Movie, TV, Web Series, and Music Hot Take(s).

[Drathnoxis]

I've been watching a bunch of Netflix produced shows with my uncle and I'm starting to find it odd how much they are pushing interracial/lgbt relationships. Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency: 2 prominent relationships one black/white the other gay. The Haunting of Hill House: 6 relationships 2 white/white, 3 interracial, 1 gay interracial. Still watching this one, but Key and Locke: 2 interracial, 1 gay interracial, and I'm pretty sure a love interest was just introduced for the mother which I thought was kind of odd because they are both white, but then it turned out that he has a black daughter, so it's okay.

I think interracial/lgbt relationships are fine and people can do whatever they want, but the over representation is just kind of weird. Like, why are they pushing this? What's wrong with people dating within their own race? That's still the norm, right? Why's it a bad thing?

 

[Dalisclock]

I've been watching a bunch of Netflix produced shows with my uncle and I'm starting to find it odd how much they are pushing interracial/lgbt relationships. Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency: 2 prominent relationships one black/white the other gay. The Haunting of Hill House: 6 relationships 2 white/white, 3 interracial, 1 gay interracial. Still watching this one, but Key and Locke: 2 interracial, 1 gay interracial, and I'm pretty sure a love interest was just introduced for the mother which I thought was kind of odd because they are both white, but then it turned out that he has a black daughter, so it's okay.

I think interracial/lgbt relationships are fine and people can do whatever they want, but the over representation is just kind of weird. Like, why are they pushing this? What's wrong with people dating within their own race? That's still the norm, right? Why's it a bad thing?

Please tell me you're not basing this off three shows out of hundreds if not thousands on netflix.

Also, why the does it bother you? How is it PUSHING to have a couple of gay/interracial relationships?

 

[BrawlMan]

I think interracial/lgbt relationships are fine and people can do whatever they want, but the over representation is just kind of weird.

Not really. There's still more than plenty of shows/movies that have straight, same race couples. There is no "over representation" of Interracial Marriage or LGBQT couples, you're just getting used to seeing things like this more normalized. As it should be.

Like, why are they pushing this?

To show people like them matter just like anyone else. They don't have to be straight nor white to be seen as normal. Not to be shown as a negative or outdated stereotype. None of that "people should stay within your own race" bullshit movies and shows have done. It's called having a target audience. You and your uncle are obviously not the target audience. There is nothing wrong with that, but let other people be happy and decide for themselves. The target audience can decide and judge for themselves.

 

[Drathnoxis]

Please tell me you're not basing this off three shows out of hundreds if not thousands on netflix.

Also, why the does it bother you? How is it PUSHING to have a couple of gay/interracial relationships?

I am, because I don't normally watch TV. Still 3 random shows all having the same trait is fairly coincidental (Netflix produced, mind, I'm not talking about ones that Netflix only licensed) I'm not even cherry picking, these are the first 3 shows we've watched.

It bothers me because it's not representative of reality for one, 70% of people aren't in gay interracial relationships, and since that's not the case this must be the reality that they want to create, and I don't understand why. It's pushing it like it would be if every show took time to show the characters taking time to do their recycling or volunteering or something, the implication is that what is shown is right, and people who do otherwise are wrong. It's a strange message.

Not really. There's still more than plenty of shows/movies that have straight, same race couples. here is no "over representation" of Interracial Marriage or LGBQT couples, you're just getting used to seeing things like this more normalized. As it should be.


To show people like them matter just like any one else. They don't have to be straight nor white to be seen as normal. Not to be shown as a negative or outdated stereotype. None of that "people should stay within your own race" bullshit movies and shows have done. It's called having a target audience. You' and your uncle are obviously not the target audience. There is nothing wrong with that, but let others people happy and decide for themselves. The target audience can decide and judge for themselves.

Not sure why you are lumping my uncle into this, you don't know him. My opinions are my own.

Also nice pointless argument. If you don't like something you aren't the target audience and only the target audience can judge for themselves. Reductive, dismissive, and no room for argument. It's not like the shows are even romances or anything, the romance is a side plot, not sure how not loving a side plot makes someone not part of the target audience.

And anyway, I never even said I disliked the relationships in the shows individually, it's just as part of a trend of Netflix produced shows that I find odd.

