Linehan's debating style is like a dog with a bone, but I respect it because it's not sneaky and passive-aggressive like Gaiman's. Gaiman is proclaiming statements that he knows will please his fans, and not engaging with the actual *meaning* of them - because their only meaning to him is monetising those likes and "being on the right side of history" - which is both vain and impossible to assert. "It'll look good in my obituary" is not a moral standpoint.
I don't want to get into the trans stuff either, because there's a forum for that, and anyway you posted a Lush video, so <3
Totally agree- I think even if you disagree you can engage in good faith if you can discuss. As you say I don’t think Gaiman is really helping his case much as he isn’t presenting anything constructive, it seems very performative and hollow, and largely aimed to benefit him.
Don’t want to send things too off-piste themewise, just thought his communication style was rather odd/interesting!
Your point about how much people can ‘make’ themselves be on the right side of history is an interesting one…I think we forget sometimes how much morals can shift in context, and that we aren’t as infallible as we think. There are so many people who thought they were the ‘good guys’ and had great press, but caused a lot of harm. Or who tried to market themselves as heroes and fell flat.
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And that fake (public) “concern” for someone’s mental health is part of DARVO. A well known method employed by cult leaders to discredit and defame someone.
He is text book narc so it’s ironic that he played that Good Reads trick.
I reckon that AP really did want a nuclear family in the traditional sense because that is the family structure that she grew up within. All kids from stable homes crave the crazy bohemian lifestyle when young, but ultimately when they have their own children they understand that raising children in a stable 2 adult family gives children the best chance of thriving.
The fake concern thing is interesting, seemed odd but I didn’t realise it was a classic sign!
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And that fake (public) “concern” for someone’s mental health is part of DARVO. A well known method employed by cult leaders to discredit and defame someone.
He is text book narc so it’s ironic that he played that Good Reads trick.
I reckon that AP really did want a nuclear family in the traditional sense because that is the family structure that she grew up within. All kids from stable homes crave the crazy bohemian lifestyle when young, but ultimately when they have their own children they understand that raising children in a stable 2 adult family gives children the best chance of thriving.
Neil Gaiman is brilliant in my opinion.
Writes amazinngly, and the few times I've met him (through work) he has been lovely and chatty and suitably down on himself.
But, go on... accuse me of hero woshipping the white male author
It’s fine to have a different opinion. Everyone has different sides and people are rarely just good or bad. It’s just that the press around him is so one-sided and cultish that it’s interesting to consider the other side sometimes.
With all the general revelations about the way powerful media people behave, and the way they’re idealised, it’s useful to have a bit of critical judgement too as a balance. Partly because these kind of issues pop up in everyday life too and it’s good to be able to recognise them.