On Abuse Within Community/Subcultures

[ravan]

In another post on someone else's journal, mac posted this link: The Revolution Starts at Home: Confronting Intimate Violence Within Activist Communities. It mentions a book that I currently can't afford to order, but also has a link to an excellent PDF of the zine version.

It is an intense read, but very valuable, IMO. So far I'm only a third of the way through it. One takeaway I have is something I knew at a gut level, but didn't really follow all the way through: Just because a person is an activist doesn't mean they automatically are not capable of being an abuser.

I know, peripherally, of incidents in various subcultures/communities I'm involved in that are not pretty. What I hadn't really internalized is how much it happens, but is ignored *within the community*. Sure, the outside will take a hint and make it a federal case, but ignoring it within isn't the solution either.

BTW, for those who wonder why I am bothering with any of this, since it's not my fight? Because I can. Because if someone hates me because of what I say on the net, it wouldn't be the first time. Because I have this obnoxious tendency to ask "Oh, really?" and be a bit sparing with my trust and credence. Not everyone whose journal I follow do I like or trust, either.

I'm sorry if I don't conform to your idea of what a pagan/feminist/queer/gimp/fan should be like. I'm not trying to please you or conform, and pushing me to do so just gets my back up and me being contrary. Call it crazy if you like.

But if I can inspire someone to think past their knee-jerk, then it's worth it.

That's why I've chosen to highlight this link/document - because it has made *me* think.

Comments

I get angry

[jemyl]

I spent most of last night catching up on the little rape drama. See, I get angry when I read the post replies attacking you over on lj, saying you were Kynn et al. The posts were not only nasty, but also downright childish in their name calling. I suppose I will now be included in that mix. Well, good! 'cause you were absolutely correct in your analysis of the original post by Alexandraerin. I also despise trial by Internet or mob justice. It is wrong and ruins people's lives needlessly.
These judgmental jerks do not know you. You always fight for the underdog, and do it very well. I'm proud of you for that and for the way you think. I may not always agree with you as you well know. Still and all I will fight to my dying breath for your right to think and post that way. I love you and that you are not a sheeple! Peace and Love to you and Datapard, Fuzzy too. Mamsan

[dubhain]

Thanks for the link. I'll have a look at it, later. I know mac from elsewhere, and she's good people.

Sorry to hear you wound-up in a flamefest. Remind you of our old USENET days any?

[mdehners]

Human communities need to define themselves and one of the ways they do is what they AREN'T. In undefined communities, it's easier for the Less Ethical to cause problems because they know from EXPERIENCE that there are few consequences and so expect none. In fact, they're usually SHOCKED when they find folks NOT supporting them "Unconditionally".
One of the non-Theological things that drove me away from CR back in the late 80's-early 90's was the "tacit" Acceptance of complete Horseshite in the NAME of Inclusivity. One of my final straws was being repremanded by by Senior for NOT being Supportive of a Newbie who Beleived that Druids came from Atlantis, which was a colony of Space Beings that powered their ships with Quartz Crystals and Creative Visualizations. While I've had problems with Iassac Bonewittz over they yrs, I did, however like his Idea of Excellence insztead of the lowest common denominator. Sadly, that's the level of everything in general...
Cheers,
Pat