The Witch Trials of JK Rowling

[CrossPurposes]

An in-depth intervietw with JK Rowling by Megan Phelps-Roper coming next week: twitter.com/meganphelps/status/1625465141046247425?s=20

Having listened to the five episodes out thus far I am very very thankful that she decided to speak out.

Even though I have gathered that the USA is full of magical thinking, and that no openly atheist would stand a chance at the presidency, episode 2 was particularly enlightening.
Also the bit about Tumblr vs 4chan was useful towards understanding the complete icefronts and weird accusations of «allying» with fascists and right wing when people work across political parties to achieve a goal.

It is shockingly infantilised. Grown adults with no ability to think a case through; just getting completely mired and stranded in «identity» and their feelings around it - talking about it like they are 10 years old still.
Not their own fault as such: when this kind of shut Minds is propagated from pastors and teachers alike.

I must add that I don’t think this is religious vs atheists either, but that the way a lot of churches operate in the US is built on magical thinking and thus it permeates US society to a very high degree. They do believe in the army of heaven and in the impending Battle with hell. They really do believe in Armageddon as a real fight between good and evil that is about to happen.
And this has clearly seeped in to all facets of life.

It is pretty horrifying to look at from the outside, though we have tendencies to the same in Europe too of course.

I did all 5 episodes in one day yesterday and I’m really glad the series exists in the world.

Well done to Bari Weiss, Megan Phelps Roper and others, and JK, of course. The long format and wider contextualisation is so important when trying to explain WHY this matters so much to the lives of women (even those women who happily offer our rights and language up on platter).

Contrapoints has made an absolute dick of Contrapointself by disavowing without listening, Contrapoints’ actual contributions come across as reasonable and thoughtful (although still not enough to make me budge on my positions, it’s nice to retest them against the positions held by a trans activist who isn’t demanding I die in a grease fire immediately).

The only bit that made me was Megan asking Contrapoints about Tumblr when anyone who has been around long enough to remember the pre Trump years online and the Contrapoints channel pre 2017 would likely surmise that Contrapoints would’ve grown up a 4Channer, not a Tumblrina.

Mentioned in The Guardian: www.theguardian.com/books/2023/mar/15/jk-rowling-views-transgender-issues-many-folks-deeply-unhappy

Agree with PPs just done episode 5 .. grateful this podcast exists and very grateful for J.K. taking a stand

I get you, and I'm rabidly on the side of free speech and the scentific method of putting ideas under intense scrutiny.

Still, one of the really blessed things about this podcast is how far out of their way the people involved are going to present a rounded picture of the arguements on all sides, while also stating clearly what JK Rowling's position is. It's a living breathing example of everything that's lacking in the general picture of public discourse on topics like gender, such as empathy, open mindedness and viewpoint diversity.

Isn't it something how all the outlets that condemn JKR get themselves so much content out of this podcast? She's propping up a whole industry without even meaning to. Same with the constant trending on Twitter.

It's not really very often discussion from podcasts makes the news at all, yet every week this makes the top stories on the Graun (and pro-JKR titles, to be fair), Vox, all the rest. Gets them the clicks though, doesn't it? Nasty and hypocritical, really.

Living in their heads rent free, or some such.

@FleischeBaum Yeah it is a good example of this and I think that's because of Megan's past experience. When she was on the other side as in part of Westboro - she shared about how because of good public discourse, over time her mind was changed.

She talks about people on twitter that were really patient with her and helped her. And they were the kind of people she'd been utterly certain were evil, dangerous hetetics.

Something i heard, possibly in episode 3, was a trans advocate type characterising JKR and / or GC people generally (apologies - only half listening at the time, but it’s wormed into my consciousness) as science-denying. This was new to me. What science is it they think we’re denying?

No that is par for the course.

It is all back to front. They accuse us of what they are doing themselves, and there are never any receipts.

Oh. Just more mindless parroting then. Like “Be Kind” without thinking “who should be kind to whom?”

Probably the nonsense about "sex is a spectrum" parading as science in outlets such as Sci Am that ought to know better, or else the debunked journal papers by activist-reseachers like Jack Turban etc.?

No that is par for the course.

It is all back to front. They accuse us of what they are doing themselves, and there are never any receipts.

This.

