Board Thread:Writer's Workshop/@comment-35711173-20180705051303/@comment-5733573-20180707120232

BloodySpghetti wrote: Jdeschene wrote: The experiences you've had are terrible and I'm not going to tell you I know what that's like, because I don't. I'm sorry that has been your experience.

What I do know, however, is that writers---especially those of us who are white---have to be extremely careful how we treat race in our stories. I, for instance, almost never mention a character's race if its not vital to the story, which it very rarely is. I am reviewing this story under the assumption (admittedly) that it is completely a work of fiction, unlike your autobiographically inspired material. Therefore, because you've chosen to fictionally present these characters who are of a race that is different from your own, it's so, so, so important to either tread lightly or not do it at all. I feel your treatment of these characters has been somewhat cavalier here. I'm not going to apologize for holding other writers accountable for how they deal with race in their stories, especially if I feel like they need to be more careful.

You are ultimately free to write whatever you want about whomever you want. But you invited public opinion, and you got it. And if you put something out on a public forum, you have already accepted whatever the response may be. "What I do know, however, is that writers---especially those of us who are white---have to be extremely careful how we treat race in our stories. " Why do white writers have to be especially extremely careful? Only white people can be racist? First, as a first hand account, I tell you it's blatant bullshit and second, the statement itself is actually racist.

On the subject of touchy subjects, everything is bound to offend someone at one point or another. I moderate a horror based group on Facebook and people find every last thing to be offensive because reasons unknown to the common human mind. ​​​​​​Race as a sole concept is pseudoscientific and should be irradicated from this world by now. Here's a good example of why, in my first comment I mentioned how the Queen of Sheba is supposed to be Ethiopean as opposed to the Somali label the Doctor had given her. If he cared about the accurecy of the histographic portrayel of the characters, he'd switch it. Now, why does it even matter? I mean both Somalis and Ethiopeans are black East African people, they are very similar in appearence and live in neighbouring countries... so why does it matter? Oh yeah because they are different people (nations) with different cultures, languages and independent national histories, but oh well they're ALL just Black.

Doesn't sound racist at all now does it? of course it does.

As for other touchy subjects in horror, if you start removing those, you'll be left with nothing to write about after three and a half stories. You can tell me whatever you want. That doesn't mean it's true.

"Offended" would be one thing. I'm generally not worried about offending people. What does concern me, however, is perpetuating negative and harmful stereotypes. That's extremely important to look out for.