[ SECRET POST #2003 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #2003 ⌋

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

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 040 secrets from Secret Submission Post #286.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 1 - broken links ], [ 1 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 1 - too big ], [ 1 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[fscom]

06. http://i.imgur.com/JjFxr.png

[(Anonymous)]

Man, sometimes I WISH I could find closeted gay angst for my fandoms. But now, it's all porn or schmoopy or half a couple is angry protective after the other is victimized in some way. Where is this multitude of fic closet fic?

Seriously, if somebody could hook me up with some Castle fic (Ryan) Buffy fic (Xander) or Everwood fic (Bright), I would love you forever.

(Though, I get what you're saying about fantasy worlds, a little.)

[case]

I'll delete that other misfire for you!

[streetcake]

Personally I like it when couples have to work through obstacles in order to be happy; the more difficult they are the more satisfying the happy ending is.

Though I agree somewhat, I've seen a lot of fics where there's gayngst in a series where it doesn't really make sense to be homophobic. Or at least not to the degree they make it in the fic. It always comes off as unnecessary and forced. :\

[kathkin]

But then on the flip side you have fics set in eras which were historically homophobic but the authors decide to make homosexuality a non-issue to make the slash go more smoothly. :/

[thene]

I feel like we've hit that point in Metal Gear fandom in the last couple of years - much of canon is set in a sci-fi version of the 1960s-70s and several characters are bisexual or gay, but homophobia was barely mentioned (one character made a comment that might have been homophobic and immediately got shot down) until the most recent release which had a beautiful backstory tangent about Alan Turing. Before that, it could have been regarded as a fantasy history without homophobia. Personally (as a bisexual person myself) I'm really not sure what to do about the whole issue now - I don't much want to write fanfic about homophobia and I only want to read fanfic about homophobia if it's been done well, which does not often happen.

/coolstory

[(Anonymous)]

That annoys me too. It just feels so... dismissive? to act as though it never happened. I don't like Holmes/Watson fics where everyone knows about them and it 100% supportive. No. Real people were arrested back then (and still can be in some places) and it bothers me when people gloss over that.

I don't mind there not being overt homophobia, internalized or otherwise in fic when no one else is involved. Obviously a lot of people aren't going to want to read that in their fluff or their PWP, but when it's supposed to be a serious, dramatic fic and Every. Single. Character is spewing rainbows of support and the narrative reads like that's the expected reaction I just can't read it.

[otakugal15]

*cough*Sherlock Homes fandom*cough*

SOME stories do tackle the sodomy thing, there's a few I read ages back (movie-verse) with Watson worrying like shit over that, hell, even Holmes on occasion (there was a gorgeous Movie-verse comic that sorta played with that), but.....it gets ignored so much. Or that, since the movies are kind of in this weird AU-ish Steampunkish Victorian setting, it's like the authors think the homophobia can be downplayed....because. Maybe?

IDK.

It got weird. Which sucks, cause I LOVE the ones that deal with the IRL homophobia of the time cause it caused DELICIOUS ANGST~

[cloud_riven]

My hate for fic homophobia is specifically when it reads more like a shallow version someone imagines must be like. I get the impression that the author has no idea what they're on about. It's not even that I crave a realistic portrayal of it, I just don't want to read about it as some wickedly mustachioed rock in the way of the ships. Because it's not. Especially when you're on the receiving end.

I don't necessarily read for escapist reasons, but if someone's going to inject "SOCIAL REALISMS" into their sci-fi/fantasy settings, it's better for me if it's at least believable.

[(Anonymous)]

Oh god this. It's always the "Get out of my house" style of family reactions, as opposed to the looks of disappointment and pity and the relations who say "oh, well it's none of my business what you do", implying they never want to hear you utter another word about it.

[thene]

IA - for one thing, you almost never see fics that do internalised homophobia well.

[(Anonymous)]

I am sick to death of fics where some straw man homophobe comes over and starts yelling at the couple and then are totally ripped to shreds by one half of the couple and it's all super awesome cool and they use logic and quote bible verses because all homophobes are bible-thumping morons who've never actually read the bible, obviously.

Whenever I see that I can't help but feel like it's being written by a straight person who's never actually witnessed/experienced real homophobia before.

Not to mention it is almost always painfully out of character for everyone.

[(Anonymous)]

While I agree that this kind of fanfic is stupid, I also have a really novel concept for you: don't read fics you don't like, and let others write whatever the hell they want to write without bitching about it. It's not that complicated.

This-ity This-erson!