 

[Dalisclock]

I am, because I don't normally watch TV. Still 3 random shows all having the same trait is fairly coincidental (Netflix produced, mind, I'm not talking about ones that Netflix only licensed) I'm not even cherry picking, these are the first 3 shows we've watched.

It bothers me because it's not representative of reality for one, 70% of people aren't in gay interracial relationships, and since that's not the case this must be the reality that they want to create, and I don't understand why. It's pushing it like it would be if every show took time to show the characters taking time to do their recycling or volunteering or something, the implication is that what is shown is right, and people who do otherwise are wrong. It's a strange message.

TV is not reality. Neither are movies. They're entertainment designed the way they are from a number of factors, because the creator of said show wanted to do it that way or it wanted to appeal to more people for higher ratings. Acceptance of homosexual relationships and interacial relationships is fairly common in the west and most people aren't phased by it anymore. The fact you seem to be bugged by it says more about you then them. Unless these were documentaries where interacial and gay relationships make no sense in context, I'm not sure what the problem is here.
I mean, fuck I could(and have) complained that basically almost nobody Writing a Star Wars movie has ever studied military stuff beyond "Point gun that way and shoot" but it's still a soft pop sci-fi series that most people don't fucking care.

And I have to ask, you are acting like this is over-represented of something not common and that bugs you, I'm gonna repeat what i said before. You picked 3 shows out of many and apparently decided this is too much representation for your tastes, based on a very small sample size. I didn't even ask how many couples in those shows are gay/interacial as opposed to same race/opposite gender relationships but I suspect it's not nearly as "pushy" as you think.

It's like saying "nobody I know" does X and then extending to everyone despite the fact you probably know a couple dozen people well if you're very social and probably a lot fewer if you aren't and not realizing what a tiny percentage you and your social circle actually are and thus what a tiny sample size you're drawing from. And that's not even accounting for the fact your social circle is likely very close to you in worldview, politics, religion, etc and thus you're not likely to see a ton of variation due to self selection bias.

 

[Drathnoxis]

I didn't even ask how many couples in those shows are gay/interacial as opposed to same race/opposite gender relationships but I suspect it's not nearly as "pushy" as you think

What are you talking about? I gave all that information in my first post on the subject.

 

[BrawlMan]

Not sure why you are lumping my uncle into this, you don't know him. My opinions are my own.

You're the one that brought him up, not me. I apologize for the assumption, but you technically brought him up first.

Also nice pointless argument. If you don't like something you aren't the target audience and only the target audience can judge for themselves. Reductive, dismissive, and no room for argument. It's not like the shows are even romances or anything, the romance is a side plot, not sure how not loving a side plot makes someone not part of the target audience.

And you can it with the attitude. These shows are for a specific audience. That much is true. I didn't say you couldn't enjoy these shows because of it, I'm just giving you a reminder. It ain't pointless if it's the truth.

And anyway, I never even said I disliked the relationships in the shows individually, it's just as part of a trend of Netflix produced shows that I find odd.

This trend is nothing new for netflix. They've been doing this since the late 2010s. You just now only noticed. So once again, what's the big problem? If you want to watch them, then watch them. If you don't want to watch them, then don't watch them. You have the choice. And there's plenty of other shows on Netflix and streaming services that don't have gays or interracial couples as the target audience. You have options, you just have to bother to actually look. It's either that or start going back to the past. Your call. I couldn't care either way.

 

[Dalisclock]

What are you talking about? I gave all that information in my first post on the subject.

Okay, you saw a very small selection of shows, and because there was apparently a gay/interacial relationship in all of the 3 you saw, you see it as some kind of pushing without anything other then....IDK.

It's like if I played Metal Gear, having never played a Japanese game ever before, and then complained "What the hell is up with the Japanese? This makes no fucking sense" because my sample size is literally Metal Gear and Kojimas egotistical westabo wierdness or watching Star Wars EP 9 having seen no other Star Wars before and going 'Star Wars is fucking awful. Why does anyone like this shit? How the holy fuck is this a worldwide multi-billion dollar franchise?"

It comes across as provincial and myopic at the very least, to be honest.

 

[Drathnoxis]

Okay, you saw a very small selection of shows, and because there was apparently a gay/interacial relationship in all of the 3 you saw, you see it as some kind of pushing without anything other then....IDK.

Are all the people in those 3 shows gay and in interacial relationships? Are only one of them? Because you're acting like there's a ton of this going on and it's distracting to you and for all i know it's 3 of like 10 noted couples across all 3 shows which honestly isn't very much.

