Idk maybe I regularly trawl some rancid (positive) tags on sites regarding what some might regard as Crazy Woman Fantasies but I just don't find this concerning at all. Do I think some tiktokkers are cringe in how they express their horniness for SephirothKyloRenKnockoff #18384949 choking them into submission? Yeah, lol, I don't find it always tasteful, but I regard a lot of Public posting as honestly performances of drama and presentation and attention rather than necessarily a truthful representation of someone's desires. (Also, if you see how men, esp Normie men respond to these kinds of posts are usually with disdain and mockery and complaining about why women pick their VampireWerewolfMafiaBoss #399449 over them. So while there is often a lot of cringe heterosexuality (what is normative and assumed often) it definitely is not, I don't think, something people treat as "real" in the same way that say, many men's fantasies are sublimated so deeply into the societal consciousness as to just be taken for granted.

As for True Crime and Serial Killer fandom...those are honestly completely separate phenomena I think, because those feed into a very different desire. True Crime especially often has the complete OPPOSITE tendencies than DarkMance lovers in that it spurs ppl on to become more vigilant/paranoid/individualistic in "protecting" ones self from Crimes while voyeuristically digging into crime details, and the Serial Killer "fandom" thing is, if u look more into it, less Abt girlies wanting a Serial Killer Bf IRL than getting obsessed with specific existing figures and the details of their lives, or doin weird RPF about them. Are these actions APPROPRIATE??? I would argue there's a lot of stuff in Bad Taste, but in that sense the poor taste behaviors have to do with crossing boundaries (in the true crime/serial killer sense, the boundaries of IRL victims/people's privacy and information, and spreading/publicizing it.)

All of that is massively different in scale than fictional fantasizing which is a reflection of someone's self-expression of desires, which yes can be cringe and overwrought but is, honestly such a complete non-issue im surprised it's causing you this worry. Can there be overlap with corny people online and people genuinely doing invasive behaviors? Sure, but unless you have proof of their specific bad actions and bad opinions towards others, there's no way to know.

And it's best in the long run, frankly, for ur own peace of mind and others, to mind your own business.

it’s funny because I think my style is very cartoony, i love cartoons and flat stylization sooo much! I actually struggle really hard with drawing irl people likenesses, it takes a lot of work for me (i’m trying to get better but it’s cursed…i have so many ugly sketches….) But yes currently I am more interested in (historical) RPF. i just think especially historical people stories are so deeply interesting, more so than a lot of fictional stories since the “lore” and “worldbuilding” is kind of infinite. many of people’s favorite fictional stories are built upon the tropes and stories that came from real people’s personalities established by their culture and contexts.

However i usually interpret that “realness” visually through a very cartoony lens, since I think cartoons are the peak of personal expression. (for example, when i draw shota stuff i feel like i draw them in a kind of “unreal” cartoonish way, that feels more like Concept idealized creature cuteness to me, when i draw the occasional Sexy Woman or bishonen I feel i’m referencing more the “idea” of sexiness than an irl woman) . because i’m interested/hyperfocused etc on Medieval People, its doubly interesting bc we have no idea how these people looked and acted aside from verbal description and stylized cartoony depictions, and thus my depictions kind of by necessity need to be Made Up. It’s different ofc for ppl who RPF people who lived during the age of the photograph….

i do want to improve my realistic likeness drawing so I can be more flexible and also make BETTER cartoons, but yeah XD It’s an interesting artistic relationship for sure

Lmao when I was a teen I volunteered at one of those Christian crisis pregnancy centers, and even tho they were pro-life it was really eye opening to see how much resources it took to care for pregnant people, and how callous ppl could be to them. This is before I knew how problematic those orgs can be, but even just a short time there seeing the practical needs of ppl really made me resent the conservative pundits who would just call everyone pro abortion as like Supporting the Holocaust or some shit. That, and when u grow up u learn how like 1/4 of all women have had an abortion at some point, even the Good Christian Conservative Women u know in ur community, and their having access to abortions is what allowed them to live the lives they're living now...it's really like looking behind the flimsy curtain. 😭 Alas, the Catholic inflation like u said continues their nonsense.

