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Beautiful art, great smut, but idk there was something missing. It started out great then I got bored then it got a little interesting again, the I was bored, and then it got a little exciting (maybe jumped the shark), and then the end. So uh yeah 3/5 from me. Just because characters can have deep thoughts and depression doesn't make a story good. It needs something else. Believability? Less loose strings?
100% agree!!
Anyway, this story has the best kind of manipulation....because no one gets hurt (not really, anyway). There's no abuse in this, no evil tactics, no stockholm syndrome, no grape, no evil ML so black his redemption still feels gross. But the ML IS manipulative.
A lot of people talk pedophilia is present here, but it's not. The ML starts crushing on our MC while he's in high school, realizes that's inappropriate, and basically ghosts the kid. The ML never planned on pursuing our MC bc of the age difference and also bc he knows the MC has it bad for his little bro. Until the ring appears when the MC becomes a legal adult (notice they're out getting wasted which is one way to tell the age).
Also, 7 years is not that big of a deal. Let's remember our formula: the youngest age you can acceptably date is your age divided by two, plus seven, with any age that falls into "minor" being a no-go, regardless of the math. Therefore, at 28, the youngest our ML can date is 21 which is the age of our MC. Stop saying there's pedophilia here, stop acting like the ML is the worst seme of all time because omg if you honestly think so you MUST be new here or are too young to be reading the material in the first place.
Honestly the amount of ppl on here that admit to being underage (I've seen admittance of as young as 11) and reading smut is gross. Play adult when you no longer have a choice. Be a child while you can. Stop reading smut and go read something in your age group.
Pedophilia is the attraction to a minor. ML doesn’t need to pursue MC to be called a pedo. The fact that he caught feelings is enough. Yes he moved away from him after figuring it out, but that doesn’t change how nasty that is. Mind you, the attraction unknowingly started back when MC first started High School. In US standards, that’s like a 21/22 yr old feeling an attraction towards a 14/15. If you don’t believe ML started falling for MC when he was that young, fine, let’s state the facts. MC was a 17 yr old when ML was 24.
Next. I don’t remember which chapter, but around the time ML found out they were connected by the ring. He said, word for word, “If I knew we were connected through the red ring, I wouldn’t have bothered trying so hard to push him away.” Actually idk if it’s word for word, but it’s close enough. So what does that mean? It means he would’ve most likely groomed MC.
Lastly. 7 years IS a big deal if the younger one is below their mid 20’s. Just bcs someone is legal, doesn’t mean they’re grown. You seem grown, so idky I need to tell you this. I’m 24, does that mean it’s ok if I was attracted to a high schooler, regardless if they were legal or not? The answer is fuck no
*hands you her diagnostic books* Pedophilia is a term used generally in American and European cultures to label a sexual pervert that preys on children. Diagnostic terminology, however, has a very important distinction: the offender is sexually attracted to pre-pubescent minors i.e. under 13.
While we might all turn our noses up at a 21 year old sexually lusting after a 14 year old (and for good reason), it's not okay to condemn a man based on thoughts alone (it's still gross, I agree, but you should also watch - or read - Minority Report). Action serves as the crux of guilt and the breaking of a law.
Also, at no point do I recall him having "impure thoughts" beyond an implied, "I think I might be into this kid...but he's a boy...and also a kid...so I think I'll step off". His later thoughts (that you closely quoted) mean nothing because nothing ever happened so there's nothing to judge. It's a moot point. To assume he'd have groomed MC is just that: assumption and assumption - if life hasn't taught you this yet - is the mother of all fuckups. Don't do it. Approach every issue with either factual knowledge or an open mind to fill with factual information.
Back to the story: MLs character is not villainous nor abusive. He'd have never fucked a kid. He'd have waited until MC was legal, 100%. And whether or not a 28 year old and a 21 year old is acceptable in your eyes, it doesn't change the fact that they are both deemed, by law, adults and therefore can do whatever consenting adults agree to do.
You were also right about my age. I'm 42 and have a completely rational hatred of pedophiles that act on their urges, but also for the men and women that act on those urges for other reasons: power, to cause pain, to act with malicious intent regardless of the other party's choice; pick your poison (they should all burn, publicly, at the stake). I'm not defending ML, but I do approve of his very adult, and logical, decision to turn away from MC. That's what separates him from a pedophile: both the colloquial and textbook definitions.
