(no subject)

[raven]

I hadn't intended to spill more ink on this, but it's still on my mind. Someone I know through fandom, am on a fannish discord with, has reviewed the books they read this year. They particularly hated a book by an Indian author, largely because they have gravely misunderstood the Indian historical and cultural context, but, hey, if stupidity was a crime we'd have even more difficulty with prison overcrowding, and you can hate a book. God knows I hate a lot of them. But this person - a normal person, who believes, I've no doubt, that they are perfectly normal - goes on to wonder why all the books by Indian authors are so shitty. They're just cursed with Indian authors.

I don't know why this bothers me so much, a day later. I think it's just so specifically contemptuous. And obviously I don't need personal reassurance about my work and gifts. (It feels like it's beneath me to even rebut the supposition, tbh.) But it upsets me, I think, that while most racism I encounter these days is mindless systemic racism, the good old-fashioned you-smell-of-curry-you-stupid-bitch kind persists. My kindergarten teachers were rather shocked by my intelligence. And these things persist.

Comments

[princessofgeeks]

I'm sorry you had to read that.

[dolorosa_12]

My immediate reaction to this was: has this person actually read every book by every Indian author? It's just such an absurd thing to say, although of course that doesn't soften the blow of their contempt and cruelty in any way.

[misbegotten]

That sort of racism should be troubling to many people for many days.

[goss]

Ignorant people are the WORST. :( Racism is never-ending, exhausting. Sending good vibes and strength your way. *hugs*

[makamu]

I am also very sorry you had to read this. And I agree that this should bother people. There's being ignorant of something and then there's choosing to be ignorant and blaming the thing you choose to be ignorant of... And that's what I find horrible (plus, the racism on top)

[sixbeforelunch]

That sucks that you saw that. (I mean, it would still suck that that person said it even if you hadn't seen it, but at least then you personally wouldn't have to deal with it.)

*hugs* if wanted.

[marginaliana]

I'm so sorry that person is an asshole and that you had to encounter it.

[petra]

I'm sorry this person's racism blinds them to the fact that there are zillions of books by Indian authors that they will never encounter, many of them doubtless brilliant.

[gavagai]

they do not deserve Indian writers, including you

[gavagai]

(I remembered my password to say this because fuck then and I am sorry)

[kass]

Oh. My. Fucking. God. What is the matter with people?!

I realize you don't need reassurance. Apropos of nothing at all, someone in one of my RLname online spaces was praising the hopepunk anthology you edited to the skies, and had really lovely things to say about the curatorial hand at work and how well the pieces played off of each other. Just saying. For no reason. Maybe hopepunk isn't the right word? I remember that it was in the context of something that was also about Ruthanna Emyrys A Half-Built Garden, which IS hopepunk and which I really loved.

.... ugh, I am just so sorry. People suck.

[philomytha]

Ugh. I'm sorry, my friend, what an utterly vile thing to say. *many hugs*

[mecurtin]

Now I want to read the book they hated.

I'm sorry you had to share a space with that.

[mirabile]

OH my god, what a fucking ignorant thing to say, especially in print and on line. I want to punch them in the head. And then cry. Well, I guess all we can do is remember that people can be stupid and/or ignorant about myriad topics. Also, like mecurtin, I want to read that book.

Sending you a gentle hug.

[pauraque]

Wow, what the fuck! I'm speechless. I'm sorry they are like that and you had to see it.

[daegaer]

Oh my God, what a fucking ridiculous and enraging thing you had to read. kass is right, people suck.

[musyc]

Oh, ew, that's awful.

[aurumcalendula]

Ugh, that's awful! *hugs*

[toft]

That's shitty. I'm so sorry you were afflicted with that.

[musesfool]

Ugh, that's so awful and I'm so sorry you had to see it. People are the worst sometimes.

[anotherslashfan]

That's just awful; and it's totally understandable that you couldn't let this go. Every time is one too many.

[gwynnega]

That is such an awful and ignorant thing for someone to say.

[qian]

ugh >>>>>:(

[umadoshi]

What the actual fuck, person? >.< That's awful and infuriating.

[celli]

>:( that is so shitty, I'm sorry

[asakiyume]

Never great when a person shows this side of themselves ... the narrow-mindedness is bad enough; the lack of self-awareness is staggering.

[china_shop]

Ughhhh, what an utterly obnoxious and ridiculous thing to say. I'm so sorry. >:-(((

[skygiants]

ughHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhh

[genarti]

ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I hate that this person has this stupid petty awful aggressively all-encompassing variety of racism, and I hate that you had to read it. (Not that it would be better if you didn't know, I guess, but -- I hate that it exists AND I hate that my friend got hurt by it.)

I hope come to some epiphanies sooner rather than later and become heartily ashamed of themself. It doesn't fix the root but I still hope for it.

[rmc28]

Wow, someone actually thought that statement ok to post, in public (or the semi-public of Discord), in a way directly associated with them.

I find myself wanting to immediately read whatever book it was. And then to find the other books they hated by Indian authors and read those too. (I do recognise that "X said this is terrible, let's all read it" is petty and polarising behaviour, but also overt racism is pretty damn polarising.) And for maximum pettiness, I'd follow up by posting reviews of said books where X couldn't help seeing them, without mentioning X at all.

(I should clarify that to my knowledge I don't know X and haven't seen their reviews, so this is all imaginary petty revenge; but also I like to think I'd make a direct challenge to the racist statement first, as a more useful response.)

[chestnut_pod]

I'm so sorry you had to deal with this person! That's ridiculous and ridiculously racist. No wonder it's lingering; that must be so upsetting to see. <3

[hokuton_punch]

D: Fuck, that's awful. I'm sorry that person felt comfortable saying it.

[sage]

I'm so sorry you have to deal with this shit. Some people just suck.

[via_ostiense]

What an ignorant thing to think, let alone say out loud >:|

[lovelythings]

What the fuck.

[lamentables]

I hate this for you.

[longwhitecoats]

Hey, I'm sorry I missed this -- if this is in a space I'm sharing, and you feel comfortable letting me know (I don't read all the channels in detail), I would definitely like to shut that shit down unless you'd prefer I leave it alone.

[raven]

I appreciate you saying so, my friend, but don't worry - this isn't a space you're in.