It seems a lot of these culture/sexuality war stuff ends up being ppl complaining about Abstract Definitions (when does LIFE begin? What IS A Marriage? What IS a WOMAN) that feels increasingly demeaning and philosophical and don't engage with how it affects ppls lives hdjdjd sorry for going off but man djdjdj

Haven't had the chance to use it yet but it's a fun one for the prolifers is, so do unborn fetuses go to heaven or hell, and if ur answer is heaven then truly abortion is the moral choice lmao bc ur saving a soul from becoming burdened with sin 💜 and if they say Hell bc of original sin and whatever then u have to admit ur worldview of what wrongdoing is is fucked up lmaoo. Anyways this was interesting and I was just reading this Medievalists article about medieval contraception and abortion https://www.medievalists.net/2024/02/birth-control-abortion-middle-ages/

That is an interesting image though hehe I kind of want to draw it....escalator down 2 hell indeed ! I don't think the Medievals knew about all the zygotes that don't make it but the concept of it is kind of fun and spooky 😭

Noo I feel this when I was in Batman 2022 fandom I made up an entire freak momdelusion for myself loool (giving Martha Wayne a Woman Hysterical backstory was so gothic and great. I got a ton of mileage out of that 5 seconds) ...I had so much fun XD my other Momson delusion that wasn't really delusion but just Text was probably when I was in my Back to the Future stage, bc I love Lorraine Baines 💜 BTTF is famous for the momincest but weirdly enough to me it's like....not incest ENOUGH? like there's nothing really exploring Marty and Lorraine's relationship as a parental one, in-text ofc in the movie past sequence she's just an normal teenage girl trying to connect who is ignorant of the narratives she keeps being put in. We see a glimpse of her as an Adult in the beginning as a sad and prudish woman but that existence is literally wiped out. It's a very fascinatingly objectifying story and something that I think prevents a lot of momsonanalysis hdhfh

My favorite Momson as u know from my Eleanor/Richard posting is that kind of Super Structured Royal (usually) inheritance kind, the one where the Mother contributes a lot to the Inheritance but it's often overshadowed by the Legitimacy of the Father/Paternal nominal line. Inspired a lot by real life, since I'm fascinated by the multiple accounts in the 12th century of men literally Marrying Up and into titles and legitimacy bc of their wives, that even if they themselves didn't claim it, mothers could pass things on to their sons, sons as tools/extensions of the Self in a patriarchal society 💜 it's very fun And spicy to me bc it's like the Mom living vicariously through the son's achievements, and enforcing toxic masculinity through him too. Very cool and lots to explore there haha ..

I don't really feel qualified to answer the more specific aspects of this directly since it's quite a lot out of my range of knowledge! I've seen lots of contrasting stuff written and I can see where a lot of ppl r coming from. I guess if I were to give like my personal opinion, it's mostly ig a pragmatic one...rather than really debating whether or not "is Full Service Sex Work Moral or Feminist or Not" (seems to be the conundrum) I prefer to think "How can we best support sex workers?" I guess it's similar to how I personally approach "is Being A full time Mother Feminist or Not" is like, well while we debate it, how do u support the women working in that role right now. Maybe that's "short sighted" of me ideologically but it's something I think about a lot, that while the debate rages on Abt whether or not the Madonnas or the Whores are feministing enough, they still are very much existing and working (and are often the same woman!) and will continue to have needs regardless of ideological disgust with their positions . I haven't read much scholarly stuff on this, just anecdotal from ppl on here and some acquaintances, so I'm just firmly of the belief that we don't need to make sex workers' lives and control of their livelihoods harder even if it may be ideologically uncomfortable for some ppls personal codes

I always recommend Dan Jones' "The Plantagenets" as a starter book bc it covers the basic facts pretty well, is an easy intro, and is up to date with the modern research. It also gives more of the background to their dynamic so you can understand why each of their reigns was the way it was.

For more advanced stuff, I'm currently reading Sir Maurice Powicke's "The Loss of Normandy" which is more detailed regarding the later years of Richard's reign and the beginning of John's, with a heavy emphasis on the warfare and conflicts between the Angevins and Philip Augustus. I like it a lot, though it's more academic and also you'll really need a map of Normandy to follow along lol.