[fingalsanteater]

Hey, thanks for making my secret for me! (A little too much Tumblr speak, but hey, I'll live.) Anyway, I approve this message wholeheartedly. I skip those fics, or drop 'em like a hot potato as soon as I see where they are going. I know, I guess some people like reading in-the-closet angst or internalized homophobia fics as an outlet or because it's a kink or whatever, but not me. I read shipping fic because I like seeing two characters I love have adventures and fall in love, and the fact that they are the same sex has nothing to do with anything. Or, maybe it's a slight blip, because being with someone of the same sex is a new experience, but not a really a big deal.

There's a pretty popular Star Trek '09 that left such a sour taste in my mouth. I spent 100 or so chapters with it and then had to drop it for my own sanity. When Kirk and Spock finally get together, the next thing you know is people (humans, mind you) are calling Kirk a certain 3 letter slur. Maybe you could argue that humans are still prejudiced in that way in the 23rd, but it is canon that Federation is a pretty utopian and tolerant society. So, come on, can't you leave the homophobia out?

And, taking Star Trek and, for example, setting it in 1980-90's America, at the height of the AIDS crisis scare just for some angst? GTFO. (I wonder if anyone has done that?)

At the same time, while I personally wouldn't read the above AU example, if an author used, say Kirk and Spock's struggles in '80's-'90's America as a way to explore historical issues and not just as a way to saturate the fic with angst, I'd be okay with it.

[(Anonymous)]

For me it depends on the setting really. If it's a fantasy setting, then it's usually about the time period/place it's modeled after [since most usually have a basis somewhere]. For example something that's more say...The dark ages, or Victorean-ish era? Then I'd be more inclined to believe there's some kind of homophobia going on, even if it's not shown in canon* than say...something modeled after the Roman Empire. Even then, I'm not going to expect complete realism in how it's shown - unless it's a professional work.

*Unless the canon work actually shows the reaction the groups in it would have to someone being homosexual, I don't usually consider there to be enough basis *in* the canon to judge if it would be something like 'Oh, she's a brunette and gay' 'Really? Cool to know.' Or a far worse reaction.

[velvet_mace]

Your angry feels are mockably ridiculous. People are going to enjoy their narrative kinks whether you share them or not. No you don't get to dictate this kind of thing. You are getting worked up over nothing.

[la_petite_singe]

I haven't come across that much myself, but I can definitely see how that'd be frustrating, yeah. I really, really hate over-the-top, undue victimization of characters for pity--like, there's a lot of prejudice in the world and it's one thing to face that frankly, but to just add it in gratuitously where it doesn't fit just to make a character sympathetic (or to make another one seem evil) is pretty offensive. (Can you tell I'm a recovering Glee-watcher?)

[(Anonymous)]

You know, you've sort of verbalized something that's always bugged me about those kinds of fics ... I just couldn't put my finger on it. I think I mostly despise issue!fic in general, just because it's usually so ham-handedly done. But, yeah.

[kittybeard]

Yeaaaa, I can see how that would be obnoxious x.x Buuut...just wanted to say even in a setting where maybe gays aren't ostracized...there's still chances for personal angst because of identity issues. Even if something is accepted in society sometimes it's hard to get a grasp on yourself.

[veronica_rich]

Nothing is like rape, but rape.

NOTHING is like rape, but RAPE.

NOTHING IS LIKE RAPE, BUT RAPE.

How the hell do people still not get this?

[femme_androgyne]

First, one non-straight person to another, I love you. I know some people just like that kind of thing, but I always have a knee jerk reaction like they're just telling me (us) that I (we) don't deserve the same escapist fantasies that straight people (straight white cis men, anyway) get to have*.

It's kind of like when het people complain about (femme)slashers writing stories where a huge percentage of the cast is paired off in queer relationships. Some of them may just be fetishists. Most even. But some are queer people like me who just want to live in a world where our sexuality treated as the default setting for once.

*FTR, I feel the same way when people complain about the lack of gratuitous racism, misogyny, etc. in fantasy and sci-fi settings.

[darkmanifest]

Let me guess, all fantasy worlds hate women and non-white people, too?

Yes, yes, they do. Or at least it seems that way when everybody and their dog comes out to defend yet another a fantasy full of [insert institutional prejudice] with "It's based on history! REALISM!" Even if the world has sorcery and dragons and talking trees and shit. I'm not asking for a conflict-free social utopia, but certain groups of real people not being treated like absolute shit on a bootheel sometimes seems to be more laughably implausible than rainbow unicorns for so many writers and it's dismaying.

[(Anonymous)]

If this actually makes you feel angry instead of disinterested, than you have a problem.

[tabaqui]

My friend and i called this 'angst in a can' - just choose your preferred canned angst - rape, abusive dad, drugs - and mine it hard-core for all the cliches and healing!cock fic you can manage.

[htebazytook]

i this is a rant against badfic, not angst over being gay fic