I'd like some advice on taste

[B1ue]

I posted this question to my blog (not here, I keep one on livejournal), but I thought this might be a better place to ask it. I'm considering what I want to write for the next anthology, and my first idea is to do a short story trilogy. The first part would be an edited version of this, the second would be a piece about his mother's angry reaction to that development, centered on his mother, and the third from a yet unnamed person about the aftermath. It is the second piece I am concerned about.

 

Specifically, would it be tasteful to put a story that might be construed as sympathetic to an angry, homophobic parent on a website whose readership includes people who might live in terror of such circumstances, if not deal with such circumstances on a daily basis? My gut tells me that people would be able to handle it, and realize that what comes out of a character's mouth and thoughts aren't necessarilywhat I think and say, but would it be better to avoid the issue entirely?

 

Please give me your opinions people. I'm honestly in a quandary.

[Bondwriter]

Specifically, would it be tasteful to put a story that might be construed as sympathetic to an angry, homophobic parent on a website whose readership includes people who might live in terror of such circumstances, if not deal with such circumstances on a daily basis? My gut tells me that people would be able to handle it, and realize that what comes out of a character's mouth and thoughts aren't necessarilywhat I think and say, but would it be better to avoid the issue entirely?

 

Please give me your opinions people. I'm honestly in a quandary.

As always, it depends on how it's handled. Do not shy away from it if you really feel like writing this second part with this character. You may always have a disclaimer if you're afraid it might shock readers.

[DomLuka]

Specifically, would it be tasteful to put a story that might be construed as sympathetic to an angry, homophobic parent on a website whose readership includes people who might live in terror of such circumstances, if not deal with such circumstances on a daily basis? My gut tells me that people would be able to handle it, and realize that what comes out of a character's mouth and thoughts aren't necessarilywhat I think and say, but would it be better to avoid the issue entirely?

 

Please give me your opinions people. I'm honestly in a quandary.

 

Sympathetic? It depends. I think there

[Graeme]

Specifically, would it be tasteful to put a story that might be construed as sympathetic to an angry, homophobic parent on a website whose readership includes people who might live in terror of such circumstances, if not deal with such circumstances on a daily basis? My gut tells me that people would be able to handle it, and realize that what comes out of a character's mouth and thoughts aren't necessarilywhat I think and say, but would it be better to avoid the issue entirely?

 

Please give me your opinions people. I'm honestly in a quandary.

My view is that there are always at least two sides to every story. You don't get the complete picture until you see all the sides. As Dom has said, I think many people will have a better understanding of their parents if they have a chance to see things from their parents point of view. They may not agree, but even a glimpse of understanding can help.

 

Go for it!

 

On a personal note, I had the same concerns with my first story, because it was coming out story written from the point of view of an (initially) homophobic teen. I was seriously expecting to be flamed for doing that, but I thought it was important for people to see the other side so I went ahead -- and I didn't get a single flame. I had people tell me that they stopped reading because they couldn't stomach the homophobia, but no one -- not one -- ever indicated they thought that I believed the things that I was writing.

[Razor]

Tasteful? Come now, do we really have to worry about that? I don't ever consider if something I write is "tasteful". If someone doesn't like it... well, that's their own problem, and I am a firm supporter of the back button. Besides, if people can't realize that a piece of fiction is simply fiction, then, well... they're kind of special, don't you think?

[NickolasJames8]

Besides, if people can't realize that a piece of fiction is simply fiction, then, well... they're kind of special, don't you think?

 

 

And they ride a special bus to school??

 

Seriously, I agree with everyone here. There's nothing wrong with exploring all sides of an argument, regardless of how we might feel. A lot of homophobes really believe that it's impossible for homosexuality to be anything but a choice. Oddly enough, their reasoning is the same argument that we use to try to explain to them that it's not a choice....go figure