Topping and Bottoming

WARNING: This was written by an over-tired teenager at 3-4am so it is better to turn back now. 

 

You know, I don't usually care who people "prefer" to top or bottom in a pairing, but it pisses me off when they get angry when their preferred top or bottom doesn't top/bottom.  Especially when they outwardly comment on people's stories, saying "Oh, this was good but I would prefer if xxx topped".  And then when people say it to me on my story, I feel like the bad guy.  Seriously, it's really rude telling someone who to make a top or bottom.  This isn't a heteroual relationship.  There is no girl in this kind of relationship.  This whole seme/uke is implanted in people's head, as if there has to be a set top or bottom.  If you don't like it, unsubscribe or get over it and stop being so close minded.  People need to realize that they are both boys who have fully functioning parts.  Size, age, looks, manliness(?), nothing matters when it comes to love.  So why does it have to matter in the bedroom?  For example, with EXO pairings the main tops are ChanYeol, Kai, Kris, SeHun blah blah blah.  Based off of their personalities, they are not cold, arrogant s like how typical fics portray them.  And Lu Han and KyungSoo and BaekHyun and Tao aren't pretty, helpless princesses who need someone to dote on them.  They're men.  Especially with Lu Han.  He's one of the oldest yet he's portrayed as an innocent, whiny child because he supposedly looks like a little girl?  He's actually one of the most mature and modest ones.  I like fics that portray him like that, because it's believable but I don't mind fics that portray him as feminine because it's just a character with his name, to me.  SeHun clings to him and seems to really look up to him, so I would think that he would be the preferred bottom.  But, I'm guessing because he's taller and older looking (?) people prefer him to top.  Same with Kaisoo, and same with Baekyeol and Taoris. In my stories, I like equality when they do it.  Unless they're into submissiveness and dominance, most gay couples like to take turns.  I was scared of letting the "preferred" bottom top though in Kastrating Kai and in My Pet because I was afraid of losing my subscribers over something ridiculous (That's why I didn't have KyungSoo Kai until the end because I figured people would unsubscribe anyway since it was the last chapter.  With My Pet, I didn't really think about it, to be honest.).  I thought about my subscribers than myself because they were and still are the ones who encourage me to write.  But, if they're getting uncomfortable over stupid like that, I'm done caring.  I'll just roll my eyes because it's really immature and narrow-minded to care that much.  Enough to comment and make me feel bad?  My feelings are easily hurt, and there's nothing I can do about my lack of confidence as of now, so I get depressed and uninspired.  Is it really worth it?  People need to keep in mind that authors are people, too.  They work so hard to update and make their subscribers happy, yet there are ungrateful people who get worked up over who s who.  Just read a genderbender or a heteroual fanfic if you're that obsessed with gender roles in a same-gender relationship.  Now, people who choose to write fics like that, go ahead.  If you prefer someone to top or bottom exclusively, that's your choice.  I read fics like that because I'm not narrow-minded in that aspect.  If it is a nicely-written fic with a good plot, I will read it, no matter what.  But, nobody should be forced to write the way people want them to.  So don't push your opinions down their throat.  I just don't understand why people make their characters the same in each fic.  They don't have to be girly or manly in every fic, switching things up keeps people interested.  I don't like when people stereotype band members as if that's how they'd actually act.  Some people prefer it, but I think being original is more important than going with the flow.  Maybe if people didn't have such strong opinion on tops and bottoms, it'd be easier for authors to write what they want, but since people are like that, I feel that author's are less likely to go against what people want.  And that's not how it should be.  Remember, the characters are both men.  Remember, they both have .  Remember, they are both capable of penetrating each other if they want.  And remember, it's the author's choice who they choose to top or bottom or if they choose to let them both have a turn.  

 

This has been a PSA. 

I'll probably end up deleting this because I wrote this at 4am and I get really passionate about things at 4am so please excuse me if this offended you (though right now I am feeling offended because I got a comment on Kastrating Kai that sparked this whole essay-writing spree).

