Thread by @RukminiPande

Finding out that the person who had key input into AO3 warning policy ALSO wrote 16k of OPENLY racist meta justifying the dismissal of concerns of FOC is both deeply unsurprising and ALSO a slap in the face..

Yes, it MATTERS who wrote policy which is now seen as sacrosanct

https://twitter.com/stichomancery/status/1276256391733358600

When I say whiteness is baked into the #AO3, that it is in its history, its policy, and its coding, this is what I mean.

This is what MUST be confronted for any changes to be worthwhile.

I was also today days old when I learnt that she was also HEAD OF THE ABUSE TEAM for years....This explains SO MUCH about how situations like this were handled:

CW for #racism and use of slurs themardia.tumblr.com/post/152527814…

I've also seen fellow fandom academics say that AO3 doesn't have instances of "overt racism" like #nazi content that the MLP fandom is debating rn. Also, that fandom's "shared values" make us better equipped to handle conversations about racism.

I...don't share that opinion.

IMO these claims show a disturbing gap in knowledge about Anti-Black content that's currently hosted on the AO3 and also how "shared values" have meant nothing for YEARS.

The link above is only ONE example.

I have other receipts, including of #nazi content, but I'm tired of having to trot out trauma evidence for ppl who should know better.

Again, for the 1000th time, ppl are NOT asking for mass takedowns.

But equally, the answer to stuff like this can't be "nothing can be done."

If you are in a position of power and people listen to you, either within or outside the AO3, please don't frame this problem as only of "covert racism" or "is it REALLY racist racism" or hold up myths of fandom's innate progressiveness.

It is both inaccurate and dangerous.

Also adding @pearwaldorf's excellent roundup for further context about how this has been going on for YEARS

pearwaldorf.tumblr.com/post/621948035…