Love Is For Children - *tiptoes on*

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30 November 2012 @ 09:29 am

*tiptoes on*

Holy moly, LJ has changed since the last time I was here. I barely recognize it.

Anywhoo, I saw that the James Gunn petition got posted here and I wanted to let you know that
a) *waves* I kinda started it and I love all your support.
b) James Gunn issued a legitimate apology. (I think it's legitimate anyway, he sounds pretty sincere)

A couple of years ago I wrote a blog that was meant to be satirical and funny. In rereading it over the past day I don't think it's funny. The attempted humor in the blog does not represent my actual feelings. However, I can see where statements were poorly worded and offensive to many. I'm sorry and regret making them at all.

People who are familiar with me as evidenced by my Facebook page and other mediums know that I'm an outspoken proponent for the rights of the gay and lesbian community, women and anyone who feels disenfranchised, and it kills me that some other outsider like myself, despite his or her gender or sexuality, might feel hurt or attacked by something I said. We're all in the same camp, and I want to do my best to make this world a better place for all of us. I'm learning all the time. I promise to be more careful with my words in the future. And I will do my best to be funnier as well. Much love to all - James

Tags: relevant to your interests

20 comments | Leave a comment

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http://users.livejournal.com/_samalander/ on November 30th, 2012 02:35 pm (UTC)

Thank you for sharing this. Do you have a link to where he posted it?

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mercurios on November 30th, 2012 04:37 pm (UTC)

(not who you asked but) he posted it on his facebook

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(no subject) - (Anonymous) on April 18th, 2017 07:41 am (UTC)

ashen_key on November 30th, 2012 08:15 pm (UTC)

Minus the bit about Joss liking him (people can like other people who hold awful opinions, and then excuse things as 'I like this person, therefore they aren't bad), I entirely agree with this.

Satire? I. Yeah. *dubious*

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sunktheglow.livejournal.com on November 30th, 2012 03:25 pm (UTC)

This feels like a game of cover-your-ass so he won't get the boot, to be honest. Good for him for feigning sincerity, but I don't buy a word that comes out of his mouth.

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delle.livejournal.com on November 30th, 2012 03:26 pm (UTC)

wow. *THAT* is a good apology - none of this 'I'm sorry if somebody was offended' half-assed apology.

I don't know the guy and can make no declarations of his sincerity. But it's a damn fine apology.

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mslauren2930.livejournal.com on November 30th, 2012 04:08 pm (UTC)

I agree with you 100%.

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kadollan.livejournal.com on December 1st, 2012 04:14 pm (UTC)

I was thinking this as well. I can't gauge sincerity, but the attempt was really well written.

But dang, you gotta question the judgment of someone who ever thought it was okay to post that stuff in the first place. (On the other hand I have done and said things that I am now deeply ashamed of, have learned from, and genuinely regret. So who am I to judge?)

So yeah.

CONFLICTED.

ETA: Important contraction changing "can" to "can't." Whoops!

Edited 2012-12-01 04:15 pm (UTC)

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hufflepuffsneak.livejournal.com on November 30th, 2012 03:33 pm (UTC)

I'm on the fence as well, but hopefully whether it was satire or not it will make him more aware of sexism and homophobia- and thus less likely to incorporate it into his movie.

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frea-o.livejournal.com on November 30th, 2012 04:24 pm (UTC)

I want to believe this is sincere, so I'm going to be possibly naive and think so. Besides, this is the same director that made Daphne and Velma awesome in Scooby Doo (don't judge), so I'm still holding out hope.

Also, there's an article about this in The Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/30/james-gunn-apology-guardians-of-the-galaxy_n_2217589.html). According to them, the apology was posted on his Facebook page.

I will not, however, be forgiving James Gunn's brother Sean for the sheer overloading amount of Kirk in the final seasons of Gilmore Girls.

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aerrin.livejournal.com on November 30th, 2012 04:45 pm (UTC)

That is a well written apology, but it in some ways misses the point. No one who is truly a proponent of the things he claims to support would make those jokes. A real supporter isn't the guy who goes to Gay-Straight alliance and then makes gay jokes in the locker room when he thinks he can get a laugh. He's the guy who's uncomfortable with the jokes /always/.

So maybe this is a learning experience for him, and I can accept that. And I'm happy that he's willing to apologize without backpedaling. But I really hope that he thinks hard about what he supports and what his words say he supports even when 'being funny' or 'satirical'.

