I don't know if you have read all of the various posts associated with this issue (please see rydra_wong's journal for a series of comprehensive collections of posts made on this issue from all perspectives), but if you haven't that will give you some of the context for my post (and take up a few years of your time, alas). Also, the "standing on someone's foot" metaphor was chosen here because it links back to previous discussions of racism in the sff/fan community, and so I agree it may fit the current situation a bit loosely.
However, the metaphor as I'm using it is in reference to the responses to the original post, and to all the posts by other people of colour that followed, in which they argued that there was something hurtful and angering to them in the book in question.
Anyone can accidentally step on someone's toes - it's not a personal act, it's not intentional, sometimes it's not even something that the person who steps is aware of. In my mind, a close although not a perfect analogy to how a book sent out to the world might affect a reader.
However, once the person whose toes have been stepped on says "excuse me, you're steeping on my toes" and has been answered with, not "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that" but with a dizzying variety of excuses as to why, having accidentally ended up standing on someone else's foot, there was no reason to move, then the metaphor fits - although of course, I would say that, considering that I chose the metaphor.
Initially, I would not have included Bear as one of the people doing the standing on feet and refusing to get off - she responded to Seeking Avalon's Willow with courtesy, acknowledging that there was an issue worthy of discussion in how people of colour are represented in her work.
Unfortunately, Elizabeth Bear has now said, in effect, "no, I didn't step on your foot, but I pretended to agree that you had so I could graciously use the incident to share my deep understanding of sore feet with the world." Which only makes matters worse, in my opinion. Because now she really is standing on the feet of people who are trying to point out that despite her good intentions, there are still issues of racial representation worthy of discussion with her work, and refusing not just to get off, but to acknowledge that she stepped on those feet in the first place.
Thank you for engaging with the issues before making a critical analysis of my use of metaphor.
no subject
However, the metaphor as I'm using it is in reference to the responses to the original post, and to all the posts by other people of colour that followed, in which they argued that there was something hurtful and angering to them in the book in question.
Anyone can accidentally step on someone's toes - it's not a personal act, it's not intentional, sometimes it's not even something that the person who steps is aware of. In my mind, a close although not a perfect analogy to how a book sent out to the world might affect a reader.
However, once the person whose toes have been stepped on says "excuse me, you're steeping on my toes" and has been answered with, not "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that" but with a dizzying variety of excuses as to why, having accidentally ended up standing on someone else's foot, there was no reason to move, then the metaphor fits - although of course, I would say that, considering that I chose the metaphor.
Initially, I would not have included Bear as one of the people doing the standing on feet and refusing to get off - she responded to Seeking Avalon's Willow with courtesy, acknowledging that there was an issue worthy of discussion in how people of colour are represented in her work.
Unfortunately, Elizabeth Bear has now said, in effect, "no, I didn't step on your foot, but I pretended to agree that you had so I could graciously use the incident to share my deep understanding of sore feet with the world." Which only makes matters worse, in my opinion. Because now she really is standing on the feet of people who are trying to point out that despite her good intentions, there are still issues of racial representation worthy of discussion with her work, and refusing not just to get off, but to acknowledge that she stepped on those feet in the first place.
Thank you for engaging with the issues before making a critical analysis of my use of metaphor.