Let's talk about Harry Potter

[u/AMVilla86]

… and other problematic IP

Hi folks,

We need your input. The mods have been discussing for a bit now about crafts with complicated Intellectual Property creators. Occasionally a craft will receive reports due to the theme of the craft and not about crafting itself. While we try to be as open-minded as possible, and we follow sitewide rules (such as no hate speech targeting identity or vulnerability, etc), there is still some nuance with moderating these types of posts. These posts have raised many questions, but we realized we needed to ask the community what they thought. If the community is uncomfortable with something, we want to know and be sure to moderate appropriately.

Some of the ideas we had so far, and why they would be tough to implement:

- Ban specific IP→ Where do we draw the line of what is and isn’t allowed?

- Create specific flair for ‘problematic’ → again, where is the line drawn?

- When a post receives enough reports about the theme and not the craft, leave a high-level moderator comment explaining how to block a user and/or hide a post → might be ignoring a problem rather than solving the issue for the sub.

With that being said, there’s only so much we can police. We want crafters to feel welcome, but with all the moderating we do, it would be hard to add on a layer of “educate a crafter on why the creator of this IP is bad” on top of our normal roles. We also don’t want our subreddit to become a lightning rod for debate. Ultimately, we are a crafts subreddit. While a few comments about inspiration of a craft is allowed, and questioning of said inspiration is also welcome, once we're many comments deep in multiple comment threads with no mention of crafting, it is no longer an appropriate conversation for r/crafts. There are many other subreddits for discussion and debate where you can converse.

So, what do you all think we should do with these types of posts? If we receive a large variety of ideas, we'll put it together in a survey or poll to further gauge how the subreddit feels. Also, feel free to message the mods if you're uncomfortable commenting on the post.

[u/Shitzme]

Stupid idea to be honest. People don't need to be made to feel guilty for enjoying a magical world. I highly doubt that those who are fans of Harry Potter are thinking of the author.

Are you going to ban Alice in Wonderland themed crafts? Dr Seuss? Everything can be pulled apart and become problematic if you dig hard enough. So why stop at Harry Potter?

[u/garg0yle95 → u/Shitzme]

Lewis Carrol and Ronald Dahl are dead, JK Rowling is actively channeling the money into transphobia. Surely you see the difference

[u/Shitzme → u/garg0yle95]

I don't think it's relevant to a crafting sub though. If I paint a Dumbledore quote on a canvas, or crochet a scarf in Gryffindor colours, I'm not supporting her.

And people are so quick to attack the little people, someone buys some HP fabric and now they're a monster supporting transphobia. But what about the millions of dollars being pulled in by Harry Potter world? Or the money that's being spent into a new and unnecessary TV show?

I enjoy childish things because it's my nostalgia, it's my comfort. I'm not a transphobe, I don't agree with her views at all. I don't think it's fair to attack someone for being inspired by magic to create something.

[u/garg0yle95 → u/Shitzme]

I wouldn’t have bought cute lil fabric with any other bigots branding on it.

She donates extraordinary sums and is the single most effective anti trans person in the UK.

I ADORED HP, it was my first special interest I don’t have words to express how obsessed I was. But when she started spouting extreme views, I stopped. Because she is alive and profiting from our engagement.

I just want trans people to be able to exist safely, she is actively harming them

[u/Shitzme → u/garg0yle95]

Again, with my previous points. If I was to totally hand make something, and it's HP themed. Thats not an attack against trans people. And I believe that this applies to this sub.