May 05 2015
Joss Whedon on why he left Twitter.
He tells Buzzfeed "If I'm going to start writing again, I have to go to the quiet place."
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Effulgent | May 05, 22:49 CET
ShadowQuest | May 05, 22:51 CET
Trentaferd | May 05, 22:51 CET
Shining | May 05, 23:09 CET
Also, re the Feminist Frequency thing and A2 - I think it was one of the editors of that show who tweeted something like they had mild issues with one plot point. Or something. Which some people seized on to mean Joss quit Twitter.
gossi | May 05, 23:25 CET
Shapenew | May 05, 23:43 CET
I am glad he pointed this out because it is getting to be a real problem for those who are fighting the good fight, like Anita.
Meanwhile, the right is trying to spin this as the left imploding on itself and it is a good thing he nipped in in the bud.
Jayne's Hat | May 05, 23:51 CET
libradude | May 06, 00:03 CET
I'll miss his tweets, but I'm glad he'll have more time to commune with his own soul, and space to get away from the Dark Side of the 'Net. (I've been on twitter less lately, and it's given me back more reading & writing time, and created room for some other pursuits.)
Sometimes the 'Net reminds me of a huge, spikey ouroboros.
ETA: Ha! Just re-read the Buzzfeed article, and saw this from Joss, which I'd missed:
"... and I was like, OK! We're done! The snake hath et its tail,"
Too funny.
[ edited by QuoterGal on 2015-05-06 09:11 ]
QuoterGal | May 06, 00:06 CET
Crypto | May 06, 00:17 CET
I personally can't wait to see what he will do as his next project.
asaneismRnuTs | May 06, 00:17 CET
Madhatter | May 06, 00:48 CET
Illy | May 06, 00:53 CET
RobynH | May 06, 01:44 CET
hann23 | May 06, 02:50 CET
Craig Oxbrow | May 06, 03:12 CET
"We temper our creators in the furnace of social media"
Pretty much.
Twitter is a great medium for very niche writers and subjects. As soon as you have even a sliver of fame (even internet fame), you get flooded by crazies and it can be an energy draining environment.
[ edited by Caleb on 2015-05-06 12:32 ]
Caleb | May 06, 03:30 CET
technovamp | May 06, 03:32 CET
(c;
filops | May 06, 03:46 CET
rawlsian | May 06, 03:57 CET
[ edited by Penthos on 2015-05-06 13:11 ]
Penthos | May 06, 04:06 CET
I'll miss the witticisms but that's a small price to pay for new, original work from Joss.
Besides, the joke about taking the bar exam at Coachella is enough to make me chuckle for weeks.
punkinpuss | May 06, 04:16 CET
Nico-Angel | May 06, 04:22 CET
devilscrayon | May 06, 04:44 CET
rabid | May 06, 04:52 CET
Also, THIS should be plastered everywhere in sight:
"Every breed of feminism is attacking every other breed, and every subsection of liberalism is always busy attacking another subsection of liberalism, because god forbid they should all band together and actually fight for the cause."
SuperScuba | May 06, 05:05 CET
NYPinTA | May 06, 05:24 CET
I guess the hashtag #BrowncoatsVsBrownshirts will have to go back in mothballs.
AndrewCrossett | May 06, 05:25 CET
TenTonParasol | May 06, 05:30 CET
This really resonated with me. I found myself very disproportionately saddened by Joss's departure from Twitter, and I reflected on that and determined that it was because with Twitter I could imagine he was accessible (he had in the past few weeks retweeted a retweet of mine, and favorited a tweet of mine), that I felt like I was connecting with him. And it drove me to consider my use of Facebook and Twitter more broadly, and I realized that I use them primarily to feel less lonely. But that deeper conversations than would occur in those spaces are really what I need, so I should make time to be with people, and write emails and letters, and visit digital spaces where a bigger conversation occurs (like here!).
Kiba | May 06, 05:39 CET
Even the man's interviews are quotable.
But seriously, I was bummed out, and this unbummed me. There's something to be said for going out to clubs to hear jokes instead of finding them on your phone, for sure.
