…it’s already started again (another quick note for those who were on slates) #Hugos

First off, congrats to the Hugo Award winners!

My sympathies to those works which (probably) weren’t on the ballot due to Puppy slates.

And I wish that was all there was to this post.

Sadly, it’s not.

Because for those who found themselves on a slate: It’s not over for you yet.

[dramatic music plays]

Not because of anything I am doing.

[dramatic music disappears]

Because if you were on a Puppy slate, and unlike Rajnar Vajra, you did not distance yourself publicly from them… they’re already using you as a poster child for their martyrdom dance. They’re claiming you’re a victim of the … whatever acronym they’re using this week for anyone who disagrees with them.

And look, it does suck if you got on the ballot and don’t agree with the homophobic, sexist, and racist things that the various head (or lesser) Puppies have said. It sucks that you got labeled by those… idiots.

They’re the ones making you into victims.

This isn’t some weird “blame the victim” thing – I mean this quite literally.  They claimed you as their own. They tried to make you into their mouthpiece – going so far as to actually speak for other authors.  Back in May, Brad Torgersen already literally tried to make Juliette Wade into a victim and martyr for the Puppies… until she spoke up for herself.

And I’m already seeing it done (semi) privately1 about those who remained on the ballot. They’re calling you victims. They’re using this as evidence of a (really, there isn’t one, have you met us?) left-wing cabal.

They’re tying your name and reputation even more solidly to theirs.

So the voting is over. You kept your head down, hoping that for the most part, this would blow over. And many of us wish that would be the end of it.

But I’m already seeing that’s not the case. Hopefully this is just a quick little burp of activity… but I doubt it.

I’m afraid they’re going to try to keep using you as a symbol. That you’ll become more and more associated with the racist, sexist, and bigoted elements in the Puppy camps.

So I’m going to repeat what I said back in June:

I am asking you to take a stand against the racism and sexism and
homophobia that the most visible Puppies seem to enjoy (or enjoy being
linked to).
Not some feeble “let’s all get along” speech, but simply taking the time
to denounce racism, sexism, transphobia, and homophobia.
Because right now, whether you like it or not, you are being linked to a slate – one that is associated with racism, sexism, transphobia, and homophobia. 
And in this case, silence means that you’re okay with that.

It sucks that you have to state that out loud.

Blame those who are making sure your reputation is tied to theirs.

1 Because I haven’t looked. I understand that positioning was already being done weeks ago, though. And no, I’m not linking to other people’s FB feeds for this post.

One thought on “…it’s already started again (another quick note for those who were on slates) #Hugos

  1. It's definitely out there. I avoid the Puppy blogs but was keeping up on a lot of the discussions on File770 and first thing this morning there were already the accusations of "How could you vote [list of authors and editors] below No Award? That's not fair to them!"

    So, yeah, this tactic is obvious and petty, but already starting. *sigh*

Comments are closed.