We Made JK Rowling

JK Rowling has become one of the most divisive figures in popular culture today, with her transphobic beliefs now public as she uses her platform to bolster dangerous falsehoods and misconceptions about trans people. And many in the Harry Potter fandom want nothing more than to distance themselves from the entire affair. However, the fandom has had a hand in getting us to where we are right now. And I kind of need to talk about it.
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#jkrowling

[@k.stewart007]

As I'm sure you already know being a parent, its something parents learn quite early on. You don't tell your child "you are naughty!", "you're not a nice friend" it's very important to say "you are being naughty", you're not being a good friend, right now" You tell someone they are something they become that person.

[@lucyandecember2843]

i wish my parents had learned that lol

[@GeoffFenner]

First they came for the goblins, but I was not a "goblin" so "she didn't mean it like that". Then they came for the house elves, but I was not a "house elf" so "she didn't mean it like that". Then she stopped using metaphores

[@ReplicatorFifth]

Brutal adaptation of that poem. And so true

[@katmatally]

Well said sir, with a hat tip to the original.

[@CJCroen1393]

A much better use of that poem than the one Game of Thrones tried to do.

[@Firegen1]

Very much this. Could see my ancestors in the house elves so came for her. Was surprised years later when others joined in. No to dogpiling but group support does make the work easier.

[@lucyandecember2843]

@@CJCroen1393 how did that one go? o.o

[@miaththered]

We do not create our oppressors. Nor their apologists. Nor their agents. Sincerely, a Jew.

[@cityman2312]

Well put, your comment is as incisive as your face is beautiful.

[@cfor8129]

@@cityman2312 hey women on the internet aren't usually looking for those kind of comments on their serious points

[@one_smol_duck]

I think there's a third element here too: we didn't only shield her from the negative criticism, we also bombarded her with positive praise. A lot of people who read her books at a young age attribute their morals and their interest in activism to her books -- and because of that built her up to be this awe-inspiring hero who was always writing great books and doing great charitable work. We enabled her to cultivate a self-image as an untouchable warrior of justice -- something that becomes very dangerous very quickly when someone starts listening to terf talking points.

[@BadWolf739]

We probably shouldn't be surprised that the moment we criticized her she turned to the people saying "it's okay, you're not wrong, we like what you're saying" instead of listening to the criticism.

[@kristavaillancourt6313]

We told her she was perfect and she believed us, but everyone is imperfect and learning how to be better versions of themselves.

[@deenahoblit]

We didn't shield her from negative criticism. You can shield any artist from negative criticism. They will hear it. They will internalize it. What we did do was argue Rowling's rights and our own be respected. Which, I think in many ways, makes this latest debacle even worse.

[@loxley75]

Here lies a toppled God, His fall was not a small one, We did but build the pedastal, A narrow and a tall one -Dune Messiah

[@ambiguousasian177]

Comic book girl its has a Dune book club, its great

[@wolftitanreading5308]

you realized that its a toppled god, once he gets up the god is pissed and will take actions.

[@oliviasarah5803]

So far so sanctimonious

[@robertsosna3557]

How appropriate! Frank did try to warn people about charismatic people! As well as building up people to the status to the status of a manmade god.

[@tpaul2112]

Boy I miss usul or maud'dib....his son ...the god emperor fell hard too!

[@jintym2951]

The larger point raised about the fandom "clearing the path", perfectly articulated what it's been that's stung so badly about this whole thing. I've been feeling this horrible feeling for months, I recognised that I felt personally upset but couldn't zero in on why. This was why. Thank you for such a poignant & considerate video. I hope that you are keeping well & please stay safe xx

[@michelleshephard9690]

A beautiful poignant video I couldn't agree more x

[@WiloPolis03]

The internet really sucks tbh

[@pixiesgarden8353]

I feel the same way, Jinty M. For me, who grew up with these books (and was approximately the same ages as the central characters), the guilt of silent compliance weighs heavily on who I consider myself as a person. As problematic content/issues within the books was brought to light, I agree that it was wrong and offense, but I didn't say anything. I didn't speak out against it; and for that, I am deeply ashamed.

[@lotrgeek22]

A long time ago, Elizabeth Gilbert (who has her own problematic aspects) gave a TED talk about "being a genius" versus the ancient idea of "having a genius." In the talk, she was mostly using this to discuss unburdening creative people from the weight of their own ego in the creative process, but I often think of it when it comes to authors like Rowling. I think it's also interesting in the context of this video discussing transphobia as a verb instead of a noun--that genius is maybe a verb instead of a noun. JK Rowling had a genius (in that she was wildly successful and changed many children's lives) that drove her work and interpreted that as herself being an infallible genius. I don't know if this is making sense, but it's what's swirling in my head right now.

[@whencesleepfairy]

Very interesting..I think many super intelligent people must have that issue , especially in today's day and age ..