Comments

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BaekyeolFeels31 #1
(Btw kastrating kai is still my all-time fav kaisoo fic and i get all fluttery inside when i think about it c:)
BaekyeolFeels31 #2
*hysterical applauding* YES
Luluhann
#3
YOU TELL THE BBY
MondoCorea
#4
you know what?! just ignore them! I know that some times when you read some comments your self esteem cracks a little . Readers have a lot of power and they just don't know. Just a little comment could make you feel really bad, I've experienced that.
For the bottom/top i totally agree with you. I started to write cause i was bored of all the steretiped story where one bottom and the other always tops. I just write what i feel like to write but while doing it i also try to also please a little the readers (if it is something I too want to write). But if there's something i totally don't agree on i won't write it only because they don't like what i said. It's a free word if i don't offend i don't get why they have to leave nasty comments on my story . my policy is "don't like? don't read it!" so well don't take that comment too seriously ... there are a lot of people who like you for how you write and expecially because of your own opinion so don't change it :D
whenpigsfly
#5
I agree very much with you on this subject. I thank you for writing about it because you are one of my favorite writers on here & its good to express exactly whats on someones mind once in a while. So I applaud you and I'm happy to know I'm not the only one who thinks this way.
Park_Noodle
#6
Oh my God, finally someone "influential" (based on the number of followers) speaking the truth!!! I couldn't agree more! They are all men, they all want to put the D to good use haha!
Seriously, I'll always support stories where partners switch. They're more realistic as regards male homoual relationship. And whenever someone mentions the so-called "team bottom" in EXO, my blood boils!! According to me, Luhan is the most manly out of EXO (despite his girly face) and obviously he'd not be taking the "woman" role in a relationship. This whole thing about "who's the girl" in a gay relationship makes me angry and is TOTAL BULL! Pardon my French...
I'll support you in your battle against discriminations haha because I want more equality in the world of fanfictions (which isn't going to happen that soon on AFF, but well...)
My rant is done here, bye~
KinKinlouie #7
I actually don't mind at all who bottoms or tops~ It excites me when I read a fic the usual bottom/top to bottom/topXD lol
I agree with yo btw~
I think this should stay. It's really better for people to be open-minded about things~
Ai_Hasu
#8
Yup, twin girl, you know I agree with you :) I think this should stay, I feel like it is important that people think about this, you are completely right. if you think this is a stupid rant, then edit it and make it into a good thing OTL (I hope you get what I am saying...)
we talked about this a long while ago and you know I see it like you, stupid narrow-minded people :<
btw, I miss you!!
(yep, I am a stupid student, I fail all my exams and that is why I am busy catching all the stuff I did not learn to pass my repeat exams... urgh, I wanna talk again)
SHINeeJam501
#9
UGHHHH When I have a brain fart...this is what happens. XDD

Well said! TwT
K0r3aL0va #10
I couldn't have said anything better than that. I soooooo agree with you!!!
Well said! It makes me angry when people comment only to criticise other people's fic and complain! If they're unhappy then they should just keep silent and unsubscribe, as you said! It's not their fic, for 's sake! x((

Btw, I've read 'Kastrating Kai' and I did like how you made them take their turn. It's way more realistic and I completely enjoyed your fic! :)) everything took place at the right time and looked so real!
I think you really are a great author, I still remember when i was waiting for your updates for 'Kastrating Kai' and how happy and eager to read them :D it made me laugh more than once! x)
FanOfTA
#11
I completely agree, honey. Nothing you said here was wrong or overdramatasized. Comments are wonderful and encouraging...but when someone comments on something as petty as who puts the D in who, it gets downright frustrating. I had SEVERAL comments back to back whining about that with DTO...and really, it was my story and my decision in the end :/ We've talked about these points together many a time, but I still want you to know that I agree wholeheartedly and I think you laid it out perfectly :)

I do hope you don't let this completely get to you though :( I know you're really sensitive and, dang it, I am too! I get hurt over comments like this too. But I hope you don't fret too much. At the end of the day, it's all the ones that DO love your story that matter :) Something I'm learning through being sensitive as a baby is that you just can't please everyone. So if you get a comment like that, go back and read someone else's sweet comment that makes you fluffy inside :) And never stop writing for yourself^^ Your stories are precious and wonderful and I wouldn't want them any other way but the Moni-bear way :)

Hang in there, girl!!!! I'll always be here to rant with about this ;) I loooooove you to pieeeeeeces >.<
Eunli_umma #12
I agree with you! There isn't a 'man' in the relationship! There is two! I like how you switched it up in Kastrating Kai! It just goes to show that they broke that stereotype! I applaud you! We think alike x)