean when I say that is I have certain traits and characteristics of an attack helicopter (feeling ready to fight, overly bellicose, or even me wearing a green kaki), then that would be a perfectly reasonable, logical thing to say. Now, If I say I’m a woman and if what I mean when I say that is I have the characteristics of a woman (gentleness, feminine, empathy), then that also is a perfectly reasonable and not all delusional thing to say. (Note that me having male genitalia does not make the latter example illogical. And me not having, say, metal helicopter wings doesn’t make the former example illogical, too.)
Joey
2023-03-19 14:54:24 +0000 UTCI like Noam’s approach here. Which is the reaction to Rowling is disproportionate to the crime. I think Colin actually got a little lost in the weeds with this topic. The point isn’t whether you believe trans woman are women or not - it’s that you don’t start acting like a complete crazy person in response. Book burnings, public shaming of people who want to enjoy the games, etc. The problem is that we need to have a small “l” liberalism approach to this and many more topics. Let’s just all agree to disagree!
Jesse V
2023-03-19 12:53:25 +0000 UTCExactly my thought. Jaffe is their friend, has been on the show multiple times before, is left wing, and has a trans son who he helped to transition with medication, wears a “protect trans kids” hat and disagrees with Rowling enough to not want to play Hogwarts Legacy. Colin must not have known any of that or I’m sure he would have considered him a worthy challenger. That or he did reach out and Jaffe turned him down.
Aaron Merrick
2023-03-19 12:09:17 +0000 UTCNoam just sounds like John Malkovich and I can’t un-hear it.
Marc Cairney
2023-03-19 10:32:25 +0000 UTCIf you can't find a trans person to come on I would also suggest Jaffe. His son is trans and he boycotted Hogwarts Legacy because of J. K. Rowling's alleged transphobia.
Jake Z
2023-03-19 07:04:50 +0000 UTCAny criticism of media with gay characters is reduced to hillbilly backwater behavior by the corporate media establishment.
patrick spellman
2023-03-19 06:02:37 +0000 UTCWas David Jaffe not available for this?
Gafferman
2023-03-19 04:38:20 +0000 UTCFrom what I was reading among the online reveption of TLOU ep3 was not that Bill was gay, but that only three episodes into a new show they killed the pacing by taking the focus away from moving the plot forward and focusing on two characters back stories that have very little bearing on the main plot. There is very similar criticism in other shows when 'filler' episodes occur. The middle of the first Mandalorian season comes to mind
Jack Sibert
2023-03-19 04:06:13 +0000 UTCDon’t you think it’s sort of a self fulfilling prophecy when you say you want someone to come on but then the next sentence you imply that you would tear their argument down if they would? I think you have a fighting mindset, which is perfectly ok. But I think it would be silly of you to not understand that probably has something to do with not getting the “others” to come and talk with you. With all due respect, why would anyone want to come? And sure you can say the fact that no one does is just a sign that their argument is weak....which in of itself is a weak point. Idk just take care not to go down an awkward antagonistic path, the very same style you lament of other “political/social commentators”. And if you don’t consider yourself one of those, why are you even doing this in the first place.
Zack E
2023-03-18 23:14:39 +0000 UTCSurely there must be someone out there capable of spinning straw into gold. You just didn't look hard enough.
JLG
2023-03-18 22:45:11 +0000 UTCI still think there’s time for that conversation to happen. I don’t think Colin would be opposed either. Even talk to Destiny and Erudite together tbh. Seem to strike a good balance when they discuss things with each other.
Cai
2023-03-18 22:06:28 +0000 UTCIMO I don't think Chris or Gene are the right people either. Nothing against them, but I don't think that convo would even get past the lowest common denominator stuff that we've all heard hundreds of times before. They aren't really in those spheres of influence/engagement. I'm not even referring to video-essayists. I'm not really into that stuff, and most of those people don't do well in actual conversations anyways. I am more referring to the streaming sphere of Destiny like you said, and/or some of his orbiters like Taftaj & Erudite. They have thoughtful & good faith conversations on these topics all the time. Maybe if I/we had said something a few weeks/months ago, if we recommended some people for Colin to reach out to, it could've resulted in better representation, but at this point it's a little too late. Maybe something will come up in the future. 🤞
yoel
2023-03-18 22:02:51 +0000 UTCAs someone who some would say is very far left on this topic - i appreciate this conversation greatly Colin, and it is very much more balanced than you may think. These type of conversations that challenge some issues are the only ways we can grow as a society. Great work per usual.
