this post was submitted on 14 Jan 2025
392 points (97.3% liked)

World News

39626 readers
1504 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News !news@lemmy.world

Politics !politics@lemmy.world

World Politics !globalpolitics@lemmy.world


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Warning, this story is really horrific and will be heartbreaking for any fans of his, but Neil Gaiman is a sadistic [not in the BDSM sense] sexual predator with a predilection for very young women.

Paywall bypass: https://archive.is/dfXCj

(page 2) 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] EpicMuch@sh.itjust.works 42 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (6 children)

I have so many of this man's books on my shelves, a few of them signed. I don't know what to do with them. I don't want to throw them away (yet), because the stories are wonderful and I'm still attached to those characters and worlds. but. I don't to see his name anymore. on anything. I've turned them backwards, spine inward and placed others in the gap between other books and the back of the shelf. what a tragic loss caused by a Jekyll\Hyde monster.

Good Omens is one of my most favorite and re-read books and I don't know how many decades it'll take before I touch it again.

[–] CeruleanRuin@lemmings.world 39 points 4 days ago (3 children)

The stories live on their own. They left his mind and are no longer his. They live in your mind now and are yours now.

If it makes you feel better about them being there, tear out or paint over his name on them. And continue enjoying stories that are good.

I believe in death of the author. People throughout history were all sorts of awful, but that doesn't mean they didn't have some good thoughts too. Don't throw the baby out with the bath water.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 16 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Part of the problem in Gaiman's case is that he absolutely does not shy away from sexual violence in his stories. The perpetrator usually gets punished, often ironically, but how can you read about one of his villainous rapist characters and not think about how he's got experience with what that character is doing?

That's not a problem with stuff like Good Omens, which is more family fare, or even the stuff he does specifically for kids. It's a huge problem for stuff like Sandman and American Gods.

load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (2 replies)
[–] prodigalsorcerer@lemmy.ca 41 points 4 days ago (1 children)

It can be hard to separate art from artist, but just keep in mind that you've already paid for those books. He isn't getting more money from you just rereading them, and nothing changes if you continue to enjoy the books.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] slurp@programming.dev 38 points 4 days ago (3 children)

At least with Good Omens you can focus on Terry. This is grim.

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] TheMachineStops@discuss.tchncs.de 22 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (8 children)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Death_of_the_Author

H. P. Lovecraft was very racist and you can even see his racism in his books, and people still read his books. You need to disconnect the author with the books, although Lovecraft was racist and not a monster like this guy. I even heard he tried to change before he died.

[–] Lumidaub@feddit.org 8 points 3 days ago

I agree, but that's not what Death of the Author means.

load more comments (7 replies)
load more comments (2 replies)
[–] Eldritch@lemmy.world 44 points 4 days ago (2 children)

No one should ever be put on a pedestal. We all have our demons. Though many of them are semi innocent or only hurt ourselves. It still sad to hear another celebrity abused their celebrity.

[–] Clent@lemmy.dbzer0.com 27 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I don't know about you but none of my demons involve sexual assault.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 20 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I do not disagree with you, but I still think it's heartbreaking when it turns out that a man who is lauded for his feminism turns out to be a horrific rapist, sadist and predator.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] lurklurk@lemmy.world 19 points 4 days ago

There's a lot of good books written by awful people. I guess Gaiman might be one of those awful people

[–] vivavideri@lemmy.world 25 points 4 days ago (1 children)

God, barf.

I was one of those sad goth kids clinging to the dresden dolls through my turbulent adolescence. After palmer met this nutsack her whole vibe changed. I mourned the loss of an era and ultimately left it all behind. I can't even begin to fathom what kind of.. Mind-shattering nightmare that would be, someone you connected with on that level, being the intersection in your life between "the before times" and one of the most traumatic things that can happen to someone. Fuck.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 20 points 4 days ago (1 children)

This is certainly going to have an effect on Tumblr.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] WhatSay@slrpnk.net 9 points 4 days ago (35 children)

Welp, I guess if I still want to read any of his books, there will probably be a ton of them at the thrift store

[–] Canadian_anarchist@lemmy.ca 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)
load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (34 replies)
load more comments
view more: ‹ prev next ›