#ebaneezer scrooge

[aroworlds]

So I was just kicked off of a famous ace blog chat room for saying Ebeneezer Scrooge is Aro ace , they told me to not headcanon gross characters Aro ace and I was like “ it’s not headcanon it’s fact “ he’s Aro ace coded , they got so offended they kicked me instead of discussing author bias against Aro aces , it’s not Scrooge’s fault dickens made him such a jerk to justify his villianization . I just ... I hate myself for not being socially acceptable around sensitive people

Anon, I am so sorry that you had to experience this awfulness. I assure you, this is not a case of people being sensitive. I’m also glad, selfishly, that you’ve sent this in, because it’s a wonderful excuse to talk about how current attitudes towards representation are running the risk of enabling bigotry more than preventing it.

This is a case of people engaging in clear, bold, specific aro-ace erasure and using the language of social justice to justify said erasure. It’s out-and-out aro-ace antagonism in the vein of denying an aro-ace person ability to express identity within the context of a well-known character and it is not okay. In fact, it’s downright reprehensible, to the extent that I could joyfully employ the thesaurus in finding alternate ways to discuss how despicable I find this–both the initial response in denying you identity/connection with a famous literary character and the resulting response in kicking you out of the ace community because you won’t fall in line with their ignorant ideas about representation.

You aren’t the problem here, anon. You never were the problem here. You do not deserve to hate yourself because you have been a victim of other people’s erasure, prejudice and dismissal. You do not deserve to hate yourself because you have been denied access to the asexual community for the crime of relating to a fictional character. You deserve to be angry, furious, outraged.

It’s hard not to feel this way when people are telling you that you don’t get to exist, when you have been kicked out of a community for daring to be yourself and express an connection for a character. It is absolutely not a failing in you that you feel the way you do–I want to be clear on that. We tend to direct the hate given by others towards ourselves, and that’s a normal human response. But it is not deserved.

It is not okay to tell a marginalised person that they cannot relate to a character coded like us. It is not okay to deny a marginalised person, often with few mainstream characters that depict anything close to our lived experiences, connection with a literary canon just because it isn’t good or idealised representation.

Scrooge–very aro-ace-coded to me, I must say–isn’t good representation. How can he be, given the context of his creation? That doesn’t mean we can’t or shouldn’t relate to him, create headcanons, write fanfiction or draw fanart, make meta posts, discuss how we connect to his life. On the contrary, transformative media is about taking a character like Scrooge and making him meaningful, supportive, positive representation despite the canon. Fandom has always been for taking the failings in the source material and transforming it into something that celebrates us–that moves beyond simply being relatable.

We can connect to, celebrate and discuss a character in their canon without it being cast as good representation. We can understand the difference between good representation and connection with a character--that connection does not have to mean endorsement of the canon approach. In a world where there’s little mainstream representation to speak of, we have to fall back on the latter. Where do we exist without it? Nowhere.

To tell us that we cannot do that, that we have to wait instead on characters who fit the narrow box of idealised, intentional, pure, perfect representation, is erasure. It’s silencing. Because it’s so tangled up in social justice understandings (and performances) of representation in a culture where representation is valued and consequently stripped apart, it is also disingenuous and dangerous. In how we’ve come to consider and understand representation, we have handed people a weapon to dismiss people while sounding as though they’re not engaging in explicit erasure–usually targeting people of intersecting marginalised identities, like aro-aces, disabled a-specs and a-specs of colour (as a very incomplete list).

I’m sure folks who’ve followed me for a little while have realised that I’m not a fan of how it has become fashionable to discuss and conceptualise representation, and anon’s story is a very clear cut example of why. People understand that it is damaging to marginalise-code a villain/antihero/antagonist character (or make them specifically/intentionally of a marginalised identity). People understand the need for marginalised people to see themselves in positive/protagonist characters. We no longer, though, have any sense of grey space where a character is not good representation but is still relatable and allowed to be discussed for that alone.

I’m going to use Garth Nix’s Clariel as an example. Clariel is dreadful aro-ace representation, in my opinion: in her own story (Clariel) she’s a fairly-sympathetic anti-hero protagonist who makes some awful decisions in the name of trying to solve a difficult situation, but she becomes a series antagonist who carries out murderous actions (seen clearly in Goldenhand but alluded-to throughout the series). The aro-ace character steals young women’s bodies to house her own spirit. She is terrible, terrible aro-ace rep. But that doesn’t mean a-spec folks can’t or shouldn’t relate to her experiences as an aro-ace character. I can dislike her as representation because of her position as series antagonist while at the same time connecting to her disconnection from social interaction and preference to live alone (the autism-coding is significant!) and there is worth in discussing that connection.