Sam Myers
2023-03-18 21:53:55 +0000 UTCI think a sacred symbols+ with Destiny is something I’d be interested in too. Maybe talk about the origins of streaming, and of course the political stuff.
Cai
2023-03-18 21:49:11 +0000 UTCDestiny would be a good convo. And as you say, talks to anyone.
Cai
2023-03-18 21:46:07 +0000 UTCEXCELLENT EPISODE
Everyday Patrick
2023-03-18 21:44:11 +0000 UTCI know Destiny talks about this stuff a lot, but I kind of zone out when people talk transphobia. Pretty sure he's on the JK is a Terf side though, he's well-read, and he pretty much talks to anyone.
hugplx
2023-03-18 21:35:29 +0000 UTCTbh I think Chris could have been a decent convo, if not Gene. I can see Chris just not wanting to get into the politics but I’d have assumed Colin reached out to Gene. And you’re right, there are larger figures talking about this. You only have to look at the “breadtuber” video essayists. But those guys are pretty reluctant to debate. I wonder if Colin could have reached out to a Destiny type? He’s pretty willing for conversations with anyone from what I’ve seen.
Cai
2023-03-18 21:18:27 +0000 UTCI don't really have issues with JKR, and I mostly agree with Colin/Noam on this stuff, but I am also disappointed he wasn't able to find someone to take up the other side. Honestly, I actually refuse to believe that he is unable to find someone in good faith, despite what he says. You say, "Plenty of anti-Rowling people around on Twitter, but clearly being asked about it from someone such as yourself is removing the comfort they’d typically have hurling abuse from behind a keyboard." But I don't think that's the issue really. I mean, if that's the type of person Colin is trying to recruit onto the show to have this discussion, then THAT is the issue. Like, of course none of those people would come on, and it wouldn't be worth it even if they did (because it would be a waste of time, and a fruitless discussion) but there are plenty of other good faith interlocutors on the internet who are capable of having this discussion in this format. He either doesn't know about them, or couldn't get in touch with them. (To say they don't exist, or would be unwilling to defend their position in the proper context, is disingenuous.) Colin's insistence that the anti-JKR sentiment is "prominent seemingly everywhere except for in front of a microphone in a challenging setting" is honestly just silly. It just indicates to me that Colin is not familiar with the Twitch/YouTube politics scenes, where people have thoughtful discussions like this all the time. (We can't sit here and pretend that Colin/LSM is the only platform having these discussions.) From the perspective of the type of people he should be reaching out to, his current paradigm & approach to the topic comes off as myopic & echo-chamber-ish. Keep in mind I am saying all of this as someone who is WAY more conservative than Colin on this topic, and as someone who agrees with the overarching premise of Colin's perspective.
yoel
2023-03-18 21:04:08 +0000 UTCYeah even though I mostly agree with Colin on this stuff, I don't think he will attract knowledgeable & good faith opposition onto the show with his current rhetorical approach. Even if he did, it would probably start off on the wrong foot due to bad first impressions, which is not ideal. I do believe 100% that Colin is operating in good faith, and that he wants to have a good faith discussion with an opposing position, but I can pretty much guarantee that that is NOT the impression that actual good faith interlocutors on the other side would get if they were approached for a conversation & briefly familiarized themselves with Colin's position. In other words, the type of people Colin is really looking for here in this context probably won't engage the way he wants them to. IMO he can come across as a little too matter-of-fact when it comes to nuanced things that are not simple matters-of-fact, which is an obvious red flag for other good faith interlocutors on the other side. They would question whether or not it's worth engaging with what they would consider "lowest common denominator rightoid echo-chamber" positions at a glance. They just don't know Colin parasocially like we do. 😉
yoel
2023-03-18 20:28:55 +0000 UTCThe language he uses definitely gives off the feeling that he has no intention of understanding the other side. It's gonna deter people from engaging in conversation if the other side refuses to understand why they feel a certain way. Also isn't Gene, someone who regularly comes on the show, anti JK Rowling?
