GirlChat #599425
The need to not challenge false fears, but to deny that it applies to THEM. The need to avoid discussing challenging all unjust laws regarding us or our loves so they can claim they're only interested in a few. The need to prescreen members so they can claim that they conform to a certain ethos.
That's all true, but then it's probably going to take organizations like Virped for MAPs to make any headway at all. Call them a necessary evil. In a society where the media, advocacy groups and others routinely tears down the character of MAPs based on falsehoods, this is something akin to fighting fire with fire. While I'm not particularly thrilled with Virped, I can understand their goals and their purpose. It often sounds like Ethan isn't even talking to us but past us to another ( and THAT'S when he doesn't openly create a post to exclude us and promote himself to lurkerz. ) With all due respect, Ethan is hardly the only one here to do that, and in and of itself that's not necessarily a bad thing. Even Dissident recognizes the fact that PR is an important aspect of forums like GC. True, we are not constrained like Virped is, and as you point out, when you set such strict limits for yourself, you have a hard time living up to them, so you must always be on top of your game lest you come off as a hypocrite (which Ethan sometimes does). However, as I have said before, I do think there is value in not being crass and insulting to the large chunks of the population who currently control this debate, and that is sometimes a problem here. Not nearly as much as it once was, but it still exists. |