My world is filled with people of all sorts of gender, sexual, and sexuality identities; national and ethnic origins; linguistic backgrounds; religious preferences (including undecided and Agnostic); immigration statuses; ages; interests; professions; and housing situations. My life is richer and more interesting because of those differences. I have learned much more from people with these various differences than if I had remained isolated in the suburbs where I grew up.

Even though I am risk averse, I have learned to enjoy foods and cuisines from all over the world (but I’m still refusing to eat my quota of micro-pellet plastics via seafood). I have come to appreciate what I have more because I’ve learned about people who grew up with much less (money, stuff, resources, education, love, and support) than I did when I was growing up. I enjoy learning about new things from new people, especially when they display the intersectionality of the real world.
 

Ooooo! Lots of really scary terms there! Maybe someone should set up a frightening Halloween Anthology using all these trigger words and concepts! Much more terrifying than clowns, ghosts, mass murderers, or unexplained internet outages.
;–)

2 minutes ago, droughtquake said:

Ooooo! Lots of really scary terms there! Maybe someone should set up a frightening Halloween Anthology using all these trigger words and concepts! Much more terrifying than clowns, ghosts, mass murderers, or unexplained internet outages.
;–)

'An Inclusive Word a Day Keeps Dr. Peterson Away'.

I think if I ever wrote a story, they’d make me post it in The Pit! Hey wait a minute, they don’t moderate new posters there. I wouldn’t have to wait in a queue until my rep points got high enough!
;–)

26 minutes ago, droughtquake said:

I think if I ever wrote a story, they’d make me post it in The Pit! Hey wait a minute, they don’t moderate new posters there. I wouldn’t have to wait in a queue until my rep points got high enough!
;–)

There are no rules on GA about political stories. Ask me in PM if you want to know about the project I'm working on...  

You may have seen my comment about needing to write an entire story with no dialogue because I’m so bad at it. I have plenty of ideas, but don’t know how to create an interesting story arc and conclusion. I know that some writers don’t worry about any of those issues (or spelling, grammar, and punctuation), but they seem unaware that their stories are sorely lacking in critical areas. I wouldn’t want to look like one of those authors!
;–)

6 minutes ago, droughtquake said:

You may have seen my comment about needing to write an entire story with no dialogue because I’m so bad at it. I have plenty of ideas, but don’t know how to create an interesting story arc and conclusion. I know that some writers don’t worry about any of those issues (or spelling, grammar, and punctuation), but they seem unaware that their stories are sorely lacking in critical areas. I wouldn’t want to look like one of those authors!
;–)

Well, you never know if you can do it until you try. Take one of those ideas, start somewhere, and just write. What was that quote? 'Be brave enough to suck at something new'?

I’d have to hide my efforts in that notorious cesspool site where editing and spellchecking is apparently banned.
;–)

1 minute ago, droughtquake said:

I’d have to hide my efforts in that notorious cesspool site where editing and spellchecking is apparently banned.
;–)

Or you could write for yourself and then, if you feel like it may be going somewhere, let your good friend Thorn give it a once over with his mad editing skillz.  

Quote

Suffice it to say, we had a party, someone got drunk, someone called the cops, and now the party's over.

Well... this website that is about Authors and Writing, does have signs that say "partying" is only allowed in certain zones, and well, The Lounge is a no "party" zone.

I enjoyed the party ...

I did think about what was on the billboard before it was blown off.  I think what i read was an excellent thing for my tool box. I am not afraid to learn something new, or consider possibilities. It makes me both a better person and storyteller I think. 

@droughtquake if you fancy writing something.. do it my friend. Many of us would help if you want it. Go for it.

Thanks for this, Thorn xo

That was irritating but as Wayne says, not unexpected. 

20 minutes ago, Mikiesboy said:

I enjoyed the party ...

I did think about what was on the billboard before it was blown off.  I think what i read was an excellent thing for my tool box. I am not afraid to learn something new, or consider possibilities. It makes me both a better person and storyteller I think. 

@droughtquake if you fancy writing something.. do it my friend. Many of us would help if you want it. Go for it.

Thanks for this, Thorn xo

Yeah, the party was good while it lasted. It's good that people got something out of it before it ended.  

12 minutes ago, MichaelS36 said:

That was irritating but as Wayne says, not unexpected. 

 

Not in the least. I was pretty sure it would happen from the moment the topic was posted. I've been here (on and off) for nearly 7 years; I know the ropes. lol

5 minutes ago, Thorn Wilde said:

Yeah, the party was good while it lasted. It's good that people got something out of it before it ended.  

Not in the least. I was pretty sure it would happen from the moment the topic was posted. I've been here (on and off) for nearly 7 years; I know the ropes. lol

Not my first rodeo either … but I will say no more here.  

I'll agree to disagree.

