sundries

[rm]

Child brides in Afghanistan.

At least ten people have been killed as Israeli fires on ships intended to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza. There is, I think a temptation in the US to ignore what goes on with Israel because it's a big awkward mess for us as a national politically and emotionally, but this is Very Bad and Very Significant and we should be paying attention. And, eventhough I just linked you to the New York Times, if you do follow this, you should be reading the BBC and Al-Jezeera as well.

So there's this contest that John Scalzi and Wil Wheaton have put together to raise funds for the Lupus Alliance for America. If you follow the link you'll see the contest is to write fanfiction based on a picture, and the winner gets $$ and it published. Anything is allowed -- except slash. I have to wonder if they meant (the perfectly reasonable) "anything is allowed expect explicit sex" in a (sort of annoying) misunderstanding of what slash generally means, or if a couple of guys volunteering themselves to be the subject of RPF to benefit charity really went and said "you can write anything about us you want as regards to a picture in which one of us in an orc and the other is riding a flying unicorn kitten, except icky icky homosexuality." Charity Good. Situation kinda uncomfortable even if it is about a hideous painting that... well, go to the link. Thanks for penguineggs for the heads up. Also, scalzi comments below.

In case you were unclear, as some people on the thread are: slash is not inherently porn and queer content is not inherently about sex.

TERROR: My XXX-flavour vitamin water has special packaging to promote Eclipse, the latest movie in the Twilight series. I am full of shame.

Last night on Angel and Buffy:

Mental institution episode on Buffy -- on one hand, trite device; on the other hand, well-executed. Also effectively has some interesting meta thoughts about judging response to stories. Demon summoned with digeridoo? kinda offensive. But you know, it's Buffy and you get used to it.

Also? Xander left Anya. Glad that that wasn't really Xander's future we were seeing, but the whole thing felt forced and not like it had enough arc and the episode didn't know what it wanted to be. Didn't hate it. Didn't love it. Curious to see what Anya will choose, as that choice seems critical to whatever the message the show is or isn't trying to have.

On Angel Gunn needed Wesley's help to save Fred and Wesley gives that speech about he forced himself to live so he could see his friends and explain what he'd done. Oh the burning, burning hate there. Time eight billion and seventy three where my reaction to Angel is to find deaths on Torchwood merciful.

There are a couple of "people need help" things going on out there, but I'm waiting to post until tomorrow when people are back on the Internet.

Comments

[redstapler.livejournal.com]

I agree the "No slash, plz" thing being icky.

That said, it is sanctioned RPF and I can understand wanting to make rules about what they want or don't want written about themselves.

The "ew, gay cooties" way they phrased it was problematic, though.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Yup. The issue is phrasing, lack of clarity and the implication that all queer content is explicitly sexual.

Also, glad I'm not being irrational here. I left what I hope was a clear and civil comment about it on the post itself, but who knows.

[redstapler.livejournal.com]

Someone posted:
# Mrs Jeff Rubinoffon 31 May 2010 at 11:34 am

I hardly think that “please don’t send me porn of myself” is homophobic.


To which I replied:
@MrsJeffRobinson: Slash isn’t inherently pornographic.

Writing a story about Orc!Scalzi and Wil shopping for china for their summer home would be just as much “slash” as an explicit sex scene between them.

Not wanting the latter is perfectly reasonable, not wanting the former is homophobic.

[rm.livejournal.com]

I just saw that. You're awesome. I could seriously use the unikitten when shopping. That would scare the crap outta people.

[redstapler.livejournal.com]

::facepalm::

So close, and yet, so far...

#
# Mrs Jeff Rubinoffon 31 May 2010 at 12:04 pm

Scalzorc and Wil shopping for china would make for one really dull story. Especially compared to the picture prompt.

But seriously, I don’t think it’s unreasonable for someone to say “I don’t want to read about myself in a romantic relationship with this person” either, graphic sex or no. Not everything needs a love interest.

[rm.livejournal.com]

It's a good thing I'm on a deadline today, or this would somehow, FREAKISHLY, consume my ENTIRE DAY.

YAY!

[redstapler.livejournal.com]

#
# John Scalzion 31 May 2010 at 12:41 pm

I personally have no problem with romantic content. It’s explicit sex we’d like to avoid.

Re: YAY!

[rm.livejournal.com]

Yup, saw that. Excellent and good. I'd really be a lot happier (in large part so I don't have to keep reading about this on my f-list all week) if he changes the phrasing up in the initial rules post thought.

[penguineggs.livejournal.com]

Well, even if someone thought all queer content is explicitly sexual they couldn't possibly think all non-queer content is non-sexual - say for example unikitten is female (as it might well be), would explicit unikitten sex with added bonus horn action be permitted? On current guidelines, it would seem so.

[Edited clumsily to remove ambiguous and potentially offensive use of generic 'you'.]

[rm.livejournal.com]

Also, what if I want to slash the clown sweater and the unikitten?

[scalzi.livejournal.com]

That's assuming the Unicorn Pegasus Kitten is male, isn't it? Not to mention the clown sweater!

We specified "slash" because Wil and I are each male and didn't assume (silly us) that people would possibly add additional characters to the mix outside of the picture, so a general "hey, no explicit sex pls kthnxbye" would not be necessary. Our bad.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Thank you for taking my "I think I know what you meant but ooopsie" in the spirit it was intended. Since you're basically sanctioning RPF about you, you of course get to set the rules.

But, seriously, since it was not what was intended, you'll get more of fandom to play and be aware of the charity effort (okay, not like you and Wil need help making the Internet hear you, but let's pretend) if you change "slash" to a slightly longer and less potentially incendiary rules clarification that doesn't look like you're judging the habits of fandom or queer people.