I am finally caught up. So good. It struck me how young the protesters sounded. Did anyone else notice that?

Is the next one due tomorrow?

Kinda wishing I’d waited until they were all out now!

Yes. Comes out on Tuesdays. Me too shewife!

I agree but then I think it is also good to wait. Remember when we had to wait a whole week for the next episode of a TV series?

Ah yes. That is true Steady.
The lost art of delayed gratification...

open.spotify.com/episode/1m6rScRp9P1Z5rh3ZLVsCs?si=Vy9AkQdGS62ibIAMKv-Fxw

Todays episode is called Natalie and Noah and is about those critical of JKR. Assuming that is Contrapoints and is what they have already raged and apologised for taking part in in advance? This will be interesting, will have to check out CP's Twitter later.

Another good episode. No JKR, just trans voices. I had never heard about the Potter fan convention that asked attendees to report anyone they heard saying anything supportive of JKR.

Contrapoints is very stuck in the 'we just want to pee' mindset and hence is never going to understand what JKR is saying.

Noah is 17 and fascinating. Understands the issues and seemed mature beyond their years. However, had 'top surgery' three months prior to the interview and admitted to mental health issues alongside the dysphoria.

It was a good episode and Megan does bring out a detailed discussion. However still hints of no debate about women's rights. I am looking forward to next week - the final one?

Yes, I could see Megan was oh-so gently trying to press Contrapoints on a few issues, trying to plant the seed that JKR has valid concerns that aligned with CP’s own thoughts… but Megan was just tiptoeing really.

Noah comes across so well and says all the right things, except when you remember that Noah has literally just turned 17 and is parroting the usual platitudes about of COURSE I understood my parents’ concerns about transition and of COURSE I thought about it long and hard. Noah could only have been 14 or 15 at this point. Emphasising that this was all doctor-led and doctor-recommended. Hoo boy.

I've just finished it. Blimey.

I'm not sure it was the intention, but listening to Natalie and Noah is not going to change anybody's mind about trans ideology. If anything, it will have the opposite effect.

Noah especially seemed very thoughtful. But damn, someone or maybe just life, has done a number on that kid.

They have numerous issues, and clearly a sexist family who were vocal about expecting an unconventional kid to eventually toe the traditional line, by getting married, settling down and having babies. And this kid is only 17 now! Noah didn't say so, but I guarantee they are same-sex attracted.

Noah also said they were looking forward to puberty as it would solve all their problems. But when they discovered the opposite, they went into meltdown.

Megan gently tried to suggest that girls starting puberty with all the attendant mess, pain, expectations and unwanted attention will often feel bloody shortchanged, and aghast. Which, remarkably, appeared to be fairly fresh information to Noah.

It was all so textbook, including the online contagion. With, yet again, no one actually describing the reasons for Noah's gender dysphoria.

Noah also made no secret, at all, about the fact that it was the medical practitioners who gave Noah the green light, the confidence, and the security to go ahead.

Captured forever on a podcast.

Natalie just sounded like any other self entitled male individual. Admitting that it's mostly about validation, and hoped that dynamic will become so second nature to the public, that it will be completely normal.

No thanks.

Natalie also contradicted themself every other sentence. And largely wanted people to just stop asking questions.

I can't help feeling sorry for J. K. Rowling. She happened to write characters which resonate profoundly with people, but also with many who have issues.

She said herself that it was the outsider nature of Harry Potter which appeals to people who feel like outsiders. And many of them say how much it helped them. They found a tribe online, and it helped them to fit in.

But it's a bloody story. It's not psychiatry.

She's not a wizard who can see into their souls. She is a woman whose character observation is spot on. And she wrote characters around that skill.

Many people feel these characters are real.

It's a testament to her writing, but bloody hell, I should imagine it's really rather onerous as well.

I’m having to listen to this week’s episode in instalments because I find Contrapoints’ ‘woman’ voice really irritating and the points being made (so far) are disingenuous and entitled.

As for Noah, I’m not sure a 17-year old is a wise choice for an interview subject; I think for something this serious it should be adult interviewees only. This podcast will generate a lot of discussion in the media etc and I would hate to see a teenager coming under intense public scrutiny (whether negative or positive, it’s a lot to handle), it’s not fair to a young person to be put under pressure.