This sounds like a problem with a particular writer, or writers.
There are definitely men who are strictly bottoms and men who are strictly tops (and you really can't argue with me about this because I;ve had these conversations) and I don't think there's anything wrong with someone either prompting that, preferring that dynamic, or scrolling past it because they DON'T prefer it.
People have to practice in order to become better at characterization. Along the way we're going to read every stereotype in the book. People don't get better when they're discouraged from exploring their interpretations.
It's a fandom wide problem. You'll see it in any fandom.
The issue isn't whether people prefer that in real life, it's the way it's written in fandom because it relies on really negative stereotypes and sometimes edges into fetishizing. Assuming someone bottoms or tops because of their emotional state or physical appearance is problematic. Changing someone's characterization to make them better fit the stereotypical idea of a top or bottom is also problematic.
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Re: Can fic writers specify who tops or bottoms?
(Anonymous) 2016-02-12 09:38 pm (UTC)(link)This sounds like a problem with a particular writer, or writers.
There are definitely men who are strictly bottoms and men who are strictly tops (and you really can't argue with me about this because I;ve had these conversations) and I don't think there's anything wrong with someone either prompting that, preferring that dynamic, or scrolling past it because they DON'T prefer it.
People have to practice in order to become better at characterization. Along the way we're going to read every stereotype in the book. People don't get better when they're discouraged from exploring their interpretations.
Re: Can fic writers specify who tops or bottoms?
(Anonymous) 2016-02-12 09:46 pm (UTC)(link)It's a fandom wide problem. You'll see it in any fandom.
The issue isn't whether people prefer that in real life, it's the way it's written in fandom because it relies on really negative stereotypes and sometimes edges into fetishizing. Assuming someone bottoms or tops because of their emotional state or physical appearance is problematic. Changing someone's characterization to make them better fit the stereotypical idea of a top or bottom is also problematic.