I’ve got the ideas swimming but a big one I’ve been thinking up (for years honestly) is about the fat acceptance & anti-diet movement in the context of anti-capitalism.
Oh also this may suit a discussion thread better than an essay, but I’d love to see in some form a collection of readings that are leftist critiques of identity politics. It could be a collaborative effort, or a bibliographic essay exploring what you’ve read to get to where you are now, or what writing is giving you hope and strength in your work. I hope to read “mistaken identity” by asad haider soon. Having a hard time tracking down high quality leftist critiques of identity politics that I can understand as a decently smart but not academically immersed person and are not suuuper theoretical and lacking in practical application.
Dr. Lindo Bacon, who I think you might know from them reaching out about a cancel culture essay? Might be a good person to consult/talk to about this topic.
As another late-20s, late-to-actually-get-treatment/diagnosis person with bipolar, I would be glad to read longer-form versions of what you've been sharing on IG re: all things mental illness. Your posts about how toxic relational dynamics in activism spaces influence mental health have been sooo helpful to me. (And even more specifically, I'm also considering leaving 'internet witch business' goals behind to return to some kind of straightforward, stable, not identity-defining FT office job, so all the stuff you've shared about your pivot has resonated...thanks for everything you've been posting, and I'm glad to have subscribed here, too. Feel a lot less alone in what I'm struggling with/thinking through/etc.)
Broke: "Fat people ought to be scapegoated and shamed. Women in particular ought to be good little decorations."
Woke: "Being fat is totally healthy. I'm not going to be anybody's good little decoration."
Bespoke: "You can separate people's health issues from their personal worth and moral character, and treat them with dignity regardless. I take care of my health for me, not for others. My body is none of your business either way"
The current culture seems to reward treating things as all-good or all-bad and nothing in between. Even the word "compartmentalize" seems to have a negative connotation of hypocrisy or lack of consistency -- but what it really is, is having boundaries. And who benefits when people are discouraged from having boundaries and discouraged from realizing their own agency?
I know this post is old but I wouldn’t mind the Harm Reduction movement and their massive cancellation of leaders over the past 3 years. I’m so confused how it’s situating itself as focused on justice but the current justice system give more justice. I didn’t see the cult and cliques till it was me- however I was always to weirded out to help cancel people. An outside view & critique could be useful.
I'd like to find a forum for honest conversations about violence in this country that isn't only had by conservatives. Frankly I find it appalling that there are national movements decrying police violence and ignoring peer-to-peer/neighborhood violence. It feels like to me like people don't care about all the other lives lost to violence, including of so many children, only when it happens at the hands of police. Of course, police need reforming, but they're also an easy target, an easy entity to "other", and I believe this plays a big role in being easily outraged only at them.
Are there any topics you’d like me to explore in depth in an essay? Let me know here.
The power dynamics created by the connection structures of different platforms (followers, friends, connections, etc.)
Oh also this may suit a discussion thread better than an essay, but I’d love to see in some form a collection of readings that are leftist critiques of identity politics. It could be a collaborative effort, or a bibliographic essay exploring what you’ve read to get to where you are now, or what writing is giving you hope and strength in your work. I hope to read “mistaken identity” by asad haider soon. Having a hard time tracking down high quality leftist critiques of identity politics that I can understand as a decently smart but not academically immersed person and are not suuuper theoretical and lacking in practical application.
Dr. Lindo Bacon, who I think you might know from them reaching out about a cancel culture essay? Might be a good person to consult/talk to about this topic.
As another late-20s, late-to-actually-get-treatment/diagnosis person with bipolar, I would be glad to read longer-form versions of what you've been sharing on IG re: all things mental illness. Your posts about how toxic relational dynamics in activism spaces influence mental health have been sooo helpful to me. (And even more specifically, I'm also considering leaving 'internet witch business' goals behind to return to some kind of straightforward, stable, not identity-defining FT office job, so all the stuff you've shared about your pivot has resonated...thanks for everything you've been posting, and I'm glad to have subscribed here, too. Feel a lot less alone in what I'm struggling with/thinking through/etc.)
Broke: "Fat people ought to be scapegoated and shamed. Women in particular ought to be good little decorations."
Woke: "Being fat is totally healthy. I'm not going to be anybody's good little decoration."
Bespoke: "You can separate people's health issues from their personal worth and moral character, and treat them with dignity regardless. I take care of my health for me, not for others. My body is none of your business either way"
The current culture seems to reward treating things as all-good or all-bad and nothing in between. Even the word "compartmentalize" seems to have a negative connotation of hypocrisy or lack of consistency -- but what it really is, is having boundaries. And who benefits when people are discouraged from having boundaries and discouraged from realizing their own agency?
I know this post is old but I wouldn’t mind the Harm Reduction movement and their massive cancellation of leaders over the past 3 years. I’m so confused how it’s situating itself as focused on justice but the current justice system give more justice. I didn’t see the cult and cliques till it was me- however I was always to weirded out to help cancel people. An outside view & critique could be useful.
More about what you've been posting in IG stories about wanting spirituality but fearing being crazy (and seeking out spirituality anyway)!
I'd like to find a forum for honest conversations about violence in this country that isn't only had by conservatives. Frankly I find it appalling that there are national movements decrying police violence and ignoring peer-to-peer/neighborhood violence. It feels like to me like people don't care about all the other lives lost to violence, including of so many children, only when it happens at the hands of police. Of course, police need reforming, but they're also an easy target, an easy entity to "other", and I believe this plays a big role in being easily outraged only at them.