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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

JK Rowling threatening legal action

772 replies

TheLashKingOfScotland · 29/05/2020 16:52

A TRA and Canadian Green Party rep has made libellous comments about JK regarding her position on trans rights and her suitability to be trusted around children.
JK asked her to retract them or they would hear from JK's lawyers. Currently they are digging in. Seemingly unaware that JK has pursued legal cases based on Twitter comments before and that it isn't acceptable to make unfounded statements about people.
It will be interesting to see how it unfolds.
It could have wider reaching consequences if certain sectors see they can't just make unfounded accusations any more.

OP posts:
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Permanantlypuzzled · 29/05/2020 18:49

“If freedom means anything at all it means being able to tell people things they do not wish to hear.”
George Orwell.

Go get ‘em JK.

Michelleoftheresistance · 29/05/2020 18:52

If the main aim of your writing is how many diversity virtue signals can you stuff in to prove you're a Good Person..... Confused

I swear, this is the new generation of the deeply tedious type that used to appear in the student bar on a Friday night about 11pm when everyone was three sheets to the wind, grab you and gaze into your face and demand dramatically "are you saved??? "

And then be sorrowful that no one wanted to be righteously lectured about the state of their soul and kept taking the piss

OvaHere · 29/05/2020 18:54

Of all the women to go after with libellous statements it takes someone quite special to target the one who is practically a billionaire and will have top notch lawyers on speed dial. Grin

Bananabixfloof · 29/05/2020 19:06

Sunlight, all the better for more of it.
On the diversity stuff, shes being told to add more diversity (i assume LGBT? Disability etc?) Then if she did she would be told to stay in her lane and only write what she knows, like magic and wizards are real.

CaraDune · 29/05/2020 19:07

Well, quite, Ova. I for one am settling in with the popcorn and a nice Wine for this one.

Are there any rules as to which jurisdiction JK will have to go after the tweeter in? The tweeter's home country? US and more specifically California where Twitter's HQ is? Or can she sue here? (Please, please let it be here...)

Oxyiz · 29/05/2020 19:30

Christ, so even in a global pandemic, a bunch of weirdos have nothing better to do than attack women. ffs.

Datun · 29/05/2020 19:37

That Telegraph article was a little biased, I thought. But, despite that, it was very interesting how all the comments were universally supportive of JK and right royally fed up with 'woke'. No one is buying it.

JK is an exceptionally intelligent and insightful woman. She would have looked at this issue with a razor sharp analysis.

You can't tell one of the most popular children's authors of all time that they shouldn't be around children and expect to get away with it.

She's not an idiot, she knows what happens when you challenge trans extremist dogma. And she's put herself on the line. Because, and this is the real crux of the matter, she knows she's right.

Once that hits you with the blinding clarity it does, the pushback only strengthens your resolve.

JK is in an almost unique position here. There is no way that Twitter TRAs are going to have the slightest affect on either her reputation or her bank balance.

What they will do, ultimately, is hand her the microphone.

If she ever reads these threads, I would urge her to donate to Vancouver rape refuge. And a sum big enough to get in the news. Let the world see how a bunch of TRAs want to shut down a rape refuge for not admitting men, despite the fact that there are numerous others which do - in the same city.

Because she's got a microphone, and that would be her rostrum.

donquixotedelamancha · 29/05/2020 19:47

I don't like the way she uses her 'status' to muscle in on political issues regardless of whether I agree with her or not.

?

I know she was opinionated about the Scottish referendum but she comments on politics very little compared to a great many celebs and only really does personal opinions about stuff she is directly concerned with (e.g. Scotland, women's rights).

She's just received tirades of abuse from TRAs while spending all day replying individually to dozens of children who sent her pictures- her only response is two polite tweets.

RoyalCorgi · 29/05/2020 19:49

Of all the women to go after with libellous statements it takes someone quite special to target the one who is practically a billionaire and will have top notch lawyers on speed dial.

Yes. It's not generally hard to differentiate between a trans rights activist and someone who's just won the Nobel prize for physics.

Whatsnewpussyhat · 29/05/2020 19:49

As if any writer should have to make their work of fiction more diverse.

I want to read the 1 fanfic 10000 word essay, and if there isn't one character for each and every single identity and gender then they should be ashamed of themselves.

JKR is amazing. All this is doing is shining light on the unhinged thought police.

Bluebooby · 29/05/2020 19:56

"Cara" sounds like the author of that medium article linked in another thread. I don't know how anyone could defend that kind of behaviour and believe they're on the "right" side.