It was 3 that weren't either gay, interracial, or gay and interracial out of 12. So 75% compared to like 10% IRL. I'm supposed to not see a disconnect like that as pushing a message of how things should be? But the question that I asked, that hasn't been answered in favour of suggesting implications about my character, is why? What is inherently better about interracial relationships that it should be the new norm?

 

[Dalisclock]

It was 3 that weren't either gay, interracial, or gay and interracial out of 12. So 75% compared to like 10% IRL. I'm supposed to not see a disconnect like that as pushing a message of how things should be? But the question that I asked, that hasn't been answered in favour of suggesting implications about my character, is why? What is inherently better about interracial relationships that it should be the new norm?

There's nothing better or worse. That's the point. Most of us don't fucking care who is in a relationship with whom. You're the one complaining about it here so don't be shocked when people infer things about you from that. You seem to see this as agenda pushing, which to me tells me a lot about how you think and see the world.

 

[Drathnoxis]

There's nothing better or worse. That's the point. Most of us don't fucking care who is in a relationship with whom. You're the one complaining about it here so don't be shocked when people infer things about you from that.

Ok, calm down. I'm not complaining, it was just something that I noticed. I knew some people might take it the wrong way, but I guess I wrongly thought that the people of the Escapist weren't so rash in their judgements.

You seem to see this as agenda pushing, which to me tells me a lot about how you think and see the world.

And the fact that you seem to want to write me off over one thought I had tells me a lot about you as well.

 

[Casual Shinji]

It was 3 that weren't either gay, interracial, or gay and interracial out of 12. So 75% compared to like 10% IRL. I'm supposed to not see a disconnect like that as pushing a message of how things should be? But the question that I asked, that hasn't been answered in favour of suggesting implications about my character, is why? What is inherently better about interracial relationships that it should be the new norm?

Why are you even getting that from more onscreen interracial relationships? I mean, did the characters claim superiority for being in an interracial relationship?

Interracial relationships aren't inherently better, but them being treated as a totally normal thing that one shouldn't get ants in their pants over is better, for everyone.

 

[BrawlMan]

Ok, calm down. I'm not complaining, it was just something that I noticed

You only bother to notice now, cuz you were actually paying attention. Like I said before, they've been doing this since the late 2010s. Had you been paying attention sooner, you wouldn't even bother with this.

wrongly thought that the people of the Escapist weren't so rash in their judgements.

You were just being rash to me not that long ago. You might want to think about your words.

 

[Dalisclock]

Ok, calm down. I'm not complaining, it was just something that I noticed. I knew some people might take it the wrong way, but I guess I wrongly thought that the people of the Escapist weren't so rash in their judgements.

And the fact that you seem to want to write me off over one thought I had tells me a lot about you as well.

Well, it's not particualrly usual to see people complain about too many gay/interractial relationships, so it does stand out when someone does. Especially since they've been pretty normal for like 20 years at this point in the west and Hollywood/TV has finally gotten over being terrified of the "controversy" of having a gay or a black/white couple.

 

[Drathnoxis]

You only bother to notice now, cuz you were actually paying attention. Like I said before, they've been doing this since the late 2010s. Had you been paying attention sooner, you wouldn't even bother with this.

Probably.

 

[Phoenixmgs]

I knew some people might take it the wrong way, but I guess I wrongly thought that the people of the Escapist weren't so rash in their judgements.

 

[Dwarvenhobble]

I've been watching a bunch of Netflix produced shows with my uncle and I'm starting to find it odd how much they are pushing interracial/lgbt relationships. Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency: 2 prominent relationships one black/white the other gay. The Haunting of Hill House: 6 relationships 2 white/white, 3 interracial, 1 gay interracial. Still watching this one, but Key and Locke: 2 interracial, 1 gay interracial, and I'm pretty sure a love interest was just introduced for the mother which I thought was kind of odd because they are both white, but then it turned out that he has a black daughter, so it's okay.

I think interracial/lgbt relationships are fine and people can do whatever they want, but the over representation is just kind of weird. Like, why are they pushing this? What's wrong with people dating within their own race? That's still the norm, right? Why's it a bad thing?

It's so you know the creators aren't racist / homophobic.

Ok that's partly factitious but only partly in an industry where the perception of you being "one of the good people" can be as important if not more important than you making something actually good.

