Mastodawn

MattLangleyUK Aug 20, 2023

Gaiman: " If you really can't figure out which political party or which politician to vote for, just ask if they're on the side of libraries. Are they voting to fund their libraries? Are they voting to keep them free? Then vote for those guys. They're probably the good guys. And by the same token, the book burners, the book banners, they're probably the bad guys."
https://ilovelibraries.org/article/i-will-always-be-on-the-side-of-the-libraries-a-conversation-with-neil-gaiman/

“I will always be on the side of the libraries”: A Conversation with Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman is a fierce supporter of libraries. The author of American Gods, Neverwhere, Good Omens, The Sandman, Coraline, and so many more has had a lifelong love affair with reading. And he credits librarians for fostering his curiosity about books and learning at a young age. Gaiman spoke with I Love Libraries recently about libraries, comic books, book banning in the U.S., movies, and more.

I Love Libraries

Sean Kleefeld Aug 20, 2023

I've had a Masto account since 2017 and, so far, the seemingly most controversial, ire-inducing, people-tracking-down-my-email-to-troll-me-after-I've-blocked-them post I've ever made has been linking to an interview with a writer where he said libraries are good.

DesmodusUK Aug 20, 2023

@SKleefeld Pretty sure Prince must have written that song "Controversy" about you. Imagine liking books though! Le gasp!

the_blackwell_ninja [EST]Aug 19, 2023

@SKleefeld When I was younger, I really thought that Americans understood this basic, irrefutable fact, and that was why our democracy was the best in the world and would never fail. Looks like I was wrong about that.

Sean Kleefeld Aug 19, 2023

@the_blackwell_ninja It arguably WAS the best in the world until Reagan handed over a massive amount of tax breaks (i.e. money, i.e. power) to the wealthiest who don't see the profit in libraries and have spent millions in dark money on having them shut down.

PirateJoie Aug 20, 2023

@SKleefeld @the_blackwell_ninja The dark money KNOWS how important education is, and that’s WHY they’ve been backing ignorance.

Cassandrich Aug 19, 2023

@the_blackwell_ninja @SKleefeld TBF Republicans kept up the lie pretty well for a long time - that we all want basically the same things, and just disagree about how to get there.

Southern Leftist Aug 19, 2023

@dalias @the_blackwell_ninja @SKleefeld
They want to kill queers, we leftists want to help people pay the bills.

These two are not the same.

Southern Leftist Aug 20, 2023

@dalias @the_blackwell_ninja @SKleefeld
And yes, while we might also have nutballs, it is not as bad as the right. A lot less violent we are.

Just look at how violent they are. And no, this is not an attack, but a fact!

PirateJoie Aug 20, 2023

@the_blackwell_ninja @SKleefeld And doesn’t it make your heart ache? Me too.

DGiant Aug 19, 2023

@SKleefeld Unfortunately, people seem to be voting on "likeability" rather than policy. I have a friend who absolutely hates Trump. In the next breadth she says (knowing I am a Democrat), "I don't like Biden either." I just shake my head and ask, well, do you like what he's done? Boggles my mind, people don't take that into account. I still think its too early to believe the polls that have them neck & neck. I really think its Biden's to lose.... (knocking wood as I say this).

Rob 🏳️‍🌈 Rartsy Humanist Aug 19, 2023

@SKleefeld @DGiant My observation is that most well off white liberals vote like they are buying something nonessential. Does it excite them? Please them? Make them feel cool or look good? That’s what they want! The media encourages this. It makes sense since the common thread of American existence is trivial marketing and consumerism. 2020 was the best election in my lifetime, the first grown-up election. Most people voted strategically. I hope it repeats in 2024.

Unabogie has voted Kamala!Aug 19, 2023

@DGiant @SKleefeld

There was an indy film years back called The Tao of Steve, which posited that men are either a Stu of a Steve, and the "trick" to get girls was to be Steve (it doesn't age well, does it?). However, I do think that translates to politics pretty well. The majority of people vote their party but the squishy middle votes for the Steve over the Stu. They pick the person who most projects that ideal. Policies are an afterthought.

