WARNING: Since this is a rant, be prepared for incomplete thoughts with a smattering of typos and grammatical mishaps. Also, remember that these are my totally biased and mostly uneducated opinions, so don't get bug up yer butt about anything I say, okay? I'm writing this for fun and as a way to vent my frustrations. Thank you and enjoy!


Hello, world!

So I've been clicking my way through the internetz, and I've come upon a lot of stuff about yaoi and Boys Love (BL). Recently, I've been wanting to read a BL manga that breaks free from most, if not all, yaoi and BL stereotypes. I'm talking about everything from the plot to the artwork. I'm tired of the same "wimpy, girlboy uke (bottom) falling for suave, sinister seme (top)" plot that seeps into a lot of yaoi manga.

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UKE & SEME:

What would yaoi be without uke and seme? Probably pretty boring, but this trope is starting to bore me, itself. Now, I'm not talking about stories where Partner A is a bottom and Partner B is a top, for it's perfectly fine for people to have preferences such as that. I'm talking about stories that feature uke and seme characters in cliched ways. An uke is almost always a short, femmy guy with big sparkly eyes. He's inexperienced in the ways of life and love, so the sophisticated seme comes to "teach" him a thing or two. There's typically a lot of blushing and stuttering done by the uke, while seme saunters around with a smirk or "smoldering" look on his sharply-defined face.

Another thing is the way uke and seme are drawn. I want to read a story about MEN, damn it, not one man with awesome hair/clothes/car/shoulders/etcetera and another man that's basically a girl with a penis and no bosom. This gripe goes along with how the characters act, as well. The seme acts/looks like a man and is the top, whereas the uke acts/looks like a girl (not a woman) and is the bottom. Now, I have no problem with reading about a couple that fits into this cliche of manly seme/girly uke, but I want these characters to act in those roles for a reason. The whole "well, the seme is the almost-perfect man (if a bit rough around the edges), and the uke is feminine in order to appeal to the female reader, and the uke eventually gets the seme to be somewhat nicer by giving up the buttsecks" crap is just not cutting it anymore.

Also, why does the seme get to keep his clothes on during the buttsecks, but the uke is always naked?


THE BUTTSECKS:

Where's the lube? I'm mean really, where is it? I appears as though a bunch of yaoi mangaka(writers/artists), and yaoi fanfiction writers, and yaoi enthusiasts are all swept up in a fantasy where proper lubrication means a few licks to a finger and a couple of drops of precum. Um, no. I'm not sure if this is because most yaoi people tend to be females who are inexperienced with the buttsecks, but saliva and pre-ejaculate do not a good lube make. I could see where the use of makeshift lube could make sense: historical pieces, when the guys are stranded somewhere, if the buttsecks is an unexpected "heat of the moment" kind of event, things like that. But when the buttsecks is planned [by one or both (or all) parties involved], there's no excuse for not using lube (unless the uke's ass is so stretched to hell that the seme can fit his skull up there). The ass is not a vagina, thus it needs to be properly prepped for entry.

Speaking of vaginas and how asses are not them, what the fuck is up with the self-lubricating anus? You know what I mean: the uke is all trembling and the seme is like "You're getting wet," and the uke is like "Nn!" Is the uke shitting himself? 'Cause that is the only way he could be getting wet down there, and if that's the case then that yaoi story is in a whole other category.

I think this whole no-lube issue further feminizes the uke and makes him more relatable to the female reader. For many women, lube makes things easier, but it isn't always necessary. I think that by not addressing the need for lube, the reader doesn't need to face the fact that the uke is getting his ASS fucked, and she is able to put herself in the uke's place without having to think about her ass getting fucked.

And what about other forms of sex that don't necessarily include the buttsecks? There are many ways for male couples to make love, and sex doesn't always lead to the penetration of someone's anus. So, while buttsecks is fun, some more variety would be awesome. Also, people need to start drawing balls on these poor guys. Like, seriously.


