Forcing two magnets together, or, What's wrong with this statement?

[bellatrys]

There are two phrases in here that are so polarized, so opposed that they shouldn't be in the same paragraph:

...I did make a very conscious effort to project a future free of sexism, racism and homophobia. I’ve put in a number of minor female characters in non-stereotypical roles (military commander, billionaire entrepreneur, etc.). There are a

Comments

[fledgist]

But where are the she-armadillos?

Well, but have you advertised it as

[bellatrys]

"presenting a future free from Speciesism"--? If everybody's cats, then presumably sociological differences are going to be indicated some other way.

(What I find really telling - aside from the 'there's no racism/everybody's white!" gobsmacker - is that it didn't occur to him that there could be any way to FIX this other than "shoehorning tokens in."

The question, "Wait, does this main character HAVE to be male white?" never seems to have crossed his mental horizon...

Re: Well, but have you advertised it as

[wordweaverlynn]

Yanno, the hero is from Hawaii already. Why not make him multiracial, like so many islanders?

Because then he wouldn't be a perfect Marty Stu.