Orson Scott Card - The Homophobic Bigot ups his ante

[Cole Parker]

I find it an issue if I know I'm supporting people that either work against me as a person, for that reason I cannot separate thing like OSC from his works, even if my purchase amounts to no more than a cup of coffee for the man. Not a penny, not now, not ever.

I can see the merit in this. It makes good sense. It makes a statement against the person, even though it's a small and unnoticed one, but one that you yourself can embrace.

The book I read was given to me by someone else. So I can truthfully say, I did as you did. I didn't enrich the man at all, or enhance his reputation by enhancing his sales numbers.

C

[Guest Dabeagle]

Sometimes being inflexible is not one of the parts of my personality I'm especially proud of, and when I wrote that sentence it was oh dark thirty and I was working on a story that had fried my brain; thus why it sounds so disjointed. But yes, I shop K-Mart and never Wal Mart. I go to Sears and now JC Penney. I know by myself I'm less than a drop in the bucket, but I like knowing that I'm not handing anything to the people that try to convince others I'm less than a person, or as seems to be popular this week, deserve to die for being who I am.

I know I can be disagreeable, inflexible, hold grudges, unclear and thoroughly irritating. That's okay, I'm allowed - just like everyone else.

[The Pecman]

The book I read was given to me by someone else. So I can truthfully say, I did as you did. I didn't enrich the man at all, or enhance his reputation by enhancing his sales numbers.

The one book I had was part of a large boxed set of other SF books. But the rest of them I downloaded free from The Usual Sources. I have voluntarily paid for some of Card's instructional books on writing, but I'd be torn on whether to do that now, knowing what I now know.

I also love Chik-Fil-A chicken sandwiches (a large U.S. fast-food chain), but they're one of the most homophobic, religious-right-owned companies in the country right now. I don't feel great about patronizing their establishments... but their food is good.

BTW, Dabeagle, be sure to watch Penn & Teller's Bullsh!t episode on the pros and cons of Walmart:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-o1fj1rX7A

It's not as much of a black and white situation as you might think.

[Guest Dabeagle]

That was a very interesting video, and yes I admit it educated me somewhat. I have other issues with Wal Mart - for instance, in general, Republicans work against gay people. Wal Mart contributes to Republicans. (So does AT&T, so we dumped them). Also the last time I actually bought something (actually 2 times) I was asked to show a receipt for the items I had just purchased in full view of the clerk now wanting to see my receipt. I told them, in both cases, no. I don't like being treated like a shoplifter when I just spent money in a location I don't like.

I also make an effort to buy American first, China last. I realize no matter where you go it's almost impossible to not buy Chinese, but I think it's harder at Wal Mart. That may be my perception, I'll grant you. But I do know that shopping at K-Mart or Sears they are competitive on price and they have a perfect record with the HRC Scorecard for the last 7 years in a row. K-Mart/Sears even puts that right on their website.

I know it's isn't strictly black and white, very few things are, but for me Wal Mart is a creature of last resort. Thanks for the video though, I'd prefer to be educated than repeat half truths.

[DesDownunder]

Can't say I'm impressed with the anti-socialist slant in the video. I'm more inclined to think Wal-mart is part of the problem that is inherent in a capitalist market place, but then I am far left humanist-socialist in my views. Fortunately we have strong regulation of wages and working conditions in Australia, but even that isn't enough to stop the avarice and greed of some employers, particularly those who have a connection back to U.S. corporations.

Current top of my list never to give my custom is McDonalds, and KFC, but I'm afraid that it is a losing battle in the war against the 1%, though I'll keep trying.

[blue]

Wal-Mart's latest practices on cutting back employee hours and other things...I will be shopping elsewhere when possible. Target is OK, but my local Target seems...odd in a way I can't put my finger on. I don't know what it is or why. K-Mart pulled out of Texas several years ago, which was a shock. We have Sears, of course, but it has become more about appliances and cars than other department store goods back in its heyday. (Heck, it's been years since Montgomery Wards went belly up, but that still seems so strange.) There are a few other choices, big chains or local.

I went in Fry's last week, and was shocked to find half their shelves empty and lighting reduced to half throughout the store. I purchased items I needed, but I was glad I'd purchased the other items I needed online elsewhere. They weren't readily available right there in the store. And that Fry's serves most, if not all, of Houston. I was shocked to see a high tech, geek-friendly store, which obviously caters to a higher income crowd along with the middle income folks, going like that. There were only three checkers working, and I only saw one person in the computer/printer sales area working. Wow.

America really, really needs to use production and hire workers from our own country and from close allies. (By close, I don't mean only geographically close. Several other countries are good allies despite much distance.)

I have no quarrels with the Chinese people, and I'd be happy to see them gain a more democratic (or otherwise freer) government. The problem with buying from China is their form of government, their ideology and how they treat other people/countries as well as how they treat their own people, is very different from how they ought to treat them.

I'm often dismayed when I see how businesses today (mis)handle customer service, their own employees, and other basics, or buying overseas or from non-allies instead of locally or from allies. They're being foolish, and some day, it's going to come back and bite them. Heck, it already is. -- And how many people, here or overseas (Europe, elsewhere) would *love* to have a good job, yet don't get enough hours or can't find work, because of how businesses do business these days.

