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Day 8: On Homosexuality and Warnings
Another thinkythought post that I found on my thumbdrive.
On Homosexuality and Warnings
I'm not at all certain that this is going to make much sense as it's more a ramble and thinkythoughts than anything clearly outlined and written in a logical fashion (Spock, I am not). That being said – here goes.
I'm extremely bothered by the way that Fandom (and this is Fandom as a whole whether it's Harry Potter, Star Trek, Supernatural, Four Brothers, The Departed or a thousand and one other fandoms) sometimes warns for possible homosexual content.
It really bothers me when I see a warning for pre-slash. It really, really bothers me. And the reason that it bothers me is because I never see the warning for pre-het. If Kirk and McCoy are flirting during a mission but nothing comes of it and it's just because Kirk is totes a flirting h0r, then I do not see it as pre-slash just like when a fic features Kirk flirting with Uhura, it is not pre-het. Yet the first gets a warning of "pre-slash" and the second is considered normal and a-ok.
This really gives me the squidgies, the squirmies, the what are we doing, why are we doing this, grossed-out feeling. I feel, and I'm certain you'll feel differently, that it's helping to encourage the heteronormative blinders when we, as slash fans, should not be reinforcing the heteronormative and warning for Other when we perv over that Other. We are objectifying and fetishizing other people's lives but we're not willing to work for acceptance? That's how it comes across to me – that I'm willing to read about the buttsexx0rs but I'm totally willing to make it easy for you, the heteronormative the-possibility-of-gay-people-scare-me person, to avoid the possibility that there might be teh gheys out there.
I get that we label works as pre-slash because that gets us more viewers and that's another issue entirely. I hate that gen has this reputation of "boring". It's not. It's awesome. There are some amazing buddy!fics out there that totally deserve to be read. There are some awesome buddy!art that should be recced to New Vulcan and back.
But in the end, pre-slash isn't slash just like pre-het isn't het. I don't see either as a valid warning just like I don't see "het" and "slash" as valid warnings. The fact is, when a couple are listed, that should be enough of a clue. If someone can't pick up on the fact that a fic features Kirk/Scotty when I clearly label it as such, than it's a buyer beware thing.
It's a personal decision but I refuse to read anything that warns for slash because I find it infantile if not offensive.
My position, to sum up, is: Stop warning for the sexuality of the characters in your fic, art, whatever. Just list out the pairings or the characters. I have a brain and can figure out that if you put Kirk/McCoy, you mean Kirk/McCoy even if they're not bumping uglies. I'll know that it's a homosexual relationship and can choose accordingly. And if you don't mean it as Kirk/McCoy, don't list it as such. List it as Kirk, McCoy and I'll know that it's buddy!fic. Stop with the warnings about pre-slash. If you mean it to be slash, even if it's not in-your-face buttsexx0rs, then list the pairing and move on. If you don't mean it as slash, then it's gen buddy!fic and w00t on that, too.
I'm not at all certain that this is going to make much sense as it's more a ramble and thinkythoughts than anything clearly outlined and written in a logical fashion (Spock, I am not). That being said – here goes.
I'm extremely bothered by the way that Fandom (and this is Fandom as a whole whether it's Harry Potter, Star Trek, Supernatural, Four Brothers, The Departed or a thousand and one other fandoms) sometimes warns for possible homosexual content.
It really bothers me when I see a warning for pre-slash. It really, really bothers me. And the reason that it bothers me is because I never see the warning for pre-het. If Kirk and McCoy are flirting during a mission but nothing comes of it and it's just because Kirk is totes a flirting h0r, then I do not see it as pre-slash just like when a fic features Kirk flirting with Uhura, it is not pre-het. Yet the first gets a warning of "pre-slash" and the second is considered normal and a-ok.
This really gives me the squidgies, the squirmies, the what are we doing, why are we doing this, grossed-out feeling. I feel, and I'm certain you'll feel differently, that it's helping to encourage the heteronormative blinders when we, as slash fans, should not be reinforcing the heteronormative and warning for Other when we perv over that Other. We are objectifying and fetishizing other people's lives but we're not willing to work for acceptance? That's how it comes across to me – that I'm willing to read about the buttsexx0rs but I'm totally willing to make it easy for you, the heteronormative the-possibility-of-gay-people-scare-me person, to avoid the possibility that there might be teh gheys out there.
I get that we label works as pre-slash because that gets us more viewers and that's another issue entirely. I hate that gen has this reputation of "boring". It's not. It's awesome. There are some amazing buddy!fics out there that totally deserve to be read. There are some awesome buddy!art that should be recced to New Vulcan and back.
