Ignorance Is Not Bliss...

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

There's a lot of it running rampant in these parts.  Ignorance calls people names in an effort to provoke a reaction, and it responds when the name calling cuts too deep.  Ignorance rushes into the fray and indulges itself by stirring up more strife until the atmosphere is thick with misunderstanding and suspicion.
There is no excuse for the kind of behavior that has come into question in the past few days.  Section VII will never tolerate abusive language or pointedly incendiary comments that target a group or belief system.  We're not here to make judgements about what people do in their private lives, we're here to write fiction for a television series we love and embrace.  So far we've remained free of the kind of trouble that was served up on that other comm, perhaps because we just stick to writing.
Let's continue on in that spirit of shared interest and enjoyment of the men whose lives embody tolerance and inclusiveness.  I want everyone to feel safe, and if anyone ever feels bullied or targeted, please let me know.
I'll reiterate once more what I have said previously: We are a Gen site because we like Gen, not because we're anti something else.  Whether we love television or comics, let's remain true to the joy that our stories produce, and leave the negative stuff outside.
Thanks,
Glenna

Comments

[avery11.livejournal.com]

Once again, let me say thank you for putting things into a healthy perspective.

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. Believe me when I tell you I could say SO MUCH MORE. But I will resist the impulse to do so.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for posting this. I wanted to comment regarding the recent debacle but hesitated to chime in. Several people already know my thoughts on this matter as I messaged them privately to support them, especially after one was on the receiving end of such venom.

The negativity displayed yesterday (and on other days) was shameful and so inappropriate. Everyone has their right to an opinion and beleifs but it's just so wrong to express them in such a deliberately bating and hurtful manner.

We may get into heated discussions, and arguments at times on LJ but spewing that sort of hatred just doesn't cut it!

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

We stand united in our intolerance of the kind of display that was staged over that entry and what it produced. Many parties need to rethink how they react to such obvious goading and take responsibility for having done exactly what was expected of them, myself included. I assumed she wasn't misleading us in relaying her side of the story.
It will never happen here.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

I think she's been doing a lot of misleading all along. She definitely had me suckered.

[rosywonder.livejournal.com]

I stay away for a few days and all hell breaks loose!

All I can say is, from reading at least a little of the 'correspondence' that people need to think before they speak. Online communities are a wonderful thing, but sometimes one can dash off a reply to someone without putting one's brain into gear.

I'm personally rather sad, as a largely 'het' writer, that this slanging match has happened. Some of my favourite OCs in my own stories are gay, just as some of them are black, hispanic,elderly or children. All part of our wonderful world, I believe.

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

There is this hope residing within me that people are not deceitful and that they wouldn't stage something like this simply to create chaos.
I've encountered a few disappointments on LJ, but never anything that was so purposefully inflammatory, at least not on this scale.
I may be resigned to only commenting on stories from here on.

[rosywonder.livejournal.com]

This is a real shame and is not helpful to promoting an inclusive MFU world. I understand very well what you are trying to a achieve on Section 7 and the like, and this does not help. We just have to keep on believing that the world is a wonderful place and there are some good people in it. Or am I being a naive fool here?!!!

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

Not naive, just hopeful. Section VII is gen because some people want to read and write gen, and none of the other comms were producing much fiction anyway. We've had a lot of stories come out of here, and there are people who consider it a 'safe place'; their words, not mine. It isn't based on anything prejudicial, just preferential, for the same reason we have MUNCLE.
Having said that, if a story came through here that exhibited the kind of loathing we see in the tirades of the individual in question, it would be suggested to the writer that she remove it for the reasons stated in the entry above, and if she didn't then I would remove it.
Thankfully we haven't had a problem here, and when one or two slash stories showed up, I pointed out to the writers that we are gen and they very graciously removed the stories, but continue to read and visit here.
Good will. That's all I want, good will.

[rosywonder.livejournal.com]

Exactly. Good will and good stories!

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

In my part of the country we call this a Come To Jesus Meetin'
And the congregation said 'Amen!"

[svetlanacat4.livejournal.com]

Thank you for posting this, Glenna!

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

You're welcome.

[yelizaveta52.livejournal.com]

I pretty much missed all the really nasty stuff because when I'm on lj it's between 10p-9a. I'm working then and it's appears to be pulled by the time I'm on. But I could plug into some of the aftermath. I was horrified by that alone. Doing my own digging I decided it has to be someone new within the last 6mos but hadn't figured out who. Figured it had to be someone new that had taken the time to ingratuate themselves and attack from the inside. I am sorry that I was right. February would be just enough time. I read some of the postings tonight, found one of the arguments... I am not naive but I had not ever expected to find it here. I was literally sickened!

I do have a favor to ask before deciding whether or not to ban/unfriend her,though I am leaning strongly in that direction. Could someone PM me and show me or tell me about the very original post that set this whole thing off? And follow-up postings whre available. Something? If you can't just PM me and let me know.

And I'm pretty sure that my God would be more than a little miffed at the use of his word to be twisted to say what she wanted it to say instead of what it says.

And the congretation yells back, AMEN!

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

Amen sister! Sometimes you just gotta shout!