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[deleted] t1_j18flxo wrote

Reply to comment by blues-brother90 in TIL Stan Lee made the X-Men mutants because he didn't want to come up with a reason for their super powers, instead they were just born with them. Additionally the 1963 comic was initially a flop until the 1975 reboot by Len Wein and Dave Cockrum. by jamescookenotthatone

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almostcyclops t1_j194ern wrote

You know, I saw an interview with Martin Luther King Jr. where he wasn't satisfied with what they had won. He saw it as the easy part because it was good for business to let everyone come in and shop equally. The hard part, in his mind, was the part that wasn't good for business. He was killed before any further progress was made. Some would argue very little, if any, progress has been made since his death. At least not the kind of progress he envisioned.

I know these two things are nowhere near equal in weight or importance, but thinking about that interview, and about Marvel arguing against its own message for tax reasons. I can't help but think social issues will always go the way that is ultimately good for business. Which is kind of sad.

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Adventurous-Text-680 t1_j19s4ll wrote

I would argue it sends the message that our tax codes for toys are stupid. Why are action figures taxed differently?

It's actually more meta then you think. Plenty of groups want to be treated fairly but at the same time want to maintain advantages. Marvel was basically arguing that mutant toys need an advantage over human toys to be treated fairly. I know that was not the real reason but practically speaking it's not unlike people fighting for affirmative action policies to help based on race instead of other non race criteria. Pushing race based policies to help only some of the disenfranchised people instead of more general policies that would still help people belonging to races that are most disenfranchised. For instance, helping all poor people.

It's not unlike having programs to push girls into STEM jobs but not having similar programs for boys or even complimentary programs to help get them into careers predominantly filled by women (like teachers and nursing).

It's a very complex problem. Take the quota systems designed to help black and Hispanic students get into better colleges by reducing standards for them. Is it fair? No. Is it needed to help certain students? Debatable but certainly is effective in helping those students get access to better education.

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Thrilling1031 t1_j1afx9r wrote

Do you like your converse SLIPPERS? Cause shoes are taxed differently!

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