⎈ Misconceptions about culling ⎈
⎈ So, now that I've settled back in, I see that (Beforus) culling is once again a hot-button topic around here. ⎈
⎈ As I've seen some less than savory claims from non-cullers - and some rather despicable displays of incompetence from certain cullers as well - I'll be attempting to debunk some common misconceptions about culling. ⎈
Your cullee would survive on their own just fine!
⎈ Incorrect. While not all trolls in the system require constant supervision, attention, assistance, and resources, the culling system is built to assist cullees like mine. Disabilities come in all shapes and sizes, from being physically maimed, mentally ill, or emotionally unstable. A cullee may have a disorder such as schizophrenia, which cannot exactly be 'timed' to match a mediculller visit, or 'cured' through any means. In such a situation, a culler will be the best option for them. They can rely on someone being there to help ground them, take care of them, and clean up after their episodes. Without a culler, they would be completely on their own and possibly could hurt themself. ⎈
2. Culling is just keeping a pet!
⎈ Wrong and disturbing. Genuinely rather gross to imply. Cullees are not pets. First of all, they are capable of speech, which pets are not. Cullees are able to negotiate, vocalize, and communicate, and furthermore, they have considerably more rights than a pet does. If you consider culling to be in any way similar to keeping a pet, not only do I strongly suggest you never even consider speaking to a cullee, but also consider not keeping a pet. ⎈
3. Cullers just keep cullees to get into quadrants with!
⎈ Sigh. While the act of culling may dredge up many pale feelings for a culler and cullee duo, they are not mandatory, nor would any good culler go into that system in order to get a quadrant ticked off. What a repulsive notion! In other words, no. A culler and cullee may end up leaning more towards pale, due to the amount of care and affection which goes into culling, but that does not mean all are, nor does it mean anyone goes into this sort of situation with that kind of expectation. It would be ridiculous to assume that, and further ridiculous to apply a label of quadrants to any culler and cullee unless otherwise stated. It isn't uncommon, though, for an ablebodied troll to cull their disabled quadrantmate as a means of protecting them. Perhaps you're thinking of pre-established relationships as newly established ones. In my three sweeps of being a culler, I have only met two cullers who were in a quadrant with their cullee, both starting before the culling itself took place. ⎈
4. Cullees are all being abused!
⎈ While I don't doubt that there are some cullers who are less than savory, and perhaps treating their cullees rather horrifically, that does not shame the entire system. In fact, I have helped a cullee file to be removed from a culler before, so I'm well aware that this is an instance where the system typically fails to properly address concerns. There are several reasons for a cullee to take issue with their culler - perhaps due to neglect, verbal abuse, overly strict rules, etc. - and none apply to all cullers. As a caretaker, of course it is possible for a culler to leverage an unfair and toxic power dynamic, but that is possible in any interpersonal relationship. ⎈
5. Cullers only take on a cullee to avoid being culled themselves!
⎈ I have genuinely no idea why this strange idea exists. Nobody I know of has ever done this, and moreover, no record of someone doing this has ever been brought to my personal attention. But that isn't how it works, regardless. ⎈
⎈ In short, while there are many fair criticisms one can take up with culling, these five in particular are nothing more than nasty rumors, spread based off of misinformation, if I had to guess. Of course there are many qualms one can take with the system, but not all are applicable to every culler and their cullee, and to assume they are is rather ridiculous at best and vile attempts to poison the well at worst. I hope this clears some things up. ⎈