Noah Berlatsky laying into JKR in Independent

[Bloodybridget]

The Opinion Matrix feature in today's i newspaper has a section on "JK Rowling controversy"; the first clip is a Noah Berlatsky writing in the Independent, taking a totally TWAW, most oppressed, most at risk of sexual violence, no threat to women, etc., standpoint. I'd never heard of him, so I read the full article online, and looked to find out more about him. Turns out he is closely involved with an organisation called Prostasia which believes the way to combat child sexual abuse is to "destigmatize paedophiles" or Minor Attracted Persons as they prefer to say.

I've just written to the i about this. Why the fuck are they giving a platform to this guy? And why do they imagine he has anything legitimate to say about sexual violence and oppression?

So he thinks the way to combat child abuse is to make it more acceptable? What could possibly go wrong with that approach?

FFS

The Spectator covered this so I’m hoping that puts the pressure on:

www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-independent-s-double-standards-for-jk-rowling

I thought they might have pulled it by now but it’s still up (it looks like they commission him a lot )

Blimey.
From the point of view of influencing the debate, with enemies like that who needs friends.

Good to see it's been noticed elsewhere in the press, @Bellendejour. @ErrolTheDragon good point!

Rowling's implicit criticism of this move – riffing on Orwell that: 'War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength. The Penised Individual Who Raped You Is a Woman' – has sparked a terrific backlash, with much of it seeming to come from angry, pompous middle-aged men.

Got to love that last sentence.

The Indy publishes pieces by notCursedE/ Gemma Stone doesn't it? It seems like a paper intent on making itself even less viable.

The Independent, again. Hm.

@Alekto what vile stuff! I don't read the Independent online, I get the i every day, have been reading it for years and never seen anything particularly offensive before now.

Vile, reprehensible and utterly wrong. Make paedophiles more socially acceptable. They're cool really.
Fucking despicable.

Just in case you don’t know OP, the i and the Independent are two completely separate entities. Indie is now totally online and I is a physical paper with website.

@JaniceBattersby thanks for pointing this out, I didn't know they were completely separate, although I did know that the Independent is only online now.