Sean Kleefeld Aug 19, 2023

@DGiant That approach largely goes back to JFK, I think. When the public could SEE the candidates on TV. JFK's famous debate win over Nixon literally boiled down to "Nixon looked bad on camera."

Mickrob9777 Aug 19, 2023

My other go to is who is for/against planned parenthood

Mysturji Aug 19, 2023

@SKleefeld
Also…

Kevin Leecaster Aug 19, 2023

@mysturji @SKleefeld
The lessor of two evils is less evil

Mysturji Aug 19, 2023

@GreenFire @SKleefeld
Which is less evil than more evil.

IAmPaws Aug 20, 2023

@mysturji @GreenFire @SKleefeld

william.maggos Aug 20, 2023

@Cognac @mysturji @GreenFire @SKleefeld

yes but when there's only two buses, neither has much incentive to get you closer to your destination. they'll both always have enough customers. and in our system, they also get paid by special interests. you also have to change the system. it's why we don't have universal healthcare but they do in parliamentary systems.

IAmPaws Aug 20, 2023

@wjmaggos @mysturji @GreenFire @SKleefeld You can't change the system without getting people in office who want to change it. It's not perfect, need lots of change, but look at our political landscape and ask yourself which Party is going to get me closer? They may not get me there, but they'll at least come more likely to building the road.

william.maggos Aug 20, 2023

@Cognac @mysturji @GreenFire @SKleefeld

I agree with that kind of voting, but I don't think they will ever support structural change that threatens them. we will also have to pass #RankedChoiceVoting etc and probably fight both parties to achieve and maintain it. that's what we've seen around the country. yes, use the parties and politicians, don't ever think of yourself as a member of a party or put your faith in these people.

https://time.com/6112318/american-democracy-final-five-voting/

If We're Serious About Saving American Democracy, This Voting System Might Be the Key

Too many general elections in the U.S. are meaningless. Here's a better system of voting that could strengthen our democracy

TIME

IAmPaws Aug 20, 2023

@wjmaggos @mysturji @GreenFire @SKleefeld My faith is elsewhere. My pragmatism is in the here and now. Believe me, I know it's not perfect. A revolution would be necessary and there's too much of our lives wrapped up in the system to expect people who are already insecure to put what little they do have on the line. Will a revolution happen at some point? Perhaps. But I don't see it happening in my lifetime.

Mysturji Aug 20, 2023

@Cognac @wjmaggos @GreenFire @SKleefeld

#RevolutionUK is inevitable, but given the nature of most Brits, probably not in my lifetime, because “wouldn’t want to make a fuss”. 🙄
But I live in hope, so I’ve had a bag packed since 2018.

Mysturji Aug 20, 2023

@wjmaggos @Cognac @GreenFire @SKleefeld
We 🇬🇧 are supposed to have universal healthcare. We DID have it, then the tories started demolishing it bit by bit and selling the pieces to their rich cronies. Not sure how much of it is left, tbh.

Stacy Aug 20, 2023

GreenSkyOverMe (Monika)Aug 20, 2023

@Cognac Image description:
Time to remember the best voting advice I have heard -
Voting isn't marriage - it's public transport.
You are not waiting for "the one" who is absolutely perfect.
You are getting the bus.
And if there isn't one going exactly to your destination, you don't stay at home and sulk - you take the one going closest to where you want to be.

jtb Aug 19, 2023

@SKleefeld Tory voters hate libraries. They see them as a socialist conspiracy to steal Tory voter money. And Tory voters don't know where the library is anyway, they get all their reading material from airport book stands.

Yora Aug 19, 2023

@SKleefeld We should ask politicians what they think about libraries at campaigning events.

A perfectly harmless question that should get plenty of them in a sticky situation.

Eis Comics (Vic)Aug 19, 2023

@SKleefeld With all my respects for Mr. Gaiman, and agreeing with him on the libraries subject, i would first look at which side is trying to supress vote and which one is trying to get everyone to vote.

Sean Kleefeld Aug 19, 2023

@eiscomics I don't think Gaiman is suggesting library support should be a *primary* voting strategy, just that it tends to be indicative of other major issues like voter suppression and trans rights and health care.

