blamebrampton (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
blamebrampton) wrote2011-01-08 04:37 pm
blamebrampton) wrote2011-01-08 04:37 pm
A case in point ...
So, there we were, having a chat on a friend's LJ about the differences between the US and the UK for purposes of a self-Britpicking list, with participants from both sides of the pond and beyond and frequent diversions into baiting and comedy from all sides, and apparently it has become a source of Flocked Drama.
Consider the argument very carefully: At least one American is very upset that British people prefer to be depicted in accurate ways.
And if you can't see why that's a bit dodgy, replace the word British with any other nationality.
I don't want to overstate the case, because really, it doesn't culturally oppress us the way that some other cultures have been oppressed by this sort of thing, since we don't deeply care and we had an Empire first. And while the original source of the complaint is a preference, it's certainly not a sine qua non, and we read heaps of stuff that gets us wrong, and some of it is good and some is crap, and really, at the end of the day we still pronounce and spell aluminium in ways that are scientifically logical, which in itself is enough. But, honestly ...
Interestingly, one of my points of difference was a tendency to soap-opera-like over-reactions in fiction. Clearly I drew the line too narrowly.
AND I left off the fact that it the entire United States has been the subject of mass-brainwashing to accept caffeinated flavoured beverages as coffee. Though I see Starbucks has dropped the word from their logo, truth in advertising at last!
Consider the argument very carefully: At least one American is very upset that British people prefer to be depicted in accurate ways.
And if you can't see why that's a bit dodgy, replace the word British with any other nationality.
I don't want to overstate the case, because really, it doesn't culturally oppress us the way that some other cultures have been oppressed by this sort of thing, since we don't deeply care and we had an Empire first. And while the original source of the complaint is a preference, it's certainly not a sine qua non, and we read heaps of stuff that gets us wrong, and some of it is good and some is crap, and really, at the end of the day we still pronounce and spell aluminium in ways that are scientifically logical, which in itself is enough. But, honestly ...
Interestingly, one of my points of difference was a tendency to soap-opera-like over-reactions in fiction. Clearly I drew the line too narrowly.
AND I left off the fact that it the entire United States has been the subject of mass-brainwashing to accept caffeinated flavoured beverages as coffee. Though I see Starbucks has dropped the word from their logo, truth in advertising at last!
Re: Smoking
I've had a hell of a year and have not read much HP fic lately, and Christmas is always a crazy time, so the holiday fics often pass me by, but I will say that to these admittedly uninvolved eyes that there seems to be a general trend toward the trivial. There is a HP new fest being promoted that focuses on disabilities. I am tempted to join it and write a story about someone losing limbs to diabetes, or committing suicide because of mental illness, or going to rehab, or losing an eye because of a bludger to the face. I imagine that is not the intent of this fest. I don't know anyone who has a leg missing, but I know a lot of people in wheelchairs, those who suffer from the daily and incessant pain from fibromyalgia, and those who struggle to stay sober. My mother broke her leg very badly many years ago and limps. My stepfather was a POW in a Japanese prison camp and suffers from PTS. I saw the promotion for that fest and thought of them. Hopefully the writers will focus on the magnitude of living with disabilities, as opposed to writing stories that are nothing but oh-Draco-has-a-booboo-let-me-suck-your dick schtick
And since you were so gracious I will admit that I've realized that I use drinking as a gag in several fics (the humorous ones). Given that my own father was a horrible alcoholic you'd think I'd be super-sensitive to this issue. I made a vow six months ago to stop with the alcohol-based humor. It gets a laugh but at what cost?
In short, I agree with you that issues like smoking or drinking need to be shown in all their glory. Nothing like that should be candycoated. To romanticize them is grossly irresponsible (something I have been guilty of and which I hoped I addressed in some fashion with my Ron/Pansy fic).
We're good!