Incorporating diverse characters is not about an agenda

[Stacey]

It's just real life. Diverse people exist. They should be the heroes of a few stories. No agenda.

 

[Stacey]

Loki totally inspired Pedra and Kilatra. Two sides of the same coin.

 

[Hannah Faoileán]

Loki totally inspired Pedra and Kilatra. Two sides of the same coin.

Loki is a brilliant example of a baddie you can't help but like. (At least, I can't).

 

[Stacey]

Loki is a brilliant example of a baddie you can't help but like. (At least, I can't).

Same. I love him. Even in norse mythology. But gods, in mythology his ending is truly awful.

 

[Bloo]

I'm not very "woke', and I cringe at wokeisms. And I've read a book or three with an agenda. The author drags out a soapbox for the MC to stand on and goes over issues like reading from a manifesto.

But simply including someone different in your story as an "agenda"? Uh...bite me.

 

[Bloo]

I had to attend a meeting at 0300 this morning, local time. So yeah...I'm a bit grumpy right now.

 

[Bloo]

Heh...I see your reaction, Hannah. 0530 local now, and the meeting is still going. They're in Italy, so they should break for lunch soon.

Back on topic...I'm writing "diversity" into my story, as well. I use quotes coz a diverse cast is nothing more than keeping it real.

 

[Dorm Ant]

I wrote a chapter for a friend's book, about cooking different types of vegetables. A black, London-based beta reader said the range of vegetables wasn't diverse enough. Fair point. So I edited to include calaloo, okra, plantains and other things that you typically see on market stalls in Brixton and other very multiracial areas. Reader was happy.

Then another (white) reader complained about "cultural appropriation" purely by mentioning these foods. You are always going to get people with a weird take on it.

 

[Stacey]

I wrote a chapter for a friend's book, about cooking different types of vegetables. A black, London-based beta reader said the range of vegetables wasn't diverse enough. Fair point. So I edited to include calaloo, okra, plantains and other things that you typically see on market stalls in Brixton and other very multiracial areas. Reader was happy.

Then another (white) reader complained about "cultural appropriation" purely by mentioning these foods. You are always going to get people with a weird take on it.

True.

 

[Bloo]

I'm really hating people right now.

One of my colleagues complained that Telenovelas are brainwashing Brazilians into Socialism.

Another colleague brought up the book that I think started the thread. I don't even know the name of it, but he said that he wouldn't have let his 12-year-old daughter read it if he knew it mixed mythology with "gender issues."

Seriously...I work in Hell.

 

[Stacey]

...I work in Hell.

I work for the government. So... yea. I hear ya.

 

[Rachel Caldecott]

Currently reading Ben Elton's 'Identity Crisis' and enjoying it. I'm looking forward to a world where everyone can be accepted, respected, and loved. But it could be a long wait.

 

[Peyton Stafford]

I sell to the government, so hell, yeah ...

 

[Peyton Stafford]

I'm really hating people right now.

One of my colleagues complained that Telenovelas are brainwashing Brazilians into Socialism.

Another colleague brought up the book that I think started the thread. I don't even know the name of it, but he said that he wouldn't have let his 12-year-old daughter read it if he knew it mixed mythology with "gender issues."

Seriously...I work in Hell

It's just real life. Diverse people exist. They should be the heroes of a few stories. No agenda.
View attachment 12600

Nor Greek. Thinking of Tiresias. (I thought I wrote this as a reply to the quotes from Rick Riordan about Norse mythology. I wonder if anyone has done a comparative study of how gender fluidity is handled in a range of mythologies and how that correlates to current views and issues.)