How do you feel when people genuinely call Slade a pedo because I don’t feel like it’s accurate and it’s mischaracterizing him? Obviously he is a r_pist (I’m not sure how strict censorship is on here I mostly lurk) because Tara was a minor and couldn’t consent to sleeping with Slade but the term pedo implies that there was some attraction to Tara from Slades end and I personally did not get that vibe at all from him. It seems to me that Slade isn’t interested in minors but is still willing to exploit them to reach his goals. I’m not trying to defend him (Slade is a pos and that shouldn’t be a debate) but I think it bothers me when people call him a pedo is because there are actually pedos in literature and real life and because when people call him that it’s mostly either a) to make a joke about it in poor taste or b) to judge someone for enjoying the complexities of his character. Idk if this is just me overthinking things and it’s not that deep but you seem like one of the only people on the internet to actually comprehend Slades character (especially New Teen Titans Slade my fav Slade and titans run) so I thought I would send an ask, this is actually my first :D. This fandom is fucking prison!!!
Hello, thank you for the ask!
I agree with you completely.
I do not like when people call Slade a pedophile, but I do give it someeee leniency.
Slade isn’t a pedophile, he never has been and that was never the goal of his characters. None of his writers ever tried to write him as such Priest openly discussed the very topic and talked about how Slade is not a pedophile and calling him one takes away from the severity of the threat real pedophiles pose to children which I agree whole heartedly with.
There’s also the line he says “(more diangosticslly accurate) ephebophile”
Which is another point to bring up which is bc Tara’s age (15/16) is older than the typical cut off for the DSM-5 definition of pedophile which cuts off the age of attraction to 13 at the oldest. Which would mean he’s an ephebophile. IF he were attracted to Tara.
It’s pretty obvious that he isn’t attracted to Tara and he’s just leading her on with false promises. You can tell by the way he treats her like how he disrespects and insults her.
I think it’s important to define the fact that not every person who abuses children (even sexually) is a pedophile, I think it’s an idea that has been created by generalisations and it just is wrong. Pedophilia is a specific disorder.
If we want to talk about Slade being potently attracted to minors the discussion would have to be about Tilly and how he came onto her as a 16 year old (before knowing her age) and how he finally stopped hitting on her after knowing her age. I truly just believe this to be an element of Wolfman having poor writing that doesn’t accurately reflect the message he’s trying to deliver. I believe what he wants us to take from that is that bc she’s 16 and he rejects her and because Slade beats up her father (who’s trying to prostitute her) that Slade isn’t attracted to minors since finding out about her age made him change his mind. I don’t think he really acknowledged that all the hitting on Tilly Slade did before he knew her age implies attraction to her. I am personally going to write it off as heavy handed writing but if other people have different takes on it and how it may represents Slade and his attractions than I understand why.
I also agree with you that the majority of people who call Slade a pedophile are just doing it to make a joke or dismiss him as a character to those that are interested in him. I do find it very irritating when I make a Slade post (usually on TikTok) and get comments such as “Slade is a pedophile” “Slade is a diddy blud” “he was on that island” “why’d they nerf him by making him a diddler.” and all things along those lines.
I think it holds back from a thought out and nuanced discussion of Slade and Tara’s relationship, what it was, what they meant to each other and how that impacted both of them which is infuriating.
As I mentioned before I do have some leniency and this is only with the humor aspect of it. Since Slade and Tara are not real people, I do think funny jokes about Slade and Tara can by made, AS LONG AS that person
1. Knows what they are talking about
2. Is doing out of care for Tara rather than a blind hatred for Slade
3. The person isn’t doing it in a way that diminishes the stories of real victims
For example wormy (@wormbraind) knows what he is talking about and I know that. I know that he cares about Tara so if he were to make a joke calling Slade a pedo I would know where he’s coming from and know that he understands the actual relationship and situation between Slade and Tara. So I wouldn’t be against that.
But strangers calling Slade a pedo always has me wary.
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