Fiction does affect reality.

Different kinds of fictional media affects reality differently.

All psychosocial analysis carries nuance. This is non-negotiable. And what a lot of people are saying recently, is that all media affects society in the same way.

I can talk about the Jaws Effect (a case of exploiting a common fear of a topic the population at large is ignorant about), Nazi film propaganda (inflaming an already present + controversial hatred/fear), Hays Code, and everything else some people are bringing up

But regardless, it always, always boils down to this:

There are people who indulge in fictional taboos, and don't want that taboo irl, nor do they condone it, or "normalize" it by creating media for it.

How do we know this? Aside from science--abuse survivors.

Ask any mental health professional, and they'll tell you personal fantasy in our heads can exist entirely separate from our perception of real life (not that it always does). It's how we can enjoy violent video games without getting the urge to be violent.

Abuse survivors very commonly experience interest in fantasies that involve their abuse. But they rarely desire that abuse--they can desire having the control they didn't have in that situation. They can desire rewriting an ending. They can just want to work through emotions.

Additionally, when approaching fantasy (sexual or otherwise), we tend to only enjoy them *because* it's not real.

You don't sky dive bc you want to meet your end, you sky dive bc you have a parachute.

You can enjoy taboo bc you're not hurting yourself or anyone else.

CAN these fantasies be your reality? Of course! Do they ALWAYS? Of course not.

I think about hugging my friends bc I do dearly want to. I also enjoy psychological horror bc I'm not actually in danger, and no one else is.

TW // rape, abuse

I'll be honest with you. This isn't easy for me to share, but I want to help those being hurt recently.

This current discourse is so upsetting to me bc I'm a CSA survivor, and adult rape survivor.

Not only is the conflation of fictional media to irl trauma *intensely triggering* to many, it disproportionately hurts innocent victims.

It's devastating to see anyone compare my trauma, my 20+ yrs of suffering, to a cartoon drawing or anime ship.

CSEM, pedophilia, incest, abuse, rape--those terms need to stay heavy. Don't water down their meaning. Don't say your anime NOTP is "literally CP".

CSEM, by definition, entails a real life victim. To say a cartoon is "literally CP" is saying my trauma is petty.

I truly don't believe the majority of you who do this (antis, fanpol, puritans, what have you) are doing it to cause harm. So I want to say this sincerely:

You aren't a bad person. But you aren't saying what you think you're saying.

I periodically enjoy noncon fantasies in the seat of the victim. My catharsis is having control over when it ends, and the fact that no one is actually hurt.

By saying "fictional interests = irl desire", you're telling victims like me that we want to be raped again.

"Okay, but keep your coping private!"

I do. I don't get catharsis from sharing. But plenty of victims do.

It validates them, reassures them that they're heard, their pain is understandable. The act of sharing can be their catharsis for any reason.

This is why we tag. We slap things with warning labels so no one runs into this content unwillingly.

Warning tags also provide the "this is terrible irl!" narrative. This is how we can create media without "normalizing" it. We're constantly saying it's not moral.

Historically, censorship outside of hate speech has been devastating.

And this narrative of "you're a freak for your fictional interests" has caused su/cide.

I was su/cidal for 20+ yrs bc of this same narrative, coming from the mouths of Christians.

It's also this same narrative that allowed a predator to gain my trust.

"Bad fiction means you're a bad person... but I only make wholesome art, therefore, I'm a good person!"

Please think about that. Think about the scapegoat, the tools you're giving predators.

"But art can be used to groom!"

Yes. Anything can be used to groom. Bicycles were a huge prop in my past.

We condemn the person, not the tools.

We condemn their real life desires and actions, not their fictional interest or content alone.

I'm not saying no one has been groomed with art. But art is never the perpetrator.

Don't give predators an out. Make them hold full responsibility. "It was easy to get old bicycles" isn't the reason I was abused. I was abused bc a person chose to be sadistic.

And I need to add how *difficult* it is to speak up about this.

Underage art triggers me. So badly I've been hospitalized. I *understand*. I don't want it anywhere near me.

But we can't harm survivors and innocents. And that's exactly what this discourse is doing.

I'm more than willing to discuss good faith arguments. Nobody knows everything, and I'm not infallible.

But this is my opinion, here and now. And I feel very strongly about it for empathetic reasons.

Please don't assume the worst of others. Be kind, be open to learning.

Being a better person than you were before isn't shameful. And yes, I aim that at myself as well. I've made many mistakes, and I'll make many more.

Not everyone is out to be selfish, or to hurt you. Everyone feels, just like you. Please remember that.

"but what about-"

Yes. Let that content exist. Just make sure it's got sufficient warning labels so no one can see it accidentally.

Continue to have a real-life narrative that reinforces sympathy, safety, and critical thought.

Make sure fiction doesn't talk over reality.