I wanted a stamp like this for myself, so I made one.
This isn't anti-romance. It's not the bitching of a bitter old hag, either. I happen to be in a relationship, happily so, and I've got nothing against love in general. But while I myself enjoy the odd fandom pairing and have been known to have a romantic streak on occasion, I find myself increasingly annoyed by the over-emphasis on romance and pairings in the media.
When was the last time you saw a movie with no romantic (sub-)plot?
When did you last read a book where none of the characters ended up falling for one another?
When was the last time you heard a song on the radio that wasn't about romance and relationships? (This includes moaning about break-ups.)
When was the last time you read a fan fic that concentrated more on action and plot rather than pairings or porn?
I realize that fan fic is all about filling in the bits you felt were "missing" from the canon story or indulging in your own personal fantasies. To each their own. But the reason I enjoy my favorite shows, books and movies is because of the plot, action or characters. My fandoms are quite varied, ranging from animated movies to sci-fi and horror. I enjoy them for the intricate world-building and exciting scenarios they present, many of which are simply begging for a good writer to come along and expand on those concepts. I want to see the same stuff that got me into the fandom in the first place. Cool and sexy people chasing aliens, government conspiracies, inventive creatures and new worlds waiting to be explored. But it seems most people aren't interested in the same things. All they care about is which character gets to hook up with whom, which pairing is torn apart by a flimsy plot point, or simple PWP (Porn Without Plot).
It's not hard to see why so many single people get depressed when they're made to feel like their life has no meaning unless they find that special someone. But I think everyone has a story worth telling. Everyone. Whether or not it includes a romantic interest. Isn't it enough to tell an exciting story about a brave hero or heroine fighting against incredible odds? Isn't it enough for real, non-fictional men and women to talk about their experiences in war zones or hospitals? Isn't it enough for an insecure teenager, real or fictional, to teach us a lesson about finding their own strength and learning to stand on their own two feet, without needing a love interest to validate them as a person?
If you must insert romance, do it with consideration. Does it enhance the story, does it drive the characters? Could the story stand on its own even if you removed the romantic sub-plot? Or does it exist simply because of some unwritten rule that every story worth telling must include romance or sex in some way?
Holy crap, I must say I've never thought of it that way. I happen to have a lot of my own stories where at least SOMEONE falls in love, but turns out I actually hate that kind of emphasis in other stories. This made me think about what message I really want to get across, action and awesomeness, or too much "romance"? Thanks so much for this, I think it's one of the things I've been missing lately.
I love romance, but I totally agree. And this doesn't just apply to fanfics but it can also apply to real life. I'm really tired of those people who do nothing but try to find romance instead of actual focusing on what would be more important in life such as security, family, and happiness. Thank you for this stamp. I'll definitely be using it.
Second question: Yesterday.
Third question: Today.
Fourth question: Yesterday.
But I guess I'm only lucky.
I AM NOT ALONE!!!! THANK GOOOOOOD!!!!!!