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Big changes coming to Pianobook

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Pier said:
I think it's because Cameron made his tweets private.

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He's been open about the general abuse he has received online and also about mental health issues.
Under the circumstances, stepping back from social media seems a good move.
It's difficult to do if people feel they need to be on there to promote their business.
The way you disengage can also be challenging, as that can trigger more abuse.
I do find that some people's responses to online drama triggers me more than the original source of the drama.
I suspect that there is a lot of fear about getting caught up in the crossfire, so a minimal black and white response and a burning of the bridges makes sense from that perspective.
 


There's a whole lot of irony in all of this that a mob more hateful and full of spite than Christian ever could be harrass him away from the things he loves, while claiming they're the ones who have been wronged and harrassed. All because Christian dared to have an opinion which somehow invalidates their own opinions but they have the arrogance to think their opinions cede all others, it's disgraceful
 
But its not about racism OR trans rights. He made ONE comment related to a very small sub-section of this "issue", which was taken HUGELY out of context and now he's effectively been forced out of of both his own company (Spitfire) and his own creation (Pianobook). For those who really want to understand the facts of this case, how extraordinarily unfair and very very sad.
 
There’s definitely a lot of irony in this, all I dare say. Also, I am convinced this will not in any way stop the criticism, because there is no apology in there. I am not saying there should be, but it has become apparent to me listening to some of the people who were in a recent YT livestream that Spitfire can only ever be respected again if both CH and their top management apologize in a way more explicit way. And they better act like they mean it too.

It saddens me that a lot of people were this upset by a ‘tweet’. I did not at all sympathize with that tweet. I was disappointed by it and maybe even annoyed because I found it offensive -and what usually annoys me even more- stupid and ill informed. According to myself.

It also saddens me that people -imho- blow this up to epic proportions, feel the urge to boycott an entire company, etc. Is it an overreaction? No, people are free to do as they like. I get they’re angered and annoyed. But on the other hand, there’s definitely a LOT of irony in there. The absolute brutal piling-on and some of the rhetoric used (I mean…. Some talk of a genocide… in the actual context of one ill-informed person’s fucking tweet)… I don’t know man. One wishes people would develop the same passion for world hunger, poverty or some problems that people are actually dying from on a daily basis). Yeah that’s right. I’m from 1971 and fondly remember a way friendlier discourse, let’s leave it at that. Ignore and cancel away. At some point in history I hope people will realize that Twitter is just a bunch of unredacted brain farts mostly. Of course people should use it wisely. And if I were the founder of a business with responsibilities for 100+ employees I’d absolutely avoid Twitter like the plague. Way way too dangerous in this day and age.

This is the first and last thing I’ll say on the matter. Again, I’m all for trans rights, absolutely regret the content of the tweet, and get why people are mad. But… to an extent. CH is just a guy from an SME sized tiny little business. At some point one wonders what’s the fuzz all about. Ignore the man, boycott all you like, express your anger and then move on? Apparently no. People have to lose their business over it. “Good riddance”. And then some, because I predict new videos stating this is not enough will appear overnight. Humanity just sucks, what a mess.
 
Pier said:
If instead of trans rights it was about racism would you still think it's a simple matter of opinions?
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Your analogy with racism is totally misleading. He did not express ANY malign opinion or intent towards the transgender community. His tweet referred to (i) concern, as a father, about hormonal treatment of minors, for which there is no long term safety data in that population, and so is done entirely experimentally; (ii) concern for the link, currently not understood, between transgender and autism; (iii) support for JK Rowling, a woman who has suffered horrific abuse by her husband, and is understandably fearful of female spaces being occupied by non-biological females. No hate. No recommendation for persecution. No ridicule. Just concern. Nothing at all that is any way analogous to racism.

There is no comparison to racism here, and your implication is misguided and harmful.

The people who really should be criticised in all of this are (i) Paul Thompson, his supposed friend and business partner, who, following a single tweet, has abandoned Christian and allowed him to be hung him out to dry; despite many years of supposed close partnership, indeed it was what their brand was built on, but Paul has thrown him to the lions, knowing the mental toll that this will take on someone like Christian, who has not been hesitant in sharing his past experiences with fragile mental health. (ii) Will Evans - it was mere hours before this guy publicly posted his disgraceful response. This guy owes his livelihood to the company that Christian co-developed. He was jointly appointed by Christian, when many would be concerned at a marketing person becoming CEO. And yet, his immediate public distancing of Christian was despicable.

