Tried To Kill Yourself

I have always wondered why some section of the readers do not like the others talk about toxic tropes of a Yaoi manga (mainly romanticizing of rape, assault, stalking etc) by stating the argument that, "it is just a fiction, a fantasy, stop bringing the real world into it".

I find that argument extremely troubling. Firstly, they have misunderstood the concerns raised by readers who find criminal depictions problematic. The concern is not about the story featuring triggering content but because the story romanticizes such content.

Romanticizing happens when the characters develop feelings for one another as a consequence to the horrible events completing ignoring their very own internal monologues about how scared or traumatized they are just to give the average reader an illusion that the event is no longer an issue and we get a happy ending. The characters do not talk about the crime (rape, assault, stalking, etc) but just forget or completely disregard it, especially when they themselves admitted to being deeply hurt. I admit there are stories with such themes that do justice to it by acknowledging that what happened is wrong and allow that to develop the plot from there on, rather than using it a device to get two characters together for the sake of intimacy.

Secondly, I agree that Yaoi is a fiction and marketed as such. One shouldn't mistake Yaoi to be anything more than a fantasy that exists for us to forget the real world for temporary happiness and contentment. But, even then readers reserve the right to express what parts of the story make them uncomfortable and what parts they enjoyed. While the plot of the story may be divorced from reality, the conversations that are sparked by it here on Mangago and else where are in context of the real world. Meaning, we interact with the fantasy elements of the story to start important conversation about real things of real world. If a reader comments about how rape in the story has been handled and they talk about their view on it, they should be allowed to do so. It is important as it teaches everyone a new perspective. Many have opened about their own experiences too. For example, homophobia. When depicted in a story it starts conversations bout it where people are able to share their experiences and how they deal with it. How they navigated through their sexuality. All such conversations connect the fictional story to real world. The story may remain locked in the book but we carry it along with us into the real world. Our living reality.

Lastly, all opinion should be valid. Just like this long post. My opinion, however unpopular, should be just as valid as the other user's. People need to accept that you might not like most things that are being said about a manga. You might disagree with many, and want to prove them wrong. One is by all means, free to do that, so long as you don't attack the person for having those views. This is an universal etiquette that is expected when interacting in open spaces like this website.

I do not mean to offend anyone. I want to discuss mangas. I want to learn what you think about this- do you agree with me or not. Either way, I want us to have fun :)