OK, time for a serious plea to everyone who "just wants to learn."

I don't care if we're talking about racism, ableism, queerphobia, or whatever else. Your intention to learn is fine, that's a good start, please don't give up on trying to learn.

But lesson number one? HOW you learn really, really fucking matters.

Do not come into conversations among racialized communities and poke for answers. Do not enter disabled or queer spaces and start taking notes. Do not presume upon the time or energy of people just because you really want to learn from them.

If someone is not overtly and clearly offering to educate, do not ask them to teach. This also applies to people who DO willingly educate but may also, y'know, deserve an occasional break from being teachers.

Oppressed folx got enough shit to carry already, and y'all wandering in and acting like straight-up stalking us is a "healthy way to learn" are not helping anything.

Keep your desire to learn intact. Like I said, it's a good thing. Just aim it in the appropriate directions, for fuck's sake.