NO, STOP, WAIT, & NNGH:

What. The. Fuck. Why doesn't the uke ever enjoy sex? He's always whining shit like "no," and frankly, it ruins the mood for me. However, this is another of those tropes that can work is some circumstances. A story including some light non-con or any BDSM would benefit from a reluctant and weakly protesting uke. However, when it's completely obvious to everyone, including the uke, that he wants the buttsecks to happen, what point does this incessant whining serve? Again, this can make the uke more relatable or whatever. There's that whole femininity equals passivity and insecurity crap, and while I'm sure that there are girls and guys out there who are feminine and insecure, I'm equally as sure that there are girls and guys out there who are masculine and secure, masculine and insecure, and feminine and secure.

This goes back to the uke/seme archetypes. I admit, these archetypes are fun for awhile. But they get old. For once I want to see the uke slam his seme against the wall and ravage him. I want to see a seme that has no clue as to what to do about his feelings for the uke, and who stumbles around like a fool when they finally do the nasty. Let the seme shed some tears and blush as the uke rides his dick raw. Someone needs to give an uke some confidence and knock that seme down a peg.

There's also the issue of rape. Now, rape and sexual assault in yaoi and BL are somewhat common. There's always a chance that the uke will be taken advantage of by his seme, or some other seme, and that he won't like it at all. However, there's also a chance that the uke will fall madly in love with the guy who rapes him. I am not at all sorry for what I'm about to say: any romantic relationship that a person forms with someone who has raped him or her is not, nor will ever be, a healthy, happy relationship. It's not going to happen. I'm fortunate enough to have never experienced rape or sexual assault first hand, but I know people who have experienced it, and they aren't the happiest people on the planet.

If the uke does form a relationship with his rapist, then that relationship needs to reflect the fear, betrayal, anger, and any other emotions that stem from the assault. I will not buy into any story, yaoi/BL manga or otherwise, where the uke is raped, the seme is like, "But I love you," the uke responds with "I love you, too!" and they live happily ever after.


BOYS OF THE NIGHT:

Why are there always prostitutes in yaoi manga? Is there some prostitution epidemic that affects pretty young men in Japan that I am not aware of? (This prostitution epidemic can also be considered a pandemic if one looks at Asian movies that have some yaoi goings-on; it seems that there is always a prostitute lurking around somewhere.) The prostitutes are typically the uke, and the seme is the client that he fucks more than once, I guess. I've read manga where the prostitution thing somewhat works, but it never fails to make me roll my eyes.


KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY:

Why do guys in yaoi and BL fall in love with their older/younger brothers/cousins/fathers/uncles/sons/nephews/cousins? It's icky. 'Nuff said.


GAY:

If you've read carefully, you'll notice that this is the first time the word "gay" has appeared in this post. Why? Because yaoi and BL manga have very few gay themes. Now, you might be saying to yourself, "But there's dudes having sex with dudes in yaoi! Isn't that gay?" Yes, it is. However, I'm not just talking about sex. I'm talking about the trials and tribulations that come with being gay. Where are the coming out stories? Where are the homophobes? Where are the challenges that gay men must face? If you know where they are, tell me. I've read quite a few BL manga that seem to forget that being gay isn't all about floating through a river of sparkles and cherry blossoms while making sweet love to the man of your dreams. Sure, reading about a world where being gay is no big deal is nice, but it's not realistic nor is it very interesting. The word "gay" is hardly ever mentioned in yaoi and BL, let alone explored as a plot device that goes beyond the buttsecks. And don't even get me started about characters who are straight until they meet that one special guy.

I think that the absence of the g-word can also be a way to make the couple more (here's that word again) relatable to the female reader. A beautiful girl and her handsome boyfriend don't ever think about the social ramifications that their respective genders have on their relationship, because there aren't any. If the guys in the yaoi/BL couple start to discuss their sexual orientations, then the romantic fantasy is shattered and the naive readers come crashing down to Earth.