[@astrinymris9953]

I think there's something to that. JKR distilled all the elements she loved in the books she read during her childhood and poured them into the Potterverse, and the result was magical... literally. When I read the first book I was struck by how well they hooked into a child's psyche, as if she was using what she'd learned from her childhood book loves to create something sure to have commercial success. The problem with writing kid lit by channeling your childhood is that you also transmit the prejudices from not only your own upbringing, but the prejudices of your favorite authors' as well. :-(

[@HereComesPopoBawa]

That definitely highlights two very different interpretations of "genius". I have always subscribed to the latter perspective - that a person can be _possessed of_ genius. It's not unlike _inspiration_ - telling a person that they have inspiration, versus that they are an inspiration, connote completely different meanings.

[@hexum7]

Astrin Ymris it’s funny, because when I read the first book (as an adult) I came to the opposite conclusion/ that she had a very reductive, sophomoric view of a child’s psyche.

[@maurinet2291]

Authors often reach a level of fame where no one tells them no, or really pushes back hard on their work. Which everyone needs to get better; just compare how tight the first three Harry Potter books were compared to the others. Everyone, including the author, starts to trust that the author knows what she's doing, she has the clout of her book sales behind her. And there is a danger of insulated people who have achieved a high level of success, to start believing in some pretty off-kilter ideas. We see that with movie stars all the time.

[@jenluv]

One of my subscribers suggested I watch this video to expand on my own points of view and WOW! I'm so thankful she directed me here. Thank you for your voice and for sharing it. New subscriber!

[@CouncilofGeeks]

Thanks to that viewer and I'm happy to have you here.

[@Wurmze]

When you said about calling someone a transphobe is like saying theyre a lost cause, it reminded me of this cancel culture we see a lot of where someone drags up something from five ten years ago and it seems like people have forgotten that people can, and should be encouraged to change. But cancel culture suggests that people outright cant change and you should still attack them for something a long time ago they probably wouldnt do or say today

[@T0xXx1k]

That's the problem I have with that stuff when decade old stuff is dug up to ruin someone or write them off. It's so ridiculous to act like things aren't very different today than they were 10 years ago is ludicrous. You can talk to ppl but about old stuff to see if their stances are the sams first maybe? We've moved a lot socially in the last 10 or so years. You should never assign malice to what may just be ignorance and all that ~🧡🦇

[@BadWolf739]

@Mr S Those ten year old hit jobs, like the one against James Gunn were done by the alt right.

[@danielbroome5690]

@@BadWolf739 Not remotely all of them were from right wingers. Our side is NOT blameless here.

[@trolldrool]

I have seen one example where a person was accused of being homophobic for something he said half a decade earlier, when he was still living under the influence of a conservative Christian home. But these people were so obsessed with that one ancient post that they tried to find anything else he ever said after that one misinformed homophobic comment. So they never learned about all the blogposts where over the years he apologized many times for what he had said in ignorance and talked about coming out as trans.

[@vivvy_0]

the right to forget..

[@ScrewedTimeLord]

I LOVE the “oppression is something you DO, not something you ARE” perspective. T1J has a good video on that as it relates to racism. Saying someone IS a racist essentializes them. It lets them get off easy. If they’re just a racist they don’t have to change. It also lets the person calling them a capital R Racist get off easy too. If they’re just a Racist, we don’t have to show them empathy or compassion that might help them see where they’re wrong, and most importantly, someone being a racist gives us license to say that they are irredeemable. In my opinion, people in positions of power, in this example white people, should be the ones both calling out other people in power who do harmful things, i.e. racist actions AND supporting their journey towards unlearning those harmful patterns of behavior. It shouldn’t be on the target group to resolve an issue they didn’t start and already suffer from! Nobody is born racist or transphobic. It’s little actions we see and repeat and then normalize. Being anti-racist and anti-oppression is about stripping away that normalization and not defaulting to defensiveness when we’re called out. It’s interesting though as it relates to transphobia, because it so often is that defensive reaction that catalyzes a downward spiral in the transphobia turlet (see Glinner being called out for an old bad taste joke and pivoting to make his whole identity about hating trans people (trans women esp)). We do need to be better about not dog piling, but I think the most important thing is that people in positions of privilege and power-big or small, whether ur a millionaire or a just white person-need to kill that defensive reaction. We have too much focus and power already, and to be defensive is to refocus more attention back on our hurt feelings and not others’ hurt bodies and minds and existances. Our pride is not worth the validity and safety of others’ lives.

[@Donnagata1409]

Nobody is born racist or transphobic. You've Got to Be Carefully Taught (Pacific South)

[@katmatally]

Beautifully, beautifully said.

