Neil Gaiman accused of sexual assault

[WandsOut]

www.yahoo.com/entertainment/sandman-writer-neil-gaiman-denies-142813982.html

Story still unfolding in the news

I find this really sad.....

However is there a link behind SF and a desire for alternate realities that in some way change a the psyche so that they believe such behaviour is acceptable? Maybe you get drawn into a bohemian world.where it is perfectly acceptable in your own mind to 'stretch the rules ' sexually and pivoting away from 'conservative values' is all.part of being a rock star for of producing alternative realities.

Yes, but the limbic system and cerebellum do react faster than the rest of the brain. That's why musicians and martial artists train the way they do: to try to make as much stuff into conditioned reflex (aka "muscle memory) as possible because the other bits of the brain are too slow.

What is your point in relation to Neil Gaiman? That he couldn’t help it because his inner primitive wolf/animal brain took over?! That is very disrespectful to those telling their stories.

Neil Gaiman has left a huge trail on social media which doesn’t help him if he wants to refute allegations - his ego obviously overrode any caution discussing his wants and desires.

I stand corrected about the reptilian brain - hadn’t read the debunks before. I brought it up mainly to challenge the idea that we didn’t evolve from monkeys. Monkey-like things came before apes and before that a long history of other organisms that we also evolved from. For example humans didn’t just evolve human eyes - they evolved far back in prehistory (pre-reptiles) and have developed, like the brain. That doesn’t mean there’s something in our brains that’s exactly a lizard’s brain, but we have structures that evolved that early.

Whether it has been recently or not so recently I would imagine Tori Amos must have experienced a brutal sense of betrayal by all of this.

I don’t think anyone is saying he couldn’t help it because he has brain parts that we all have that handle more basic or emotional urges and instincts. However that is one reason we acknowledge that teenagers and young adults have less good judgement until the frontal cortex catches up with the limbic system (one of the arguments against minors transitioning medicallly). It is a thing, and there is an evolutionary history to it.

I’m just tangentially wandering off really but in relation to NG, things we know suggest there have been plenty of evidence of planning and arranging by him, as well as developing an actively pro-feminism cover persona, and we’re not talking about some who’s unable to control himself.

@Villagetoraiseachild I would be astounded if she didn't already know.

Neil has just been told to fuck off at the Hugo awards.

Is NG actually at Worldcon? Did someone say this to his face? Or is this in someone's speech? What happened?

It was in someone's speech, here about -1:13:00 onwards

My my. I know being denounced at the Hugos is a bit like having your integrity questioned by FIFA, but it's Neil's crowd.

Well, good for Jellyfish Hat Lady, even if she does represent everything I find completely tiresome and nauseating about sff "community". It means at least people there have to stop pretending they don't know what's been said/alleged.

Glad it wasn't just me thinking that. But yes, good for her for saying it out loud. Although I'd prefer he make a statement before fucking off.

I liked the fact she was.making her impassioned speech against all the phobias with a jellyfish on her head.

I don't know about that.

I think he was stating a truth - being a musician does get men girls. It's not just their speculation or some kind of fantasy.

He's observing reality, if it says anything it tells us something about the girls.

I’m tangentially involved in an event which was to involve Gaiman. I stated that I would withdraw if the invitation to him went ahead, and that he should never be left alone with a woman during the event. The main organiser, an old friend of NG’s had heard the information via the Tortoise pod, but hadn’t been aware of his behaviour otherwise. The judgement from that person was “He obviously compartmentalises his life.” And that he was “having his #metoo moment.”

It’s looking like we’ll have to ditch the whole event.

What, teenage girls? Tells us that they are vulnerable to grooming, you mean?

I think there are different things:

1. women are, in general, attracted to competence and success. (This is good for men since there are lots of different ways men can be competent and succesful). Lots of adult women find musicians sexy.
2. Hero worship amongst fans is also a thing. Particularly amongst younger fans, or vulnerable fans both male and female. Especially when parasocial relationships are being actively encouraged. Teenage boys are just as likely to idolise their favourite writers and musicians etc as teenage girls. However, its easy if you are a shitty person to exploit that hero worship (usually this leads to girls being exploited, sometimes its boys).

@TempestTost that they were vulnerable? That a known sexual predator had identified their susceptibility to being ripe for exploitation?

https://x.com/pcaruanagalizia/status/1822752736825225293

BRAVO that woman.

This has just been put up on Reddit, statement from a long time friend of NG elisem.dreamwidth.org/2004039.html

That person was absolutely used as cover.

And the fact that she's planning to berate him along the lines of, "you write fairytales. What did you think would happen?" Makes my heart sink. Why even have a conversation and why have it along the lines of some stupid lyrical goth girl type metaphor about fairytales.

Just tell him to fuck off.

I agree. I found the whole thing difficult to follow to be honest.

Maybe I’m cynical but it read to me like someone trying to preserve their career

I got the same impression (although have no idea who she is). I could be wrong, but I really struggle to believe someone who has known him closely for 30-odd years had not even an inkling of his behaviour.