This is something that particularly upsets me about yaoi and BL. Sexy little romps through the buttsecks land are fun and amusing, but they're shallow. I can find smut for free on the internetz. I want more yaoi/BL manga to have deeper and more realistic story lines that depict what it's like to be gay (especially in Japan, where most of the yaoi I read comes from).

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There are bunches of other cliches that I could have included (such as the lack of, or stupidization and/or demonization of female characters in yaoi and BL) but I think I've covered some major stereotypes here. What all this ranting boils down to is, I want to see more believable and realistic characters and situations in yaoi and BL manga. I'm not advocating for the decimation of any and all yaoi tropes, because that wouldn't solve anything (and to be honest, tropes can be fun and interesting if used correctly; some of my favorite BL manga have cliches running out of their ears). But I'd like to see writers and artists come up with more unique and original stories and characters.

It especially irks me when a story uses so many of these cliches that it's appalling, and then has the gal to try and be "serious" and "deep." Perhaps a few of the first yaoi manga pulled it off, but only because the cliches weren't cliches when they were created. Basically, I just want more variety in yaoi and BL.

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A few manga (and manhwa) titles that I've read that break free from some of these conventions are:

"FAKE" by by Sanami Matoh
"Let Dai" by Sooyeon Won
"Little Butterfly" by Hinako Takanaga
"Dog Style" by Modoru Motoni
"Poison Cherry Drive" also by Modoru Motoni
"Gravitation" by Maki Murakami
"One Thousand and One Nights" story by JinSeok Jeon, art by SeungHee Han
"Menkui" by Suzuki Tanaka
"Earthian" by Yun Kouga

I've probably forgotten to mention some, but that list is pretty good, I think ("Let Dai" is exceptionally great). Of course there are cliches and tropes within the manga and manhwa listed above, but the stories and characters are compelling enough that I either forget about the tropes or learn to deal with them (or even enjoy them once in a while).

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I know I kind of bashed on the yaoi fangirl a bit (with the whole "relatable fantasy" stuff), but I kid because I love. I'm a yaoi fangirl too, remember. I love yaoi and BL, and I want to see it grow and evolve as an art form.

Well, I hope this rant was somewhat enjoyable and perhaps informative. And if you haven't already, give some of the manga and manhwa I listed a shot.


Peace, y'all.

And don't forget the lube.

Tags: rant, stereotypes, yaoi
Space: on my ass
Feelings: enraged
Tunes: "Energetic" ~BoA

Hey everyone!

As many of you (all -34 of you that read this blog) may have guessed, I am a girl, and I play video games. I've loved games all my life, but I really got into them during high school. I remember playing through the first level of Super Mario Bros. when I was three or something, and I enjoyed watching my older brother and my mother play the first two Zelda games. I would look at all the pictures in the instruction manuals (speaking of which, why did old NES games have full-color, meaty books, but all the manuals now are thin and black and white? Lame...), and I recorded the ending song to one of the Zelda games on a tape recorder so I could listen to it whenever I wanted. The first game I beat on my own was Kirby's Adventure for the NES, a game that I sometimes skipped school to play. Over the years I've played good, great, and horrible games, along with my share of "girl games."

I forget what the series' name is, but there was a group of games (more like interactive stories) that featured a girl in middle school who just moved into a new neighborhood and all of her wacky antics. They were pretty fun, for games geared towards middle-school aged girls. I also played a few Barbie games (OMFG!!!) that weren't all that horrible. I was ten, sue me. Repetitive, yes, but they were just basic point-and-click adventure games.

