Spent some time reading things about the net on Meme theory expecting to get into a discussion on that, but coming back and finding this, I have to shelf my discussion hopes for the moment, because it was my original post about Og that lead to this point. I feel I should say something.
Annie Wrote:
Exactly. It is an insult and I certainly took it
that way. Calling slash "character assassination" is also more likely to be perceived as an insult than an opening to a discussion.<<
Actually, I very much doubt that insulting people was Kathryns intention. I find it amazing that people are not allowed to air their views without others jumping on them and labelling them...it would have been so easy for me to have phrased my objections to the post about Og et al in a manner that would have been less than diplomatic, especially when you consider that I found the concept rather more than just plain 'Ugh.'
What sincerely rankles is the term homophobia being applied in this context: I, myself, am not the slightest bit homophobic but I object to slash in the B7 universe simply because this type of relationship was not a part of the B7 story(with possible notable exceptions to a couple of one off characters)I do believe that this is what Kathryn meant by character assassination - taking her outlook as a personal insult instead of airing your own views on the subject is what brings a possible discussion on this matter to a screaming halt.
It's not like anyone is forcing you to read said
"character assassination" against your will. If you don't like it, don't read it. Problem solved.<<
If most people's objections are to the very concept of Avon, Blake et al being placed in a style of relationship that is not an established part of their characters, then simply not reading the genre does not solve the "problem" - it's shutting your eyes from something that you find disturbing but are not willing to try a voice something over - I find that more reprehensible than anything. For me personally, I have read slash to try to see things from your POV - However; I find after having done so, I simply cannot do that.
Leah Wrote:
What has me scratching my head is the sheer
intensity of the emotion against slash in B7 by those who find it morally negative. For those who base their belief system on the bible, Jesus said much more about adultery and fornication in general than he ever expressed about homosexuality. Where are the comments of disgust about Avon clearly having an affair with a married woman?<<
Difficult for me to answer this, as I have never read the bible - I don't believe in organised religion, ironically enough, I do believe in the possibility of Jesus Christ and the concept of a God though.
Before we start quoting from the bible though, I must point out that this book was written by man and therefore is open to subjectivity. As for fornication etc...if you are going to use that argument - considering your words, I will assume that Jesus Christ spoke on both subjects but more so on fornication - considering that he was against fornication, this lumps homosexuality in on his views - there were no same sex marriages back then and no matter how hard you try, same sex relationships are not going to produce offspring, therefore using your argument, homosexual activities are fornication.
As for the adultery issue - difficult to respond again, as I see nothing wrong with sex outside of mariage, having witnessed many a sham passing as a marriage...however; I will give it a shot: Maybe, there is disgust in this area...Avon does indeed have his detractors...but for those who object to adultery and still like Avon, it is possible that adultery is viewed in many ways and some may only view the married person as committing adultery - and it was Anna who was married, not Avon.(although, the dictionary does define it as being a sexual act between a married person and someone other than the spouse).
I would like to add some more of my own personal thoughts on this.
Someone mentions that they don't particularly like slash. Someone else mentions that they think it is a sin. Someone else takes this personally and labels us homophobics...I'm tired of labels:
If I don't like a person, you can bet your last dollar that I don't like them because of their character not because of their size, shape, colour, sexual orientation or religion. I don't like slash in the B7 universe because it is assigning a definite sexual persuasion to characters that is contrary to their characters as portrayed - regarding it as a sin by others is their right, you can argue that point but taking offense is not allowing those people the right to their views...It occurs to me that quickly assigning labels to people who have the audacity to not share your views is one way of belittling a persons viewpoint rather than taking a rational stand for your own.
Maybe some people object, simply because this is not their preferred lifestyle and we object not to homosexuality itself but the insinuation that all heterosexual people have a homosexual personality lurking beneath the supposedly murky depths of institutionally based morals.
===== Cheryl. (My favourite 'Blake's 7' moment) What a fiasco! We could take over the ship you said, if I did my bit. Well, I did my bit, and what happened? Your 'troops' bumble around looking for someone to surrender to, and when they've succeeded, You, follow suit! (Avon to Blake. "Spacefall")
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