I do think it's all three. I mean, I think people like us are hyper-aware of whether we're doing something "wrong." (If you don't object me lumping us together. I may be off base.) And, yeah, people are going to be people, which involves hypocrisy and being judgmental. But fandom has always had this tension between "If you love terrible characters, then you are terrible" and "If you don't love terrible characters, then you are terrible." And while I think the great fandom social justice awakening of the past few years has been an overall net gain, it has intensified this tension. If you like a character who's a bad person, then you support all their actions, and you're pro-abuse. If you dislike a character who's a bad person, then you support everything bad that was done to them, and you're pro-abuse.
But, like, I'm seriously surprised by the amount of hate Rey/Kylo gets, because I don't see much that distinguishes it from a dozen other hero/villain pairings. I think fandom needs to chill the fuck out, but I suppose there's never been a time when fandom didn't need to chill the fuck out for one reason or another.
I think this is a fantastic essay, and I'm glad you wrote it, but if you like Kylo Ren and want to see him redeemed, I don't think you need to justify yourself. I don't think you like the wrong character. I'm not saying you're irrational for feeling defensive, because I don't think you are. I'm more saying... fuck 'em if they can't take a joke.
Of course, I do appreciate it when you explain yourself, because you make me see things in a new light. Like, I'm not kidding, here was my sequence of thought during TFA:
Thought three: I'll have to have her explain him to me, so I can appreciate him better.
And you did!
Regarding Avatar, I don't know if this is too pushy (if it is I'll back right off), but I could mail you my DVDs, and you could mail them back whenever you were ready. (The show's on Amazon Prime, which I have, so you wouldn't be depriving me.) Nothing is more dangerous than over-hype, but I'd at least love to hear your take on it.)
You're being so articulate, and I'm just all over the place
I do think it's all three. I mean, I think people like us are hyper-aware of whether we're doing something "wrong." (If you don't object me lumping us together. I may be off base.) And, yeah, people are going to be people, which involves hypocrisy and being judgmental. But fandom has always had this tension between "If you love terrible characters, then you are terrible" and "If you don't love terrible characters, then you are terrible." And while I think the great fandom social justice awakening of the past few years has been an overall net gain, it has intensified this tension. If you like a character who's a bad person, then you support all their actions, and you're pro-abuse. If you dislike a character who's a bad person, then you support everything bad that was done to them, and you're pro-abuse.
But, like, I'm seriously surprised by the amount of hate Rey/Kylo gets, because I don't see much that distinguishes it from a dozen other hero/villain pairings. I think fandom needs to chill the fuck out, but I suppose there's never been a time when fandom didn't need to chill the fuck out for one reason or another.
I think this is a fantastic essay, and I'm glad you wrote it, but if you like Kylo Ren and want to see him redeemed, I don't think you need to justify yourself. I don't think you like the wrong character. I'm not saying you're irrational for feeling defensive, because I don't think you are. I'm more saying... fuck 'em if they can't take a joke.
Of course, I do appreciate it when you explain yourself, because you make me see things in a new light. Like, I'm not kidding, here was my sequence of thought during TFA:
Thought one: Ugh, I don't like Kylo Ren at all.
Thought two: I bet
Thought three: I'll have to have her explain him to me, so I can appreciate him better.
And you did!
Regarding Avatar, I don't know if this is too pushy (if it is I'll back right off), but I could mail you my DVDs, and you could mail them back whenever you were ready. (The show's on Amazon Prime, which I have, so you wouldn't be depriving me.) Nothing is more dangerous than over-hype, but I'd at least love to hear your take on it.)