Anyway, to get to the main point of this post, there seems to be perception about girl gamers that, to me, is untrue. I was reading some forum posts about the Sims 3, and there was a big controversy about a semi-sexist post (the poster didn't mean for it to sound sexist, but it did, hence the "semi"). Someone who didn't think the post was sexist made the statement, "If you're going to deny that, as a whole, women don't find that snarky, edgy game more appealing than men do, you'd be wrong." What? I'm not sure if the poster is referring to the Sims games, or if he/she is referring to "snarky, edgy" games in general. It's true, though, that women as a whole don't find games more appealing than men, because there are probably over 3 billion women on the planet, and I'm sure most of them don't like games (along with most of the 3 billion men on the planet, too). But now I'm just being facetious.

Female gamers (women who actually call themselves gamers) like good games, often the same games that male gamers like. Games like Final Fantasy, Okami, Katamari, Resident Evil, etc. are popular among both male and female gamers. Games like The Sims are more popular with women, while games like Gears of War are more popular with men. I'm not saying that one series is better than the other, but that they appeal to different people. Personally, I find "snarky, edgy" games more appealing than dull, tame ones, and I'm sure most female gamers feel the same way I do.

I believe that the reason a lot of people think that there aren't many girl gamers and that the "few" girl gamers that do exist only like "girly" games is because "girly" games generally suck a lot of ass. They can't imagine that anyone would like to play those games, and they're right. Who wants to play a pastel game where you wander around in a mall or whatever, doing the same actions over and over again? No one, that's who. They think that all the good games only appeal to guys, and that girls don't play them.

Now, there are probably a lot of girls and women that played "girly" games in the past, and got turned off from gaming by them. It's like, if you tried sushi for the first time, and the sushi you had was nasty, you probably wouldn't want to try any more. I think the same can be true for games. If the first game you ever play is boring, repetitive, and stupid, you would probably assume that most games are like that. Also, a lot of the really popular games are heavy action-oriented games or first-person shooters, and these games may not appeal to non-gaming women. If a girl's boyfriend only plays those types of games, she might think that all games are like that and be uninterested in them. However, if a girl (or guy, for that matter) is introduced to good games (much like I was), then she might learn to like games.

So that's all I've got for now. I wish there were more good games geared towards a female audience (Space Channel 5 is the closest game I can think of right now). You know, games with female characters that don't have strange, floaty boobs and such. I don't deny the fact that male and female gamers are different (and men and women are different), but I think people take those differences and make too big a deal out of them. Who gives a crap if we're different? Gamers, girls and guys alike, tend to like good games. So let's support the developers that make those games.

Or something like that.

Peace, y'all.

P.S. Why is it that "girly" is an insult? Now that's sexist. ^.~

Tags: false perceptions, gamers, girls
Space: bedroom
Feelings: contemplative
Tunes: "Still Alive" ~GLaDOS (from Portal)

Okay, so I'm watching the Olympics, and Nastia Liukin was stretching (she's a gymnast for the USA). One of the commentators was like, "Look at the way Nastia can just take that...slender, balletic body and...bend it." He sounded way too happy about her stretching, and then he just changed the subject! Not to mention he cut off one of the other commentators by changing the subject. O.o

Space: right here biatch
Feelings: confused
Tunes: "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" Rod Sterwart

That's really all I can do. Scream.

I know I haven't posted in FOREVER and no one comes here anyway but I don't care. Anyway, what is all the fuss about free speech on YouTube? My goodness, it seems like everyone thinks that he or she has the right to say whatever the hell he or she wants with absolutely no consequences. And then they bitch when someone calls them on their bullshit. I'm referring to a video by Tyler Oakley entitled "Speak Out Against Hate Speech," where a group of gay and lesbian YouTube users talk about how it makes them feel to be victims of hate speech.

Now, if something were bothering you, wouldn't you say something about it? If someone kept calling you a whore, nigger, faggot, asshole, whatever, you would say something to try and get them to stop, wouldn't you? You wouldn't just sit there and take it, right? So why is everyone being all hateful and shit? I know that admitting when someone hurts you mostly just eggs them on, but you should still have the right to ask them to cut it out. And now people are posting hateful, cruel, and stupid comments and video responses to it.

