#AND FICTION AFFECTS REALITY. DESENSITIZATION AND NORMALIZATION ARE REAL THINGS YOUR BRAIN DOES. YOU LEARNED THIS IN 8TH GRADE.

[randomtheidiot]

Shocking secret that big name YouTubers don’t want you to know: It is very easy to not groom or sexualize children. Ridiculously easy, in fact.

[justmeandmythoughtson]

Also, fiction DOES affect reality? Nobody is saying it doesn't? What we DO say is that, if you already know and understand why sexualizing REAL children is wrong, no amount of fanfiction featuring some Make-Believe People doing Make-Believe Things is going to change that.

Your reality influences your interpretation of fiction FAR more than the other way around. IRL influences should be and are the strongest influences in your life. If you're learning how to act morally from fandom, of all things, there's bigger problems in your life than a rando's squicky fanart. And that's not the fanart's fault.

Also, just as reassurance to anyone wondering: if you are looking at a fanfic or fanart of "Immoral Things" and you don't feel repulsed, this is not a sign you think it's okay irl. This is not a warning that you are becoming a terrible person.

You have been desensitized, yes, but desensitization is NORMAL. It's HEALTHY. It's your brain learning to respond to a stressful or distressing situation WITHOUT panic, disgust, or horror - it's a survival skill.

You are still capable of understanding how that Terrible Thing is wrong IRL. You are still capable of being compassionate to victims of that Terrible Thing, you are still capable ofnl fighting against it IRL. The ONLY thing that has changed is that you are able to do those things calmly.

You're not a bad person for not feeling strong emotions. You're not a bad person for being desensitized to things you read or see in fictional contexts. I promise.

You don't have to feel horrified to act. And it's the action that matters.

I don’t know which horny writer needs to hear this but your character shouldn’t be 17