I have been genuinely concerned for Christian since this all started. As a result of a reasonable and innocuous tweet, he has lost close friends, his work colleagues, his business and the joy of being involved in the music community. It would be no surprise if this were to impact him deeply. And what will the likes of you, who compare his actions to racism say? 'Well, I guess now he knows what it feels like', or some other bullshit. How coldly superior do you have to be to take this attitude. I just hope you're ready for the pitch forks coming to your door, when you inevitably speak against the faith, and their demand for nothing but 100% adherence.

I've also been dismayed at the lack of action from the music community, who have moved on, seemingly ignoring the impact this would have on someone whose contribution has prominently included how he talks about the negative effects the music business can have on mental health. But yet the wheels keep turning... Christian has made enormous contributions to the music community at great personal sacrifice. If this is how he is treated, what chance anyone else.

I've no doubt this thread will be deleted (compounding the problem for those who wish to express support for Christian, but have no other direct channel to do so), but maybe just one person will read it before it goes, and rethink this insane cancel culture, where all but the purest are sacrificed to the weaponisation that social exclusion has become.
 
Yeah, totally don't get this situation. Lots of time for Cameron, but exiting Pianobook is wrong on SO many levels, I don't know where to start. Christian is not a transphobe. Fact. People have misunderstood and over reacted to his tweet. Massively it seems. Really sad all round. And so many more important things to get worked up about.
 
It's important to note, some of Christian's harshest critics have already commented that this is *not* the outcome they were hoping for. He has ultimately chosen to step down rather than understand and address the hurt he caused. Chosen to further the divisive arguments instead of trying to bridge them. The fact remains, he has expressed strong support and solidarity for people who are seeking to "cancel" the trans community, and it hurt a lot of people. I watched the video he referred to in the initial tweet; it was full of anger and hate, it was not full of care and concern. It is very easy to see how people could have been hurt by that.

We will never know whether a sincere apology would have been good enough, because one was never given. Positive intent can still result in negative impact, and by ignoring this we trivialize others. It takes a big person to own it when their actions unintentionally hurt others, and vow to do better.

Ironically, I think the best solution comes from an analysis Moss did in The IT Crowd's final episode: what do most groups like? Not being attacked. Intended or not, he has attacked a group of people. It isn't right to attack him back, but it is completely within people's rights to modify their purchasing decisions and partnerships.

I understand he has a very personal stake in this situation. He has chosen to prioritize that over the community that he has hurt, instead of reaching out to the same community for support. From an outside perspective, this seems like a Lose-Lose. It furthers the hurt and alienation that I'm sure CH is feeling, and it solidifies the hurt and alienation that the trans community has felt.
 
--- IMPORTANT ---

I'm going to let this thread continue, for now, at least.

HOWEVER - the rule will be that each person is allowed *one* post on the subject, starting ... now. One post, that's it. Hopefully this way, we won't get a bunch of angry back and forth, with people putting each other on Ignore lists, quitting the forum in a huff, and all that.

Also, it's best we limit this to actual members with a stake in the forum, since outsiders tend to join specifically so they can chime in on subjects like this, usually disuptively. So I'm going to limit this to people who have been on the forum at least six months and have a legitimate posting history. (With exceptions for people actually involved in any of this, like past or present Spitfire employees, but only if they use their real names.)
 
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Mike Greene said:
--- IMPORTANT ---

I'm going to let this thread continue, for now, at least.

HOWEVER - the rule will be that each person is allowed *one* post on the subject, starting ... now. One post, that's it. Hopefully this way, we won't get a bunch of angry back and forth, with people putting each other on Ignore lists, quitting the forum in a huff, and all that.

Anyone who posted since the tweet can still post once more. Is should mention that my original plan was that anyone's post after this morning's tweet would be already their last on the subject, so I started the process of deleting their second, third, fourth posts. With apologies, I'm leaving those deleted.
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A wise decision. Thanks.
 
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