I agree with this comment - I think there's a difference between "shitty sellout vampire novels" and "vampire novels". The fact that there are entire publishing companies that only publish YA vampire fiction or that say "we don't take unsolicited manuscripts except fantasy romance" and advertise 4 books at a time with shitty Getty images in magazines right now makes me feel - well, bad for the authors that are using avenues that don't give a shit about them personally because they're the only available source for something they would have been writing anyway - but also like there are undoubtedly people who want to get their name out there who are probably writing teen vampire romance because it's what they can sell right now.
(To be fair, I don't think Stephanie [sp??] Meyer is a sellout. Or at least, not during the original series. She got famous after a few years, and super over merchandised, but that is not selling out.)
One thing about the meds issue is that I think it may be a generalization about our culture. Especially in the US (and this may be pertinent since advertising of this nature is outlawed in some other countries) -- we are directly advertised to so often about "talking to our doctor" about medication, even when we don't even know what it's for. When someone has a physical or mental issue the first solution suggested is often medication rather than therapy or exercise or whatever. Children as young as 3 and 4 are being treated for hyperactivity and "oppositional defiant disorder", even given anti-psychotics with permanent side effects for things that used to be considered normal child things like running around and saying no to adults. (Which is not to say ADHD, for example, isn't a present and sometimes debilitating problem, just one that might not be diagnosable at toddler age.)
And the thing about meds: they are what they are. There are people for whom medication for mental illness is like breathing, and can't imagine ANYONE surviving without it; there are people who have taken everything on the books and half a dozen things offlabel for their mental (or physical) illnesses and have been zombified, experienced relief but with terrible side effects, or been so addicted they couldn't function, and are ARDENTLY against it.
Both sides are right. The problem is, celebrities have fans and so it hurts worse when you hear your side dismissed by someone with authority.
Here's the real thing, though: It doesn't matter if we agree with every sentence out of Gerard Way's mouth. Do you agree with every single thing out of each one of your friends' mouths? You've never had a disagreement? No, probably not. And it can be stressful when you don't, but that doesn't mean that you don't respect or love each other. It doesn't mean we aren't valuable people. The thing is, Gerard has never understood that he's a freaking FAMOUS PERSON with fans that gobble up his opinion. And that's why this stings so much. But taking it so strongly to heart only underscores that.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2010-11-13 03:26 am (UTC)(To be fair, I don't think Stephanie [sp??] Meyer is a sellout. Or at least, not during the original series. She got famous after a few years, and super over merchandised, but that is not selling out.)
One thing about the meds issue is that I think it may be a generalization about our culture. Especially in the US (and this may be pertinent since advertising of this nature is outlawed in some other countries) -- we are directly advertised to so often about "talking to our doctor" about medication, even when we don't even know what it's for. When someone has a physical or mental issue the first solution suggested is often medication rather than therapy or exercise or whatever. Children as young as 3 and 4 are being treated for hyperactivity and "oppositional defiant disorder", even given anti-psychotics with permanent side effects for things that used to be considered normal child things like running around and saying no to adults. (Which is not to say ADHD, for example, isn't a present and sometimes debilitating problem, just one that might not be diagnosable at toddler age.)
And the thing about meds: they are what they are. There are people for whom medication for mental illness is like breathing, and can't imagine ANYONE surviving without it; there are people who have taken everything on the books and half a dozen things offlabel for their mental (or physical) illnesses and have been zombified, experienced relief but with terrible side effects, or been so addicted they couldn't function, and are ARDENTLY against it.
Both sides are right. The problem is, celebrities have fans and so it hurts worse when you hear your side dismissed by someone with authority.
Here's the real thing, though: It doesn't matter if we agree with every sentence out of Gerard Way's mouth. Do you agree with every single thing out of each one of your friends' mouths? You've never had a disagreement? No, probably not. And it can be stressful when you don't, but that doesn't mean that you don't respect or love each other. It doesn't mean we aren't valuable people. The thing is, Gerard has never understood that he's a freaking FAMOUS PERSON with fans that gobble up his opinion. And that's why this stings so much. But taking it so strongly to heart only underscores that.