strikethrough 07

I wasn't sure if I wanted to comment on the whole kerfuffle; I've been reading around trying to see everyone's point of view, because that's what I do, but I wasn't personally concerned until I came across two particular links.

From amberite: the blogs of the people who run WFI. This is not just about amateur but well-meaning citizens trying to help the fight against sexual crime involving children. (And no, I'm not going to start replacing words like 'incest' with asterisks and code - if I can't discuss the situation without my journal being threatened, then the situation is reaching the point of no return.) This is about vocal hatred of gays, transgender people, immigrants, liberal pacifists and other groups. This, I have problems with.

And it is all the more concerning in light of this dug up by bookshop. She links to the article itself, which is worth a read.

In all seriousness, LJ fandom has been a place where people feel accepted and safe in a way that they might not be able to in their 'real life' context. Of course there are nuts, but on the whole, fandom is a place full of level-headed and accepting people who know where the lines between fiction and reality are, and who will stand up and defend anyone's right to their self-definition and self-expression.

Part of me is convinced that this will blow over fairly quickly, but the other part is all fired up and ready to argue vehemently in favour of a place that has made me lots of friends, opened my eyes and my mind in so many ways, and taught me a hell of a lot about creativity and communication. Sure, a large part of it is the pretendy funtime games. Sure, there are bigger issues afoot on the world stage. But this has become, at least partly, about safe spaces being threatened. If LJ disappeared tomorrow, yes, life would go on, but a lot of people would lose one of the best and most tolerant 'places' for them to express their sexuality, their gender, and their opinions.

I don't think hysteria is warranted. But I wouldn't be posting if I didn't think that the situation has escalated to the point of concern.

A few people have pointed out this software, if you want to back up your LJ (not a bad idea in any case), and fandom_counts, which is pretty much a census/silent petition. It may not accomplish a lot. But it's one more straw on SixApart's back, and I don't think there's anything wrong with finding weight in numbers and then throwing that weight around. We have a voice. We may as well use it. And if it proves nothing more than a target list...well, see above re: point of no return. What the hell, people. Deleting interests is one thing. Allowing fear to dictate the way we use and inhabit this place is another entirely.

if we should stay silent

I have a thinky post to make about the nature of pornography, but I might do that later; having wasted most of my free morning today clicking around LJ marvelling at the ability of fandom to unite and mobilise (if there's one thing the LJ administrators have learned, I think it's that maintaining radio silence in a time of confusion can turn a minor screw-up into something really fucking huge) I am determined to get some work done first.

Unrelatedly: give me names for a male character! First names, surnames, both, whatever. I'm after something a little offbeat/quirky, but not anything that looks like it walked out of a fantasy novel. Or just throw me some everyday words that you think would make cool names (that is my favourite).

(I'm not sure if I'm writing this idea yet. But it's bigger and more compelling and more important than many of the off-the-cuff ideas currently languishing on my hard drive, so I'd like to bash out a detailed outline if nothing else.)