This is an amazing article succinctly highlighting the worst and best of the ridiculous Sarah Dessen situation:
washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/11…
washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/11…
Key takeaways:
* A 49 year old author, her extremely large fanbase, and her famous author friends drove a woman off internet.
* Many twisted the issue & context to be about feelings over YA Genre and misogyny, while using that very misogyny aimed against the grad student.
* A 49 year old author, her extremely large fanbase, and her famous author friends drove a woman off internet.
* Many twisted the issue & context to be about feelings over YA Genre and misogyny, while using that very misogyny aimed against the grad student.
* Sarah did not comment on the issue. Those who did, didn't necessarily apologize. Authors truly believe they are entitled to these actions.
* Sarah continues to be disgusting, tweeting an incredibly petty thing to say:
* Sarah continues to be disgusting, tweeting an incredibly petty thing to say:
* The grad student clarified her stance was classier than 500+ people who piled on her. I liked her response to the situation: "Nelson ... said she hopes the controversy draws more people to read books that will encourage them to think critically about pressing social issues."
I will no longer be engaging in conversations or "mansplaining" to those who are wilfully confused about the whole situation. Be better than the stereotypes of YA! You proved it over and over, turning it to stone: Bullying is okay, bullying is peak YA, bullying is the lifeblood.
One addition that we've all neglected to mention: I've been trying to say that you represent your business as an author. What I've neglected to say is that publishers are also responsible to a standard. @PenguinTeen got involved, as well, in this despicable conversation.
@PenguinTeen UPDATE: Sarah Dessen has apologized. I'm not entirely sure she understands what she has done to the student, but she knows whatever it was it was A Bad Thing and she has a Responsibility. Progress!
@PenguinTeen UPDATE: This is the last update I can make for a couple of hours. Pls keep me updated going forward.
Roxane Gay has apologized after 3 days of madness and defensiveness.
Roxane Gay has apologized after 3 days of madness and defensiveness.
@PenguinTeen UPDATE: Jennifer Weiner posted a 2 tweet apology in image form. Please note she specifically mentions the insult w/o clarifying that it wasn't, that she'll own up to some of her actions & recognize her own power, but no actual apology.
@PenguinTeen UPDATE: Siobhan apologized, but afterwards she deleted the tweet and her entire account. Screencaps to Siobhan's apology are made screen reader accessible (we think). Will be looking to adding transcripts to the other images.
@PenguinTeen Don't fucking snitch Siobhan to her work. She did a bad thing, was exposed in a newsletter for her actions, and posted what appears to be a shitty apology -- why are you going after her place of work? THAT'S bullying. Stop.
@PenguinTeen I'm a dumbass and can't untag Penguin Teen from this thread, so I've begun a new thread HERE. I'll be updating as I go. If more apologies or bad takes are forthcoming, they'll go in the new thread.
