I made a post saying it was funny how many people are pretending they totally knew the casting of the new Doctor.
One of my friends (R) came in and turned it into a race issue, her boyfriend (C) went off on one and argued with another friend of mine.
It got heated so I had to step in and tell everyone to chill out or back off. Especially C as he was insulting people for an issue that didn't exist.
For clarity, him and R believe the casting choice was a "safe" one and that they should've cast a person of colour because it would be "more interesting" and that we were "defending the BBC's choice of another white male actor" and were "normalising racism and white male culture".
Nobody said he shouldn't be a person of colour, we argued that
that reasoning (casting a guy purely because he's black) is ridiculous and possibly racist. They should cast the best person for the job in terms of ability regardless of race, religion, sexuality or any other factor.
But apparently
THAT'S racist?
Anyway the whole thing spilled into Twitter, where everyone on 'my' side of the argument couldn't have any input because they're not on Twitter. I quoted C's tweets into the FB thread and told him off for his hypocrisy, referring to a time prior when he was arguing with someone and they blocked him and continued without him being able to defend himself.
I pointed out it was juvenile behaviour and told him he was fighting a different battle to everyone else, and that the next time he called the other side racist, ignorant and braindead, he was calling me those things. And as someone who is technically a minority (Non-Heterosexual) I do not take kindly to that.
Then R told me to "shut up bigger things have happened", and I kinda guessed what it was (C's dad just died) so told people that further comments will not be allowed and shall be deleted.
Then I got a text from R: "Jonny drop it please nobody cares about Doctor Who jesus fucking Christ."
Me: "I have dropped it. Long before I got this message, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and blame reception issues. But don't ever end a text like that again - The issue isn't about Doctor Who, it's about how the media portrays racism. Do not put me in a situation like that again, because you know I'm going to want to argue back but for C's sake I wouldn't. If I did it would make me the bad guy. Do not text me about this again, the issue is dropped, forget it."
R: "Yeah we're on the train. Fair enough."
Hours later she commented on the status again so I deleted her comment and told her I'd dropped it on her behalf, if she comments again I'll let the other side comment again, C (who suffers depression anyway) will see those comments, which will be particularly un-emphatic, and might cause C to do something drastic. I also mentioned that her continuing a topic I've dropped on moderated at her request is selfish, childish and aggravating, and if she continues then out friendship will be discontinued. If she mentioned it on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr or anywhere else ever again I will take her to the cleaners. She knows I can sever the ties she has with any of her remaining half-friends, and whilst I appreciate the difficult time they're having, she has no right putting me in such a position, and if she tests me again she'll recall first hand how good I am at holding a grudge.
Why the hell can people not just be fucking civil to each other? Fuck.
