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The owner of Robinsons Bookshops
(aussie.zone)
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this post was submitted on 28 Jan 2024
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Something to keep in mind next time you're thinking of supporting a local book seller. Luckily there's other options around.
American here. This really makes me think twice before supporting a local business. Its not really something i have thought of or considered before. Independant book stores tend to be more liberal. But i see otherwise here. Wow.
There was an independent coffee roaster I used to buy from that started referring to the pandemic as a "plandemic" then included graphic religious propaganda with their orders.
And small businesses are sometimes worse in terms of wage theft and ignoring labour laws, probably because they think they are small enough that nobody will notice.
But it's a case by case basis, of course.
Craziness comes in all shapes and forms, I'm surprised as well; As you're right that bookstores generally do seem more progressively minded.
I'd feel confident in saying many others are completely fine to shop at.
I don't disagree that this is infuriating, but bigotry isn't "craziness", it's a well established system of oppression that greatly benefits some over others. We can only tackle it once we acknowledge what it is.
I think the fact it's viewed as craziness is good tbh.
When I was young this wasn't really a thing to talk about. It was just how things were.
That people look at them and think what a stupid naxi is great.
The fact it’s viewed as "craziness" is ableist, as well as counterproductive.
source
*or mental illness
I would argue that intelligence plays a huge role in things like racism. You can see a clear divide when you take into account education levels.
You don't have to be disabled to have low intelligence and id argue conflating those two is ableist.
And I would state for a fact that you're being an ableist (not only in your insistence of intelligence being related to racism, or the ridiculous idea that education levels have anything to do with so called intelligence, but also in your framing of disability as a negative thing which I should not be calling people. As a disabled person - fuck you), and also harming the fight against racism, a system which is not only perpetuated by people throughout society, but was created by those in power, who are almost never what you would call "stupid".
You can continue to double down in defence of your own ego, or you could challenge your bias, admit that you don't know everything about everything, and actually listen to people who know what they're talking about:
https://liminalnest.wordpress.com/2018/06/23/intelligence-is-a-myth-on-deconstructing-the-roots-of-cognitive-ableism/
https://affinitymagazine.us/2018/01/08/stop-using-intelligence-based-insults-if-you-care-about-disabled-people/
https://disabledfeminists.com/2009/10/23/ableist-word-profile-intelligence/
https://web.archive.org/web/20230605065733/https://ollibean.com/intelligence-is-an-ableist-concept/
I'm also disabled and my disabilities are 100% negative. They fucking suck and make my life very difficult.
Intelligence isn't a myth. My partner made me watch love island.
Who would have thought that learning leads to a more progressive outlook on life?
European here. Yeah small business owners can be major assholes as well. Here in Europe I’ve experienced more racism from small independent mom and pops, not only book shops, than in large corporate chains. And these shops are still surprised that people rather shop online.
I used to order pizza from a small local business until I went there in person and all 3 TVs in the place had Newsmax at full volume. Last time I went there.
Why would one example, not even from your country, make you think twice? Get a grip.