Queer Baiting Vs. Censorship

So I woke up this morning to a discussion over Korrasami and how some people called their relationship queer baiting. So I want to talk about it, and what queer baiting is in general. I'll link it back around to BTS here too at the end, so stick around for that if you want. Korra is just the main example I am using here. But general warning, the show Legend of Korra ended in 2014. I'm not worried about not spoiling anyone, so here is the one warning for spoilers if you care about that. Lol

A lot of people seem to think that either queer people are "doing too much" trying to say that Korra and Asami were girlfriends by the end of that show. That they were just best friends and they both had dated men during the show, so clearly they weren't gay. Or they said "yeah, the implications were there but there was never any follow through. The show ended with them just going into the spirit world together (gif above). It's queer baiting." And it's not. On both of those accounts. Korra and Asami are canonical girlfriends. Confirmed by the writers of the show AND it was taken even further in the comics over this storyline. They even come out multiple times to Korra's family and their friends

And that ending of them going into the spirit world holding hands at the end of the show? That was legit just their first vacation as a couple together and confirming their time as girlfriends and taking time off from the stress of saving the world. Lol this is them coming home from that vacation in the comics

And it's all literally canon artwork and stories here. Direct from the same people who made the show. And again, they confirmed it themselves too. With this statement: "Our intention with the last scene was to make it as clear as possible that yes, Korra and Asami have romantic feelings for each other. The moment where they enter the spirit portal symbolizes their evolution from being friends to being a couple." Which came from the creators blog post, you can read here:

And the other creater posted about it as well, saying "Korrasami is canon. You can celebrate it, embrace it, accept it, get over it, or whatever you feel the need to do, but there is no denying it. That is the official story." And you can read his full statement here too:

Even their mutual ex boyfriend (lol) stated that he thought they were perfect for each other and that he was probably very qualified to say that 🤭🤣

So let's be perfectly clear. It's only queer baiting if they are not queer. It's only queer baiting if they aren't actually together. Which it seems very clear from context clues that they are, even without the comics laying it out explicitly. And there was no hints that they weren't queer or couldn't be together at the end anyway even if you didn't pick up on the hints. Therefore, Korrasami could never qualify as queerbaiting. That's just simply comphet Norms coming out to play then. Queerbaiting is a marketing technique in fiction where same sex relationships are hinted at, but never actually depicted with real representation. But you can't queerbait if you are queer. And you can't queerbait a relationship if the relationship is real. So if you don't know the person's sexual orientation or relationship status, it's not queerbaiting.

Korrasami suffered from censorship, not queerbaiting. And that's not their (the creators) fault. This was on a children's show in 2014. The fact they managed to push as much of the heavy content as they did in regards to war, death, mental illness, genocide, abuse, trauma, imperialism, etc was impressive on its own. And in 2014, getting canon queer rep like this wasn't often done. Like at all. And so their relationship was censored, but the signs were all very clearly there and they took the chance to expand even further in the comics off screen. No longer limited by that censorship. They were trying to naviage representing a queer relationship to their audience while navigating the censors they had to in order to keep the show on the air at that time. A lot of people didn't think it would happen, but it did and they went through with it. And it meant a lot to a lot of people 🙋🏻‍♀️

Bringing this back around to BTS and if they are queer and the possibility (probability) of jikook being in a relationship together. I've seen people say/ask if they are queer baiting. I've seen articles saying that they are queer baiting as a group. I've seen people question about how if they never come out, has this been queer baiting. And no. Because again, you can't queer bait if you are queer. And no one knows what their sexualities are. Not to mention the culture differences in regards to just platonic touching that occurs between the the western culture and LOTS of others. On top of how it's important to remember that we simply don't know and we will probably never know. Its not a TV show, its their real lives, yet their lives are so broadcasted and picked apart worldwide. They themselves are living within the censors that keep them safe in the world that they live in. Inside a homophobic conservative country. They tell us what they can and work through those censors. And no one has the right to demand or even really want them to step outside those censors to give more explicit detail. They tell us what they can and you take from that what you will. But living within those censors is not queerbaiting nor is it lying to people. Its an important distinction to remember and to never dismiss.

