From the beginning of the ship/slash wars there have been hetters who have bemoaned the existence of slash, wondered why anyone in the world anyone wouldn't prefer to put a woman with a man the way they do, and wish that slashers would write het, because that's what they want to see more of. This argument and that POV was going on when I got into XF fandom, 15 years ago, and was going on before, and it's still happening.
It is true that this stance existed, I remember it back from the Buffy days. It seems doubtful to me that it's still happening since I haven't come across it since than, but then again I won't say that it's not out there just because I haven't seen it. And indeed if it does exist, it's just as hypocritical as slashers bashing female characters under the pretense of feminism. Concern trolling is exasperating no matter what corner it's coming from. Just, the one thing doesn't cancel out the other.
Her writing Uhura fic isn't going to inspire TPTB to do more with Uhura in the source;
Actually I strongly suspect that a positive fandom response to Uhura would prompt TPTB to give her a more fleshed-out role, as has happened countless times with guy characters, from Angel to Castiel.
But, beyond that, to disregard her because she has no Uhura icons and doesn't post meta about how fascinating Uhura is because that makes her, what, a hypocrite? is wrong. Does she work locally for women's well-being in RL? Is she raising children with conscience and feminist perspective? Does she vote and support campaigns for those who promote women's issues?
All true. But another person't online persona is all I see of them, so what else can I base my opinion on?
Will you shun other fen on the basis of whether they create fannish output that includes women? I won't, and I don't think it's right to do so.
While her rant was triggered by anti-Uhura sentiment, she's not talking just about Uhura. It's about people who're not liking any female character ever (well, not ever but 5 years is close enough.) It's about extreme case, and they're out there. It's just my experience that this never liking a female character goes hand in hand with being overly critical of them. All this time in online fandom has shown me that if I stick around people who don't like female characters, I'm likely to get burned, because I love them. I don't want to get burned any more. So I will keep my distance.
And I stand by what I said. I think if people are saying one thing while not ever backing it up with actions (actions in this case also being words), instead their actions actively contradict what they're saying... well, no, I do not dismiss them as a human being (and I don't see where I even implied that) but their argument becomes less credible.
no subject
It is true that this stance existed, I remember it back from the Buffy days. It seems doubtful to me that it's still happening since I haven't come across it since than, but then again I won't say that it's not out there just because I haven't seen it. And indeed if it does exist, it's just as hypocritical as slashers bashing female characters under the pretense of feminism. Concern trolling is exasperating no matter what corner it's coming from. Just, the one thing doesn't cancel out the other.
Her writing Uhura fic isn't going to inspire TPTB to do more with Uhura in the source;
Actually I strongly suspect that a positive fandom response to Uhura would prompt TPTB to give her a more fleshed-out role, as has happened countless times with guy characters, from Angel to Castiel.
But, beyond that, to disregard her because she has no Uhura icons and doesn't post meta about how fascinating Uhura is because that makes her, what, a hypocrite? is wrong. Does she work locally for women's well-being in RL? Is she raising children with conscience and feminist perspective? Does she vote and support campaigns for those who promote women's issues?
All true. But another person't online persona is all I see of them, so what else can I base my opinion on?
Will you shun other fen on the basis of whether they create fannish output that includes women? I won't, and I don't think it's right to do so.
While her rant was triggered by anti-Uhura sentiment, she's not talking just about Uhura. It's about people who're not liking any female character ever (well, not ever but 5 years is close enough.) It's about extreme case, and they're out there. It's just my experience that this never liking a female character goes hand in hand with being overly critical of them. All this time in online fandom has shown me that if I stick around people who don't like female characters, I'm likely to get burned, because I love them. I don't want to get burned any more. So I will keep my distance.
And I stand by what I said. I think if people are saying one thing while not ever backing it up with actions (actions in this case also being words), instead their actions actively contradict what they're saying... well, no, I do not dismiss them as a human being (and I don't see where I even implied that) but their argument becomes less credible.