When facts and black-and-white arguments are used to drive a wedge between people, the end result is unsustainable, writes Iltalehti editor Ismo Puljujärvi.
Drag culture is associated with colorful and powerful symbolism. PDO
Social media showed its dark side again this week. Our ability to listen and converse with each other has experienced total inflation.
Known as a model Blue Ariell expressed on Instagram how there are two genders in terms of biology. He justified the matter with DNA.
– DNA makes us who we are. We can change who we are but we cannot change our DNA. Plastic surgery and hormones won’t change that. A man is a man and a woman is a woman. No matter how they look or how they feel, Ariell wrote in her update.
You know from TV Henny Harjusola and Sofia Tuomola criticized the update of the model because they considered it inappropriate towards trans people. Both Harjusola and Tuomola are trans people, and they have spoken about their experiences openly in public.
– It was still unclear to me and many others why you made that post? Do you think no one knows these facts? Did you think these things would come as new information? Did you want to hurt trans people on purpose, Tuomola wrote in her Instagram story regarding the model’s update.
Was there a reasonable and constructive discussion about the matter?
No.
This is also a very familiar phenomenon that has been seen many times: when we don’t agree, the game is interrupted by blocking the other person on social media.
Drag culture was blamed in the public debate about the sexualization of children, and the good old pedophilia accusation also floated in the comments.
The case is related to the screening of the canceled Drag Kids documentary at Malmitalo in Helsinki last weekend and the resulting laundry.
How would it sound if adults running children’s soccer teams were accused of sexualizing children?
Probably not nice.
I completely understand the anger of drag artists and trans people. Few can handle being a general punching bag all the time, when the other party now happens to feel it is justified.
We all have our own prejudices, which it’s good to think about from time to time, so that one day we could perhaps get rid of them.
However, no one gains anything by telling each other “facts” or making black and white arguments.
Can we even separate factual information from opinion anymore?
It’s good to stick to the facts, but at the same time it’s good to think about context and intentions. Is the idea to belittle, question the other’s existence or just pure provocation? If your answer is yes, then maybe a little introspection wouldn’t be too much.
A longtime drag star Marko Vainio that is what Divet wisely stated earlier this week to Iltalehti. In his opinion, not all the content of drag culture is suitable for children, but the content aimed at adults is often shown in places where minors cannot enter.
In the evening, I’d rather go to a drag show than to a ladle match. The reason is very simple: I enjoy good music and dance performances. I also hope that families with children will be at home at that time spending time together.
If you’d rather go see hockey, you’re free to do so. If you want to come and see both, there is room next to me.
And that’s a fact.