How to be an Ally book

[Carouselfish]

Has anyone read it? It's in the World Book Day display at the supermarket for a pound or two, 'not for younger readers' on the cover. Glanced at it in a rush. Hoping it's a sensible guide on how not to discriminate against gay and trans people, though I can't imagine how that fills a whole book. Mainly just, treat them like you treat everyone else. I look forward to How to Not Have Unconscious Bias, How to Not be Misogynistic, How to Treat Animals Ethically and other political books on the cheap for children.

The trouble with this sort of thing and identity politics in general is that they are usually written by people who see themselves as self appointed leaders and that everyone else is just there to be instructed. It is that sort of mentality that has motored the trans rights movements - ideology and policy are decided on the campuses of American universities and promoted by corporate sponsored charities. Then no debate was was declared with dissenters labeled as bigots. Ironically it is marketed as progressive politics but free speech and open debate on issues should be part and parcel of progressive politics.

They should have started with 'How not to be a bully'.

I have an issue with the concept of 'being an ally' full stop.

Quickly reaching saturation point. I want to be left alone, to think about stuff if I need to / if I want to / when I want to . Otherwise known as thinking independently. Too revolutionary?

I dont like the idea of 'not for younger readers' being on a very low shelf on a children's display as part of an event that's mainly primary school geared. But, havent read it. Has anyone else?

I thought the whole point was that you don’t treat them just like you treat everyone else, because they’re so uniquely special and the rest of us are mere plebs 🤷‍♀️

Being an ally has very specific meanings in some circles:

It does not always mean supporting a cause which is not specifically about the ally's own demographic group, health status, sexuality etc, and it doesn't even mean actively working for that cause without taking over any movement and with the understanding that one should follow but not lead in that context. and that the proper roles are support roles. It's something different from that.

It's exact meaning may vary, but there's an odd type of masochistic flavour about it in some Twitter groups and on some sites. I can't quite put it in words, but one rule in many of those circles is that allies can be yelled at, accused of stuff etc, without any negative consequences but more likely apologetic and appeasing responses from the allies, even when there is no real reason for those. The psychology is quite interesting to observe.

There is a difference between an ally and a vassal

I briefly flicked through it in Tesco, there seemed a fair focus on race, but then also lots of self flagellation throughout. I will probably try and actually get it and read it properly.