Anyway, bottom line, this is a yaoi webtoon. No one should be reading it with the expectation that it will be governed by the real life laws we live with in our real world. It is not teaching material. It is not based on a true story. It is not academically peer reviewed. It is a fantasy world where fantasy things happen and are often acceptable and permissable whereas they would not be in our real world. If you assume to find reality in fiction, then I would suggest changing to NON-fiction or you're going to be very troubled by the world of webtoon BL where black flags and weak ukes reside in abundance.
Tbh, and I really hope this doesnt come off as mean, I think its a generational mindset thing. Ppl in their 40s and ppl in their 20s are gonna think differently coz of the societal norms and all that
Back then if someone got drunk and "consented" to sex it wasnt considered rape by society, but now if that happens a lot of ppl would consider that as rape because the person wasnt in their right mind when making that decision.
Same goes for here, maybe back then it didnt count if the pedo didnt act on it and maybe the textbook definition would state he isnt a pedo, but language and vocabulary are constantly changing and updating, and now in days, if someone has pedophilic thoughts, they would be considered a pedo, and here a grown man was attracted to a 14yr old kid
U can say "but he stepped away" which I do think is the mature thing to do, some ppl genuinely need help because of their pedophilic thoughts, but that doesnt make them monsters (until they act on it ofc), but in this situation, he didnt step away coz it was the morally right thing to do, he stepped away because he thought he would lose against his brother (as this character has said "I don't join fights I don't think i can win"), his intention (or lack of in this case) was flawed, meaning his origin pedophilia wasnt absolved, making him a pedo
Lastly, yes this IS fiction, obviously things are going to be thought of differently, but that doesnt mean ppl should stop discussing things as if it WAS real life. Honestly it's fun talking about personal thoughts and opinions (which again are shaped by societal norms and upbringings) in diff hypothetically worlds/societies, kinda like in a book club. If it bothers u to read comments/discussions about "if this was real life" then just don't read those comments, there's also an abundance of those comments in the yaoi community
100%. I was gonna go all technical and say that maybe by definition, it’s not pedophilia, but ephebophilia. But it doesn’t matter if you use the correct terminology or not, because it all means the same thing: An adult having sexual attractions towards minors. People use the word “pedo” as an umbrella term.
We are from different age groups, so our ethics and morality might differ. Back then, there were ppl who were freshly 18 yr olds marrying people who were 10-20 yrs older than them…and that was considered normal. Now? It might not be illegal, but it would cause discomfort amongst people.
And exactly. We all know it’s fictional, but I’m a type of reader that puts real life morals into perspective as I read. Some things I’m ok with reading, but I draw the line stories that scream pedophilia (again, I’m using it was an umbrella term) or r*pe between MCs.
I agree that works of fiction can definitely lead to open discussions (and should). I also understand drawing lines in the sand. I've never read a very popular yaoi because I don't care for all the violence and sadism, for instance (Killing Stalking? Not 100% on title). It's probably a joint meeting of internal moral compass and life perspective that makes us recognize and draw those lines.
I have difficulty in assuming guilt based on inaction, but neither of you are completely wrong, especially when I think about the quotes you both pulled from the story. I am incredibly sensitive to sexual violence against children so I might have worn rose colored glasses during those parts; I just can't see him as a villain no more than the MC a victim.
Regardless, I respect the respect given in this discussion. Especially because it is a very sensitive subject. Boomers wrong yet again: Gen Z and A are gonna do just fine on the foundation we Millennials will lie down once these old, disgusting, mostly white, real-life pedophiles are voted out of office, and then dead and gone. *Pisses on their graves*
I totally get that too!!! Sometimes ill read something and I really like the plot or characters so if I see something problematic, because it's fiction, ill interpret it a different way, ie "he didnt DIRECTLY kill him so he's not technically a murderer" (what i legitimately said for a recent webtoon i read ╥﹏╥)
I just wanted to say, I enjoyed you guys different opinions on the situation, lol. It was informative and very interesting to read! That's alll <33