I have now heard of at least three different Wal-Mart employees, one former, who are/were getting 28 or 20 hours per week, so that it wasn't even paying their fares to and from work. That's why the one quit. That kind of thing can't last.

I used to think the idea of corporations owning the world, acting as their own governments, or holding sway over people, was far-fetched. -- Now I wonder when we'll first see what amounts to corporate slavery or indentured servitude, because I think we're not far from that, or from a corporation acting as a government.

Strange days indeed, most peculiar, mama.

[DesDownunder]

[...]

I used to think the idea of corporations owning the world, acting as their own governments, or holding sway over people, was far-fetched. -- Now I wonder when we'll first see what amounts to corporate slavery or indentured servitude, because I think we're not far from that, or from a corporation acting as a government.

Strange days indeed, most peculiar, mama.

Hollywood has predicted this in movies from as early as the 1940s. I can't remember the names of those movies, but I do remember one scene where an executive defied his bosses to stay in his position to fight the inhuman corporate attitude. Then of course the more fun film films like Logan's Run and even Rollerball have a core of prophesying corporate government.

Throughout history there have been controlling organisations that we might call 'corporate'. Think of 'The Inquisition' as a corporate body, or the feudal Lords of the middle ages, not to mention the various imperial monarchies and oligarchies.

Today we might well consider modern oligarchies as corrupt fascist regimes with organised religion eyeing them with envy.

The demands of the '99%', are nothing less than a revolt against corporate corruption depriving the many of their fair share of the wealth that the 99% have helped create.

As overpopulation increases we can expect to see more deprivation, more poverty and sadly, more corruption.

[Gee Whillickers]

Coming back to this conversation a bit late, but...

Cole, having read the book it sounds like you're seeing the same thing that many of us have seen in his writing. Significant and frequent situations and characters that skirt around the idea of homosexuality. The thing is, this is by no means limited to this book. It happens in many, many of his books. Which is why his public statements are so fascinating.

[Guest Dabeagle]

An article on OSC's long history of hating the gays.

[DesDownunder]

OSC not only writes fiction, he seems to believe in it, disseminates it and preaches it at every opportunity.

[The Pecman]

"Strange days indeed, most peculiar, mama."

Hey! Who else but me would know what song that's a quote from! "There's UFOs over New York, and I ain't too surprised..."

The protest is growing over Card's involvement with the Ender's Game film. Note that he wrote at least one draft of the script (probably by contract), and he's also credited as one of the film's producers. I'm really torn on this, because it's a good story and looks like a well-made film. But Card is such a fucking asshole.

Two stills from the movie, due out in November:

[Guest Dabeagle]

Took my son to see Iron Man 3 (IMAX 3D no less) and it cost 81.00 just for the tickets. Nope, just not happening.

[DesDownunder]

$81, Is breakfast included?

[Camy]

Took my son to see Iron Man 3 (IMAX 3D no less) and it cost 81.00 just for the tickets. Nope, just not happening.

The last time I went to the talkies was to see Avatar - in IMAX 3D. It cost £23 a ticket (including help yourself to popcorn, coffee, soft drinks, etc), but was definitely worth it.

IMAX 3D is, without doubt, expensive ... but de shiznit.

So ... back to the awful OSC and Ender's Game.

[Engor]

When are they going to make a "Songmaster" movie?...

I'm joking. That's never going to happen, no amount of special effects can produce that kind of song. Fortunately.

But I confess that I'm not going to miss Ender, whatever the disappointment at learning OSC's opinion about us.

[colinian]

But I confess that I'm not going to miss Ender, whatever the disappointment at learning OSC's opinion about us.

I agree with you. We'll go see it at the Imax theater. However, I don't own any of OSC Ender's series (or any other book by OSC). I borrowed Ender's Game from the library when I was in the 8th grade. My dad didn't own any OSC books; I didn't know why but just shrugged it off and borrowed it. I read the first few chapters and hated the story, and returned the book to the library. I asked my dad if he'd read it, and he said no. I asked why not, and he said he didn't agree with OSC's politics. Now I know it was because of OSC's homophobia. Good for you, Dad!

Colin

[The Pecman]

Four of us are going to see Iron Man 3 in Imax this weekend at one of the biggest theaters in LA, and it's $56 plus $8 parking. Not that big a deal.

I think all the kids (especially the star) of the Ender's Game movie are too tall for the characters as described in the book, but the sets and action are extremely close to the novels. However: my "bomb" detector went off, and I'll go on record right now as saying I don't think this movie is going to do well financially. The controversy surrounding Card will not help, particularly when you consider that Disney is generally considered to be the most gay-friendly studio in town.

[Engor]

My dad didn't own any OSC books

Colin

I approve of your dad's attitude, but I urge you to borrow and try reading "Songmaster" which is probably one of the best of his novels and a masterpiece of american litterature (as far as I can judge!). Beside, for someone so totally homophobic... well, I could have been fooled.

José