What part of it comes down to is the push for "Mass appeal". How do you get mass appeal? include as many people and groups as possible. With limited leading or main character roles or even recurring ones you have to put in as many groups as possible so the easy way to do it is interracial relationships. Also then you make sure to have at least 1 or more LGBTQQIAA2+ relationships in there too prominently among the main cast. It's kind of super cynical really.

Oh and companies also love it because if the show gets any major flak and they know a friendly journalist who will accept fine bottles of alcohol then they can also spin the narrative that the reason for people being upset at the property is because they're racists / homophobes and not because the series is crap. Also the best part is the narrative spreads quite easily from there one one or two prominent outlets report on it.

I mean to go with a video game example remember when an EA Dice dev was sent death threats over Star Wars Battlefront II?
No?
Probably because that narrative died once exposed.

The Curious Case Of The 'EA Game Dev' Who Said He Received Death Threats [UPDATE]

Earlier this week, a man with “Game Dev @EA” in his Twitter profile wrote that he had received death threats from angry Star Wars Battlefront II fans. His story was covered by news outlets like USA Today, the BBC, and Yahoo. Vice wrote an editorial about it, CNBC ran a headline about it, and the...

kotaku.com

from Jason Schreier 's article

Earlier this week, a man with “Game Dev @EA” in his Twitter profile wrote that he had received death threats from angry Star Wars Battlefront II fans. His story was covered by news outlets like USA Today, the BBC, and Yahoo. Vice wrote an editorial about it, CNBC ran a headline about it, and the tweet was retweeted by hundreds of people. There’s just one lingering question: Does he actually work at Electronic Arts?

The actual article contains live links to the other publications' pieces showing they covered this uncritically just based on a twitter users say so without actually investigating it

 

[Dwarvenhobble]

It was 3 that weren't either gay, interracial, or gay and interracial out of 12. So 75% compared to like 10% IRL. I'm supposed to not see a disconnect like that as pushing a message of how things should be? But the question that I asked, that hasn't been answered in favour of suggesting implications about my character, is why? What is inherently better about interracial relationships that it should be the new norm?

Ok you want me to put on the tin foil hat and give you an answer, fine.

*Puts on the Tinfoil hat*

Ok so the basic of why relies on a level of knowledge of market research and far more importantly and soul crushingly likely are twitter trends. You 've likely heard about some White supremacist or other on twitter yelling about race mixing but likely not heard much about it happening the other way were some-one in an interracial relationship is portrayed as a traitor to their race or somehow depriving their own race of some-one and this isn't so much from White supremacists as it is coming from "Black Twitter" (don't ask it's a thing sort of). There was also some studies a while back that I vaguely heard about about how apparently their results showed people were finding members of their own race more attractive than other races on average or something like that. Part of the idea could be to try and encourage that more using the media to try and normalise it more hoping it will causes changes IRL.

Now as or the why? Simple. Genetic diversity is good. Different genetic traits can emerge from different groups and often be present among different races which could be useful. We don't truly know what the world will need in the future so more mixing of traits is potentially good for society. Take Covid-19 for instance where people from Afro Caribbean and I think Asian communities were hit harder by it and at more risk with suggestions it could be due to genetics determining differences in certain protein channels. Mix some more white people DNA in there and suddenly that may not have been such a problem or seen them have such increased risk. Or take me for instance as despite being whiter then a sheet I'm technically mixed race (many generations back) but there's still markers in my genetics meaning I have genetically higher resistance to Malaria compared to a number of other groups of people and especially other white people.

 

[Dwarvenhobble]

Ok, calm down. I'm not complaining, it was just something that I noticed. I knew some people might take it the wrong way, but I guess I wrongly thought that the people of the Escapist weren't so rash in their judgements.

And the fact that you seem to want to write me off over one thought I had tells me a lot about you as well.

*pats the seat next to me in the proverbial pit*

Welcome to the pit it's far more fun down here, we all got thrown down here at various points. Best just to sit back and enjoy it and laugh at those who think they are free outside the pit while we in here can know more freedom.

 

[Specter Von Baren]

*pats the seat next to me in the proverbial pit*

Welcome to the pit it's far more fun down here, we all got thrown down here at various points. Best just to sit back and enjoy it and laugh at those who think they are free outside the pit while we in here can know more freedom.