I Feel Like The Pro Vs Anti Thing Is Kind Of Reductive? Like It's More Than Just Shipping And Morality

I feel like the pro vs anti thing is kind of reductive? Like it's more than just shipping and morality after a certain point, it kind of just becomes censorship vs anti-censorship? And I feel like if it were talked about like that discussions would be easier/actually result in something?

Like I'm very anti-censorship, but some stuff is gross to me personally, but do I think people shouldn't be able to make stuff? No, it's up to me to not read it.

Like, if we remove the whole morality thing from shipping exclusively we can probably have an actual discussion about if people sharing certain stuff does cater to pedophiles or whatever, and the stuff about "it's only okay if you're traumatized" being kind of icky, and actually come to a productive solution? I don't know if this makes sense.

The issue in trying to boil down the current concept(s) of proshipping and anti-shipping to detached semantics is that proshipping, in becoming nuanced and an umbrella term, has voided itself of the capability to become "just" anything.

Proshipping has also expanded to encompass not just fandom and fictional content, but reality too, largely out of necessity because a core component of the "anti" rhetoric is you are what you create/consume. Thus proshipping now no longer singularly refers to fiction and fandom, but to you as a person, your values, and how you behave in life outside of the internet.

Like I'm very anti-censorship, but some stuff is gross to me personally, but do I think people shouldn't be able to make stuff? No, it's up to me to not read it.

This is being proship at its most basic definition. A common misconception about proshipping is you have to actively support, consume or enjoy the content to which its being applied in that instance, and that is simply false. The amount of times I've seen "antis" make a post saying they're not proship, but... And then what they proceed to state is exactly what proshipping is at its core is laughable. Its simply the broader label and some variable definitions they refuse to be linked with.

In terms of whether content created would "cater to" certain demographics... If you want to start that argument, that would only feed into censorship and a sanitized world where you can't let kids play with nerf guns and everyone has to walk around in head to toe shrouding garments to avoid "catering to" perverts and pedophiles. Its redundant to say; "but this caters to pedophiles!" when literally all a pedophile has to do is look out of their window. Or load up Google. Or turn on the TV. Children and children in various states of undress are everywhere. A mother taking her son into a grocery store could be catering to a pedophile.

I hate to say it, but Law and Order: SVU actually has some very good episodes depicting just how truly varied stimulants are to people with active, dangerous paraphilias. Everyone loves to say that pedophiles are only stimulated by X type of depiction of children, but that is truly, truly not the case. Walking past a child on the street can be enough for that pedophile to fantasise about that child. And what is the solution there? Lock all children up in windowless buildings until they're eighteen? Is it then unethical for parents to take their children outside knowing at any moment a pedophile can look at them and fantasise about them?

Likewise, that would still be a moral argument, because you're intrinsically arguing if that person is "wrong" for creating content with the acknowledgement that a pedophile could/will read it, and seek stimulation from it. You're trying to discern the morality of producing something which has the capability to cause, mimic or lead to active harm.

There's also the concept of "radical" proshipping which even I, myself, disagree with on certain levels and points.

Unfortunately, the proship vs antiship argument will never have an actual solution, because it technically isn't a problem, its just two opposing perspectives on ethics, morality and personal comfort, which you cannot force a change in. Likewise each definition fluctuates and is so heavily nuanced that they overlap in ways you cannot simply tear apart and enforce into two defined boxes. You can argue the merits and validity of as many points as you like, but often when someone is tying the issue to who they are as a person and to a reflection of themselves in the public eye, they're not going to want to change to a stance that would be perceived as "wrong."

I do agree with your overall desire for broader and varied discussions, though. I agree that sometimes each side gets stuck on a pinhead argument that becomes a carousel of the same points over and over until it collapses and turns into arguments and insults and accusations. Its part of why I started this blog, to try and help facilitate open, nuanced discussions about the true near boundless nature of proshipping vs antishipping, and to try and at the least help each side clearly see and understand the opposite's perspective, even if they don't agree with it.