[@ScrewedTimeLord]

@@legalfictionnaturalfact3969 nobody is saying that trans people (there are trans men too ya know. It’s not all MtF so how do you account for that LMAO) are oppressed by women. It matters that this specific woman has massive amounts of influence and power and is spreading rhetoric that leads to trans people being discriminated and killed. Oppression is prejudice that is supported by power. You can not deny that Rowling has power in our society (her wealth, her huge platform). You also can’t deny that she has prejudice against trans people. I am not-and I don’t think anybody else is-arguing that Rowling is the cause of all the oppression trans people face. I’m just saying she is contributing to it and having a harmful effect on real people’s lives. That’s literally one of the main points of my original comment. Please, I encourage you to just be a bit more open and try to engage with actual trans people and hear what they have to say. Because the strawman argument you’re presenting, that trans people are oppressed just because cis women say they aren’t really trans, is not something anyone who supports trans people’s rights to exist actually believes. It’s not the cause of all oppression, it’s a symptom of a greater issues: a society that is systemically set up to disadvantage and harm marginalized groups like trans people. So before you come at me or any other trans person or ally, you might actually want to understand what it is we actually believe. Argue against that if you must argue. I just hope you understand how silly it looks from my perspective for you to point to something I never actually said and use that as your argument. Have a nice day, I really hope you grow and learn how to be more compassionate and thoughtful

[@ScrewedTimeLord]

@@legalfictionnaturalfact3969 be gone, terf

[@tysondennis1016]

Yeah, Glinner the Transphobia Golem

[@Impactsuspect]

I don't know if I agree with the "we made her" part of the video. She was an adult long before she became famous, and her fans were mostly kids at the time. You can't fault largly kids for idolizing an older author. Her opinions are not only hers, she is mostly alone at fault. As I remember the transphobic parts of that first detective novel that had that were largely criticized with compassion, and the wind just turned harsher, when JK doubled down on it.

[@bunnygals1661]

I think it’s important to recognize the “Monkey Typewriter” nature of the internet, that is to say anything than can be written will be written. Anything presented on a large enough platform will inevitably receive every possible type of response. My point is that JK is in my view cherry picking the most hostile responses to justify her worldview while seemingly ignoring the many - Many - polite and well supported responses that have been presented.

[@ShainThomas]

Insightful points. I can't say I had ever considered the issues from the perspectives you referenced. Giving it some thought, noting what you said in the video, I can't fault anything you mentioned. These are important issues. You're right. There is a distinction between what people are and how they behave. It really isn't the same thing. I appreciate you taking the time to publish this video.

[@hexum7]

Yes, but there shouldn’t be a distinction between what people believe and what they are

[@michellemoore7829]

second point is much stronger than the first point. I think trying to police criticism is a loosing battle, its inherently impossible to control criticism from others, and Rowling is very seemingly dedicated to the project of ignoring the well thought out criticism and only elevating the worse. It also ignores the British's media's role in shaping her perspective on the issue. I think on some level you are right, but there really is nothing anyone can do, people feel betrayed and they are lashing out, I also think the people she is listening to are doing a ton more to reinforce her viewpoints than the criticism. The second point is excellent, Harry Potter as a fandom has a hard time listening to outsider criticism of the narrative and was willing to dismiss those points to maintain the innocent enjoyment of the series.

[@GabyGeorge1996]

How exactly did the British media shape her perspective? Please elaborate

[@michellemoore7829]

Gaby George based on my understanding, outlets like the British outlets Guardian and the post have been demagoguing the topic over and over again. It’s very likely contributing to developing her position

[@michellemoore7829]

@@GabyGeorge1996 kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2LCZoKForBkirM This video is very thorough on this topic.

[@hiddenshadow0723]

And now "I stand with JK Rowling" is largely coming from people who think her words are correct, or at least don't care. There's at least one "radical feminist" shop she's promoted where you can get merch to that effect, no wonder she'd be drawn in more. It's not just that she's getting hate, she's getting love on the other side.

[@CouncilofGeeks]

Yeah... I saw that shop she boosted. It's reached a point where all of her public interactions somehow tie into all of this. It's not just that she's chosen to express transphobia... it's that of late she seems virtually incapable of expressing anything else.

[@almightykue3914]

@@CouncilofGeeks I think ou might be right on that. It seems like now she is doing it intentionally to draw the ire of the trans community. But like you said, if you call someone something they get defensive even if its not saying "you are, but you are acting like, or you are doing" but I also think, she saw how well her book went over, she sees how well HP is still selling on amazon, Audible, etc and I think maybe she wants her name out there.

[@almightykue3914]

@@NrMl1402 I disagree. While I do agree Trans people are no different than Cis they should be able to be portrayed as good or bad or the multitude of shades of grey between. Most of the people screaming that you can't say a mean thing about a trans person are not Trans people, they are the white knight "allies" who use trans people as a shield to attack others with impunity which I detest so much. I believe trans rights are human rights and yeah no trans person should have to live in fear of being attacked or killed because they are being who they feel they are. I can't say who they are because I can't possibly be in their heads so I must only go off what they say they are. I do think that people saying "She is encouraging attacks on trans people, or is trying to destroy the trans community" are full of it, she is not calling for attacks or trying to dismantle the community. That is hyperbole which is all the internet is anymore.

[@BadWolf739]

@@almightykue3914 I don't think she's *trying* to "encourage attacks on trans people, or is trying to destroy the trans community". But that doesn't change the fact that she's doing serious damage. Her words have emboldened radical anti trans groups which does result in increase trans violence. Her words have been used before legal bodies to support anti trans laws which damages our community. Whether she meant it to be so damaging or not is mostly immaterial at this point. The damage is done, accidental or on purpose, it's still damage.

