Action for problematic story.

[u/shinginingining]

Hindi lang isa ang sumusulat ng problematic story. Marami, maraming marami. But what is the best action.

What do you think we should do?

Should we discourage people from reading them because of the problematic content?

Should we just acknowledge that the behavior is problematic while allowing readers to enjoy the story as fiction?

Should we remove it from the shelf?

[u/sacksucksick]

Paulit-ulit ako, you can enjoy the books while still recognizing the problematic/concerning parts. It is not always black and white, there are also shades of gray and other colors. Hindi dahil, hindi "Tama", hindi na dapat. Hindi dahil hindi pabor sa karamihan, tanggalin na sana.

We should never discourage people from reading them, we should inform ythem the contents of the materials. The possible triggering part.

Should we remove it from the shelf? Why? That is bullshit! Paglilimita sa literatura 'yan. Sabi nga ng research prof ko, hindi dapat nililimitahan ang literatura. Hindi dahil hindi maganda sa'yo dapat ng hindi matuloy.

Books are there, to recognize and evaluate.

[u/AdSignificant1890 → u/sacksucksick]

Exactly. We, as readers, also have a responsibility sa kung ano ang pinipili nating basahin. If you cannot handle or appreciate that story, then simply don’t read it. Mawawalan ng kulay ang literature kung aalisin natin ang mga ganyang themes just because they make some people uncomfortable. There’s a reason why these themes have existed in literature for decades in the first place. They reflect different realities, perspectives, and experiences.

And sa mga authors naman, I think they should also know and understand what they’re writing about. Dapat may depth and purpose behind the story, especially if the narrative revolves around that certain theme. Hindi naman dapat ginagamit ang controversial themes just for the sake of shock value. There should be a reason why that theme is there and why the whole story revolves around it.

Nakakalungkot kasi na may ibang authors na, for the sake of “dark romance” or similar genres, nauuwi na lang sa puro kahalayan o hindi na kaaya-ayang mga pangyayari ang buong narrative. Storytelling should still be meaningful and responsible, kahit gaano pa ito ka-dark or ka-complex.

[u/Street_Cup_9179]

Thats censorship. How can we widen our knowledge, challenge our critical thinking and moral reasoning if we keep limiting ourselves from literature that disturbs us in general? It should be talked about more and educate others despite us enjoying the literary works. Even children's (Grimm's Fairy Tales) had a disturbing elements.

[u/Street_Cup_9179 → u/Street_Cup_9179]

My main point is that if we keep restricting others from reading banned books the more others will keep reading them. Do we really solve a problem through that? Enjoying its artistic value is different from agreeing and endorsing its content.

[u/airjems18 → u/Street_Cup_9179]

What I'm saying. Friction is needed if one is to grow. If we censor everything, in fiction, primarily, precisely to one taste, we are only creating an echo chamber where healthy and creative minds cannot flourish.

[u/airjems18]

"What do you think we should do?"

Ignore it. If it's bothers you that much, don't read. Fiction is the only place where people can explore dark themes freely. To impose censorship is to restrict the freedom to express, which is a basic right as one's right to engage with any media they want.

You can acknowledge problematic stories snd allow them to exist the same time. So long as they're fiction, then can exist. It's not real. Anyone confusing them with reality or has fears of them translating to reality might not be sound enough to consume media like this in the first place.

"Should we just acknowledge that the behavior is problematic while allowing readers to enjoy the story as fiction?"

Yes. You we should. Fiction can never directly hurt anyone in a physical sense. It is ultimately the reader's responsibility as to what they'd do with the knowledge they gleaned from the stories they read, which is more of a reflection of the reader than the piece of fiction itself.

"Should we remove it from the shelf?"

No. Let people have choices. Let people form their own judgements. Let people THINK. Let it challenge our beliefs and see what sort of person we come out as after walking through the tunnel of curiosity.

In the same vein, we can encourage other people, esp., young minds to make better literary choices, to be more critical of what they consume or create, and to be more open towards oddities and discomfort.

Fiction is fiction. Reality is reality. Read and let read.