the wrong end of the telescope

I've been reading a lot of discussions about sexism and racism and authorial intent in fandom (yes, reading through a series of meta posts seems like an excellent idea when I am halfway knocked out by a cold), and if I weren't utterly exhausted, this post would contain links. As it is, I'm going to keep to what I know, and tell you a story. It happened to me, though I'm fudging a name for the other person. I'm not using it to air a personal grievance, I'm just using myself as text to demonstrate why intent sometimes doesn't matter. I've been thinking about this post for a long time, actually, because the intent argument comes up a lot.

( an illustrative example, if you will )

Writing about white straight male privilege here is very much preaching to the choir. But I need to make something real and worthwhile out of the fail that was last week but especially Friday. I'm furious, so I got lengthy, and it is perhaps very incoherent at points. If I fail anywhere, please tell me.

( what do rape trials, a fake photograph of a missionary in Africa, and men kissing have to do with each other? )