JK Rowling threatening legal action
happydappy2 · 29/05/2020 20:01

The shit show is crumbling-they are losing ground hence getting more aggressive. Accusing her of being unsafe around children-classic DARVO.

OvaHere · 29/05/2020 20:02

@Whatsnewpussyhat

As if any writer should have to make their work of fiction more diverse.

I want to read the 1 fanfic 10000 word essay, and if there isn't one character for each and every single identity and gender then they should be ashamed of themselves.

JKR is amazing. All this is doing is shining light on the unhinged thought police.

The first HP was published in 97 and no doubt written a few years prior to that.

There was some diversity in the series overall as I recall. If it was written now there would probably be more.

It's pointless berating something written well over 20 years ago for not meeting today's exacting standards.

As for gender identity JKR would have needed a crystal ball to know that was going to become a thing!

nettie434 · 29/05/2020 20:14

I think the problem is that some of her early readers who are now adults never learned that you can love an author's work but not 'own' the author. She is entitled to her own opinions and 100% agree with Didolamenting that at least she spoke about Scottish independence from the perspective of someone who paid Scottish taxes.

Definitions of transphobia need to cover the same range of behaviours as racism, disabilism (apologies if that is not a real word) and homophobia.

Miriel · 29/05/2020 20:17

I've just been reading the replies to her recent posts. There are people on Twitter actually telling her to kill herself and burn in hell over an accidental copy/paste. It's seriously disturbing.

MrsOfBebbanburg · 29/05/2020 20:20

It’s a series of books about wizards. Pretty fucking diverse! Grin

MrsOfBebbanburg · 29/05/2020 20:22

There are people on Twitter actually telling her to kill herself and burn in hell over an accidental copy/paste.

No prizes for guessing which side of the trans debate they’re on with those trademark phrases!

famousforwrongreason · 29/05/2020 20:24

She was hideous about Corbyn and had no reason to be other than protecting her own financial interests and kowtowing to those in positions of power in the centrist left-fearing media.
She used her position, along with the guardian to ensure that traditional left wing voters would not let a true socialist into parliament.
She's much more powerful than people give her credit for and this trans / terf stuff is smoke and mirrors.

IPityThePontipines · 29/05/2020 20:25

@DidoLamenting

No idea about Scottish independence, as I wasn't following that in detail

She was opposed to it and contributed a lot to Better Together. JKR and King Creosote were possibly the only 2 in the Scottish arts luvvies circle who supported "No". She was perfectly entitled to make her position clear and she lives in Scotland unlike several of the "artists for independence"

Them and Manda Rin from Bis.

Fair play to JK Rowling. That tweet was well beyond the grounds of good taste and she was right to respond to it.

Mollyollydolly · 29/05/2020 20:32

I hope she takes that woman to the cleaners. It needs someone with her clout and influence to do it. When you see the replies to her some people really need help. Have nothing but admiration for her for speaking out when so many are silent.

Bananabixfloof · 29/05/2020 20:35

@famousforwrongreason

She was hideous about Corbyn and had no reason to be other than protecting her own financial interests and kowtowing to those in positions of power in the centrist left-fearing media. She used her position, along with the guardian to ensure that traditional left wing voters would not let a true socialist into parliament. She's much more powerful than people give her credit for and this trans / terf stuff is smoke and mirrors.
This totally bypassed me. I never even saw a comment from her about parties let alone leaders of said parties. How many people read the guardian that it could make such a difference even if reading a paper made a person's mind up about anything.
FloralBunting · 29/05/2020 20:41

She's more powerful than people give her credit for?

Yes, that's why we're all cheering her on, because she's in a very powerful position and can get shit done. I don't we should credit her with stopping Corbyn getting the reins of power, though. The Labour party themselves should have that honour.

Milicentbystander72 · 29/05/2020 20:43

She's pretty well known fir supporting Labour and I suspect is Centre left in her politics. So what if she didn't like Corbyn? Plenty didn't and said so publicly. Countless Arty/literary types say relentlessly how much they hare Boris Johnson too. I think it's bad form to call out JK on making a couple of political tweets

ScrimpshawTheSecond · 29/05/2020 20:48

@happydappy2

The shit show is crumbling-they are losing ground hence getting more aggressive. Accusing her of being unsafe around children-classic DARVO.
Oui.
Dances · 29/05/2020 20:52

I would be impressed if she had been 'hideous' about Corbyn.