fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #2046 ]

⌈ Secret Post #2046 ⌋

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

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 01 pages, 021 secrets from Secret Submission Post #292.
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Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

OP

Hmm, I see what you're saying. Would it change things if the guy clearly decides that he will put up with it to a certain extent (somewhat far, because the story is not really meant to be populated by completely rational and cool-headed individuals) because of aforementioned voodoo, but decides he will leave if it goes too far?

Would it also help if I added some hints that he knows this is dangerous and would never put up with this shit if it weren't for the voodoo?

(I just want feedback, 'cause I know I'm a little wrapped up in the characters and I really don't want to come across as a creeper).

It's fine - and it's a perfectly legitimate thing to ask. It might make thing marginally better but...there would still be pretty big implications since he's still choosing to stay because, at the end of the day, he 'loves'* the other character.

Honestly, it's not exactly what the verse is like, so much as the fact that the abusive situation is being shown as 'okay' and even sympathetic as far as the actual abuse goes. The fact the abused character is sticking with him because he loves him, despite the fact he's being abused, is just as bad [and, in fact, adds to it]. *Those* are the parts that problematic, because they show - and support - real world mind sets towards abuse, and what's happening is something that several victims of abuse are told they should do [stick with their abusers if they really love them]. Setting boundaries doesn't take that way because the situation is already abusive, and the character is choosing to stay in that situation despite the abuse because he 'really loves' his abuser.

I'm not saying 'DON'T WRITE THIS' btw - I just want to point out the areas that are problematic in this, and explain why they are problematic [at least in my opinion.]

OP

Okay, that makes sense, but I'm not really trying to "show and support" or send a message or make an argument or anything about domestic abuse (honestly, the abuse is only part of the story anyway). I was just putting these characters into a behavior-modification situation that can pretty realistically occur in the 'verse I'm writing in and trying to write them reacting exactly how I think they would react — nasty dark implications and all. Because as much as I like the characters, I really cannot see them reacting to it the way a trained psychologist would urge them to, you know?

So, I dunno, I'd much rather make the narrative kind of implicitly point out how twisted the situation is to avoid it seeming like I'm advocating it or anything, rather than have the characters act OOC-ly textbook-strict about it and mess up the whole twisted morbid slippery-slope aspect of the story.

...It's not just the way a 'trained psychologist' would urge them to react - it's how most sane people [who don't follow the 'it must be your fault!' philosophy] would react.

Look, you have to remember that you gave us almost nothing to go on about the story's plot, and you asked 'Is this problematic?' I answered, and I explained why. That's it. I wasn't trying to convince you to write your story another way, but I also wasn't going to sugar coat the reasons that I saw. I apologize if it came off like I was - I admit, having been a survivor of some fairly intense abuse I do have some very strong views on the matter.

However, like I said in my last post - I'm not saying 'Don't write it' - I was answer you're question, and explaining why.

No no! Your opinions are very good and appreciate it, but I just wanted to emphasize that, you know, the message was really not even a factor in the story, the situation was, so I was just wondering how far it "too far." Like, what the line would be between understandable but not-really-healthy reactions that most people would have, and what's skeevy creepy shit.

I wanted to kind of bring up the various modifiers to the situation so I could ask questions in order to get your opinion, and then ask if the opinion would change because of this plot device or that plot device, so that I could understand what plot devices would make a difference, and which ones would be "nope, same thing". I just...I dunno, I really want all the different considerations to be raised so that I can take them into account while writing the fic so I don't accidentally imply something I didn't want to. I wasn't arguing with you, I just wanted to ask more questions and do more exploration, I guess, so that I could get someone else's perspective on how their perception of the situation would change.

da

you could always make the character doubt himself by having other characters point out how creepy it is and try to help only to be denied by the abused character

like, get into some seriously psychological mindfuck with the reader, so that they can see into the abused character's mind, but also get that vibe that "something ain't right here"

you have a beta-reader of some sort, right? ask them if you're doing it right when you enter the "something ain't right here" factor

[ SECRET POST #2046 ]

Re: Is this problematic or not? (warning: mention of domestic abuse)

Re: Is this problematic or not? (warning: mention of domestic abuse)

Re: Is this problematic or not? (warning: mention of domestic abuse)

Re: Is this problematic or not? (warning: mention of domestic abuse)

Re: Is this problematic or not? (warning: mention of domestic abuse)

Re: Is this problematic or not? (warning: mention of domestic abuse)