There's less a "solution" to proshipping vs antishipping as there is finding a semi-stable middleground between each side maintaining civility within communication, and understand and accepting that there's nuance and overlap between both perspectives.

Disliking characters who aren't straight, white, cis men isn't inherently/always racism, internal prejudice, misogyny, homophobia, ect and every time I see valid criticism of a character being met with a siren wail of "bigotry!!" I want to physically transform myself into that Benfleck smoking meme.

Actually there's nothing wrong with blocking or reporting people, deleting comments and refusing to respond/engage with hate and baiting on any level whatsoever. They are not owed your time or explanations. They are not owed your energy. You are not immature or incapable for choosing to refuse to engage instead of choosing to argue and expend energy.

Obviously if you're making uneducated, incorrect or bigoted content then yeah, be prepared for people to call you out and challenge your statements and views, but I'm talking in general.

Hate comment on your fic? That's cool, baby. Just delete it.

Someone's trying to bait you into arguing about your stance on something? Whatever. Its all groovy. Block 'em.

You got a clear visual that someone's just gonna keep coming back at you? Have a report button. Its free. I'll give you as many as you need.

You don't need to facilitate that. You don't need to see it. You don't need to spend your time trying to challenge someone who's obviously either in a bad mentality or is just a shitty person as a whole. You simply Do Not. You don't need to allow that person to have a space and a voice within yours. You don't need to allow them to be able to spew their bullshit for you and everyone else to see outside of their own little bubble.

Next time you get a hate comment on AO3? Wham, bam, its gone, ma'am. No thank you. Anon hate mail? Not in this household.

You have no obligation to facilitate any of it, and anyone who tries to force you into thinking otherwise is simply incorrect. Their action does not inherently demand your reaction. Plus, its objectively more hilarious to know that the sole outcome of their spitefulness and negativity is them getting even angrier because you're refusing to engage and refusing to feed their need for a response.

Actually yes I do think you should need a standard qualification to own an animal, and that there needs to be heavier regulations on person-to-person animal sales and backyard breeding.

Owning an animal immediately becomes a lifelong commitment, just like having a child. The only difference is the animal can't use words to tell you how its feeling, what it needs and what's wrong with it. Getting an animal means you need to learn an entirely new language and need to learn to adjust your behavior and life, constantly, in order to communicate with your pet properly.

Yes, even dogs and cats. The two most available, unregulated type of pet after fish. Its not cute when you let your baby/toddler trample all over your pet and pull at them and chew on their ears. Its not cute when you try to snuggle your pet and it growls at you. Its not cute to have a pet that tries to attack you whenever you're in the same room. Its not cute to let your fish languish in a tiny bowl without the proper filtration, space, habitat stimuli and food.

The fact that at any one time I can just make a Facebook post saying I want a kitten and within 24 hours I can just get one, no home or background check necessary, no medical history or evaluation of the kitten, no proper knowledge of if its old enough to leave its mother or what it needs to eat, is actually fucking terrifying.

You need to learn the body language and sounds of your pet and what they're indicating to you. Animals have hundreds of ways of communicating. Some animals will specifically adapt to your means of communication or will invent entirely new forms of communication to try to engage with you.

You need to learn the proper methods of training your pet and which methods work best for you, your pet, and are over-all the clearest forms of communication and most beneficial. Including what methods are safe, which are outdated or harmful, ect.

You need to learn the proper nutrition your pet requires and ways you can enrich and vary their diet. You need to be capable of doing species/breed appropriate research and activity research to discern exactly what your pet needs out of its diet.

If and where necessary, you need to modify your home and your own behaviors within the home to make it safer for your pet. You may need to give up your essential oil candles or stop leaving the doors open where your pet can escape. You may need to remodel your backyard so its safe and appropriate for your pet to have freedom within.

You need to learn ways you can safely enrich your pet's day-to-day life and ways you can provide them with stimulation and entertainment. Especially for the hours you won't be there.

You need to have proper medical coverage for your pet and set aside money weekly or monthly to build an emergency savings fund for them, the exact way you would for other expenses.

