Prejudice and Slash

[rochvelleth]

It's interesting what people are prejudiced about, isn't it? I was just thinking about sexism because of a certain post I was replying to, and about having been bullied for being northern. And this morning I caught a bit of that morning debate show (the one Richard Dawkins sometimes turns up on), and they were talking about religion discriminating

Comments

[rochvelleth]

I knew someone would see this who would understand why I was worried about saying anything :) Actually, I was especially worried because I thought posting this on LJ would bring only the pro-slash view - so thank you very much for giving the other side of it so thoughtfully.

For me, slash really is just fun, so I'm with our preferred actor there ;) But I know others are more serious about it, and some have important reasons for being so, so I'm not in a good position to say how seriously it should be taken, I suppose!

I know what you mean about it being off-canon - and I understand why any kind of off-canon might be weird or even upsetting to anyone engrossed in the canon itself. That's why I wasn't sure why or whether saying no to slash should offend people who are into it.

But you're right, the ultimate responsibility for the forum in question lies with the maintainers, and I completely accept their right to put whatever limits on it they wish - and indeed to take whatever action they wish against offenders. I just hope I haven't caused too much offence over there because I love the forum so much that I don't think I could live without it! :)

[linnhie]

I just hope I haven't caused too much offence over there because I love the forum so much that I don't think I could live without it!

I genuinely wouldn't worry about being sacked from the forum - there are so many slash fans/writers there who regularly refer to their "indulgence", and I don't think, on re-reading the thread, that the comments were addressed to any one individual. I am slightly bemused at this current reaction though as I don't think the thread is particularly provocative - there is worse on there! I suspect it was the use of the word "homosexual" in the thread title, as most slashers tend to suggest rather than state direct. I can just imagine the site Guvnor having apoplexy on seeing it!

I've been thinking about the question in your original post where you asked "Does a ban on slash constitute homophobia?", and I'd say it definitely doesn't, even if the reason for being anti-slash is that the characters are gay. This may sound contradictory, but as an sort-of-anti-slasher I'd say that I'm only against it for these characters. I couldn't care less about other pairings as I'm not interested in the other characters. And I'm definitely not homophobic - I'd be quite a slash addict if only they'd change the characters' names (maybe I should try some other pairings!), and I do watch a lot more gay porn than is good for me. :(

For me, slash really is just fun, so I'm with our preferred actor there ;) But I know others are more serious about it, and some have important reasons for being so, so I'm not in a good position to say how seriously it should be taken, I suppose!

I think that's part of the problem in this particular fandom - some of the slashers take it too seriously and instead of containing their views within slashfic, they regularly treat canon as though the characters are gay there too, which I (and others) find really annoying.

I think if slash for these two was regarded as just a lark, and only existed in slashfic, then we'd probably all be a lot more relaxed about it, and it would be easier to ignore if it's not your bag.

I'm rambling on in your journal again - sorry! But it's a subject I find really interesting, and no one has really discussed it "over there" for obvious reasons! By the way, I know someone who has the full clip referred to in that thread - they just can't find it. When they do, you know where it'll be appearing. :)

[rochvelleth]

I think what upsets me about the assertion that if you don't like slash then you're homophobic is that people who don't like slash then feel under pressure to demonstrate that they're not homophobic[1]. Of course, when someone says they don't like slash because they think it's wrong to have fic aout gay people, maybe they should be called on to explain themselves! But when their reason is nothing more than an ardent belief that the characters in question are heterosexual in the canon (and I know some slashers argue that they aren't, but I don't follow that argument)... well, it just seems unfair to put that pressure on someone for what is essentially a preference-based decision not to do or read something that can have nothing at all to do with a person's attitude to sexuality.

[1] I've noticed this from a few different people who have spoken to me about slash. They tend to end with 'But I'm not homophobic, indeed I have gay friends, etc.' And I always think 'Really, it's OK, I didn't think you were homophobic and you don't have to justify it!' - so it upsets me that people feel pushed to do so. It's like feeling you have to justify not recycling every bit of packaging you see, or the fact that you use plastic bags in shops :O

By the way, I know someone who has the full clip referred to in that thread - they just can't find it. When they do, you know where it'll be appearing. :)

Now that's the best bit of news I've had for days :)

P.S. Please don't apologise for rambling, I love to hear what you have to say!