WanderousQueenB

That's the problem. The "teaser" wasn't intriguing, and the adaptation didn't retain the non-straight concept of the manhwa

The history of gay representation in media is riddled with instances of erasure, where sexuality or romance is removed, downplayed, ignored, or altered to fit homophobic expectations

It's not unreasonable to be wary of a "teaser" that glosses over the central gay romance

Teasers are designed to generate excitement and curiosity without revealing too much of the plot. This "teaser" revealed too much of the straight storyline, and nothing of the gay storyline. How is that supposed to generate excitement?

The producers could've struck a balance between maintaining the secrecy of the male characters' feelings and acknowledging the gay romance by incorporating visual elements, suggestive eye contact, facial expressions, or body language

"Is it possible they're still whitewashing it during the promotional period to lure in as many non-BL audience members as possible"

That kind of deceptive marketing tactic is possible, and its consequence would be a deluge of homophobic comments from viewers who didn't anticipate the gay content. We'll have to brace ourselves for it

"I mean, there are loads of straight material out there to be adapted, right?"

You've asked a good question and perfectly articulated the issue I have with censored, straightwashed adaptations of gay works

There's a plethora of straight works available for adaptation, why do producers go to the trouble of censoring gay works? They might believe gay stories are "wrong," less important, or less marketable. They'd feel the need to "correct" gay-themed works by censoring and straightwashing them, consciously or subconsciously

"On the other hand, it's likely they sold the Manwha, releasing the adapters to do as they pleased with it"

That'd be sad. If it were me, I couldn't bear the thought of selling my work

A true artist stands firm in defending the authenticity of their creation. Trading it for fast cash, knowing of its impending mutilation, would be a disservice to the devotion and effort invested in it

"How hysterical and emotionally stupid you all are"

It's never okay to speak about others in such a hysterical, derogatory manner

The "gay" tag was assigned to the adaptation with the belief that it'd be as gay-centric as its source material. That assumption was wrong. Not only was the second gay couple's storyline subjected to censorship and removal, the marketing focus in the trailer has been on the straight storyline that took its place. With the lingering potential for more censorship and one gay couple remaining, there might not be adequate screen time for the development of the gay romance

etoks21 didn't "add subjectivity" to their comments. They wrote as if they are "stating facts everyone should agree with." I don't see you commenting on that

Nauriya's assessment of the story's depth, the adaptation's fidelity, and the actors' performances reflects their perspective (and they have a right to share it). There's no need to state it's an opinion, it's implied that it's an opinion

They attacked the screenwriter, calling them "a first-time fujoshi-scribe slumming in BL world" and accusing them of lacking creativity

I redirected their insults and exposed the hypocrisy in their lack of creativity

Your memory serves you well. There are two BL couples in the source material, and no straight ones

The censorship and departure from the source material is bound to leave the fans feeling let down after years of anticipation. I feel bad for everyone

This user has a history of belittling and insulting others (other fans, screenwriters, etc), and that influenced my response

Although unrefined and not the most constructive way to address disagreements, my comment pales in comparison to the remarks they've been making

The adaptation left out one of the two gay couples from the manhwa, and the trailer made it seem like the remaining gay couple isn't the main part of the story. Fans would be disappointed, logically

There's no mystery here, the source material was mistreated and straightwashed

"And if something brings you pleasure but others pain, should you keep doing it? Isn't that entitlement? Or should you make minor alterations that would remove the issues that cause the problem?"

Almost every activity can offend someone else, and sacrificing one's joy for the sake of others isn't always practical or healthy. Rather than ending the activity right away, finding a middle ground can allow everyone to coexist and find solutions that minimize harm

To challenge assumptions about gender roles, and to address the stigma associated with gay sex, BL should depict gay couples enjoying consensual intimacy. Labeling the genre itself as homophobic, however, will hinder its ability to adapt to diverse, accurate representations. People would be dissuaded from engaging with it and giving it a chance to grow

I apologize if my interpretation of your points was inaccurate

"If you think that it is alright for straight women are entitled to do whatever they want in writing (mainly for other women) about gay men, all because the society is misogynistic, then you are part of the problem"

I believe that restricting the creative expression of these women is counterproductive. Your criticism and feedback are valuable. That said, we can't deny women the right to create gay male content

Some gay men want to restrict women from writing about gay men, and where do they draw the line? Should gay men be barred from writing about "straight" identifying men or women? Should men in general be barred from writing about women?

Creativity flourishes when we encourage understanding and exploration beyond our lived experiences: women writing about men, and men writing about women

I've posted a response to your comment in that thread

The feminist or gay community doesn't hold a unified stance on the BL genre. As a gay woman and a less liberal feminist, I don't agree with liberal "feminists" on matters such as sex work, transgenderism, or the alleged fetishization of gay people. Why would I agree with their opinions on BL?

Time and again, I've called attention to the fetishization of women's bodies and the glorification of straightness in mainstream media. Rather than taking action against this homophobic, misogynistic content, society demonizes the women who consume or create gay male content. We're easier targets for them

I've been subject to derogatory remarks and told by gay men to suppress my enjoyment of gay media. There's an inconsistency in the actions of these gay men who, on one hand, demand the freedom to enjoy what they please without interference, and on the other hand, feel entitled to dictate or interfere with women's non-straight media preferences

BL isn't flawless. The "I'm only gay for you" trope and the lack of explicit acknowledgment of homosexuality are problematic. However, it's an oversimplification to label the genre as homophobic. That'd neglect the genre's potential to evolve and promote meaningful discussions about gay representation

Why are you spreading negative vibes about something that brings joy to others?

Copy-pasting my response to your review:

"It might be argued, however, that it is the BL genre itself that's ultimately homophobic, even Thai BL"

It’s not BL's fault. The issue is the toxic tropes that might occur in some stories, and not the genre itself

I'd argue it’s homophobia and misogyny causing people to badmouth and bash BL. BL nurtures an environment where every man is open to experiencing the beauty of same-sex relationships (everyone is gay or bi). That makes society uncomfortable. And enjoyed by a large female fanbase, society trivializes it, as if stories consumed or written by women don't hold depth or merit

Don’t hate the genre, hate the homophobia and misogyny that might be lurking in your own minds

"It might be argued, however, that it is the BL genre itself that's ultimately homophobic, even Thai BL"

It’s not BL's fault. The issue is the toxic tropes that might occur in some stories, and not the genre itself

I'd argue it’s homophobia and misogyny causing people to badmouth and bash BL. BL nurtures an environment where every man is open to experiencing the beauty of same-sex relationships (everyone is gay or bi). That makes society uncomfortable. And enjoyed by a large female fanbase, society trivializes it, as if stories consumed or written by women don't hold depth or merit

Don’t hate the genre, hate the homophobia and misogyny that might be lurking in your own minds

Yeah, that user shows up in many comment sections, repeating the same tired lines about gay dramas being cliché or too gay. They sound like a bot or an automated response system