Portrayal of Devs in Fiction

[Ximena]

So in light of some recent posts, and working on my NaNo project (among other things), I started wondering. I debated about whether to post this in "devs only," but decided I'm curious to get the guys' perspectives on this as well as the devs.

I'm curious:

Do you guys feel like we have a "duty" (in writing that we publish or at least post more publicly than the blog itself) to portray devs in a good light?

I ask because I know there are "good" devs and "bad" devs, and I sometimes like to explore the "bad" side of devness in addition to the "good" side, if that makes sense. But then there's always this little voice in my head that wonders if maybe we already have a bad wrap and I shouldn't?

Does that make any sense? What do you guys think?


Note: In the simplest terms, for me, a "bad" dev is someone who only sees the disability (or even worse, the mobility aids), rather than caring about the individual, and a "good" dev is the opposite.

See this thread on the topic of "good" vs "bad" devs also: paradevo.proboards.com/post/107392/thread

[kivic]

Definitely more positivity and clearer understanding of devoteeism is needed in literature and certainly when it comes to female devs. Like all things, there is good and bad, but there seems to be A LOT of bad regarding devoteeism, too much that it makes me feel nauseous.

I don't think it is your responsibility to school our society about female devs, but maybe it should play a role with novels and such. Get the word out, we are good (most of us anyway).

[Ximena]

Nov 4, 2013 14:16:14 GMT -5 kivic said:

Definitely more positivity and clearer understanding of devoteeism is needed in literature and certainly when it comes to female devs. Like all things, there is good and bad, but there seems to be A LOT of bad regarding devoteeism, too much that it makes me feel nauseous.

I don't think it is your responsibility to school our society about female devs, but maybe it should play a role with novels and such. Get the word out, we are good (most of us anyway).

Well, I/E has kind of a mix of both good and bad. UnC has a very realistic (I hope!) but positive portrayal of (female) devness. My M/M book it won't be a huge thing, but I've debated about including references to the DA's previous experiences with "bad" (male) devs.

All my novels touch on the theme that everyone deserves love and to feel attractive and desired.

Was just curious how people felt about it.

[kivic]

There is very limited dev-type literature out there. It's like looking for an oasis in the desert. From what I have read of your work, I don't see alot of negativity in it regarding devs. It's the emotional conflict within the character that creates the negativity...if any. Yes, your books are all about equality in love, attractiveness, and desirability.

Most of the books I read relating to devotee-ism have all been fairly positive. It seems like it has all been a non-issue.

It is a really sensitive subject to involve negative views and emotions towards devotee-ism in a novel, don't you think?

[Ximena]

Nov 4, 2013 14:27:34 GMT -5 kivic said:

It is a really sensitive subject to involve negative views and emotions towards devotee-ism in a novel, don't you think?

Well, it's not like a central conflict, or anything, just kind of working in line with his kind of cynical (he'd say "realistic" view of life) - that he can find guys who will overlook the disability, but he's had the occasional experience with a guy who saw the chair more than him (kind of thing) and that was just weird for him. So he's more of a place where he can't see how anyone would actually want more than a one-night stand with him.

Maybe that makes sense?

For example (keep in mind this is a rough draft!), he says:

Once, just to see if it'd affect my luck, I left the braces and crutch at home and wheeled into the bar instead. It was one of the few times since college I bothered with the chair in public, and I'd forgotten how annoying being at crotch level can be, even if the view is nice.

I found a guy to take to the back room, and I'll admit, making out with him in my lap was hot. But it was a little creepy how turned on he was by my wheelchair, seemingly more than my cock.

I thanked him for the sex, agreed to call him, and promptly "lost" his number.

So, later, when he gets more involved with the other MC, it's hard for him to believe it.

[roger888]

Nov 4, 2013 13:59:01 GMT -5 Ximena said:

So in light of the recent post about the "bad" dev on the radio, and working on my NaNo project (among other things), I started wondering. I debated about whether to post this in "devs only," but decided I'm curious to get the guys' perspectives on this as well as the devs.

I'm curious:

Do you guys feel like we have a "duty" (in writing that we publish or at least post more publicly than the blog itself) to portray devs in a good light?

I ask because I know there are "good" devs and "bad" devs, and I sometimes like to explore the "bad" side of devness in addition to the "good" side, if that makes sense. But then there's always this little voice in my head that wonders if maybe we already have a bad wrap and I shouldn't?

Does that make any sense? What do you guys think?

I think you need to draw up a clear definition of a good dev and a bad dev or you will either end up trying to fix something that ain't broke,or neglecting something that should be dealt with.Possibility for a thread in the General section?

[Ximena]

Nov 4, 2013 15:44:40 GMT -5 roger888 said:

I think you need to draw up a clear definition of a good dev and a bad dev or you will either end up trying to fix something that ain't broke,or neglecting something that should be dealt with.Possibility for a thread in the General section?

Like, defining each?

[kivic]

Ah, yes, I see how the two are linked by your example. I like that idea of him sort of rejecting it and then when he is more involved with the other MC (who is a dev, I am assuming) accepting/beginning to understand it...something like that?

I was thinking about the situation in Ruth's "Whole" when Stewart finds out about Elizabeth being a devotee and how he was angry at first and then came to terms with it. Delicate for both parties involved.

[roger888]

Nov 4, 2013 16:11:41 GMT -5 Ximena said:

Nov 4, 2013 15:44:40 GMT -5 roger888 said:

I think you need to draw up a clear definition of a good dev and a bad dev or you will either end up trying to fix something that ain't broke,or neglecting something that should be dealt with.Possibility for a thread in the General section?

Like, defining each?

Yes,I understand there are many grey areas,so its not as easy as it appears.

[ruthmadison]

For me, if I were going to write about a dev whose behavior I disapprove of, I'd want to balance that out with having a dev character with "good" behavior too.

[RyooT]

I had great fun writing a fundamentally bad dev with "Flavia" in Aurora (and I promise I will write the end of the story - I will be on leave for 3 weeks over Christmas). I liked exploring the contradiction of a woman who basically has men she keeps as slaves mutilated for her own pleasure while at the same time she elevates them in her regard. To her, her disabled men are better, stronger and more beautiful than the rest of society which she considers beneath her and for which she has nothing but contempt.

I did initially have some qualms about writing a character like that, but then I guess she borderlines on the ridiculous and almost takes on the role of the jester who can do and say things without consequence that others can't. So the implicit mirror she holds up is intentional.