please stop misusing the word “queerbaiting”
hi, so I’ve been seeing a lot of buddie posts with the term “queerbaiting” inside, and I feel like saying that it isn’t queerbaiting. Queerbaiting is a very serious word to use and I don’t think it should be thrown around.
so, first of all, what is queerbaiting? Sarah Z made a pretty good video explaining what it is.
TL;DW (tho I strongly recommend you watch to educate yourself), a general definition of queerbaiting is that it is a deliberate attempt to hint at a queer relationship through editing, dialogue, editing, irl declarations without ever intending to actually portray the queer. It is usually done because creators want to attract the queer fanbase and gain more money without ever facing the possible backlash from homophobes and country bans and so on
classic queerbaiting examples include 🎉sherlock🎉 In the show, there's s o m u c h subtext (uh go look at some meta if you can't see where) hinting at johnlock. But the creators (mofftiss :'D) just make fun of it. It's played off as a joke where a lot of characters often mistake sherlock and john as a couple, john screams "i'M nOt gAy!!!" at them (yes dear we know you're bi, contrary to popular belief, you're not just a myth), people laugh at the "no homo bro" and the show moves on.
so, 911 is definitely not queerbaiting. It has good LGBTQ+ representation. 911 isn't queerbaiting because it already pOrTrAyS tHe QuEeR!! Quite loudly, I'd say. For example: Hen and Karen, Michael and David, TK and Carlos (technically in lone star but still-)
And these characters are the main ish characters. They have episodes and plot lines dedicated to them, and they aren't discarded once the show has a ✨badge of progressiveness✨. It's not like they went "boom you're gay"ed (cough Rowling cough) on the characters just to get support from the queer fanbase
911 portrays real challenges the queer community faces (unlike movies that only have straight gay teens <- go watch). So it's definitely safe to say that 911 doesn't queerbait at all.
The word "queerbaiting" has a lot of weight behind it. Fandom, however, tends to throw it around. Please, stop misusing this word.
okay, then what's up with the buddie relationship subtext?? Here's a pretty good article on the difference between "queerbaiting" and "ship teasing". TL;DR (again, do go read when you have the time, it's short), ship teasing is basically hinting at a relationship but not delivering it (yet?)
All queerbaiting is ship teasing but not all ship teasing is queerbaiting. The difference in between is that queerbaiting tends to focus and hint more on the sexuality part, instead of the romantic potential. Basically, not all queer subtext is queerbaiting. I really like the conclusion paragraph of the above article and it kinda says what I've been thinking. So I'm gonna quote it here:
Queer representation isn't as simple as characters kissing. It's about nuanced and diverse representations of LGBTQ lives. It's superficial to say queer rep is invalid if characters don't end up dating and it's even more superficial to say that if a queer relationship doesn't meet an individual's standards, then it's queerbaiting. This term is necessary for discussion of queer rep -- but please use it correctly.
I'm not saying "oh all hail fox, it's just ship teasing". Ship teasing could be done right and would be a fun little game to play with the audience if it's a slow burn.
But ship teasing could also hurt. A lot. If buddie isn't canon or endgame, all the subtext and the hinting will just feel like the creators are laughing and making fun of us. Well, I guess all we can do now is pray and hope lmaooo. At least give us bi!buck and maybe buck and josh🥺🥺
in conclusion: 911 isn't queerbaiting, please stop calling it that and make a prayer circle for slow burn buddie
anyway, this is getting a bit long and I have a ton of hw that I have been disregarding for the past hour. Please correct me if I got anything wrong or left out anything!!
