this post was submitted on 04 May 2025
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407
Moral backbone rule (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 day ago by PugJesus@lemmy.world to c/196@lemmy.world
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[–] Korne127@lemmy.world 12 points 17 hours ago

This is so nice and awesome.
When I read the other comments, I see how one could interpret it that way, but obviously it is good and courageous to stand up for someone that is constantly attacked and harassed. And of course it can be a vital sign of support for a person in that situation to know that they're not alone, and someone else, who wouldn't usually be attacked and could just stay unnoticed , stand up for them.
While surely some people want to be seen as the ones who fight back for themselves, there are many people, especially trans kids, that just can't deal with the harassment, and are glad to have support. And I hope that more and more people will provide that support.

[–] xkbx@startrek.website 31 points 1 day ago

When the government tried to take away transfats, I sat and didn’t fight

When the government tries to take away transrats, I stand on haunches and bite

There will be no cheeses for the angry meeces, only traps coming down to snap your neck in pieces

May your tails knot and bind you together, vile rodent mob. You will not find my company amongst thee

[–] LeninsOvaries@lemmy.cafe 15 points 21 hours ago

Rats

[–] RumorsOfLove@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago) (1 children)

Im trans. This bluesky fatebook artist can shove their pity where the sun dont shine. We arent cowering behind nobody, we are fighting!

[–] RumorsOfLove@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 22 hours ago (2 children)

And seriously, dropping the pride. Do you think that depictions of trans people as weak are likely to make us safer?

[–] PugJesus@lemmy.world 13 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

It's 1-on-8 in the pic. The single ally halves that numerical disadvantage. It's not about being weak, it's about being outnumbered, and having fought alone for a long time. Putting oneself in the fight is relief for a hard-pressed comrade, not defending someone who is incapable of defending themselves.

[–] shawn1122@lemm.ee 1 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago) (1 children)

I like the messaging here because it's important for privileged people to hear.

But the criticisms are valid. The pictured depiction is not of two equally capable allies, rather we see one visibly nonconformist individual who appears downtrodden and powerless being protected by an individual who visibly conforms to societal norms.

This is disempowering imagery for those that would identify with the rat that is being protected.

[–] PugJesus@lemmy.world 9 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago) (1 children)

If you're looking for an image that concisely expresses all the nuances of an issue without ambiguity and remains coherent, you'll be looking forever. If the ally rat was visibly noncomformist, it would imply that only outsiders can protect those persecuted by general society; if the trans rat appeared unperturbed or unharmed, it would appear that the ally rat or even the struggle as a whole is of little consequence; and so on and so forth for every alteration that could be suggested.

All imagery, and all human expression period, consists of tradeoffs in the necessary communication shorthand that is inherent to everything less than total telepathy.

[–] shawn1122@lemm.ee -1 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago)

Yeah that's fair, I don't think anyone can reasonably expect perfection.

But the posturing of the two characters evokes a very clear Strong / Weak dichotomy that I feel persecuted groups may not wish to connect with, while feeding into the savior complex of privileged groups.

I still like the overall messaging to privileged groups. But I understand why there has been negative feedback from those that are meant to be portrayed by the persecuted character.

[–] Nurse_Robot@lemmy.world 30 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

I get that art is subjective, but considering this portrays a rat who isn't a target, standing up with a rat who is a target, even though vastly outnumbered, I think it's reaching a bit to have an offended reaction to this obvious show of support.

[–] DrivebyHaiku@lemmy.ca 0 points 6 hours ago

People are going to feel what they feel. As a trans person I recognize that this isn't for me. It's a call to action to get cis people to step up and perform heroics. It's a saviour trope with all the baggage attached.

It's not a bad message but it also isn't flattering to be depicted as the battered rat barely standing. It's art. Art is going to strike you differently depending on where you stand. Both takes are valid because it's subjective but the real pernicious bit here is somebody from a group featured in that art is telling people here how that art makes them feel and the immediate reaction is to tell them they are wrong to feel that way. That isn't kind. It's not empathetic. It is demanding unconditional gratitude from someone you feel owes it without reservation of quality of help recieved.

Sadly it's true right now we as a community don't really have the luxury of picking between good and bad allyship, we need all we can get... But it's still kinda a shitty.