calling an assembly like yo lotf fandom what up

k so a lot of people have already posted abt the drama happening in the fandom, but i feel the need to say my piece bc i feel partly responsible as i brought the post abt white-washing roger back up

first off, i never expected this whole thing to blow up as it did, and i’m rly sad n disappointed that a lot of people allegedly resorted bullying n harrassment. (i say allegedly bc i havent actually seen extreme instances of these ??)

however i dont regret bringing up that post as white-washing is definitely an important issue and not just in fandom. its a major problem in media + world history as well. white-washing is harmful, and we rly should work towards unlearning problematic idealogies.

(especially since its, you know, tumblr, where were actually at liberty to discuss sj issues)

please read this post that articulately explains why headcanoning roger as pale is white-washing and why it is problematic.

now, we do not have to constantly talk abt roger’s skin colour every other post. this post brings up a good point abt how yes, making roger white in fanart/fic has been done a million times before, and we can’t rly do anything to change it. what we can do is to learn from our mistakes.

we cannot sweep this under the rug and pretend that it isn’t problematic; when did ignoring a problem ever make it go away?

we have to acknowledge the problem as it is, and then work our way towards a better n less problematic future

now with that cleared up, i just wanted to say that if you still feel the need to discuss (for a lack of a better word) delicate issues like this w/ people of opposing views, please do it in a polite, respectful and civilised manner. (also probably do it in private so you and whoever ur speaking with can talk without any outside influence)

always remember that the person you’re talking to has feelings. bullying them and overall being disrespectful to them won’t convince anybody to listen to you at all. like, if u feel the urge to insult them or w/e go take a deep breath and count to ten or go take a break and have a kitkat. but pls dont vent out ur feelings to the person ur debating with ✌️

also, try listening to whoever you’re talking to. try to see where they’re coming from, see if they still harbor problematic beliefs, then kindly point it out to them. respectfully call them out, but please don’t resort to passive aggressive bullshit/savage harassment bc y'all are better than that