Edited 2012-11-30 04:46 pm (UTC)

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brickhousewench.livejournal.com on November 30th, 2012 05:27 pm (UTC)

One more vote for on the fence. Yes, it's a well written apology. And it sounds sincere.

BUT

Writing sexist jokes is only funny if your ONLY audience is sexist men..

Writing homophobic jokes is only funny to an audience of homophobic people.

Basically, I reserve my right to still be completely appalled by what he wrote in the first place.

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sazz-k.livejournal.com on November 30th, 2012 05:52 pm (UTC)

I agree with everyone else. I'm really glad he properly apologised for it and didn't pull the "sorry you're offended" bs. As for if he's actually sincere... I'm on the fence.

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http://lar_laughs.livejournal.com/: Marvel - NY calls Budapest

lar_laughs.livejournal.com on November 30th, 2012 05:59 pm (UTC)

Now to see if he follows it up with ACTION!

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calliope1975.livejournal.com on November 30th, 2012 06:58 pm (UTC)

I've followed James Gunn for years and I do believe he is sincere. He has a dark, gross, and juvenile sense of humor, but I don't believe he truly means harm to anyone.

And I think now he's learned a valuable lesson. I take him at his word. If he does it again, then I'd side-eye him, but as of now, he's good with me.

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jackwabbit.livejournal.com on November 30th, 2012 10:47 pm (UTC)

This. "Dark, gross, and juvenile sense of humor" says it best. I didn't comment on the other thread or sing the petition because I like James Gunn's works. I find them funny, quirky, and yes, irreverently funny. And I personally think that might work for Guardians of the Galaxy. I mean, talking, fighting raccoon, people. Need I say more?

As for the post referenced in the other thread, I read it and I didn't find it all that offensive. Not my cup of tea and in poor taste, yes, but he objectified men as much as women. (Not that that makes it okay, but it was equal opportunity poor taste, at least.) Therefore, apology accepted and moving on.

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dasku.livejournal.com on December 1st, 2012 05:48 pm (UTC)

Completely seconded.

I've also followed him for years, and even if I don't always share his sense of humor, I truly think he applies his silliness to both men and women. (He's also quite open about his personal life, and to me he's always come across as someone very respectful/supporting of women).

He's also a good writer who knows the material, he's had Joss's approval for years and I believe his apology.

That's good enough for me.

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colorstoobright.livejournal.com on November 30th, 2012 11:57 pm (UTC)

i think it was a good apology, and he does sound regretful of his actions, but he wrote that blog years ago, right? i can't help but feel that if there wasn't any outrage over his blog, he wouldn't have taken it down or apologized.

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hermyfan.livejournal.com on December 1st, 2012 12:52 am (UTC)

I'm a bit dubious about this - the apology is certainly meaningful, and not full of the usual 'i'm sorry you were offended' bs. But then the original post just rubs me in such a wrong way that I can't just be like oh okay everything's fine. And the people who were defending him seemed to be saying that it was satire, and that's just his sense of humour. And if his fans think that his sense of humour is like that, I can't say I like it. So yeah, on the fence. I'm feeling better about this whole thing than I was a day ago, but still not as good as I felt before I'd heard about it. And I don't know, maybe he has changed. Or at the very least, is more aware of the repercussions of his actions.

Edited 2012-12-01 12:53 am (UTC)

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paksenarrion2.livejournal.com on December 1st, 2012 02:05 am (UTC)

I think this part

it kills me that some other outsider like myself, despite his or her gender or sexuality, might feel hurt or attacked by something I said. We're all in the same camp, and I want to do my best to make this world a better place for all of us. I'm learning all the time

is what really bugs the shit out of me.

Dude, you are so NOT an outsider at all. You are a cis-gendered, heterosexual white male. The very antithesis of an outsider. So you are not in any camp and this just cries out of look at what a good ally I am. I mean maybe he is genuinely sorry he said those things. Or maybe he is just sorry there is such a brouhaha about it.

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alphaflyer.livejournal.com on December 1st, 2012 01:18 pm (UTC)

Fence, yes. Good place, the fence. One can watch developments from there.

Humour (or alleged humour) comes from somewhere -- in this case not from a place where I wish cultural icons were created (but sadly still are, some of the images on which he comments aren't exactly un-juvenile themselves).

Sincere apology? Yes. As to the depth of learning Mr. Gunn has achieved it remains to be seen whether he's learned what things are offensive, or just when to keep his mouth shut. Self-censorship is an admirable virtue, but on some issues I prefer demonstrable action.

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