Brannon H
2023-03-18 19:34:48 +0000 UTCWith all due respect, I don’t doubt that nobody you reached out to agreed to appear on the show… However, your writing that the “attacks” on JKR are “indefensible,” and referring to the controversy as “fake” (on Twitter,) reads like you aren’t genuinely looking for the opinions you mean to challenge here. The language you’ve used when you’ve talked about HL discourse gives the impression that you never meant to try (and that’s probably why nobody agreed to come on the show to talk about it.) Your use of the word “totalitarian” in a recent tweet regarding HL makes you look disingenuous when you start reaching to “the other side,” as you put it. Contrapoints: J.K. Rowling https://youtu.be/7gDKbT_l2us
MJ SKA BOI
2023-03-18 19:12:49 +0000 UTCGreat conversation! I would love to see Noam on for more content. He would make a great fit for Constellation.
Matthew Young
2023-03-18 18:52:49 +0000 UTCSaying doctors shouldn’t be blamed for performing surgery on “trans children” is a bad take, you don’t trip and fall into a operating room! It takes months of planning and countless appointments and they still choose to mutilate a child and for that they deserve to lose everything!
Captain Bon Clay
2023-03-18 17:34:26 +0000 UTCAs someone from Scotland where J.K stays what we don’t hear about is how the media is here in regards to trans issues our most left wing newspaper ran a story about how a serial rapest was now identifying as female to get into a woman’s prison. There as been articles like this and no one looks at the political outlook of the county and that she stays .
Garry
2023-03-18 17:05:53 +0000 UTCYeah Gene’s great, would be a great discussion.
Cai
2023-03-18 16:51:10 +0000 UTCGene Park is someone that’s on the other side of this. He tweeted that refuses to cover anything Hogwarts because of her and criticizes her quite a bit. I feel like he would’ve been a good guest for this.
Bogey Zero
2023-03-18 16:45:56 +0000 UTCYeah that’s exactly it. Mean spirited. The backlash against her might not be proportional to her comments but they’re certainly proportional to her status, which is what I think has made this such a bigger deal than it is.
Cai
2023-03-18 16:30:59 +0000 UTCYeah I don’t think she’s worth “cancelling” but she is undoubtedly mean spirit towards the trans community and always point out the most extreme situations and tries to make it representative of the whole
karth
2023-03-18 16:21:29 +0000 UTCAs someone who dislikes Rowling I’m really disappointed there was no one willing to take up that side. Whilst I do not think she’s the anti-trans Hitler as some people do, there’s definitely ways she’s influenced the conversation around being transgender that would have been worth hearing about from a more critical angle. Plenty of anti-Rowling people around on Twitter, but clearly being asked about it from someone such as yourself is removing the comfort they’d typically have hurling abuse from behind a keyboard.
Cai
2023-03-18 16:18:07 +0000 UTC“ one prominent seemingly everywhere except for in front of a microphone in a challenging setting”. #fistoftruth
Marcos Aquino Pimentel
2023-03-18 16:13:38 +0000 UTCLooking forward to this.
Eliot Hillis
2023-03-18 16:13:00 +0000 UTCIt’s unreal that these people are so vocal when shouting into cyberspace, but are so damn cowardly in reality.
Forrest Hunter
2023-03-18 16:07:16 +0000 UTCGreat stuff lad, this is why we pay!
Daddy T
2023-03-18 16:06:31 +0000 UTCThe left side of the argument didn’t show up? Why am I not surprised?
WalknTalknStvnHawkn
2023-03-18 16:05:46 +0000 UTCLooking forward to listening to this one. Thanks.
Namistai25
2023-03-18 16:05:31 +0000 UTC