[@almightykue3914]

@@BadWolf739 Unfortunately the trans community online come off as super easily offended. Again this isn't even because of trans people who make up that community its their "allies" that are the ones doing all the attacking and screaming and making the Trans community look like whiny assholes who think they are the center of attention. Which for the record I know is not true. If someone where to make a comment about ovarian cancer or cysts effecting CIS women while 90% of the trans community will totally understand why its talking about CIS women and not All Women, you will get those "allies" that will jump on the person for not including Trans people in the comment. It makes the community look like they are very much seeking praise and validation at all times.

[@theshadowdirector]

And a part of those kinds of aggressive online responses comes from the unfortunate way the internet can be so reactionary and hyperbic.

[@almightykue3914]

This is 100% true, Twitter especially, it revves people up to the point where hyperbole rules and things like nuance and civil discourse is just not allowed. It promotes the "Ist or Ism" slinging to dehumanize the person you disagree with and completely shut down arguments as invalid because "you're an X so I don't need to listen to you"

[@WiloPolis03]

Absolutely. The internet, as a whole, is really really stupid, and can only start movements in the most extreme direction, basically

[@dianaoc4768]

I think the way you put it (the whole thing of not making transfobia something you ARE, but something you DO) is actually much healthier, and all this time I had tried to refrain from thinking that way bc I read a lot of ppl saying that was too passive for the damage done, but I feel it makes much more sense to me now

[@AceOThorns]

Once again, a voice of reason in the wilderness. Some very interesting, and entirely valid points.

[@CouncilofGeeks]

As a Patreon supporter, Ace had early access to this video. So, you know, they have basis for comment.

[@CouncilofGeeks]

Yes there's a link under "Support"

[@m.c.mcgrath8690]

Yes, it makes me think of Brene Brown's work on shame/guilt and vulnerability: her take is... shame = I AM bad, guilt = I DID something bad. Everyone on this planet is human (that I know of at least), and 99.999% are redeemable even if we do some really sh*tty things. I just recently found this channel, but I'm so glad i did! Thank you for all of the content you make, and have a great day!!!!!

[@AlatheD]

You definitely have some great points. I'm totally behind the idea of "this thing you did was ..." as opposed to "you are ..." it is easier to correct specific issues than vague generalities. I know which one I'd rather have directed at myself.

[@CouncilofGeeks]

Patreon supporters had early access. Some left comments. Please stop spamming those comments.

[@lexihopes]

I'm not sure how much it will help. In my experience we're at the point where people will take it as a personal attack applying to their whole self even if you phrase it that way. I don't know what can be done at that point.

[@lotrgeek22]

@@lexihopes I was going to make the same comment.

[@AlatheD]

@@lexihopes some people will. They are so stuck in their ideologies, they cannot allow themselves to change. But some will respond better, and I'd rather help a few people understand than anger every last one of them. I was one of those people at one point.

[@natbarmore]

@@lexihopes It’s a big problem in our society right now, at least in the US. So. Many. People. live in a worldview that is fundamentally essentialist. It’s not just when the “-isms” and “-phobias” are in play. They don’t talk about “people who have committed crimes”; they talk about “criminals”. It’s a core tenet of conservative ideology, and is why they are generally more supportive of harsher penalties for transgressions-because the people who commit crimes aren’t like you and me, but made a bad choice; they are fundamentally different people, at their core. It’s also why you see so much push back against the idea that impact > intent, because if you are a moral essentialist that’s just nonsense. If your intent was good, then you did nothing wrong. Irrespective of the impact it had on other people. It’s also a big part of why many people don’t believe that systemic racism is a thing: in an essentialist worldview, you are what you do, so if you don’t /intend/ to be racist but someone says you did something racist, either you really are a racist-as a fundamental, inalterable part of your core-or you aren’t a racist, in which case whatever you did also wasn’t racist. Unsurprisingly, most people who don’t /intend/ to be racist reject the possibility that their core essence is “racist”. And, in an essentiallist philosophy, that means they also have to reject the idea that the action was racist. I don’t know a good way out of this. I think that Council of Geeks is right that we can do better to make sure we talk in terms of actions, not labels. But I’m not sure that will matter, since most of this is happening entirely in the heads of the people we’re trying to talk to-it’s not actually about what is being said to them. It’s that they have a worldview where it is not possible to do evil without being, at your core, intentionally evil.

[@johnathonreynolds9620]

Just discovered JK writes as an obviously intended male author for her detective books. So she is happy to be perceived as a male if it sells books!

[@timeladyshayde]

Somewhere between book 3 and 4 she started believing all the hype people had built up about her, that she was some kind of wunderkind, uber-writer creating some great seminal work of fiction. And we are absolutely to blame for that, because we're the ones that kept telling her how wonderful she was. On another note, I think that dogpiling on people on the internet is just kind of a way to avoid actually having to do something to change things. As if making a nasty Tweet or Facebook post about someone is going to solve transphobia or racism etc. Cancel culture at it's most toxic just feels like a combination of virtue signalling and schadenfreude.