You need to properly assert ownership of your pet. Paperwork, microchipping, an evidence file of ownership in case your pet gets lost or stolen, proper registration, ect.

You need to have contingency plans for emergencies and events where you need to navigate the stability and safety of your pet. If you went into hospital tomorrow, who can look after your pet? If there's a natural disaster, do you have the means to get your pet to safety?

And, yes. I realize this will inherently disadvantage poor people and people who don't have hours in a day free to pay attention to their pet, but unfortunately, that's the reality of choosing to be responsible for another living creature. Its the reality of just how much actual work goes into owning, raising and training an animal.

Pets are not inherent rights. They're essentially luxuries in a world where we no longer need to rely on animals the way we did hundreds of years ago. Pets are not just little accessories and fun little distractions and add-ons to your home. They are independent, sentient creatures that you are fully and solely responsible for in every single aspect of their lives.

Pets. Are. Not. Toys.

Harry Potter Alternatives

Often the hardest parts about giving up the things you love most revolves around a lack of alternatives to fill the void. It can be daunting to think that what we've spent hours up to years of our life enjoying, filling our time with and finding community around is just suddenly gone. Particularly if its still there, you're just trying to avoid it.

Understandably, the same can be said for Harry Potter, its recent game release, and people who may be finding it hard to let go of the universe. So below are book, movie and gaming recommendations for people to explore that offer an alternative to lining the pockets of a bigot. The point of this list is to help support and ease the transition for those who want to but are struggling to phase supporting Harry Potter out of their lives.

Please also feel free to reply or reblog with your own recommendations, and share your own opinions if you've played or looked into any of the things suggested.

Game Alternatives

Divinity: Original Sin 2

Magicka 2

Genshin Impact

Wizard of Legend

Outward

Fable

In Verbis Virtus

The Witcher

Skyrim

Pillars of Eternity

Dragon Age

Noita

Avencast: Rise of the Mage

Book Alternatives

The Secrets of The Immortal Nicholas Flemel

Mistborn: The Trilogy

The Skulduggery Pleasant Series (10/10 personal favorite)

The Invisible Library

The Shadowmagic Trilogy

The Maze Runner

Mageborn

Good Omens

The Witcher

The Sandman

The Name of the Wind

The Magicians

Discworld

TV & Movie Alternatives

The Lord of the Rings

The Magicians

Shadowhunters

The Dark Crystal

The Maze Runner

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Percy Jackson Trilogy

Guardian - The Great & Lonely God

Legend

Alchemy of Souls

Nowhere Boys

Willow

The Wheel of Time

Merlin

The King: Eternal Monarch

Hellbound

Ghost Doctor (not relevant to the genre, but hilarious and sweet)

Tags and summaries are actually part of your storytelling. Please, for the love of god, stop making summaries that are just things like;

Read for the story

Idk I'm bad at summaries lol

Non-ownership disclaimers*

Character/Character slash fic

DON'T LIKE DON'T READ

[Ship name] highschool AU

[character] meets [character] and they work together and fall in love

Read the tags and check it out

*Which, by the way, you don't need to do, because AO3 does it for you. You don't need to tell people you don't own Marvel on AO3. AO3 would bodyslam Anne Rice for you.

Please. For my sanity. Even if you just copy and paste an interesting paragraph from the story. Your summary is supposed to summarise the story. Its supposed to tell you about the story. Your tags are also designed for that purpose; to tell the reader what you've written.

Is it an AU? Canon divergence? Crossover? Fusion? Who's dating who? Who's gay and who's just a himbo on thin ice? Is it 90s slasher gore or just a little MTV style blood splatter? First person? Third?

You don't have to tag every single aspect of the fic, especially if you want to keep some parts of it secret to not give away scenes or plot points, but please, at least give the reader enough to have a general idea of what they're going into. At least give them enough for them to decide if the fic is something they want to check out, because I know I'm not alone when I say I'll just scroll past a fic that has absolutely no visible information or detail. No matter how high the wordcount.