This is a great rundown of the phenomenon of the triangle of Ethical Media Consumption, Virtue Signalling, and what the author has coined “Virtue Mirroring”.
She touches on one that I see very often here on Lemmy, where she distinguishes behavior around the two, and as the example she uses Harry Potter. That by knowing that Rowling uses her money in anti trans cases that it presents a moral problem. Her concept of “Virtue Mirroring” is the idea that you should not enjoy Harry Potter at all simply because of Rowling’s beliefs, vs Ethical Media Consumption which says that if you want to be ethical then you cannot buy Harry Potter products, as you know that will be used in ways that you disagree with.
It’s a good essay that I’ve enjoyed. I think we’re too quick to throw away older media because it “didn’t age well” or because someone involved ended up being horrible. That it’s not immoral to pull out a DVD of a Weinstein film, or to re-read Harry Potter, but separating that going out and subscribing to watch the new Harry Potter is against Ethical Media Consumption. I really like that distinction, because it is perfectly okay to say you enjoyed Harry Potter, and rewatch the movies that you own, and do what you enjoy, while also having the nuance and critical awareness that you also cannot purchase anything with the brand on it.
that’s not unique to lemmy. the flood of “i actually never liked them” whenever bad shit comes out about a public figure is usually deafening.
Fair point, I’ve also experienced that elsewhere. When really it’s okay to have enjoyed it, but be aware now on purchasing new items.
i think for many people, their own newfound ick for a person who has turned out to be (for lack of a better word) problematic sours their earlier works. some people then do post hoc rationalisation for that ick (“i never liked them”), and a subset of those people (mostly those with no internality) apply their experience universally (“i never liked them so if you did you’re weird”) and get real loud about it.
i’m going to continue assuming it’s a very small vocal minority. easier to stay sane that way.
