Simsecret Discussion

[strangetomato]

Man, it's been a while since I've been so involved in a discussion in simsecret (about warnings for gay content, and how this contributes to homophobia vs. it being a legitimate warning for the "genre" of slash). I don't always jump into the fray of these debates, but gender and sexuality are the topics where I can't help but suit up and yell, "Okay, let's play ball!" :P Yes, you could say they are my pet isms, in the sense that they are the ones I am mostly tuned in to.

If anyone wants to toss out their two cents (or more) here, we can continue the chat. Feel free to discuss and debate among yourselves. Just keep it clean, folks.

ETA: After using the sports metaphor above, I ended up with Centerfield by John Fogerty in my head. Argh! It's like I'm stuck at a family wedding back home in The Cove (name of hometownvillage has been changed to protect the guilty). :P

And I've added a music suggestion to hopefully lighten the mood (and because my SO has amassed something of a Big Fat Gay Music Collection).

Comments

[simsinthecity.livejournal.com]

I think by now you've become established enough in the community that people will know to expect gay content from you, or at least, they'll be aware of the possibility.

I think when there's non-hetero content that wouldn't be warned for with a hetero couple, it's up to the author as to whether they want to attract attention to the fact. Sure, warning people that objectionable content may be ahead promotes homophobia, but not warning won't necessarily make people accept it, either.

Personally, I believe no matter what standard one holds themselves to, it doesn't matter what you do in a game. I don't always hold my Sims to the same moral standards as myself, anyway, because I don't judge them the way I believe I'm being judged.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Well, somewhat. I've been around for quite some time, so people who have also been here will know what to expect, but there are always new people. I still don't feel I should worry about shocking their system by including gay content. If it bothers them, that's too bad.

It probably won't change minds, like you said, but I'm not going to cater to them in any way.

I disagree on the last point. I've never accept "it's just a game" as an excuse to completely ignore these issues. I make a very vocal point of using the same-sex marriage hack, for example, because I feel the game itself is unjust in that regard (this was apparently fixed in Sims 3, which makes me happy).

What you're saying does have some truth to it, though, in the sense that we're writing stories and creating entertainment, and for me that means writing about characters that do not live by my own moral standard, but that doesn't equal supporting those views. I'd write a homophobic character, because it's a character in the story, and they exist. That doesn't mean I think it's right. In that sense, I agree with you.

Still, though... no warnings for stuff like that.

[simsinthecity.livejournal.com]

Yeah, and I think new people are in the smallest position to be telling anyone what to say. Of course, I don't think free speech should be limited here, at all, so no one's really in that position.

I think those people should just deal with it. I mean, most of those people are the outspoken type who will try to persuade you that their opinion is fact, but you don't have to pay them any attention if you don't want.

I do like using characters I wouldn't necessarily agree with in my stories because it gives it a feel of something that could be a real-life issue.

Of course, there's the difference between simply believing something is wrong and actively persecuting the supposed wrongdoers for it. When I see something I think is objectively morally wrong in the community (which happens a lot) I just ignore it (for stories, not the actions of members of the community ... not as much).