PaperSpock | May 06, 05:39 CET
The criticism of Joss - that include claims of misogyny and general betrayal of his feminist principles - were ALL about gender politics, in many (most?) cases made by women, many of whom would label themselves as feminists
I think Patton's tweet, and Joss' comments are dead on. The right wing does NOT have a monopoly on extremists or those who apply a black/white purity test to all issues. We'll truly advance as a society when we can call bullshit on inappropriate behavior or methods without first checking if they're on "our" team or not
TallMichaelJ | May 06, 06:05 CET
On the other hand, I think he's just too sweet so say that there were some pretty loud feminists who went at him pretty hard. Perhaps he thinks he would hurt the cause if he did. I mean, it's ok that Anita Sarkeesian wrote him, but I feel that she should have made a statement on his defense, like he stuck his neck out for her a while ago, but that's just me...
KissingToast | May 06, 06:09 CET
NYPinTA | May 06, 06:19 CET
TenTonParasol | May 06, 06:24 CET
Nevertheless, I think all the personal attacks on the web are awful.
Suzie | May 06, 06:32 CET
I am all in favor of Joss being off twitter so he can make stuff (and, you know, live life, but especially make stuff cos I'm selfish like that).
He does mention that the attacks on him don't come near what Anita et al experience. I was very glad that he brought that up.
jcs | May 06, 06:53 CET
Stupendous | May 06, 06:59 CET
(2) Joss is wise to leave, so Internet addiction doesn't get in the way of his life and writing.
(3) Maybe he will pop in here more, when he has writer's block, or when he needs some fan love without the drama.
Nebula1400 | May 06, 07:06 CET
I've noticed that there are fans who will follow one ideology or other to mask their devotion to one particular character or pairing. It's like a secret infiltration or something.
I've also noticed the personal loathing of Joss becoming a lot more prevalent online amongst those fans who wear leftist or rightist badges with pride. I don't particularly enjoy seeing Joss' work ripped to shreds but I'm even less fond of seeing him ripped to shreds as a person. Not sure why I should have to call them fans if they do that.
And when the current counter-argument to Joss leaving Twitter (not here, thankfully) seems to be "but Joss has always been harassed and bullied by fans, this is no exception", you do have to wonder why that became acceptable or at least tolerated in our fan culture.
Simon | May 06, 07:15 CET
palehorse | May 06, 08:37 CET
Thank you, that is spot on.
Mark Ruffalo (a beautiful soul himself) is a real-life Avenger, Protector, etc...
(sorry Puddinhead - didn't see your topic in the list, I'm flitting around so much right now)
Mark Ruffalo Defends Joss Whedon Over Black Widow Criticism
[ edited by Tonya J on 2015-05-06 17:50 ]
[ edited by Tonya J on 2015-05-06 17:51 ]
Tonya J | May 06, 08:40 CET
However, I then realized that Joss and I (all his fans really) are connected in a much more profound way. Through his work (Buffy, specifically) he has had an immense impact on my life. He has made me stronger, braver, funnier and smarter (I hope). So while I may not get a chance to be retweeted or favorited by him and while he may not ever read this comment or anything else I have to say about him, he will always be a part of my life. So now I'm glad that he's disconnecting so that he does get the peace to just live and create. And if that allows him to build characters and/or a world that touches people the way that Buffy touched me, well that's just...
Destructo Girl | May 06, 08:42 CET
PS Very well said, palehorse.
Part of me is wondering if the reaction to the movie and all of the characters would have been different if no one knew who the director was. Like Led Zeppelin not putting their name on their fourth album.
NYPinTA | May 06, 08:55 CET
Joss W.
This quote from Joss made me question why I participate with/on social media.
That guy is pretty sharp!
Simpleba | May 06, 08:58 CET
His measured, thoughtful and articulate reasoning was just a little reminder why I love his work so much. Here's hoping he finds that peaceful place so he can create as he sees fit.
The Do That Girl | May 06, 09:56 CET
Oddly, I used this as a comfort, thinking, "Well that can't be why he left, can it?" I remember two instances of character death in particular in Buffy fandom where folks were pretty angry and did things like call Firefly advertisers and ask them to stop supporting it, in addition to the usual online screaming and some pretty scary death threats. So I sort of drew comfort from knowing that this type of reaction wasn't new for him.
