Our Shared Shelf discussion

Hello!

I try to follow news and obviously I'm missing a lot. I've heard a bit about Hong Kong protests and what's happening there is not acceptable at all!

Even if your post has all the best intentions, I'd like to say (hopefully it won't hurt you and if it does I am sorry) that this thread should not be there or at least not in this form. This platform is a book club used to propose books, to discuss them and to ask questions. This is a free space to talk about many topics but what here it's a direct letter.
I believe she knows about what's happening in Hong Kong but sometimes people cannot act for many reasons: they may be already busy somewhere or even have no energy left.

Also, I would like to bring your attention on one point: if many people send letters asking for help to one person everyday how this person would feel knowing she/he cannot do much? Some of those persons would try their best not being careful about their own self, it's admirable but often dangerous because they have at one point no energy, their mind is overwhelmed from everywhere and they barely breath and barely have a few moments of peace.

I really hope those violence will stop no matter the place and quickly. All the best for you!

Hello!

I do not say your message is wrong but you clearly (in your first post) address your message to Emma Watson: "dear Emma" and "please share this thread or deliver this message to Emma" show it. So yes, sorry to tell you that but OSS is not Emma's mailbox.

Regarding your message, just like I said, it has all the best intentions and I totally agree with you regarding how horrible the situation is. Sadly, there are so many tough situations and your first message sounded like "please save us.", it means you definitely need help but how to help you? This is geopolitical thing and I don't know how she could help you.

In addition, I suppose people have already informed her about that.

If your post was "here is what happens to Hong Kong" and you would have address to every single OSS member and not specifically Emma then my reply would have been totally different.

Don't believe I disagree with you and that for me those are only news. I am usually outspoken and direct but it does not mean I don't feel empathy (quite the opposite).

To reply your question:

1) to educate through books and then to discuss them and approach related topics. Everything you brought is directly linked to it but... This place is not to address to Emma people's problems. And to be fully honest, if your post was not asking Emma's help or delivering her the message it would have more impact. Believe me on that. I would suggest you to redo your thread and to address it to the entire community. My words are just here to help, not to force, the choice is yours!

2)answered in the previous one.

I try to feel what you feel and obviously I cannot succeed in that. Someone telling you that the form is inappropriate while you live this awful situation may hurt you or frustrate you but (I'm gonna ask you a lot for now) according to you how some members would perceive your first post when it's a letter to Emma?

Now, tell me how we could help you? Because, to be sincere I fail to see how OSS could help.

Here is what I suggest you.:
- edit or delete this thread
- change the title, something like "Hong Kong: terrible violence against protesters."
- remove everything addressed to Watson and just sum up the situation just like you did.
- tells us how we could help.

I hope it helps. My apologies if I hurt you.

I definitly misunderstood your intention so thanks for taking time to explain it to me.

I did my share about that and will do it but I am not sure how impactful it will be. People (me included) tend to forget quickly since our mind is subjected to so many information and terrible events, some prefer not to see, others have too many to see.

I am still not sure how Emma will advocate for this cause (I don't like call it cause because it should not be a cause, it's about freedom). My concern is it seems that there are underlying economic reason and everything that includes powerful government is extremely difficult to fight. What I understood is Hong Kong authority have the support of Chinese government (please correct me if I'm wrong) and China is part of the Security Council of UN.
Let alone the fact actions from other countries or maybe from UN could be perceived as intrusion (not sure if UN has the right to interfer since a country has sovereignty), I feel like diplomatic and economic relations are the priorities rather than human lives. It disgusts me.

Let's see what happen and good luck to you.

PS: I doubt OSS post something like that in Instagram or repost something related to that including feminism and human rights but maybe it could be a fair risk to take. The issue could be: we would have more and more people coming here and asking for help overwhelming this community.