Bard spotting on Bluesky 21 November 2024

Ms. Penny Oaken, SkyWitch (@skywitches.net):

The root of online trolling & bigotry is a motive of violating other people's boundaries —

whether it's couched as "I'm the Christchurch shooter, fear me" or "I'm witnessing for Christ, Fear God", or "[Transphobic Copypasta], fear [transphobic slur]", there's a consistent element of entitlement.

Ms. Penny Oaken, SkyWitch (@skywitches.net):

They do these things specifically because they are afraid. They do them to enforce or create a social order or hierarchy that preserves (or creates) their preferred social position. They need to feel superior, & fear any scenario where they're not "on top", not superior.

Ms. Penny Oaken, SkyWitch (@skywitches.net):

Rep. Mace is a textbook example of this — her actions in office are situational to maintaining her preferred position (in office). But ultimately it doesn't matter if she sincerely believes the transphobic things she says, or if she says them to score points on a board — she's still a hatemonger.

Ms. Penny Oaken, SkyWitch (@skywitches.net):

There's a reason that the most profound literature about the Holocaust was Hannah Arendt's "Eichmann in Jerusalem" — she solidified the notion of the Banality of Evil.

A lot of the present day's transphobia is banal.

It's still just as evil.