Anyway, to sign up for YouTube, you must check the "I have read and agree to the Terms of Use" box, which is kind of like signing a contract. And in that "contract," it explicitly states that hate speech is not permitted. Go and read it if you don't believe me (it's under Community Guidelines). Some may say that this is going against the First Amendment, but I disagree. The First Amendment is meant to stop THE GOVERNMENT from creating laws to restrict free speech (press, religion and assembly), not YouTube or any party that is not the govenrment. Remember in school how you had dress codes and how you couldn't swear or act in certain ways? You could break all the rules you wanted, but there were consequences for doing so. Also, this is why you can't just slander people; if you do, they can sue. YouTube is no different, that's why they can tell what you can and cannot do or say while using their services. If you go against the rules, they can take action against you (by removing videos, suspending your account, or banning you).

I think the biggest problem I have with these people barking about free speech is that they want to be able to say whatever they want, but then they turn around and say shit like: "U cant tell ME wat 2 say FAGOT!!!1!1!111" So, they have the right to tell me what I can't say, but I don't have the right to say that back to them? Hmm... Sounds awfully hypocritical to me.

Personally, I have a problem with people insulting others just for the sake of insulting them. It's stupid, hurtful, humiliating, and makes the offenders look like fools. I know that words shouldn't mean anything, but they do. If anyone tells you that there's nothing you can say to them to offend them, they're either a) lying, or b) heartless. I'm thinking most people would fall under "a." Hopefully.

I think I'm done with this rant now, so...

Peace, y'all.

Tags: bs, free speech, hypocrites, rant, youtube
Space: room
Feelings: enraged
Tunes: "Before Dawn" ~Isaac Shepard

Well, the semester's finally over! *dances*

I totally half-assed my way through the last month-and-a-half, though, but whatever. There's not a damn thing I can do about that, now. Next semester's going to be a bitch, though. I can just feel it. I have Creative Writing, Intro. to Social Psychology, and Honors Early America on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; then I have Art and the Artist and Japanese on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I can see myself doing lots and lots of writing... At least Creative Writing should be fun, Japanese too.

Hopefully (that's a really big hopefully, by the way), I'll be able to get some writing done this summer. I'm not sure if I want to start anything long and involved, 'cause I tend to let those sit there and collect dust before attempting to finish them. I do have a couple of ideas for short stories, though. Those should be easy to crank out.

In other news, my dad broke his ankle two Saturdays ago. He was trying to scare a squirrel away with a BB gun, slipped on the grass (it was wet), and fell on his ankle. He broke it in three places, and you know those little bumps your bones make on the sides of your ankles? Well, he doesn't have those anymore. He's supposed to get a permanent cast on sometime soon; right now he has this hard thing on the back of his leg wrapped in ACE bandages. I hope he heals really quickly; he hates being and "invalid" as he calls it.

Peace, y'all.

Space: here
Feelings: drained
Tunes: "Capital G" ~Nine Inch Nails

I just finished playing this game (not to 100%, mind you) a few hours ago, and I'm depressed. This really is one of the best games I've ever palyed, and I'm sad that it's over. I want more, damn it! Jimmy Hopkins wormed his way into my heart as one of my favorite characters from *anything*, and even though there's an "Endless Summer" chapter at the end that allows you to run around and try to get 100% in everything, I still want to know more about this 15-year old kid. Which leads me to a quandrary: I want a sequel, but I don't. A sequel (more specifically, a direct sequel) would mean more Jimmy Hopkins and Bullworth Academy fun. But it could also suck, and tarnish the Bully name (I mean for gamers, not stupid asshats who think they know what they're talking about). I'm about 99.9993% sure that Rockstar won't make a sequel, though. The sales weren't good (Heaven only knows why), and the haters would have another field day trying to ban it. But one guy mentioned something on GameSpot about putting Bully in a different setting, like a Japanese school... (this is where I scream like the spazzed-out fangirl I am).

