Another day, another letter...

[quote Vermeil]@MissLucyEyelesbarrow
You would? Even though this letter is in reply to the one condemning the unwarranted abuse levelled at JKR? You’re totally cool with the implications?[/quote]
But did Winterson know that? My point is that, if you just read the text of the letter, it's innocuous and you wouldn't necessarily realise that it was a riposte to JKR.

I'm not a fan of Jeanette Winterson as a writer or as a person but, in fairness, that letter is pretty innocuous. Other than the TWAW bit, I would happily sign it myself.

Have I read this wrong? Ostensibly seems like a nice gesture to support trans community; nothing wrong with that if that's what you want to do.

But it seems to tacitly suggest the death/rape threats JKR received were justified and not worth criticising. At all. Is this what people are really signing for? I feel like if these people work in the industry they'd be aware that it wasn't just a 'be nice to the trans community' letter?

I wondered reading the first JKR letter list if it's average age was older than the second is. Lots of editorial assistant type people with 90s first names. It saddened me that the first might be dismissed as representing an older generation that doesn't get it, and bright young things people the second. Although yes, not many are high-profile. I was amused to see Juno Dawson signing a letter to support herself...

What if JKR herself was to sign that letter?

I was trying to work out why I was so disappointed to see Jeanette Winterson on the list and it's not just because she's a lesbian but because she was raised in a cult-like Pentecostalist home and managed to fight her way out and document the madness of it. It feels pretty tragic to me that someone who struggled so hard to escape one false belief system has fallen for another. And she's married to Susie Orbach who certainly used to know exactly the kind of issues that women experience as a result of their sex. I am doubly glum.

I read a very jarring statement by Jeanette Winterson in either an essay or one of her books. I can't remember it now but it came across to me as very dismissive towards those she saw as her intellectual inferiors.

The trouble with intelligent people who know they are bright is that they can be the very worst sometimes for applying critical thinking skills or questioning their own conclusions, because they think they don't need to.

They can assume the right answer is the first answer that flashes into their head and no more thinking is required of their intelligent brain. Sadly this is not always true and the trans debate is an absolute classic example.

I just went to see who'd signed it, so I would know who to boycott, but I think this will be the easiest boycott ever. Is there anyone that anyone has actually heard of or gives a shit about on there?

Sad about Jeanette Winterson but honestly she peaked a very long time ago; I'm happy to never read another of her books! I never enjoyed the work of Joanne Harris or finished any of her novels. Of the few remaining that I have even heard of I'd sooner read the dentist's magazine collection.

It says there are publishers on the list too, which is potentially more of a problem. But scrolling down it seems like they are mostly low-level functionaries and I'm not sure that publishers should be boycotted for having problematic low-level staff members.

Sack of fucking idiots.

I am thoroughly out of patience with this stuff today.

Did the Guardian report on the letter in support of JKR?

I’d like an answer to this too. But I can guess...

Horrified that Jeanette Winterson is in there.

Agree. It states TWAW - so no issues with the cotton ceiling/transing of lesbian/ gender NC girls then Jeanette??

he has not done any research into this. He has just jumped on a bandwagon in order to get kudos from his peers. I doubt if many of the signatories actually bothered to read what JKR said

^this.

All of them

The only name I recognise is Jeanette Winterson. I'm disappointed to see her there, she is an excellent writer and always seemed thoughtful and considerate.

There are several people on that list who have demonstrated very unpleasant behaviour in the past.

Predictable list of names. Nothing new. It's actually encouraging how few eminent people in publishing are on there.

Delurking in sadness as close family member has signed this letter. Difficult for me to discuss with him as he will not listen and I do not want to fall out. He is entitled to his opinion I suppose but the thing is ... I can tell by what he says that he has not done any research into this. He has just jumped on a bandwagon in order to get kudos from his peers. I doubt if many of the signatories actually bothered to read what JKR said and as PP said - they have probably no idea what the issues actually are.

Not a who's who, but a, who the fuck are you?

Horrified that Jeanette Winterson is in there. Wonder how many were approached and felt they couldn't say no?

I only recognise a handful of the authors but there are loads of editors etc

The Second Shelf is intersectional, inclusive, and expansive in our use of the term women as we embrace the multidefinitionality of gender identity and expression. This is a crime against the English language.

Did the Guardian report on the letter in support of JKR?

it suggests that condemning abuse is in opposition to the wellbeing and rights of trans and non-binary people

Does this mean that the abuse for JKR was needed for the wellbeing and rights of trans and non-binary people?? Highly insulting to trans and non-binary people surely!!

Is that libellous? By positioning as in opposition it is implyingJKR said or thinks things that she didn't ?

Yes, if not legally, it is deceitful to suggest that condemning abuse is in opposition to the wellbeing and rights of trans and non-binary people