I don’t see how characters like Scrooge are any different. You’ve made it clear that you’re discussing him in terms of coding. You’re not painting a picture of Scrooge as good, idealised representation. You’re just saying you see him as aro-ace, that Scrooge is a character in a long-line of aro-ace-coded antagonist-ish characters, and you just want to talk about that with other aces. (Since when has it become a problem to talk about the antagonism directed at aro-aces via aro-ace coding, anyway?) It isn’t a crime to even want to reclaim Scrooge, to build something positive out of a faulty canon, to talk about what he means to you as an aro-ace character. That’s what fandom is for.

We can, should and must discuss characters and properties that are damaging representation or are not representation at all (just coding) in ways that acknowledge the problems of their being rep (or that they’re not rep at all) without dismissing the fact that people will still connect to and wish to enjoy and share these characters. We can discuss problems in coding and representation for a certain property or character while still giving people space to discuss said connection.

The idea that I should only express connection for characters who are perfect, pure representation of my marginalised identities is bigotry. It’s erasure in social justice clothing. It silences the people who do not yet have the privilege of mainstream/readily-accessible representation while privileging those who do have increased access to representation, and we cannot allow or accept it. Your ask exemplifies this: we have a culture where many parts of the broader asexual community have a habit of seeing aro-ace as the wrong way to write asexual, and now there’s one less aro-ace character acceptable to talk about in an ace community space. That isn’t a coincidence; the people who have least representation will always be most harmed by this. Always.

Again, anon, I’m so sorry that you had to endure this. If you want to fill my inbox with your thoughts on Scrooge, go for it.

[nabexis]

Image ID below the read more

[ID: A set of 4 images.

The first is of Barok van Zieks crushing a glass using just his hand.

The second is of Ryunosuke Naruhodo and Susato Mikotoba reacting to the first panel, shocked.

Susato: Mr. Naruhodo, did... h-he just...?

Ryunosuke: Crush that crystal glass like a bug? Yes. Yes, Miss Susato, I believe he did.

The third image is of Barok van Zieks at a confectionery. The Confectionary has a sign on it labeled "Chocolates, candies & Leomon (oops a typo, supposed to be "Lemon") Drops" A middle-aged woman at the counter is helping him.

van Zieks: Two dozen of your finest Sugar Glass Hallowed Chalices, if you please, Miss Humbug.

Humbug: Ah, heading back to the courtroom then, my dear?

van Zieks: ... Yes.

The final drawing is a closer mage of Miss Humbug. Her hair is grey and black striped, she is wearing a confectioner's uniform from the early 20th century with a wrapped candy pin and holding a pot of Honey. Written next to her is:

Pamina Humbug

-Pamina means "Honey"

-A Humbug is a type of Xmas candy that was made in Victornian England, named after Ebaneezer Scrooge's catchphrase "Bah, Humbug"

-Owner of a Confectionary that makes all sorts of Victorian sweets. She specializes in making Sugar Glass, or what's commonly used to make glass props for films. This is where Barok van Zieks gets his Hallowed Chalices so he can crush them with ease (and without injuring himself) to keep up his intimidating repertoire in court.

End ID]

[a-knight-in-shining-rainbows]

i’ve seen like four knock offs of the ebaneezer scrooge post why is tumblr such a hive mind (affectionate)

[eyesaremosaics]

ok, I have to ask what you think about Capricorns if you don't mind 😬

Ahhh….I LOVE Capricorns. Whenever a capricorn shows up–I know everything is going to be okay. They will get it handled, and with such gentle grace and naturalism. They are the most faithful of all the signs, the most dependable. They work hard, and build slowly, carefully building brick by brick, but with strategic genius. I have found them to be the mainstay’s of my life, the friends who are unwavering in their loyalty and devotion–they are the one’s who stay. When all the dregs of humanity are washed through your life, the fair weather friends, the seasonal comrades, they are what is left over in your hands. True blue, as a Jay. I have only dated one in the past, but he turned out to be the most kind and gentle towards me. Never put me down, never raised his voice to me, not once. Though he could suddenly become very remote and difficult to read. Silent as the grave they say…

The are very enterprising, natural negotiators, yet they are strong in their convictions, and believe they are always right. They feel very strongly that they are the only one who knows the proper way to go about a situation (and often they’re right). They can be a little self righteous, or “high and mighty” at times, but they mean well, and give great insight. They are pragmatic to the extreme, and often see other on both a conscious and an unconscious level as utilities. The through-line for Capricorn is: “I Use”. That is not meant malevolently–though it CAN be. Because they are so ambitious, so goal oriented, so structured and disciplined, they operate in relationships as though it were a business. They see you as a partner or a shareholder, and they expect you to offer equal investment that they put in. Anything that ceases to be of use to a Capricorn, will be discarded.

