#the counterpoint to 'stop reading this problematic thing' being 'your little leisure activity doesn't have any meaning anyway'

[ghooostbaby]

or i would say... find some other viewpoints. find some people talking about and thinking about romance that points to what is interesting and valuable about it. think about why you find it meaningful, what good stuff it brings to your life, formulate those thoughts into an argument which you can share or not. but at least will give you some confidence and solidity in your own viewpoint when you see people arguing against it. if you share it maybe other people who feel the same will comment and it will feel nice to bond over that ...

i always find that when people argue against "this is bad don't read/watch it" they come up with something that is opposite but just as wrong. like... "this is bad don't read" becomes "this doesn't actually mean anything and is just for leisure and so it doesn't matter, just having fun in your meaningless leisure activity". because even if it's "just for fun", would you do it if it doesn't have meaning? value? worth? there's something in it that even if it's "silly little romance stories" has enough value for you that you keep doing it even if it's uncomfortable to be told it's problematic. depending on what you mean by "medicine" it can very much be medicine but in a good way, like it brings something healing to you, maybe. it changes you in a way that you need... leisure, enjoyment, play, fun is still meaningful, these counterpoints are as dismissive as the original argument in a way, i think.

idk maybe a weird ask but any advice on how to enjoy romance books without being bummed out by discourse? i know they aren’t the pinnacle of literature or anything, but the recent stuff people have been saying about romance not counting as books has been kind of discouraging. have no idea why i’m asking this, i just wanna read my silly gay romance in peace without feeling guilty i’m not reading Super High Brow Literature. currently my main method is reading out of sheer spite, but any other advise is helpful. it’s not even just online, i get this irl too.

hey man in the most respectful way possible. who gives a shit. reading is for fun and guilt is for catholics. do whatever you want forever.