[@marmadukescarlet7791]

I always thought her writing was crap. I can see what kids saw in it but I really don’t know how adults could call it genius or whatever. Satenmadpun made an excellent video pointing the flaws in her storytelling and some of them are quite egregious. Edit: I just got to the spot where our host is making some of the same points.

[@hexum7]

I’m not sure if the fans are responsible for that or it was her handlers, publicity agents and publishers- people she knew and trusted, who inflated her ego regarding her writing skills. You don’t want a cash cow to be anything but completely convinced that they are geniuses who owe it to the world to keep on pumping out product. In that sense, Rowling is more like a Hollywood super-star than any other writer in history

[@mimnimpetite8681]

Thank you for making this video. Also, random, but your lipstick is amazing!

[@prophetisaiah08]

We are entering an age of accountability (hopefully), and an unpleasant part of that is having to spend the time and energy looking at our own faults and failings and putting in the work to do better. Asking others to be held accountable for their words and actions without taking a good look at ourselves is not justice, it's the short path to bullying. We can't forget that the ideal of this age of accountability is to put an end to oppression, not to become the oppressors ourselves; and in order to do that, we can't skip the *essential* step of being accountable to ourselves too. Thanks for leading us through this moment of reflection, Vera. You're a gem, and we love you too.

[@almightykue3914]

I agree, that episode of the Orville where they go to the planet where up votes and down votes denote if you are Lobotomized or not is kind of terrifying because it shows just how easy it is to dehumanize and not look at what you are doing as well

[@UnseenThreat07]

Just find those who agree with you and you'll never feel challenged

[@Borderose]

No. Because human nature. There is no scenario where people will never not want to be jerks to each other. It's one of the species' greatest joys. If you deny the ability to be awful to each other? They're going to make it their mission to be atrocious. And they will do it all in the name of getting back their freedom to look down and make sport of those who can't hack it in the system that's been set up.

[@ThePeacefulArtist]

Another great video, your videos are so informative and the topics are always interesting and relevant to the world around us. Hope you're doing okay as well in all this mess and enjoy the wonderful autumn colors of Vermont too. - Quinn 😊💕

[@teirangi]

So cool hearing this after your Riley Grace Roshong video!

[@mungosiffphryyt3123]

You are brilliant, Vera. Keep going! 😊

[@catherineannemccloskey-ros9500]

Vera, a very thoughtful analysis with points I had not considered.

[@scarletmoth1221]

In a previous video you brought up the videos done by Jessie Gender, and I cannot thank you enough! Her channel and content has been a joy to watch, as well as insightful and informative!

[@CouncilofGeeks]

So glad more people are finding her.

[@non.aghost]

Wow I hadn't think about all this from this point of view. Thank you so much for making this video. 💜 I still have a lot of things to learn and your video helps me to be a little more critic with what I like and to understand I must make a respectful call when I realize there's something that's not ok. 🥰

[@DragonBloodShepherd]

One video and I already love you. I admire your way of thinking of the matter.

[@dante6985]

Thank you for educating me on these important social issues.

[@Nenyatha]

Thanks, this makes a lot of sense, people who are pushed usually push back, talking about all the -isms and -phobias as actions rather than identity, we have a greater chance of having a real conversation about it and making some change. On another note, the make- up, nails, and hair were really on point today, love the metallic sheen to it all!

[@ArielVHarloff]

This is such a fascinating take on the whole situation. I honestly wasn't aware of most of this since I grew up while the books came out and thus most of that time I wasn't active in any fandom spaces.

[@citrinedragonfly]

You are always so eloquent, and you put into words things I feel but have trouble articulating. Thank you for sharing this take.

[@JM06261996]

You are fantastic, extremely well spoken, humble, and must I say your look is STUNNING. Subscribing!

[@sasusakufangirl]

Good observations - I think you have a fair point in how important the way we address things on the internet is. Your videos really make me think about things in a different way so thank you for helping me broaden my perspective on certain topics ^-^ Also, completely unrelated - I love your makeup it looks really good on you ^-^

[@saintarkweather]

A year late but what a brilliant video. I think when people just go straight for insulting someone instead of trying to help them become more educated, it is much more about the person feeling good about themselves than actually trying to make meaningful change. Just shitting on people we think are racist or whatever might make us feel good but it does nothing to actually change anyone's mind. And your point about making transphobia or racism or something seen as something people do instead of something people are is right on point. Really wish more would hear that message

[@livingdeadbro]

I know you mean well and it seems like you're really hurting with this topic, but I don't think I agree. She was always this person, whether her fanbase is coddling her or objecting to her views. I hate to twist the thumbscrews, but you have to remember there are fans that agree with her views or just don't care and like HP. I feel like this is a culling of her fanbase that she would have always been fine with, push just never came to shove before. We didn't make her into the kind of person that does this.

[@happyascheese]

Exactly, I feel like the beliefs were always there. We just didn't know enough yet as kids to see them for what they were. I mean her other pen name is a well known gay conversion therapist. Plus, I've seen other people point out that she has liked tweets supporting conversion therapy LGB youth. It's not just the trans community that she has gone after. If you dig deeper the Essence of Thought channel did a good video on this topic. I do agree with the whole Transphobia binging something you do and not something you are.

