My favourite thing about people calling for empathy for Mokyeon and his suicidality and his mental health is that these are the same people who defend Mokyeon and his vile conduct by saying that this is "just a fictional story" and that while he'd be an awful person worthy of all kinds of suffering in real life, it is recontexualized in these fictional worlds of yaoi.
And I completely agree.
I agree that non-consensual behavior in most Manhwa/Manga is substantively different and often a reflection of sexual fantasy, emotional dynamics, or some portrayal of intensity. And as such, it makes no sense to really treat rape-y semes as if they are IRL people.
BUT...
That also applies to giving any fuck about them as people and their mental health.
If you can defend or empathize for Mokyeon right now despite ALL the disgusting shit he did, then you have ZERO place to criticize anyone who is cheering for or gives zero fucks about Mokyeon's suffering right now.
Either you think those people are bad for wanting Mokyeon to suffer, in which case they can credibly accuse you of sympathizing with the suffering of someone who IRL would easily be a depraved sex pest, OR you can accept that this is fiction and everyone engages with different characters in different ways.
My favourite thing about people calling for empathy for Mokyeon and his suicidality and his mental health is that these are the same people who defend Mokyeon and his vile conduct by saying that this is "just a fictional story" and that while he'd be an awful person worthy of all kinds of suffering in real life, it is recontexualized in these fictional worlds of yaoi.
And I completely agree.
I agree that non-consensual behavior in most Manhwa/Manga is substantively different and often a reflection of sexual fantasy, emotional dynamics, or some portrayal of intensity. And as such, it makes no sense to really treat rape-y semes as if they are IRL people.
BUT...
That also applies to giving any fuck about them as people and their mental health.
If you can defend or empathize for Mokyeon right now despite ALL the disgusting shit he did, then you have ZERO place to criticize anyone who is cheering for or gives zero fucks about Mokyeon's suffering right now.
Either you think those people are bad for wanting Mokyeon to suffer, in which case they can credibly accuse you of sympathizing with the suffering of someone who IRL would easily be a depraved sex pest, OR you can accept that this is fiction and everyone engages with different characters in different ways.
Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.