But in the end, pre-slash isn't slash just like pre-het isn't het. I don't see either as a valid warning just like I don't see "het" and "slash" as valid warnings. The fact is, when a couple are listed, that should be enough of a clue. If someone can't pick up on the fact that a fic features Kirk/Scotty when I clearly label it as such, than it's a buyer beware thing.
It's a personal decision but I refuse to read anything that warns for slash because I find it infantile if not offensive.
My position, to sum up, is: Stop warning for the sexuality of the characters in your fic, art, whatever. Just list out the pairings or the characters. I have a brain and can figure out that if you put Kirk/McCoy, you mean Kirk/McCoy even if they're not bumping uglies. I'll know that it's a homosexual relationship and can choose accordingly. And if you don't mean it as Kirk/McCoy, don't list it as such. List it as Kirk, McCoy and I'll know that it's buddy!fic. Stop with the warnings about pre-slash. If you mean it to be slash, even if it's not in-your-face buttsexx0rs, then list the pairing and move on. If you don't mean it as slash, then it's gen buddy!fic and w00t on that, too.
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But yes, here, have these WORD cookies I baked just for you. Warning for slash bothers me immensely. If I list a M/M pairing and you're too stupid to realize the story contains slash, you're too stupid for me too worry about offending you.
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I see the pre-slash warning a lot on the "anything goes" comms more than the slash comms. That's why it really flagged in my head. Plus, I've never seen a warning/enticement for "pre-het" out there. They could very well exist and then, lulz on me.
The warning for slash is what really fucking annoys me. I did it when I first got into fandom and I want to slap the fuck outta my n00b self.
why hello there coding!fail. so nice to see you again! D:
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in Merlin, there are a few fics I've seen that have higher ratings for violence, you know sword fights and what not, but not for romantic entanglements and such, and sometimes pre-slash is used with those. I guess that's what I'm thinking of? Because otherwise it's just stupid.
oh, html, my old foe. (I waited to reply so you could edit. That's how I roll. :))
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Just my thoughts :D
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Kirk/McCoy = homosexual pairing (regardless of fic rating)
Kirk&McCoy = non-romantic close friends
I really like that. Seems clear to me.
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But, wook, you've totally hit the nail on the head. It's offensive, not to mention redundant. What do people think m/m means? in other words, props to you for saying what i'm thinking!
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If there's an r-rating, then warn for the content that the rating references rather than the content that it doesn't. So if a fic is rated R for violence, put that if you want to tell someone that there is no sex happening in the fic.
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I'm reading your comment to mean that you equate slash with sex due to the context and wording. So when you say "avid slash fan" you mean that a fic has to have sex in it to be slash. Is this a correct reading or no?
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I meant that I do prefer fic that either have established relationships or in which a relationship is fully explored/developed (rather than the hint or possibility of a relationship in the future).
As such, I read the pre-slash warning as one that is telling me that there's the exploration of a relationship here but you're not going to see the relationship form so don't get your hopes up.
If it's a gen fic, I'm likely to pass by it so there's the enticement factor of the pre-slash label. But, if it's listed with a pairing, I'm going to be disappointed because it's not really a pairing in my opinion.
So, I guess, I do like the pre-slash label as it lets me know what i'm getting into but I think there are better ways to explain that. Doing it as a warning is wrong because of the connotations. Erm, that's what you're saying, yeah? *headdesks*
To answer your other question, I don't really equate the pre-slash or slash warning with sex or lack thereof. That's entirely what the ratings are for and ratings should be clear and concise. That being said, I rarely look at ratings so I can't really comment on them.
I'll just end this ramble now. Here's hoping it makes some kind of sense.
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Hee! Yeah, that's what I'm saying - putting it in your summary is a better deal for me. I'll know if the summary says "but in life, there aren't happy endings" that they don't get together. I'd rather not have to have the sexuality bashed in my face as if it's something to be disclaimed rather than explored.
I'm a "complete header dammit" person, though so maybe most of this is stemming from that. I hate fics that don't have a rating and a pairing listed. I hate fics that don't tell me what the fic is about or whatever. Write a complete, thought-out header and you won't need to warn about the sexuality.
IDK if I'm making much sense.
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I see (and give) het as a warning, since most of my flist is into slash, I don't see it as homophobic if slash is given as a warning, if someone's flist is into het.
Technically, I suppose both should be in the summary or pairings, instead of a WARNING per se, but meh.