Capricorn can be cold if they want to. They are not above stepping on others to attain what they want. Depending on what else is thin their chart (Pisces, Leo etc) they may try to avoid this at all costs, but when push comes to shove, they will shut off their emotions and switch into logical self preservation mode. It’s actually quite eerie. Capricorn’s are very private about their struggles, their personal life, and their pain. They feel very deeply, despite their over achieving exterior. A Capricorn without a sense of purpose, is very lost indeed. It they are not working towards a goal, they fall into the dark aspects of this sign.

Scorpio gets the reputation for being “dark” in the popularized notions of astrology, and yes–scorpio is dark in a psychological/sexual way, but Capricorn is darker in my opinion. Capricorn is dark in a sociopathic/satanic way. Prime examples of this are Anthony Hopkins, or in the fictional realm: Lord Voldemort. (By the way they have the same birthday, just  F.Y.I). They can be cold and sadistic when they want to. This ability to turn off their feelings, the callousness of their pragmatism can be shocking to more sensitive souls. To them, the end always justifies the means. A scorpio has emotional investment in damaging someone else (usually because they were hurt first), capricorn does not. They have no emotional response to hurting others, in their mind they write it off as a necessary loss. In their head it was justified, and they coldly turn away and do not look back. They don’t poke around to see if you’re hurting about it, because they simply don’t care, they have washed their hands of it entirely.

My Capricorn ex, often disturbed me with the darkness in him at times. His sense of humor was very black. Bitterly sarcastic, pessimistic, and both masochistic as well as sadistic. He used to watch really disturbing video’s over and over, laughing creepily to himself. He was so detached from emotion at times, that I think he literally had no clue that his directness and brutal honesty was hurting and effecting others. He went from girl to girl, until the relationship ceased to be “of use” or benefit to him, and then he would end it very precisely. “No Megan, this is not what I want.” He used to do really twisted shit with his ex girlfriend, like stab around each others hand with a knife fucked up on cough medicine, having anal sex in alley ways spun out of drugs, just destructive dark activities with exactly that… satanic intention. Taking full responsibility for ones actions, and relishing the darkness for the sake of darkness itself. At times he frightened me, with how dark and emotionless he could go. Like a black hole, or a bottomless pit. At least a Scorpio has rage and sexuality thrown in the mix, Capricorn is utterly terrifying.  The cold vacuum of space. Emotionless, swallowing, destructive, and silent. The glassy eyes of a corpse, yet so much blind chaos swirling inside.

That is the secret darkness hidden in the heart of every Capricorn. Not all express these qualities, but they are all capable pf going to that place. That is why they are so private. They fear mental annihilation, because underneath that carefully crafted exterior, and all their systematic process, is the blind chaos boiling deep in the pit pf their being. An example of a Capricorn succumbing to their inner demons: Howard Hughes. His feverish and neurotic obsession with perfection and cleanliness. How he always needed to be on to the next big thing, always aiming higher and higher, but never meeting his own standards or unrealistic expectations. His eccentric nature turned into full blown madness in his later years.

I liken Capricorn to…The oldest tree in the forest. Silent, expansive, with many rings inside. They have seen aeon’s come and go…watched the foliage in the trees change their shades and blow away. Watched the flowers poke through the earth and bloom in the springtime. Deep in the sacred forest, this still and silent creature sits, absorbing, growing wise. They are the delicate powder of snow putting the earth to sleep, the gentle spirit of an older woman, carrying the soul of the little match girl into the afterlife. They are diamonds, splitting, compressing always into something greater. They are a Manhattan minute, a grandfather clock, Ebaneezer Scrooge, Dark wood engravings, silk tassels, a riding crop, intricate tapestries, deep blue (almost black) silk with gold floral brocade. a glass of dark red wine, a room full of cut glass chandelier’s with dozens of mirrors.

They are the first snow of the season, the darkest night of the year. The time of limited daylight, or self preservation to survive the winter. They are the white walkers, the black magicians, the hermit carrying his own light into the darkness, discovering wisdom in solitude. They are elegant, simple dresses in royal shades, they are intricate as snowflakes, softly present with you. Suddenly seen on their sleigh of silver, to carry you out of the valley. They have a plan, they have many secrets, most which they will take to the grave. For all this perceived :hardness”, they are fiercely loyal to those they love. You can rely on Capricorn to show up, and generally early. They like to be ahead of schedule. If they have Leo in their chart, they will staunchly defend their idea of justice, if they have heavy water in their chart, they will tend to dissociate, or indulge in escapism. Though they will always show up to work. No matter how fucked up they may get,, they get the job done. They loathe to show weakness, it takes a lot to break them down.

Capricorn is the quiet heart of the ancient forest. Where the air is still, you can hear the whispering of the trees. A dead language only they can hear. Determined magic, a clear cold night midwinter, when all the stars come alive. Numb as the winter. Mud in their veins and their eyes. Beneath the pale white sheath of snow, lie the seeds of rebirth. They are quietly blooming inside, building empires before your eyes.