alright alright alright

here is my "things that piss me off on wattpad" series where every chapter I do with this title and a different number, I talk about something annoying about fanfictions in particular on this lovely website.

DOUBLE STANDARDS

For those of you who don't know what those two words mean:
Basically to give you an example it's like saying it's okay when a man sleeps with multiple women but it's not okay when a woman sleeps with multiple men.

That's double standards.

Now here in Harry Styles fan fictions, I notice double standards in a way where people often sympathize with male characters when they're sensitive or when they cry, more than they do it with female characters.

The irony of all of this is that pretty much 99% of the people reading harry styles fanfic are females.

Disclaimer kind of ??

Not all readers are like the type of ones I'm gonna mention now. But a lot are guilty of it. I know there's readers who are understanding of the characters I and many authors portray, and y'all deserve a cookie. But yeah I'm not shading either of you, I'm just speaking about like type of readers I've seen around.

FOR EXAMPLE! I noticed this in my own book Kill & Run (spoiler alert kind of)

Scarlett the main character, is a very compassionate and caring person who has the tendency to cry a lot.

Now sure, crying can annoy some people I totally get that.

But what's odd is that those people who think crying is annoying certinaly don't think it's annoying when Harry does it.

These aren't exact comments I received (maybe they are I didn't check) but these are type of comments I receive.

When Scarlett cries because she's being mentally abused and her father was murdered (not a spoiler):

god she's so annoying.

why tf she crying for?

Be an independent bitch for god's sake.

When Harry cries because someone he loves died (eh spoiler kinda) for 10 chapters straight:

My poor baby my heart hurts so much

@ author: make it stop !! this is so sad 😭

awwww 😫😭

These are actual comments by the way! Just to experiment and see if the double standards really exist, I made Harry cry for ten chapters straight.

Onto another thing kinda related to that, which I noticed. Readers find sensitive, caring FEMALE characters weak, pathetic and annoying. But readers find soft, sensitive Harry adorable and cute.

Once again I found out about this in Kill & Run, and in True Colors.

Like I mentioned previously, Scarlett is a very caring and compassionate person. She may make a few mistakes that can be deemed as stupid, but it all comes from a good place okay. Sadly enough, people don't understand that.

Another thing is that she's dependent. Why? Because she has nightmares where she is constantly being murdered, tortured and at some point raped. These cause her to have panic attacks where she loses control of her own body. The only person who can calm her down in Harry, and Harry is an asshole so you can imagine people getting mad at her for going back to him.

But y'all, she has fucking nightmares and panic attacks! Like people seriously expect her to be petty and stay away from him, when she's literally in pain and is practically suffocating. That's not her I'm sorry.

Here are some comments:

She's so weak and pathetic.

Just get some damn pills

God gross as hell I'm disgusted

Are you dumb

Sometimes I feel like I get offended seeing those comments because like Scarlett was like the first character I've ever made and I hold her close to my heart. So seeing people not empathize and criticize her like that is just so frustrating and heart-breaking as an author.

I get that it's frustrating when a character makes wrong, stupid decisions. I get that in this situation Harry did something shitty before she approached him for comfort. But people need to really think before commenting. Or even if they don't think, and comment shit like that it really showcases what kind of person you are.

People need to be more understanding and empathetic, not only when it comes to just reading a fanfic, but in general. It's something we as a society need to develop because if not then shit happens and you eventually will make mistakes from not understanding a person or a situation well enough.

For example once again using Scarlett because I don't want to idk shade (?) other books.

Scarlett was in a relationship before Harry for a few years or so where the guy cheated on her a couple of times. It was a toxic, abusive relationship that was hard to get out of considering the type of person Scarlett is.

Someone said "you're as dumb as Tessa"

hahahahahahahaahahahhah don't even try me right now. I will come down on you like a hurricane and defend my girl.

[ I am praying for those who are affected by Hurricane Irma, Harvey and all the other ones as well. I pray for your safety and for this horrible tragedy to end quickly. ]

So what annoyed me with this situation is people are commenting as if she was like idk stupid??? For staying with him after he cheated the first time. It's sad that people think like this because abusive relationships is not a joke. Some people can't just "leave" a relationship like that.

It's almost as if all them readers were expecting Scarlett to do what they would do. Uhhhhhh y'all have different personalities which once again y'all need to UNDERSTAND.

I just can't anymore. It literally kills me to read comments from Kill & Run because they're all negative. Makes me as a writer feel stupid for making Scarlett a sweet, sensitive gal and not a confident, feminist icon like Reina or Sage from Heavy Crown.

I admit I made mistakes with Scarlett making a few stupid mistakes. But they're MISTAKES. Some readers act like they're so perfect they would never fuck up in the situations portrayed in the fanfictions here. When in all honesty, they would act just the same.

That's the tea folks

On the other hand, Harry our sweet lovable man gets no shit for being sensitive and compassionate.

Take my book True Colors for example cuz I haven't read enough nice harry books.

Harry is a lil naive, caring, sensitive and very sweet. Everyone loves him, and even after he makes a couple of mistakes, people don't say shit about him once forgiven. Unlike for Scarlett, after making one mistake, she's pretty much disliked for the rest of the book until shit happens.

I get that we all love harry oh so much we can't help but be a little biased. But that really isn't right, and as an author who notices these things, it's fucking unfair and frustrating as hell.

Ok this "rant" is hella long now so I'll just end this with saying that there's more double standards to talk about which I probably will later on.

I think we all as readers need to like be a lil bit more understanding of characters, think and then comment. Because some readers have no idea how hard authors work to craft characters and their individual personalities. So when a reader misunderstands a character, comments shit, it frustrates the author a lot.

And mind you we do this writing shiz for free and as a hobby. So it is demotivating to a lot of people.

Plus like idk I'm not asking to be understanding when it comes to fanfictions and book. It's to be understanding in general. Like when you meet people, hear stories, and try to form opinions on certain things. It's important to look at it in every single angle, and consider that your opinion is not the only one here and it is important to consider others.

Wow I sound like a lecturer.

If y'all get that then great, I'm just ranting because I've seen people who don't get that. And I get it I mean, they're just fanfics?? The characters aren't even real, commenting shit about them don't hurt anyone.

Well it hurts ME lol.

Idk if it's just me but all my characters are like my children and if anyone talks unnecessary shit about them I feel the need to defend them.

Y'all feel?

Sorry this ramble turned into me ranting about people not understanding my character Scarlett. Honestly, I believe this happens in a lot of other books. People just want to see strong, confident, independent female leads because they're tired to those weak, innocent, naive ones that are all in the OG fanfictions.

Well let me tell you something.

Being compassionate does not make you weak. Being able to feel a lot of emotions, being sensitive does not fucking make you weak. Being able to forgive (when it is acceptable) should not be shamed. Crying with no shame does not make one vulnerable.

It only makes you more human. We live in this dysfunctional world where we all need to grow thick skin and be emotionless. No. Being all those things I have just mentioned above only brings hope that this world will be a better place. These are the kind of people that make this world a better place.

For those who are just like that, I'm with you baby. If you're not sensitive, then that's okay, just don't shame those who are. 

Lol this turned into something way different but hey momma T here to remind y'all of a few things in this book.

MORAL OF THIS RAMBLE: be understanding. learn to empathise and sympathise. think before you speak (comment).

THAT'S ALL FOLKS