[@jasonbolding3481]

although to be fair a lot of "i stand with jk Rowling" people are were not her fans and honestly i would say are still not fans of her writing.

[@TheDanishGuyReviews]

Loving this video. I hope l can take this oppurtunity to quote from HBP that l just noticed on my re-read: "I know what you're called, but you'll always be Tom to me." This has been going on with her for a while. Also, on my re-read, l got anti-Asian vibes from the Goblins instead, with how they're short, black-eyed, and don't speak English in GoF.

[@KateHistoryMysteries]

There was never really a public backlash in the UK to Harry Potter although one always heard stories about friends with religious parents personally banning the books/movies.

[@connorwood9211]

I remember some RE lessons back at school were it was discussed how some Religions believed the series promoted witch craft.

[@someonerandom8552]

Same for Australia, really. I remember even the news readers mocking the book burnings happening in the US. Subtly of course. But you could tell they were trying to keep a straight face for the cameras lol

[@depreseo]

When the Potter boom happened the music studio I got my first job in as a weekend helper (teenage jobs) held summer events to learn music. One of those events was a Potter themed weekend. During that weekend the religious parent of one of the studios regular students shouted bible verse down the intercom that would let people in as she thought the music teachers were using it as an exscuse to teach witchcraft and satanism. That's the closest I came to the UK backlash.

[@beajordan7308]

I think a lot of the initial fury, especially from white, liberal Potterheads, was masking a sense of culpability. We had already chosen to overlook or forgive some really big problems, when she dug her heels in and we couldn't overlook it anymore it was easier to be furious than accept that we should have held her to task over a decade ago. Or two? Geez, we're getting old. You are a tad more respectful and gentle in the language that you use with her than I am, but I love and respect you for choosing the high road. I still think there was a point when she first started down this path when the majority of her fans approached her like she would agree with them, "hey, that seems like you were agreeing with some transphobic statements! Be careful, lol." She had two distinct paths at that point, and she did not choose to appease her fans and hold her harmful beliefs out of sight.

[@beajordan7308]

@@cordobes what a lovely and thoughtful human you seem to be. And so intelligent! I have been shamed into reading the entire works of William Shakespeare and considering the merits of transphobia. Well done.

[@sarake07]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. You shared some viewpoints I hadn't encountered yet.

[@laurencullop6642]

Thoughtful and I enjoyed listening

[@zainiaz07]

I haven't finished the video yet, but had to come to the comments section to tell you that those lips and silver eyes with that metallic green are amazing, loved the combination 😊

[@whyonhalloween]

Excellent analysis! I've been trying to wrap my head around this situation and it definitely helped a lot, thanks

[@violetfolgi]

I absolutely love your videos of this kind; they're always so insightful and take us to another angle of a situation to prompt us to think, to give us a change of point of view. I love that. This video was very interesting indeed, thank you!!

[@unclegumbald989]

Whew Vera, VERY interesting points you’ve brought up.

[@amandastuart5712]

Can creators see which videos lead to subs? New sub here, sorry I can't Patreon at this time-I've no doubt your content there is amazing

[@thedragonsunicorn]

i swear to god. vera makes me have some deeper thoughts. you make me question everything i know! 😂 half the time i don't think this deeply into things... i love it! thanks for opening my mind to new perspectives x

[@kharadron3561]

Really great video with some insightful points as well!

[@laureng625]

I’m so glad I found this video! Very well put you have a great understanding of how people think and feel. Also you look so spooky cool in this video

[@SpinstersLibrary]

Fantastic video, it's given me lots to think about. Like you, I had a part in - if not defending JKR in the past, then at the very least willfully ignoring the many issues with her work.

[@JM-gd3hr]

Correction: the jazz singer and band were goblins, not house elves

[@cOmAtOrAn]

It sure got hard to tell the difference when they all became CGI.

[@ArielVHarloff]

That's what I was thinking

[@justabitofamug6989]

I thought they were fairies ngl

[@FlipMacz]

This is an excellent post on so many levels. Pretty much the best video on KZbin or anywhere and has enhanced my social capital beyond measure. Thank you.🌹

[@tapuchris3329]

I just recently found this channel, but you do make some valid points.

[@123darkelf]

This is one thing I learned over the years about issues like this, like with people,”Issues like these have no easy handling without consequences.” It’s more complicated than that. It’s why I tend to not get into these topics as I have my own worries in life, and I don’t have time to get myself set up for stuff like this. Lovely Vid and I do agree on pretty much all the points you made, have a lovely day, or evening.

[@MoselleGreen]

Good discussion! Also, I love your lipstick color.

[@mountainharpie]

Which matches the eye shadow! Love it!!💚💚💚

[@itsah-lee-uh7185]

Where do you get your lipsticks, because I love this color

[@ticketforepic4429]

Great content, I am so impressed by your intellectual honesty! Liked and subbed!!!

