i am really sorry people have been rude in your inbox! unfortunately this happens a lot over topping discourse in this fandom (both directions) and it is never okay or asked for. you are an accomplished writer with an interesting perspective, you have made it clear that you like sub obi, and if someone doesn’t agree then your work isn’t for them and they shouldn’t comment. simple as that.
that said, you may be attracting arguments because you are pretty open about your opinion that contradictory readings of the characters are objectively incorrect/shallow/based in an poor interpretation of canon. it’s not an excuse for shitty anons, but speaking personally a long time reader and writer of both dynamics, it feels… kind of unnecessarily hurtful? like, it also matters to me that i’m true to the characters, i also read canon books and engage actively and intentionally with theme and characterization when i write. so do a lot of people on both “sides” or w/e. we’re just bringing different perspectives and taking away different things.
if i have you wrong please say so! it just stings to seemingly be told that a dynamic i’ve thoughtfully included in my work is shallow/ stupid, especially since i admire your own writing a lot. i would never ask you to change your opinion, but maybe you’d be willing to be a little more charitable/kind to people who also like it the other way around? ofc this is your blog to say what you want, and if you don’t want to fuck with people like me i can respect that. but there are dozens of us lol and i figured i’d at least ask 💖 thanks
You're swell and this was very clearly articulated and I appreciate that, but you do have me wrong! You are projecting a lot of things onto my asks responses and putting words in my mouth. I have made it clear in MULTIPLE posts that I respect and celebrate all readings of the characters, and all sexual dynamics people choose to write about. I have THIS whole post where I talk about my approach to fandom and discuss, in detail, how there's so much text/canon in the SW universe that pretty much any view or perception of the characters can be backed in textual evidence, which makes many contradictory readings perfectly valid. Hell, even if there WAS no text to support certain readings, people are entitled to write whatever they want however they want! That's the beauty of fandom and fanfiction--we are all bringing our own experiences and worldviews to the table and interpreting characters through personalized lenses and so they are all going to look different, and no one version is correct--that's the beauty of transformative fiction!
When people first started asking me questions about top/bottom and dom/sub dynamics, I made sure to disclaim and add the caveat that I DO NOT think my reading is more "right" or "valid" and than any other reading, and that I am 100% here for people writing and seeing things differently than I do (I would find these posts but I don't have the energy to scroll back that far, and its also possible they were on my main blog before I decided to make a SW side, but they're out there). Anyway I am right there with you--thoughtfully engaging in canon is absolutely what makes a good fic, not the sex position or BDSM position therein. I don't really read fic but if I did, those elements would certainly not the filters I would be using to hone my search, I'd just be seeking well written, well characterized, literary content.
Anyway, ALMOST ALL of my meta is responses to asks, and therefore is reactionary. I am not making long posts unprompted about my dom/sub head canons, I am not in people's inboxes evangelizing about my preferences, and I reblog and enjoy art that portrays pretty much any dynamic! I HAVE CERTAINLY NEVER SAID I think people are stupid or shallow for preferring Dominant Obi-Wan!! I'm like genuinely sad my responses have come across that way, it's a bummer.
I do think I have gotten snarky and irritated in my tags or responses to asks, though, because again, it's reactionary. If I could just enjoy my shit in peace I would. I likely wouldn't even be making meta posts I'd just be screaming in the tags of art I reblog. But instead I am having people be like "consider this" to which I respond "consider this!" and it turns into (what I hope is) a friendly debate. Am I supposed to be putting the "but remember I do not judge other opinions!" caveat on EVERY ask I get on the subject? or can I freely commiserate on my own blog with other people who are annoyed by the constant conversion attempts, and react with my opinions to people who send me baity asks? Is that unkind to do in my own space? Like geez I feel like it would be different if I was writing tons of non-ask meta and saying "I'm right" all the time but that's not at all what I'm doing.
Anyway, I am totally sorry if I implied I think other interpretations are stupid. I don't. I have said as much. I didn't mean to be hurtful at all, I'm just old and blunt and unapologetic and opinionated so my tone is influenced by that, and I don't like to mince words or tip-toe around other people's insecurities or feelings or projections since I know I cannot possibly anticipate them. I have been in fandom a long time and have realized that always, someone is going to willfully misinterpret or have a bad faith reading of any strongly worded opinion, so I don't censor myself in regards to being strongly worded.
But that being said anon, I am like genuinely so saddened my tone comes across as disparaging. Not my intent at all, I am the sort of writer who genuinely delights in the knowledge that other writers see characters I love differently. I am somewhat worn thin and exhausted by the barrage of asks I get asking to defend every little though or opinion I have about SW, especially since many of the perspectives in those asks ARE shallow and dumb (Ie, how can Obi-Wan bottom when he is older/has a beard, real ask I have received more than once and deleted). But I never meant to suggest I think other writers writing other characterizations are shallow and dumb. That WOULD be uncharitable or unkind, and I'm sorry my tag ranting came across that way.
Anyway, in conclusion: I hear you and I'm sorry you feel that way and that's not my intent. But I am here, in this fandom space, to love on Star Wars and have fun. Tone policing myself is not something I can do while still having fun, so I likely will not change the way I blog. If you can trust my intent was never intended to be disparaging or hurtful, I would love it if you stayed! The more the merrier! But if the way I talk about stuff is upsetting to you, than please don't! I don't even look at my follower count and won't notice if people dip. Anyway, thank you regardless for the honest ask and I hope you can continue to enjoy my writing either way <3