@Destructo Girl You're exactly right. I was wandering around outside today, pondering Joss (as I so often do), and thinking about how lucky I am and how odd it is that a person who is very distant from me - in life experience, as well as geography - could mean so much. In his work and his interviews, there is a sensibility that deeply resonates with me.
I feel like there was a little gap in my soul before I found Joss's work, and then a little piece of Joss's soul (if we accept the conceit that people have souls) broke off of him through the course of his work and fan interactions and filled that gap in my soul. And I thought, I bet a lot of other people feel the same way... What a gift it is for artists to share these little fragments of themselves, and how important it is for us to leave them to regenerate their spirits after giving so much to us.
Back in the days of the Buffy Posting Board Parties, I met Joss. I'd had these baseball caps embroidered that said "Joss is a Hottie." I had Joss sign mine. On the little fabric that anchored the embroidery, inside the hat, he wrote, "I'm in your head." Now, whenever his work or quotes from him resonate strongly with me, my husband will say, "He's in your head!" And he is, he's constantly in my head, and my heart, and I'm forever grateful.
Kiba | May 06, 10:05 CET
devilscrayon | May 06, 10:08 CET
Idealogues will be idealogues (see especially under 'purist') - come rain or shine.
Some very wise words from joss here. Myself I've never seen the point of using social media as anything other than a convenient way to communicate with real-life friends/family/business associates since the rest is just noise - if you stop to think about it.
brinderwalt | May 06, 10:31 CET
That said, this 61 year old (as of two weeks ago) feminist LOVES what Joss has done with Black Widow. In the first Avengers he made her an utter badass fighter who was the one among the group who actually figured out how to save the world, and at the same time, hinted at the back story, the humanity inside her. With all the complaints I've been seeign that she "flirted" with Clint, I saw no signs of flirtation in that film. It was perfectly clear to me that the two of them were partners, colleagues. Equals, who owed each other their lives, many times over, who would die for each other. Not girlfriend and boyfriend. And we got the payoff in AoU, with the reveal that Cliff is a family man, and Natasha knew it all along. The joke was on everyone who couldn't look at a female character and not imagine her as anything but a sex partner.
And in AoU, she is seen empathizing with Bruce Banner. When she talks about him not being the only monster, it's obvious that she's talking about her transformation into a cold-blooded assassin, of which her forced sterility is only a part, not the simple fact of not being able to be a mother. Bruce sees himself as a monster because he becomes one, but she is trying to make him see that there can be monsters inside people as well. I think one might well argue that the point is that all of the other Avengers, except perhaps the newborn Vision, carry their monsters inside themselves.
barboo | May 06, 11:36 CET
hann23 | May 06, 12:06 CET
His genius and accomplishments are Avenger-level mighty. I just saw the film again today, and I don't see any of the problems or issues that others, especially the haters, seem so determined to lash into him for. What I marveled at today, was the beauty and artistry of the film. That was a hell of a lot of work for one person to create and be responsible for, and it is beautiful.
Now I have to get off the internet, and work outside on my giant garden mosaic.
[ edited by Nebula1400 on 2015-05-06 21:53 ]
Nebula1400 | May 06, 12:51 CET
Tonya J | May 06, 14:25 CET
BlueEyedBrigadier | May 06, 17:56 CET
I know we all want to see Joss move on with his own personal creative work again, (I certainly do) but what he's done with Black Widow has only made me wish harder that he would have the chance to do a Black Widow solo movie.
barboo | May 06, 19:32 CET
Barboo: A Black Widow movie really should happen, and if Joss isn't going to do it, it really should be helmed by a woman or women. I would hate to have another man write and direct it. This is not to say that another man couldn't do it justice, but it's past time to have more women take the lead in some superhero movies.
Nebula1400 | May 07, 08:41 CET
I think we need a whole new meme for discussing that scene: #Bruce Banner wanted children too.
barboo | May 07, 12:02 CET
Sunfire | May 07, 12:16 CET
Nebula1400 | May 07, 12:32 CET
barboo | May 07, 17:12 CET
TenTonParasol | May 07, 18:33 CET