Hm, I guess boycotting cooperations who do vile things is a no brainer, although it is often hard to do with the big ones that work with mirror brands and so on.
I agree, that it is more difficile with authors. I don't think, we should exclude any knowledge from our brain, because the person who found it was a horrible person. But that doesn't mean we should not argue or give them a pass.
I can claim that Plato was a smart man in many ways, concerning women he was simply a total jerk. Also authors can be boycotted by not paying for their work, which does not mean, not reading it.
The thing with authors like MZB is, she writes novels for entertainment. When I read a novel, I want to loose myself in it. I want to feel for the characters and learn to get to know their world. It's like taking a walk in someone else's head. And I don't want to take a walk in a rapists head. So while I would not refuse to learn from someone, no matter what they had done, I will absolutely refuse to pay jerks (mute in the case of MZB, since she is dead) and I simply don't want to be entertained by them. It's too intimate an act for me.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2014-07-02 05:17 am (UTC)I agree, that it is more difficile with authors. I don't think, we should exclude any knowledge from our brain, because the person who found it was a horrible person. But that doesn't mean we should not argue or give them a pass.
I can claim that Plato was a smart man in many ways, concerning women he was simply a total jerk. Also authors can be boycotted by not paying for their work, which does not mean, not reading it.
The thing with authors like MZB is, she writes novels for entertainment. When I read a novel, I want to loose myself in it. I want to feel for the characters and learn to get to know their world. It's like taking a walk in someone else's head. And I don't want to take a walk in a rapists head.
So while I would not refuse to learn from someone, no matter what they had done, I will absolutely refuse to pay jerks (mute in the case of MZB, since she is dead) and I simply don't want to be entertained by them. It's too intimate an act for me.