FrostyTheSnowman

Thank you for your support, your explanation was as eloquent and insightful

Indeed, it's inappropriate and ill-conceived to appoint oneself as the unofficial "head" of the BL community or to associate BL fans with unemployment

Honesty requires one to engage with the complexity and nuance of a story, rather than reducing it to simplistic categorizations of "pedophilia" or "toxic." I didn't see you doing that

The BL community is made up of diverse individuals from all walks of life, many of whom have full-time jobs. They might've been indulging in constructive discourse during their leisure time

A leader or representative of the BL community wouldn't denigrate their own community members. Your behavior is more befitting of an interloper or imposter

"Defining one's worth on preverse activity is a solely modern western conception"

Homosexuality isn't innately perverse or immoral

Cultural imperialism or colonialism shouldn't be categorized as exclusively malevolent or benevolent. Its impact should be examined in the historical, social, political context in which it occurs

Attitudes towards homosexuality have varied greatly throughout history and across different regions. They were generally accepting or tolerant. I believe your comments rest on assumptions that aren't supported by historical or anthropological evidence

"A minority or contrary opinion, an opinion heavily focused by colonialism and neo-colonalism atitudes"

This line implies that non-Westerners are incapable of arriving at their own pro-gay values and beliefs without the influence of outside powers

Individuals and communities in non-Western cultures have their reasons for advocating for acceptance of homosexuality. The assumption that we are following a Western agenda is dismissive of our agency and lived experiences, perpetuating the same colonialist attitudes that you attempted to critique

My disagreement with the homophobic majority predated my exposure to the internet and the outside world, and my sheltered upbringing didn't prevent me from forming a different opinion on the issue. I could see that bullying, imprisoning, or executing a gay person was immoral. I had the capacity for compassion and critical thinking

"Refering to "homosexuality" as an identity is an entirely western concept"

The emergence of modern concepts of sexuality in the West was a product of centuries of social, political, and intellectual "developments." It's not a simplistic "Western" vs. "Non-Western" dichotomy

"The majority enforces the cultural layout"

Culture isn't a static or monolithic entity. It's in flux, it interacts with the minority and other cultures, and it's not possible to predict how it will change. The "imposition" of beliefs on the majority by the minority is a natural consequence of this interaction, and can result in a mutual growth or enrichment of all parties involved

The majority "imposes" their beliefs on the minority, the minority can "impose" their beliefs on the majority. Both scenarios represent a form of cultural "imposition." Neither is better than the other

Advocating for the rights of minorities isn't equivalent to Western Christian missionaries "imposing" their beliefs on non-White people. Minorities are marginalized and oppressed in their cultural and social contexts

"Rights" and "respect" aren't "Western" values, they are universal human values. No culture has a monopoly on dignity or equality. The violation of rights, whether in the name of culture or religion, is still a violation of rights

I commend you for your open-mindedness and respect for differing opinions

My comments were misunderstood and I was blocked by the other person before I could explain my intentions. I simply shared my opinion on how the inclusion of gay elements could've enhanced the drama. I didn't discourage others from enjoying it

Everyone is entitled to have an opinion on art and culture. The entertainment industry is a global business that depends on audiences from all over the world, not just those within the country of origin, and as such, it's in its best interest to listen to and consider our different opinions. We can help to drive positive change by working together

"Don't you love strong bromances rather than lame nc bls?"

"Bromances" don’t do it for me. They feel superficial and one-dimensional. I prefer to see men be open and honest with each other and let their love develop into something deeper than "just friendship"

"Perhaps it was best that they completely left out the bl aspect considering what I just mentioned"

When people claim that the removal of the gay elements was for the best because the romance was potentially predatory, they're not seeing the bigger picture

We can't pick and choose which gay relationships to include or exclude based on our personal discomfort or an arbitrary criteria like "potentially predatory"

The problem isn't the presence of a potentially predatory romance, it's the way it's handled. Instead of removing the gay elements, the drama could've used the romance as a starting point for a conversation about power dynamics in relationships, the complexities of consent, etc. It missed an opportunity to engage with or explore the issue