[@DF-xj4pv]

I think this is going to be a hard battle. Mostly because emotions are running so high, but also because we're relying on everyone on "the other end" to take the criticism in the spirit it was given. On a different note - what color is your lipstick??? It's been killing me. I started out thinking it was blue, but at the end of the video I thought green??

[@MaskofMandarin]

In the UK the push back initially came from intelligentsia in small part. The religious focus was much more orientated on Philip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' trilogy which was a 'God is dead' responce to C S Lewis's Narnia books.

[@rowlet9202]

really interesting and well said!!

[@dawnknightx]

This sounds a lot like "victim blaming" to me. Like I get that's nuanced but some of your arguments are one step away from "you were fine with this problematic thing before, so why not this?" Obviously not having the "why not this" part, but this feels like putting the onus on people who were mostly kids for not calling out JK problematic characterizations beforehand. I also question the argument that fans insulated her from criticism starting with the "fundamentalists christians thought this was gateway to Satanism" part because those fundamentalists were actually speaking nonsense. Ultimately, the latest JK stuff isn't a first time offense. At some point, after years of being gently told her acts are transphobic, some of us, maybe a lot of us, hit a breaking point with her. This is topped with her more overt, less transparent racism that we can now connect was always in the DNA of the Harry Potter series which she has not toned down at all (I had no idea about the jazz house elves, holy shit). It was pretty clear that JK had a lot of problematic views from before HP was written and while she has tried to coat these beliefs in more palatable terms, probably in response to some criticism, its just become more and more apparent that these are a part of her person. She is transphobic. She can stop, but we have gotten to the point where it feels like she doesn't really think about much else. To use your analogy, that sorta friend may act like an asshole, but given enough time without change, its eventually clear that the person IS just an asshole

[@metalmadsen]

Well spooken ❤️

[@scaperlee]

Wonderful video, as usual. Thank you so much.

[@Lucydangelo]

Such an enlightening video!!!!!! Thank you for this video.

[@obsesivefunatica]

I am so glad you voiced your first point the way you did! It's what I've been saying from the beginning. If the root cause of transphobia is correlating it with mysogony and silencing women... then throwing misogynistic insults at someone to silence them is not going to change their mind. A lot of what fuels JKRs transphobia is fear (and misinformation). Being constantly attacked is just going to confirm that feeling.

[@kellswitch]

Another thing fandom also does, with her and many others, is to raise them to the level of a paragon. We put them on pedestals and feel that they represent us and stand for us and have the same views we do. And they rarely do. Heros often have feet of clay, make mistakes, have bad days, or have only shown us the parts of their personalities or lives that are marketable.

[@RacheyBabes]

Great points, fantastically articulated. This video needs more views!

[@benjamindalby7004]

Excellent arguments. Well done and thanks for sharing.

[@Mezsworld]

Thank you for this different view point and helping me see more of what the issue is. Much love 💘

[@valkhristian]

Found out about Jessie Gender because of you! Love you both!

[@taylorlien569]

My father has a number of beliefs that have spread into actions that I deeply disagree with and or are personally hurtful to me and I have struggled with this. Thank you for helping me to understand this better in relation to people I love.

[@BurginMackey]

Thank you for this video! I really like your perspective! 💖

[@cara3566]

Your lipstick is on point and I love your eyelashes!

[@jess.hawkins]

I think you are very insightful and have hit the nail on the head RE divisive discourse when challenging behaviour that is harmful driving people further down that path... I would like to see a lot more nuance and respectability used when we discuss these issues, not wandering into apologism or ignoring things which need to be challenged, but focusing on the ideas and the behaviour, not personal attacks which I think are counter-productive.

[@amandastricker9280]

Well done. I love the point of refuting and condeming the ACTION, not the person. As a teacher, that is a big part of our training, to correct the action and value the person. Harmful transphobic (or racist, or homophobic, or sexist, or any hateful deed), actions should be corrected and eliminated, but the person behind those actions should be seen and valued as a person, as all people should. Indeed, it's when we stop seeing people as people, whole people with a dichotomy of admirable and repugnant parts as we all have, that hate of all types spreads. We should express disappointment and correction, not vitriolic hate.

[@CJCroen1393]

Speaking of the House Elves in the Fantastic Beasts films, they also introduced a woman who was "half-House Elf" and the horrifying implications that this concept comes with aren't, to my knowledge, brought up.

[@jasonbolding3481]

love potion are sold to children and laughed about. Rowling has an unfortunate relationship with consent

[@bluewingsprite]

I've been feeling conflicted for months, thank you for this analysis

[@debishortall9201]

So sensible, serene and thoughtful.. Thanks...

[@datguy3581]

I do think that people will be more open for conversation and even changing their mindset if they feel that they aren’t being directly attacked but rather their beliefs are being questioned

[@gregcourtney751]

This video is well articulated, and reminds d me of a related topic: the diefication of creators. Not in all cases, but at least some a certain portion of fans of a particlular series or creator will start admiring the creator so much they will dismiss any criticism off the bat as you described with Rowling. Technology, particularly the internet and social media, have made it easier for people to surround themselves with similar thinking people and not branch out of this mind set. The fact is creators are people with their own blind spots and biases and treating them otherwise is not healthy for them or the fans doing it.

