[ SECRET POST #2765 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #2765 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

01.


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02.
[Natalie Dormer]


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03.
[Punky Brewster (Soleil Moon Frye)]


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04.
[Interstella 55555]


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05.
[Longmire]


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06.
[Dracula Untold]


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07.
[Transformers Prime]


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08.
[Rik Mayall]


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09.
[Scarlett (Starcraft 2)]


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10.
[Orange is the New Black]













Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 032 secrets from Secret Submission Post #394.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

which is why people don't want to write non-white characters: damned if you get them right, damned if you get them wrong.

[(Anonymous)]

Yeah…secrets like this just reinforce my aversion to writing POC characters (that I'm not part of) because you're NEVER going to get it "right" and the shitstorm isn't worth dealing with.

Recently, I was really excited to write a crossover fic for my fandom and I wanted to include a WOC in one of the main roles. Then I realized that a pivotal scene in the crossover work would have horrible unfortunate implications if I had that event happen to the WOC. So I just ended up dropping her from the fic and substituting her with a white guy.

[(Anonymous)]

If it makes sense for the character/plot/story to go 'there' wherever 'there' may be, then damn the naysayers and go. You're not doing anyone any favors, least of all yourself as a writer, by holding off because of what might happen.

[(Anonymous)]

No, I don't think you understand. In the crossover fandom (whose story I'm inspired by), the dude is LYNCHED by civilians (he's military).

The WOC in my other fandom is black. Initially, I thought his role would be great for her because she's part of a pseudo military organization and she has almost exactly the same career specialty as the dude, along with sharing personality characteristics.

And it's not like I can cut it out because the lynching scene is absolutely pivotal to the plot, but can you imagine if I had a black female character lynched? I'm not even going to touch it. Which really sucks because the original story is amazingly well-written, but I don't want to deal with the drama that this would inevitably stir up.

[(Anonymous)]

I can understand your reticence in this case, but if it was made clear that there was a different motivation than racial for the lynching it could still be done. Jim Crow was part of the last century. Holding onto its mindset for whatever reason helps no one move forward.

[(Anonymous)]

Oh, it's definitely not racial in the story (the dude accidentally dooms a town to die by taking part in a mission without all the facts). So it wouldn't be racially motivated in the WOC's case either. But it's still not worth it -- her fans are extremely…well…let's say "protective" and have attacked people for (what I felt) were largely innocuous things -- like wanting the the WOC to get a bigger character arc, for instance.

So…yeah…it's not happening. Damned if you do. Damned if you don't.

[(Anonymous)]

Oh, brother. The day I wake up and I don't see this response to absolutely any criticism of the way people write non-white characters, will be a day I don't have bruise my forehead with my palm.

[(Anonymous)]

Did you ever pause and think there might be a reason for that? Writing white characters (especially white male characters) means you can do absolutely ANYTHING to them without fear of backlash. Your story can actually be about the story -- the plot, the characters, the emotions you try to evoke.

And you don't have to deal with people calling you a "racist cunt" despite the fact that you're trying your best. Because, apparently, trying to write POC as three-dimensional flawed characters with arcs is "demonization."

[(Anonymous)]

DA but who cares if some idiotic SJWs call you a racist cunt? They'll do that shit regardless of what you say or do. It's really not a good excuse. Just ignore their bullshit and write the characters you want to write.

[beverlykatz]

There are definitely people who have absurd and/or contradictory standards for non-white characters, but I don't think it's fair to lump them together with reasonable critics (including OP, IMO) and say they all "scare people away" from writing any characters darker than notebook paper. I think this is a pretty legitimate criticism of a trend in fandom: changing a character's voice to something you find easier to write.

(Also, I think "damned if you do, damned if you don't" is more the phrase you're looking for, since generally people aren't damned for doing something right. /rolls away)

[(Anonymous)]

generally people aren't damned for doing something right

ORLY? If enough people THINK something isn't 'right' (i.e. doesn't chime with the popular headcanon), that means nothing whatever, matey.

[arcadiaego]

doesn't chime with the popular headcanon

The way those characters speak is not headcanon, it's obvious if you've watched the show, like at all.

[arcadiaego]

The way characters speak is a big part *of* their characters - why would readers who like/are interested in Poussey and Taystee want to read them speaking like completely different people? The OP has a legit criticism.