Liking Problematic Characters — Is it really wrong?

(I didn't know what category to put this in, apologies as this isn't poetic in any sense of the way!)

Liking Problematic Characters — Is it really wrong?

In my previous blog post, I made a rant on Jimmy from Mouthwashing. In a segment of the post I mentioned if it was wrong to like Jimmy. Now, if you hadn't read that, I'll simply give you a brief overview;

I firmly believe it's not wrong to like him for his character. Jimmy is an exceptionally well-written villain, his complex and horrifying narrative making him feel all the more human (in the evil-est way). 

In my blog post, there's a moment where I mention that "If you like Jimmy, in a way that's leaning into infatuation, you need to re-evaluate your life choices." — more or less. Naturally, any sane person would steer away from feeling attracted towards people like Jimmy. Keyword: people. Jimmy isn't a real person, but there are very much people like him in our reality. What difference does it make? Is it because he's fictional, people somehow feel more inclined/comfortable with the idea of being attracted to him?

If I'm going to be clear, finding out that people actually like Jimmy doesn't come off as a surprise. It's the internet, and being online for ungodly periods of time can alter your brain chemistry in the weirdest ways. 

If it's not Jimmy, it's other morally-questionable characters (not even questionable, they're downright bad). Take Homelander for example, the level of violence this man has exuded out of his own need to satiate his bloodlust is ungodly, not to mention he also committed SA, too. What does the fanbase think? They still love him, though. There's a lot of Homelander thirst traps and plain silly content of him to go around. What makes Jimmy any different? Because he's not a "superhero" with a case of megalomania? Though, perhaps the latter is already ticked off. 

There's no difference. I have no place or right to weigh the scales on the crimes and atrocities either characters have committed because in the end— they're still morally wrong, and bad! But why do people still find them attractive, after all they've done?!

It's simple— "We just find them hot!" 

People will find anything attractive nowadays (guilty). Even if the character in question has committed several war crimes, they wouldn't care if they still found them hot. I don't blame Jimmy fangirls for thinking that way given all the fanart of him that's been produced in the 2-month span after Mouthwashing's release. 

Just know I am still silently judging you (half joking) (I had a case of Homelander attraction, it's okay)

Of course, it's an entirely different situation when the fans in question are either denying/condoning/justifying their actions. I would delve into this issue deeper, but that's surface level common sense I felt I should mention. As a riddler fan, I love his character, I gush and kick my feet at the sight of him because I find the actor attractive, but do I condone terr0rism? No. 

In conclusion, people will like what they like— and you, and me, are no force of nature to stop them.


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