For Richard specifically, I enjoyed Jean Flori 's and John Gillingham's biographies of him a lot; both are very good historians who disagree on some subjects, but I think whose work makes up pretty much the authorities on the subject. I'm not as versed in John-specific biographies I'm afraid (blorbo bias...)

I really feel like the kind of "Good vs Bad King" lens thru which both figures are viewed from is pretty reductive. Since they kind of emerge from very different contexts and had to deal with similar but different issues in rule, and of course are connected. I think understanding Richard and his decisions and where he left off at his death kind of helps in understanding John and his deal as well, and of course the relationship and conflict with Philip overall in the contentious king-duke-vassal relationship I think is the key to understanding the dynamics overall.

I mean, the first thing I'd think is they were probably too young to be reading such things lol...tbh, when people say that my first thought is I'm sorry that they probably didn't have better support or education in their lives to help them relate to fiction healthily, and know what makes up healthy relationships irl. It also reflect sadly a failure of the structure around them and adults around them to prevent grooming.

Honestly tho I think it's natural for teens and young ppl to fall in love with and have crushes on older people, and so it makes sense that fantasy-material will often include fulfilment of those fantasies. Idk we'd have to look at statistics to see what's more common to pop up where and in what genre, but I feel like that probably reflects both that fantasy-desire, as well as probably dynamics from real life (especially older works where young women often marry men who serve as more "mentor" figures first). It can be problematic but i would say the trope follows the reality more than vice versa

I FORGOT ABOUT THE CITY HUNTER RANT LMAOOO … I do get what she was saying re: frustration at what becomes known as “mainstream” and critically acclaimed/framed as “for general audiences” when expressing such clearly horny/sexual fantasies, but it is kinda out of place on the general info thread looool. In a later reply i think she talks about enjoying various comic works that have similar Problematic Pervert stuff but are specifically framed as erotic fantasies…

I think that would be similar to you and ur pervert yuriz, where the pervert yuri is being IN the genre where it’s expected. For me, it would be like I enjoy when there is some sexy homophobia and misogyny in my yaoiz and like, series that are very heightened fantasy drama bc it makes situations have a particular intense flavor, but feels jarring to pop up randomly in stories presenting itself as more objective/serious etc. But i feel the line can be blurred a lot tbh…i do think, when it comes to “representation” of any kind, the bad thing about sexist/homophobic/racist etc portrayals is actually kind of a craft issue, where its more like in creating a new thing, why go for the “easiest” most cliche portrayal that reflects the assumptions ppl already have…and if you DO decide to go for the cliche, you’ll make a better work if you have greater awareness of why that cliche exists, and make it more fun and cool than if u worked from ignorance…whether its pervert yuriz or homophobic yaoiz, it becomes much sexier if the ppl making it understand the essence of why it’s transgressive or exists in the first place

Sexuality will always be a force in art and media etc etc, just because it is a fundamental part of human culture and society and experience, regardless of one's specific relationship to sexuality itself. However what is deeply harmful is when in media there ends up being a default, objectifying assumption of what the visual language of sexuality etc MUST Look Like, along with assuming who the default audience MUST be (hence what stuff like Laura Mulvey and John Berger have talked about wrt gaze, male gaze etc).

This thread https://x.com/celineorelse/status/1058145289561882627 is an oldie but goodie, and shares a lot of articles and books, videos (including John Berger, which I mentioned above ) which I think speaks to your concerns. It's long but around this part https://x.com/celineorelse/status/1059022892481032193 it talks about the harmful impact of sexist/sexualized images of women taken for granted in public and society.

