Blame Al ...

Blame Al for this. No, that's not entirely fair. Blame Al *partly* for this. Mostly, it's because of a really fascinating discussion on a writers-list about why people like (and hate) slash. Got me thinking and as I think better with fingers to keyboard, here goes.I like slash. Correction, well-written slash. I used to feel guilty about it, I suppose, having sworn it wasn't my thing. Probably stop and wonder sometimes why I write it even now but I refuse to be put off by people getting revolted or horrified.Tried to explain it to Elsa. Have had it rationalised by Elaine. Not sure which of the scientific and academic reasons I agree with, and it's not a question of being turned on by it either. Well - not only.Relationships fascinate me (hence the psycho-babble I write). Two extraordinarily attractive guys in a job where they have to trust each other totally - AND who are not blatantly heterosexual like some I could mention - could take the friendship further. Bisexuality - although it's not my personal scene - is a fact. You fall in love with people, and sometimes it's somebody of the same sex. This happens. Right?Oh, and the sex part. Written, graphic sex. I'm quite happy with slash-without-sex if that suits the tone and the story. However, I find beautifully written, hot sex between the two also has its place when I'm in the mood for it. Just as sex scenes between a man and a women can be astoundingly good. Now, this is me. I can understand people recoiling from it if it's not their scene. I tend to have the same reaction to various types of writing. The list includes: badly-written stories and failure to use a beta-reader to make it palatable; plot holes a mile wide; AU with particular reference to elves and rabbits; non-AU stories that are just so far-fetched and stupid I lose patience. And I'm not a very patient person and I use up most of my patience quotient on stupid clients.What I do *not* understand is when people decide what's good for me... or what sort of thing I should be writing. If I was getting paid for it, or if it was going to harm somebody, that would be different. But when I write slash it's clearly marked as such, protected from 14-year old eyes, and nobody forces them to read it. I'm an adult, I spend most of my life doing things for clients and family, and my hobby is for *me*. If others choose to share that's nice, too. If they don't, then fine. I value my friends, and don't base my appreciation of them on whether I like their fiction or they like mine. Sharing a passion for something, though, is great. I have this lingering suspicion that some people who get all hot and bothered by it are frightened of their own reactions - at least judging by what I've seen from various statements in several places. Once again, it's like a lot of other things. Nobody's putting a gun to their head, just like nobody - but NOBODY - is going to make me see Bodie and Doyle as two sweet, fluffy little rabbits. A little tolerance goes a long way. I can't see what other people see in many things: field hockey, pension funds and collecting china ducks comes to mind offhand but I'm sure there are many more. That's their affair. I can be a wine snob, but if people prefer diet coke and Irn Bru, that's their business *g*.I *love* writing. Slash included. That's *my* affair.End of rant, I think. Off to write something - either hot and steamy or less so. Dunno. Still reeling from Al's last one which I think is outstanding.