A Post in Which I complain about Knitters

 So, I'm probably going to rant about like 5 things, but I just wanna get this out.

Ravelry. Now before you click that link, I just want to warn you. Some people have reported Seizures and Headaches. 

Here's why I want to vent about it, and some knitters as well. I think in general about my "knitting circle."

So a while back, (and this is what I've heard) a user bought a pattern from a designer. Then that user reported a pattern because it was some Trump non-sense. The pattern is not what's important other than it was in support of Trump. Whatever, I don't like something you just have to walk on by it ya know. Like a grown up. In turn, the designer gave out this persons information and the reporter of the person was attacked by some Trump supporters on the Ravelry site. Threats were made it got ugly. Ravelry's response was to ban all Trump supporters/Trump support projects. It seemed like banning this designer and those people who threatened the user would have been enough, but the site owners are very supportive of the LGBTQ (and so am I) community, and therefore they wanted to make it a safe space. 

Here is my point when all this went down and everyone was voicing support for this. It's fine and it's great when it's something that you agree with. Right? But what happens when it's not something that you agree with? This is a privately owned site. They can do whatever they want. A point I actually agree with. But and this is like one of my character issues. I cannot deal with hypocrisy. If you are trying to be an "all inclusive safe space for everyone" You have to be "an all inclusive safe space for everyone" even if some of those everyone aren't people who believe and support the same issues that you do. This was my biggest problem with the whole thing and in fact, I thought about giving up Ravelry. Am I saying what this designer and her group of followers did was right? No. Am I saying that Trump isn't a racist asshole? No.  What I am saying is that you shouldn't say your all inclusive and then exclude this. 

So that went down and there was this big nasty divide. Designers left, users left etc. 

Then there was the diversity thing. Now, when you think of knitting, you think Your grandmom making you and afghan. Knitting really just got cool again. and yes, I agree, most models most designers are white. And that certainly did need to change. But, all of a sudden there came this backlash that if you didn't do something about the diversity you were bad! and there needed to be a list of designers who weren't showing support, so we know they are secretly a racist or something. I don't even know how it got to that. 

Here's my thought on this. I, Amy, have thoughts and feelings about this. I, as the owner of Amazing Amy's yarn, is not going to pull my business into the middle of this. Is that me not believing in diversity or supporting designers who don't look like me? I don't think so. People were literally getting blacklisted because they wouldn't make this big social media outcry. It just became too much. Listen that's a lot of drama for some yarn Ya'll. 

Here's a sensitive subject. Racism. Yes it's real. Yes I'm white, and I'm pretty. I can't pretend to know what it's like to experience anything like some people of color have experienced. I wouldn't wish that on any one in the world. But, if I don't stand up and shout from my social media accounts, Black Lives Matter, I'm a racist? No, that's not what it means. It means my business is my business and I'm not going to talk about anything I have no idea about. Can I educate myself? yes. Have I? yes. Do Black Lives Matter? Hell yes. 

But don't put me or a designer on a list because I didn't put it on my social media that Black Lives Matter. 

I think the last straw for me was when people who were posting were like oh! if you buy this weekend, my proceeds will go to this organization in support of Black Lives Matter! (Awesome right) but no! they were reprimanded because they shouldn't have said by from me, they should have been saying buy from this African American Designer or Yarn company. It's your business you want people to buy from you. ugh.