I'll be posting my own Bully review probably tomorrow afternoon or so, and I'll have many more opinions on the sequel speculations and politician idiot-balls. EDIT: No, I lied. Sorries! ^.^;;

Peace y'all

P.S. Excuse the typos, it's 1:08AM... ^.^;;

Feelings: tired
Tunes: "Rock On" ~Jerry C

Kind of...

Well, I was YouTubing just now and I noticed a hair on my finger. I went to pluck it off, but it was stuck. I don't mean just stuck on its side or anything; this thing was rooted in my finger! The tip of my right index finder. I pulled on it and sure enough, it was in my finger (the skin pulled up with it and everything). I took a picture of it (of course), and then showed my mom. She laughed, and when I pulled it out, it hurt! My finger still stings a bit, too.

Well, I knew I was hairy, but I never though I was *that* hairy...

Peace y'all.

Space: on my butt
Feelings: confused
Tunes: "Le Disco" ~Shiny Toy Guns

10 Reasons Why Gay Marriage Is Wrong For America

1) Being gay is not natural. Real Americans always reject unnatural things like eyeglasses, polyester, and air conditioning.

2) Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people will make you tall.

3) Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behaviour. People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage contract.

4) Straight marriage has been around a long time and hasn't changed at all; women are still property, blacks still can't marry whites, and divorce is still illegal.

5) Straight marriage will be less meaningful if gay marriage were allowed; the sanctity of Brittany Spears' 55-hour just-for-fun marriage would be destroyed.

6) Straight marriages are valid because they produce children. Gay couples, infertile couples, and old people shouldn't be allowed to marry because our orphanages aren't full yet, and the world needs more children.

7) Obviously gay parents will raise gay children, since straight parents only raise straight children.

8) Gay marriage is not supported by religion. In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are imposed on the entire country. That's why we have only one religion in America.

9) Children can never succeed without a male and a female role model at home. That's why we as a society expressly forbid single parents to raise children.

10) Gay marriage will change the foundation of society; we could never adapt to new social norms. Just like we haven't adapted to cars, the service-sector economy, or longer life spans.


(found at: http://www.collegeslackers.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=9991)

Space: up yours
Feelings: enthralled
Tunes: "My Love (Paul Oakenfold Remix)" ~Justin Timberlake

MOTHERFUCKER!!!

Hello, all! My mommy bought these mints at the college today, and they claim to have as much caffeine as a cup of coffee each. I'm thinking that it's a bit more than that, 'cause I feel seriously WIRED. And it is not fun. Nope. No fun at all. The box says, "More than a quick burst of fun!" No shit.

Peace y'all.

Feelings: hyper
Tunes: "I'm Blue" ~Eiffel 65

Um, not really, but okay!

So, I've been in college for a few weeks now, and I have to say I think it's pretty much like high school. With more homework. And longer classes. And a NINE HOUR LONG day on Thursday. But other than that, it's sweet! I met another person named James (maybe I've already posted that, but OH WELL), and just today I saw another person from my old school.

But let's talk about something more interesting, shall we?

DIR EN GREY ARE SO KEWL!!! EEEEEEEE!!!

...

Okay, that was odd, but I went to the Korn concert and saw them live! w00t! They were good, too. Kyo held this long-ass note at the end of "The Final," and it was AWESOME! I took pictures and recorded most of "Jesus Christ Rock'n'Roll" and all of "The Final." I'll have to put them on YouTube or something.

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL!!!

The best part was the meet'n'greet, which I was first in line for. It didn't matter that I had to stand in front of a garbage can for nearly and hour to see them, 'cause I SAW TOSHIYA AND DIE!!! AND I TOUCHED THEM!!! EEEEEE!!! Yeah, I shook their hands and Toshiya said "Hi," to me! ^.^ I'm such a happy lil' fangirl!

That all I really wanted to say. That and I'm still alive.

Peace y'all.

Feelings: excited
Tunes: "It's Raining" ~Bi Rain