Having experienced the receiving end of hatred such tests promote in certain writing circles, they are by far political instruments used to abused those that think differently. I almost completely gave up all writing after it happened. I so wanted to punch the lady that ripped up my hard copy of The Half-Elven Warlock because, "the main character is a gay male at an all boys school. This story is so sexist and misogynistic that I wouldn't wipe my ass with it." Their advice was to turn it into a trans MtF at an all girls school, then it might have some redeeming qualities and be relevant in this day and age. Just thinking about that shit is pissing me off.

So, yeah, it was political.

2 minutes ago, Brayon said:

I'll agree to disagree.

Having experienced the receiving end of hatred such tests promote in certain writing circles, they are by far political instruments used to abused those that think differently. I almost completely gave up all writing after it happened. I so wanted to punch the lady that ripped up my hard copy of The Half-Elven Warlock because, "the main character is a gay male at an all boys school. This story is so sexist and misogynistic that I wouldn't wipe my ass with it." Their advice was to turn it into a trans MtF at an all girls school, then it might have some redeeming qualities and be relevant in this day and age. Just thinking about that shit is pissing me off.

So, yeah, it was political.

With all due respect, those were other people. None of the people who did that to you were in that thread. Anything can be used politically. Doesn't mean it inherently is.

8 minutes ago, Brayon said:

I'll agree to disagree.

Having experienced the receiving end of hatred such tests promote in certain writing circles, they are by far political instruments used to abused those that think differently. I almost completely gave up all writing after it happened. I so wanted to punch the lady that ripped up my hard copy of The Half-Elven Warlock because, "the main character is a gay male at an all boys school. This story is so sexist and misogynistic that I wouldn't wipe my ass with it." Their advice was to turn it into a trans MtF at an all girls school, then it might have some redeeming qualities and be relevant in this day and age. Just thinking about that shit is pissing me off.

So, yeah, it was political.

Your previous situation was political.

No one here was "grading" you or your story. It wasn't about you, or anybody who isn't interested in writing women into stories.

A number of folks made it about them. That's not political ... it is, however conceited.

2 minutes ago, Talo Segura said:

It made me question what I'm doing here. As a new author I am really interested in discussing writing, I came across this test, which isn't a pass or fail school test, simply a way to measure, and it got me thinking about my writing. Others have tried to discuss inclusion within stories and a few people have taken offence. It's extremely painful to get this kind of reaction, because if nobody had ever mentioned inclusion of gays in stories and films etc. we probably wouldn't be here writing on this site. It was a straightforward discussion of the inclusion of women in stories. It seems perhaps that a discussion about women in some way threatens to bring the gay world tumbling down. That is insane insecurity. I find it disappointing that a member can get a forum thread taken down. I'd be interested in the reason why. 

Imagine a discussion on a non-gay writers site about a test which measures the presence of gay characters in stories and it's making people think about what they write, that's all, it just makes them think. But someone on that site says I don't want you telling me to put gays in my stories, my stories are all about normal heterosexuals. How would that make you feel as a gay person. It's exactly the kind of prejudice we have fought against. Not acknowledging there is an issue here is not acknowledging gays or women or anyone who is different exists. 

I realise I'm talking to the converted here, but if I was angry on the Forum I'd probably get banned.

I for one am glad you started the topic, Talo. It got people thinking. And yeah, like I said, it really shouldn't be an issue to discuss writing, neither style nor content, on a site dedicated to stories. You certainly didn't do anything wrong. I'm guessing the thread was taken down because of the arguments that ensued and not because of the content that was being discussed. At least I hope so.

7 minutes ago, Talo Segura said:

It made me question what I'm doing here

I understand that. I could share some stories with you and I'm not an author. However, you did influence some in a good way. Be happy in that my friend. A small, yet partial victory. 

The thread appears to have been moved to the Pit and reopened. I'm not sure if I think this is a good thing or a bad thing... On the one hand, cool that it still exists. On the other, it tells us the mods think this topic is inherently political, and that's sad.

The mods may not think the topic is political so much as some individuals MADE it political.

3 minutes ago, Kitt said:

The mods may not think the topic is political so much as some individuals MADE it political.

True.

3 hours ago, Mikiesboy said:

@droughtquake if you fancy writing something.. do it my friend. Many of us would help if you want it. Go for it.

Oh, no. My creativity comes in very tiny bits. Writing was always something I struggled with in English class. That and spelling (but my parents helped improve my spelling over time with family games of Scrabble and Boggle). Everything I did was too derivative and unoriginal. I have trouble creating something coherent because my thinking is very disorganized.

I’ll leave the writing to my favorite authors who are much more talented than I could ever be!
;–)

2 minutes ago, droughtquake said:

Oh, no. My creativity comes in very tiny bits. Writing was always something I struggled with in English class. That and spelling (but my parents helped improve my spelling over time with family games of Scrabble and Boggle). Everything I did was too derivative and unoriginal. I have trouble creating something coherent because my thinking is very disorganized.

I’ll leave the writing to my favorite authors who are much more talented than I could ever be!
;–)

Well if you ever change your mind ... 💖