PetaPixel has a long history of running posts that will produce the most predictable of racist reactions among its commentary, ie- ignorant (and some very purposeful) commenters promoting and disseminating false and inaccurate information about: history, race and racism in these United States, and elsewhere. In its most recent example, the author of a piece on cultural appropriation curiously predicted precisely how commenters would react to said charge- and they more than gladly obliged her, chomping at the bit to say, write and react exactly how and what she foretold. Imagine if they had instead engaged in a dialogue to reconsider and reexamine the very factors presented, how they originated, developed and propagated- instead of just feeding their knee jerk, fall back reactions.
Now most would argue that Michael Zhang is merely providing readers an opportunity for democratic discourse on topical photographic/social issues via a public forum, but when the topic/reaction scenario becomes so obviously routine (and negative) that it forms a predictable pattern, and the forum itself not as open or egalitarian as one may think- the motives and results can indeed become... questionable.
As previously stated, most of the the comments (on these topics) are overwhelmingly reactionary, and minority voices like mine, which try to provide some measure of fact and sanity over the distortions, misconceptions, and outright lies that are repeated incessantly in all their variations are subject to... banishment. Meanwhile, commenters who openly and consistently espouse misogynist, homophobic and racist rants are allowed to remain- no problem!
Yours truly was banned years ago, a British chap who would also challenge the prevailing ignorance in the Petapixel commentary (particularly on women's issues), would be regularly attacked in its commentary. He told me how Petpixel had attempted to ban him- until his FB followers rallied and managed to convince them otherwise. Which leads me to wonder- how many other Left leaning individuals ("social justice warriors-" yeah, that's a... "pejorative" term) have been silenced? And more importantly- how long will this clickbait charade of running "Liberal" subject matter continue, so that it can be routinely ridiculed and "discredited" in its biased commentary?
I cringe anytime I happen to be on Petapixel (which rarely, I don't really find too much useful information on it, I'm pretty much 100% film in my shooting, and that site is pretty much digital overload with an occasional article on film, which starts the headache inducing digital vs film arguments), and I see an article with 200+ comments, because I know there's going to be some ignorance in abundance. The only saving grace was when I would come across one of your comments
ReplyDeletePetapixel taught me one thing, I had always thought that photographers as a whole were a more "enlightened" lot. And to this day, I know that there are a certain faction that most definitely are- unfortunately, looking through a viewfinder and pressing a shutter button doesn't automatically confer self knowledge and wisdom upon the user.
ReplyDeleteSo far as I can see Petapixel is nothing but clickbait.
ReplyDelete