DISCUSSION/OFF-TOPIC POST

[themodawakens]

Use this post for things that are neither prompts nor questions for the mod.

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Comments

[(Anonymous)]

So I finally decide to step into tumblr and see what's happening, and literally the first thing I come across is a rant about how Finn can't be a medic because it reminds people of the 'black people are always caregivers' trope, and how that's problematic.

FUUUUUUUCK OFFFF with your bullshit. Please let us PoC enjoy having our goddamn people in Star Wars in peace.

Signed, black person in the middle of a gigantic medic!Finn fic for this kink meme. Okay, I may just be a little bitter.

[(Anonymous)]

I've seen arguments that Finn can't be any career type because it reminds people of some problematic trope.

Sometimes I'd like to know if the people attacking everyone for being "racist" are actually PoC.

[(Anonymous)]

NA

I've found that a lot of the people in fandom who yell the loudest about something being problematic are usually the ones least affected by the problem. A lot of allies to oppressed groups have a bad habit of claiming ownership or speaking over them, as if their feelings and thoughts are more important. Most of the time it comes from a genuine place, but it does more harm than good.

[(Anonymous)]

This. So much this.

It is almost as if they are casting their cultural values over the very groups they claim to protect.

[(Anonymous)]

99% of the time by their own admission, no.

[(Anonymous)]

But medics are a respected field. It takes a lot to be a nurse or doctor. Do these people not want black folks to have jobs or something??? WTF???

Next thing we know all Asians in fics must fail at math, because otherwise racist!!!!

Don't people realize this just makes the racial and cultural divides even bigger?

[(Anonymous)]

I completely agree with your points, but as an Asian person I would like it if Asian characters in fic just didn't have anything to do with math at all whenever possible. It's a pretty big sticking point in my real life. Of course, if it's an Asian character who is canonically a programmer or something I don't think a writer who writes that is "perpetuating racism" or anything.

[(Anonymous)]

Math is an important life skill, and when you go deeper it also trains you in logic. I'd rather everyone learn math better. Everyone.

As for people and situation in fics, I see it the same as job recruitment.

Are you hiring her because she is a woman, and you need to balance the numbers to be PC?
Are you hiring her because she is a woman, and you think she is hot?
Are you not hiring her because she is a woman, and you think women can't do the job?
Or are you making decisions based on pure merit?

Meritocracy for life man.

[(Anonymous)]

"Jessika why haven't you jumped to hyperspace?"

"I can't Commander! I can't calculate the maths good! It's not right for me to perpetuate those stereotypes! Go on without meeeeeee."

"Uh, okay. Well that sucks. See you in a few hundred years when you finally get back to base then."

"Tell General Organa I'm really sorry about being Asian!"

"Will do!"

[(Anonymous)]

na

Okay. I have to say it now. But I'll say it in a new thread.

[(Anonymous)]

WTF

[(Anonymous)]

I think Finn would make a wonderful medic. He clearly can't help wanting to help people.

[(Anonymous)]

NA

He'd make an awesome army medic because in addition to wanting to help people, he's totally that guy to rush across a battlefield to help someone even if it means he might get injured himself.

[(Anonymous)]

I'd rather he be a medic than take up arms against people he intellectually knows were kidnapped and forced to be child soldiers just like him. That's about a thousand times worse for me, and I don't understand why so many fics just casually have him be a resistance fighter without any acknowledgement of even a little bit of negative feeling. D:

[(Anonymous)]

I think it's for the same reason why so many fics portray the resistance as the ultimate good guys even though they've most likely killed innocents and done bad things too. A lot of people prefer to see it as black and white, good and evil instead of something more complicated and nuanced.

[(Anonymous)]

That's kinda what he did in the movie? He literally stabbed a stormtrooper through the chest like nbd.

[(Anonymous)]

The race wank surrounding Finn is giving me awful flashbacks to similar race wank surrounding Uhura on the ST 2009 kink meme.

[(Anonymous)]

And we all know what that means! So much race wank means the fandom is racist, racist I say!

[(Anonymous)]

I was very active in the star trek kink meme and don't remember any race wank at all, so there must not have been that much of it/it must've been easily avoidable.

[(Anonymous)]

Nothing compared to the race wank in the 60's after she and Kirk were forced to kiss.

[(Anonymous)]

Let's see them say that to a medical professional.

[(Anonymous)]

I come to this thread, and realize THIS is the reason why we are not getting more fills.

Come on folks anyone working on fills right now?

[(Anonymous)]

Well, OP is writing one, obvs. Are you saying they should just get back to writing 24/7 and not complain? Are you promoting writing slavery?????!!!

/joke by the way

[(Anonymous)]

Keep going with your fic! I, for one, love medic!Finn! :D

[(Anonymous)]

I grew up watching Star Trek Voyager where Tom Paris was both an ace pilot and chief medic, but had to be taught the latter while the first was his natural habit. I've always headcanoned Finn as the reverse - he has personality traits and a background that would lend itself towards being a stellar medic, but would have to be trained to be a pilot. I've always loved the nuances of the dual-talented character, and I think Finn is complex enough to support that.

I don't see it as racist, I see it as the start of him becoming a jack-of-two-trades that will be a kickass addition to the Resistance. And I don't think there's anything racist in being one race and being skilled at something.