Non-Western cultures weren't/aren't innately anti-gay. Not everyone in these cultures agrees with the majority opinion. I'm Asian, and I don't agree

Anti-gay attitudes and laws can be traced back to colonial influences, particularly European colonialism, which imposed heteronormative beliefs on Asian and non-Asian cultures around the world. Opposing discrimination based on gay people's sexuality is a form of decolonization or resistance to the lingering effects of colonialism

While the specific terminology used to describe these issues might have originated in Western cultures, the concepts behind them aren't limited to those cultures. Gay people and the issues they face aren't a product of Western culture. They are a universal part of human experience

"Expecting the vast majority of the world to conform to you is baffaling"

Anti-gay cultures are already imposing their beliefs on gay people and expecting them to conform. They can't complain when expected to uphold the basic principles of decency, equality, and respect for gay people's rights

This fury is tame compared to the fury I've seen unleashed in e.g. anime fandoms when a e.g. Western live adaptation doesn't stay true to the source material

Outrage is an expression of the connection fans have with the things they cherish and hold dear. And after spending time in various fandoms, I've come to expect it

Because the censored drama has scrubbed out gay-related plot points, Yi Heon's bullying for his sexuality, the pre-soul-swapping attraction between him and Se Kyung, etc. People are concerned that the drama will avoid the BL parts altogether

I believe the concerns over pedophilia in relation to this story are misplaced. I don't care that the relationship was between two high school-aged individuals, or a high schooler and a 47-year-old's soul occupying a high school-aged body. Pedophilia involves pre-pubescent children, which is not the case here. A 17 or 19-year-old isn't a pre-pubescent child

Souls are ageless and genderless. The body remains that of a high schooler, and if it's considered inappropriate for this body to be in a relationship with another high schooler, it would be inappropriate for it to be in a relationship with an individual in their 20s-30s-40s as well

In the context of a fantasy world where souls occupy different bodies, the terms of our reality, such as age of consent laws, aren't always applicable

To be honest, there are better BL stories that could've been adapted. The producers could've chosen something that wouldn't have caused confusion

The gay work, a derivative of a prior work, is an original piece of art that stands on its own. This adaptation is based on the gay work

People complained that the movie was turned into a gay novel, you didn't see it. The people who favor the novel's gay elements are as disappointed by the story's shift towards "bromance" in the adaptation

There are pressing issues in the world. Censorship of gay works and loss of freedom of speech are pressing issues, and shutting down the critiques of censorship is harmful to free speech itself. The recent decision to censor a gay work is part of a pattern of homophobia and censorship of gay stories that has a chilling effect on creativity and artistic freedom. The issues you mentioned intersect, and addressing one doesn't preclude addressing the others

Gay works slowly becoming normalized doesn't mean that "nobody in real life is against gay rights or gay marriage." The gay community continues to face discrimination worldwide

The BL novel was inspired by the movie "Dude in Me," this drama is the adaptation of the BL novel

The gay work, a derivative of a prior work, is an original piece of art that stands on its own. This adaptation is based on the gay work

People complained that the movie was turned into a gay novel, you didn't see it. The people who favor the novel's gay elements are as disappointed by the story's shift towards "bromance" in the adaptation

There are pressing issues in the world. Censorship of gay works and loss of freedom of speech are pressing issues, and shutting down the critiques of censorship is harmful to free speech itself. The recent decision to censor a gay work is part of a pattern of homophobia and censorship of gay stories that has a chilling effect on creativity and artistic freedom. The issues you mentioned intersect, and addressing one doesn't preclude addressing the others

Gay works slowly becoming normalized doesn't mean that "nobody in real life is against gay rights or gay marriage." The gay community continues to face discrimination worldwide

Edit: "mandatory minority representation" isn't getting tiresome. Your comments are

Diversity and representation in the media are important for creating an equitable society. Many media companies and investors recognize the value of diversity and are committed to promoting their values in their work

The source material for the drama is the gay novel, and OP's question was about the novel. Your persistent references to the movie are off-topic and unnecessary. It would be more productive for you to rewatch the movie multiple times rather than hijacking the discussion about the novel