I think the important takeaway is that the misogyny isn't being "imparted" necessarily bc of the inherent power of the sexualized images themselves, but the context in which the images are presented, and thus the messages being communicated through that presentation. Are they being treated as "default," are fantasies being /presented/ as an objective desirable reflection of reality? Whose fantasies, demographically, are treated as important and Real and unassailable, natural and whose are degraded and denounced? These are

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I would add my own extra experiential commentary that, as someone who grew up with a LOT of say, Christian material around what women should and shouldn't look/act/be like, obviously pornography and sexy bikini images etc were greatly frowned upon to look at, for men and women. And so my exposure to sexualized women in media was fairly limited as much as one could be in the modern age. However, this culture also granted a fetishistic power to the Sexualized Woman Image(tm) that was both lusted after and despised–the Sexual Woman Image was both a symbol of Weakness of Willpower and Shame for Men (that they must learn to Conquer) and a symbol of Warning for women (that they must not represent, lest you become that Symbol of Weakness and Shame). In thosw cultural context I feel it ended up making the act of seeing a generic sexualized woman image more harmful, and caused more unnecessary guilt and gendered resentment, than it would have been if young men and women had simply been allowed to see stuff casually and learn how to behave themselves and not act up around it.

*Ofc there's the distinction between like Literal Pornography and just like. A woman standing around in a swimsuit or low cut shirt--something that the oversexualizing culture likes to flatten together

I think any “nerd” subculture kind of is susceptible to this kind of thing, INCLUDING comic books and video games, which are infamous for virulent misogyny (gamergate anyone???). Japan being the “number one source of misogyny” feels kind of racistly limiting, it feels a bit like a “fish not noticing the water” situation of the anglosphere not noticing the misogyny of its own nerd communities and fanbases. Not to say that Japanese and East asian stuff DOESN’t have a misogyny problem, just that I think it’s easier to notice when it looks “weird” and exotic compared to the more dreary, mundane offenses from normies in the workplace and the pulpit, etc. That, and in the english-speaking weeb world it goes hand in hand with the goofy Orientalism, where their own fans create a weird idea of what “japan” is in their brain as a kind of Preserved Conservative Utopia that hilariously lines up with their own ideas and taste. Hence on one hand you’ll have an anime chud whining about waifu8729429’s boobs not being drawn big enough because of the Evil Western Influence, while some comic book or star wars nerd will be crying that video game girl #28394 is too MANNISH and breaking the CANON and pandering to the WOKES for having biceps or no makeup or some shit. I think nerd culture and otaku culture in general can perpetuate this because it’s in that weird spot where most “normie” people think it’s weird to be passionate about fictional works, so there’s a (not completely untrue) feeling of persecution and isolation that comes with otaku/nerding out, that can culminate in projecting those feelings into punching down at women, minorities etc while still telling themselves they are being subversive and underdog-like for doing so.

Idk much personally about the 2000s 4chan anime community etc (i’ve seen my share of talk about it from being Online of course) but can’t imagine it’d be great for moderating these kinds of behaviors! It DOES vary though, because I think the media itself isn’t always the source—for example I know lots of queer people who are DEFINITELY not alt-right/conservative who also are fans of many of the same animes/series, even stuff for sexual “male gazey” media things like hentai/eroge/ecchi. I’ve gotten a lot more appreciation of those mediums because of such folks XD. In the end it’s less about the media themselves, and more how it’s framed and how you enage with it, and yourself I think…since there are alt-right fans of anything, even stuff with ostensibly sweet and progressive messages, like MLP and other cartoons about friendship or hanging out etc. I don’t think a single media, by itself, “causes” anyone to become misogynistic on its own as much as it is strongly reinforced by your social group or people one looks up to, whether its ur family, community, friends whose approval u seek, or ppl u have parasocial relationships with (hence young men and figures like Andrew Tate etc).

And I think you are right about how tbh if people are feeling vindictive and disaffected, they will always find some other outlet to be weird about. Currently, I’m not really an anime poster these days, but as someone into Third Crusade and medieval era stuff, and who follows ppl into Classical era stuff, you REALLY need to be on the lookout for nazis and RETVRN/deus vult idiot LARPers, there are lots of accounts that will (re)post pretty pictures and classic illustrations to nab followers while also posting insane fascism takes. Personally I can spot them a mile away by now and don’t have any trouble due to my Shield of Fujo Cringe (and also not being much of a military buff) but I feel for the folks who are much more into military nerd subjects and want to explore that more in-depth without running into the people posting Race Science Gender Essentialism online….RIP