[@NikuArashi08721]

This video actually give me a lot of thougs and will change my prespective on some things, thank you very much for this

[@JoelLessing]

Very insightful and on point.

[@jdeb7734]

I think you are absolutely right about how the conversations should be not "You Are", but you are "behaving like" or "that behavior is". This may not change many adults, but it could help the next generation. It's like the first time a kid tells a joke they heard, bit they didn't understand it was racist or sexist... and then it is explained to them. Many of us who are not in a marginalized group didn't understand these things growing up. I watch your channel so I can learn and be a better friend to those in my life who are trans.

[@theresisty7122]

Okay, I watch and am subscribed for the insights and analyses, but I just have to say your hair and makeup are 🔥🔥🔥 in this vid.

[@Shadow1Yaz]

The transphobia being something you do rather than something you are is a view I’ve been holding for a while now. It was interesting hearing someone else explain it. Thank you.

[@hexum7]

It can be, and usually is, both, though

[@UnseenThreat07]

Just find people who accept that lifestyle instead of trying to change the majority of people

[@gtownbear33]

My favorite thing about your videos is how you are able to speak so well on the nuance that goes into issues like this without being wishy-washy on you’re own position. It helps me to be better at it discussing complicated things. Thanks so much!

[@JustJenna8]

Excellent explanation of your view points. I think that your action not identity approach to talking about the problematic things people say and do can be applied to a lot of scenarios where we hear people say things we think are harmful. Racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, etc.

[@mrsamuelwatson12]

I loved this video. Thank you for sharing. I didn’t have a full understanding of JK Rowling controversy, I do now xx

[@luminyam6145]

Great video, thank you.

[@jessali_]

Once again, you are able to verbalize and lay out EXACTLY what I've been thinking but couldn't properly express myself. Every single point you're making in this video warrants a big YES from me. Wish I could give this more than one like.

[@chandrawagner4061]

Love your reasoning and rationale in like all of your videos. As soon as you started this discussion I thought "that's what happened to gina". I think your thoughts on this and approach to calling people out could apply to a lot of areas right now. Were in a moment on all sides and issues where everyone is doubling down and conversations have stopped in favor of insults and shaming and I dont see it really helping anything.

[@ernestooscarpatrono9070]

Much love :) have a good day :D

[@adamwatson9815]

I really appreciate everything you do! When I started following your channel a few years ago, I had no real exposure to members of the trans community. While I was never antagonistic towards them, I can’t say I was particularly understanding either. I accepted them, without really validating them, if that makes sense? I figured they could do what they want, whether I really got it or not. And then one day you took off your flat-cap to reveal your long coloured hair, and I was shocked. I didn’t expect it, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. But I enjoyed your content so I carried on. I think I can safely say that without you, I wouldn’t be nearly as understanding of the trans community as I am. Seeing you be such a genuine human, and hearing what it is like for you coming to terms with your gender identity, has made all the difference to me. Please keep doing what you’re doing, because it’s positive public voices like yours that normalise the trans community to those that have little exposure, and so little opportunity to understand. I’ve been wanting to post this comment for a while but I’m not one for sap so always hesitated, but thank you. You are beautiful, valid and loved. Keep doing what you do!

[@bacul165]

I totally agree, plus I got some great insights for my own life, too!

[@CyberYork123]

Adam & Barbara: I had the same experience then you. And I hope that it was the little nudge out of the door to a better understanding and vaidation of the trans community. And agree with the point about people not being formost trnsphobic, rascist (or homophobic etc.), but acting like that. A lot of people, who are older (mid 40's and up, like me!), don't act like transphobes or rascists, because they really are, but because they don't know any better. The world nowadays is very different to the world they grew up in and that shaped their beliefs and views. So all of them have to unlearn what they learnt before. That takes some time. And places like Counsil of Geeks, where they can listen and learn.

[@cinder1013]

Your eyelashes look beautiful! I understand what you're saying. I have a 10 yr old re-reading Harry Potter and loving it. I will not stop him. The books are already bought and they provide no additional revenue. But does anyone have any good advice on what to do next? Because I haven't told him about this.

[@sara_sah-raezzat5086]

Your analysis is as on point as your eye makeup. I've been thinking for a while that we need to examine how we build and treat celebrities. We know that treating people as less than human lessens them and us, but so does treating people as more than human. As Terry Pratchett put it "Sin is treating people as things", and what are icons but things. What I don't know is how we change that, how we continue treating people as people when our brains just want to admire them. Excellent point about talking about transphobia (and other issues) as behaviour, not an intrinsic thing, I'm going try and practice that from now on.

[@PogieJoe]

Damn, you always have such an eloquent way of putting things.

[@obiwan-in-a-pudding2909]

Of topic but drop the makeup tutorial. Love the lipstick.

[@CouncilofGeeks]

My makeup is so basic, that a tutorial would only serve as an embarrassment. But thank you.

[@GordieKat]

I just want to point out that the woman singing the jazz song in Fantastic Beasts was a goblin, not a house elf.