Eis Comics (Vic)Aug 19, 2023

@SKleefeld yeah, i get that and as i said, i agree with him... For me, though, what is the hugest red flag when voting (libraries is one too, of course) is vote supression.

Eis Comics (Vic)Aug 19, 2023

@SKleefeld there's SO many red flags out there that is incredible they get even one vote, though.

Chris Brennan Aug 19, 2023

I'm immunocompromised so I can't use my so-called "public" library because they stopped requiring masks even though there's still a dangerous airborne virus circulating.

Sean Kleefeld Aug 19, 2023

@chrisbrennan Well, that's another issue but it's tied to the same argument. By and large, the people trying to defund libraries have ALSO been trying (and largely succeeding, unfortunately) to convince the population as a whole that the pandemic is over. Sadly, many of the people they've convinced include librarians and even doctors!

Peter Principle Aug 19, 2023

@SKleefeld The Sean Connery character in the third Indiana Jones movie had the perfect comeback line for the modern GOP:

"It tells me that goose-stepping morons like yourself should try reading books instead of burning them."

Jonathan C. Dietrich 🌀Aug 19, 2023

william.maggos Aug 19, 2023

FYI he's here: @neilhimself

Robin Aug 19, 2023

@SKleefeld With 25 political parties I don't think that narrows it down enough!

AL Aug 19, 2023

@SKleefeld
I also like the idea of asking them if they _understand_ #globalClimateChange. If they talk about a belief then you know they are thinking its like santa claus and not science and have no intentions to do anything about it.

Texty the Bard Aug 19, 2023

@SKleefeld Honestly, it's even easier: which side wants to make it harder to vote? If they don't even favor democracy, why vote for them?

Kevin Schwarz Aug 19, 2023

@SKleefeld Yes, censorship is bad for democracy. Support freedom to read, write and Freedom of the Press

😀🚲Aug 19, 2023

@SKleefeld what do we do if there's two or more candidates who support libraries? Anybody got a book on voting theory?

https://starvoting.org

STAR Voting

We should be able to vote our conscience, our votes should never be wasted, and our elections should accurately reflect the will of the people. It's not rocket science. It's Star Voting.

STAR Voting

LipBombSassy Aug 19, 2023

Kobotic Aug 20, 2023

“Where they burn books, they will ultimately burn people also”.

Heinrich Heine

Waterluvian Aug 20, 2023

@SKleefeld The word “probably” is interesting there. I want to hear about the exceptional cases where book burners are the good guys. Does that even exist?

Sean Kleefeld Aug 20, 2023

@waterluvian Survival situation? Your plane crashes on top of a mountain while you're delivering books to a remote area, so you either burn them or freeze to death? That's about the only instance I can think of.

Waterluvian Aug 20, 2023

@SKleefeld Ah yes, true. But I’d say that’s quite different than being a book burner. Except in the eyes of a semantic pedantic, of course.

Henry Garcia Aug 20, 2023

@SKleefeld it’s ridiculous that we still need to have this type of discussion in 2023

TransitBiker Aug 20, 2023

@SKleefeld good guy.

PirateJoie Aug 20, 2023

@SKleefeld So glad to hear this, we need all the influential voices we can muster to drive this insanity back into the cave it came from.

Ankit Pati Aug 20, 2023

@SKleefeld “Probably”?

imbrokn Aug 20, 2023

@SKleefeld while I agree with the sentiment, what if both parties are guilty? Disgusting to see censorship of books/ curriculum in states like Fl, Tx, Ar. But liberals aren’t exactly innocent either as evidence by backlash from books like irreversible damage or new edits of Roald Dahl books (1984 anyone?)

Cat in Chucks Aug 20, 2023

@SKleefeld Such a wonderful test!

Bríd McGrath Aug 20, 2023

@SKleefeld no guide in #Ireland, fortunately, as all parties support #libraries. As a result we have a really great #publiclibrary service, thank God. But no complacency!

Callisto Aug 20, 2023

@SKleefeld Hon, the people who vote for the book-banners WANT to ban books.

Sean Kleefeld Aug 20, 2023

@callisto I think the rubric is directed more at people who get confused/distracted by more esoteric positions.

flori Aug 20, 2023

@SKleefeld Free libraries that are committed to diversity for sure!