Gosh, John C Wright

Two days ago I did not know who John C Wright was.

Yesterday, in the wake of his fantastically bonkers argument on how teh gay is ruining the world, I asked Mr Brammers if he had ever heard of him. After a Google, Mr B said 'Erk. Yeah, picked up one of his books in a shop, put it back down. Shitful writer.'

Today I see that the post has been amended to discard all the comments to it and to do the internet equivalent of sticking his fingers in his ears and shouting 'LALALALALA I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!'

I'm going back to my position of two days ago, but I feel the need to say that if that's what he thinks passes for argument, then Mr B may have been overly generous in describing what Wright thinks passes for writing.

I like to think of American speculative fiction writers as being smart, talented and visionary, so I'll go back to thinking about Ursula K Le Guin, Ysabeau Wilce and Kim Stanley Robinson. MUCH nicer, and far less likely to provoke eye rolling at the stupid.

ETA: I received a reply to a comment I left on his original post. He apologised sincerely for his rudeness in the way that he wrote about the gay community. So in fairness, I should add that at least he has manners and the grace to apologise. I'd love it if the episode led him to think a bit further on the Christian message of love and charity and reflect on whether an anti-gay message fits that. Because that line of thought leads to the inevitable conclusion that it does not, since Christ's teaching was all about compassion.

Gosh, John C Wright

Two days ago I did not know who John C Wright was.

Yesterday, in the wake of his fantastically bonkers argument on how teh gay is ruining the world, I asked Mr Brammers if he had ever heard of him. After a Google, Mr B said 'Erk. Yeah, picked up one of his books in a shop, put it back down. Shitful writer.'

Today I see that the post has been amended to discard all the comments to it and to do the internet equivalent of sticking his fingers in his ears and shouting 'LALALALALA I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!'

I'm going back to my position of two days ago, but I feel the need to say that if that's what he thinks passes for argument, then Mr B may have been overly generous in describing what Wright thinks passes for writing.

I like to think of American speculative fiction writers as being smart, talented and visionary, so I'll go back to thinking about Ursula K Le Guin, Ysabeau Wilce and Kim Stanley Robinson. MUCH nicer, and far less likely to provoke eye rolling at the stupid.

ETA: I received a reply to a comment I left on his original post. He apologised sincerely for his rudeness in the way that he wrote about the gay community. So in fairness, I should add that at least he has manners and the grace to apologise. I'd love it if the episode led him to think a bit further on the Christian message of love and charity and reflect on whether an anti-gay message fits that. Because that line of thought leads to the inevitable conclusion that it does not, since Christ's teaching was all about compassion.

Two quick but very important points

The gorgeous sansa1970  is running a competition for the best worst first lines from any fandom (freshly made up to be bad, no need to write the fic itself!). When I say competition, everybody wins! The prize is the joy you will bring to an increasingly depressed world. Hurry, entries close today.

The lovely and bright shiv5468  has an excellent post on why the NHS is not what many Americans are being told it is at the moment. Read the comments, too. I spent much of today wishing I had time to post on socialised health care systems, then came home to read hers and feel immense gratitude that it had pretty much all been said, and beautifully.

Two quick but very important points

The gorgeous sansa1970  is running a competition for the best worst first lines from any fandom (freshly made up to be bad, no need to write the fic itself!). When I say competition, everybody wins! The prize is the joy you will bring to an increasingly depressed world. Hurry, entries close today.

The lovely and bright shiv5468  has an excellent post on why the NHS is not what many Americans are being told it is at the moment. Read the comments, too. I spent much of today wishing I had time to post on socialised health care systems, then came home to read hers and feel immense gratitude that it had pretty much all been said, and beautifully.