Important discussion, important to remember in regards to jikook and bts as well at times, triggered by LOK discussion on a different platform. Lol can't totally blame me. I AM obsessive and in love with multiple fandoms, not just BTS and jikook. 😂 and for my readers out there, idk if yall do this too. But unless the character states they are straight explicitly (especially my MCs), all of them are queer to me. Idc. If they don't state their sexuality, any sexuality is possible. Lol and no, an MC dating someone of the opposite sex does not count as them stating their sexuality. You can like more than one gender 🥰🥰

Anyways, I'm done. Lol thanks for letting me rant for a bit. 💜💜 Hope everyone has a wonderful day

Me watching Dangerous Romance Ep 12 (FINALE):

We're tying loose ends! I'm really excited to see my GuyNava ship sailing even if it is just one episode 😭😭😭😭 Also, Name and Saifah would probably switch places as Saifah's name will be cleared and Name will have to go to jail for (the much-deserved) shooting of Big Boss.

1. No connection to the plot whatsoever but I just realised, we never did get a ViewJune moment 😭😭😭 I thought this series would at least give us a glimpse of what is to come considering they are being paired in upcoming (much-awaited!) GMMTV GL series, 23.5. 😔😔😔

2. Kang, that gag was already sold by Pat (and bought by Pran) when the BBS production crew decided to have Pat shot and hospitalised ON CHRISTMAS EVE. Yes, I still have not forgotten nor forgiven 😂.

3. Oooh. Guy is walking without crutches! My dude, looks like your 'shooting star' is highly effective in making wishes come true. 🤭🤭🤭

4. Name, you stupid dumbass. Saifah should have just betrayed you from the get-go. I am still not above skinning you alive. 🤬

5. Ngl, I teared up with that conversation between Kang and his Dad. Also, that embrace between brothers, Sailom and Saifah 🥹🥹🥹 And then all was lost when I saw that big-assed tarpaulin welcoming Sailom back that Kang posted on the school grounds 😂😂😂😂

6. Saifah and Name. I wonder if they will ever be able to get their dream of travelling together (preferably to the US) and live the "fast and furious" life. 😔 Also 'best buds'??? BEST BUDS??? ARE WE QUEER-BAITING NOW, PAPANG?

7. Oh, look at Guy. He is playing again 😊 Nava must be proud. Also, considering they used to goad Guy into fighting them, the way Max was ready to throw hands at the player who tripped Guy in the field is just 🤌. The gangs have fully merged.

8. Dad, what are you doing outside? Why are you not sitting with the audience? 😅

9. The fvck is that? I don't remember reviewing that much material to get into uni 😂😂😂 The bulk of those review materials looked like they are studying for licensure exams or something (in my home country, majority of STEM graduates need to take an appropriate licensure exam. Otherwise, you will never be qualified to do the work that you have spent 4 to 5 years studying for. Even with internships - no licence, not qualified).

10. Max and Auto, you know there is such a thing as FaceTime, right? 😂😂😂

11. Pimfah, my spirit animal and fellow GuyNava shipper 😂😂😂

12. Really? All we get are just bits and pieces of ViewJune? We have no choice but to take it, right? I'll just imagine the lesbians will be thriving in the UK 😭😭😭😭

13. I want a MarcPawin series with a lovely, no-mess storyline (looking at you, My Gear and Your Gown. It didn't help that GMMTV also did them dirty with the time slot and the promotion of MGYG). I NEED GMMTV TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT 😭😭😭😭

14. Oh, look at that. Sailom is officially part of the family 😊

15. Okay, but why is Kang making the speech? I thought speeches are reserved for those who graduated with highest honours. 🤔🤔🤔 <after 5 seconds> Ah, of course. Sponsor's son. At least, he's more than aware and accepting now 😅

16. Really? You need to do a PSA of your dating life, Kang? WTH. 😂😂😂😂 and yes, we need the sudden (and completely unnecessary) rain to showcase the windmill umbrella. Gotta promote the merch, eh? 😅

17. Ooof. From Teacher Nubdao to P'Nubdao. We're getting close, Pimfah 😅😅😅

18. Max, you are rich enough to buy a selfie or vlogger stick. So why the ever loving fvck are you using your hand/arm to hold that phone? More importantly, why are you not equipped with the right camera for vlogging? 😅😅😅😅

19. What kind of p*rn play is this end credit scene??? 😂😂😂

Overall, I think this is an okay series. Of course, I might have been a bit misled by the trailer thinking that Sailom's family's debt forced him to sell himself (to prostitution) and Kang is gangster/mafia who comes to save him 😅, which could have perfectly explain the series title. Instead, we got minimal hints of danger all throughout the series. 😅😅 Still, I must thank this series for bringing MarcPawin back 😭😭😭 Now, to get GMMTV to have them cast as main for another BL series...😅😅😅

stranger things vol. 2 spoilers below + my rant

i really truly thought this would be the season where the duffers would break the “introduce new lovable characters just to kill them off” trope but no. and i was really disappointed. they foreshadowed the crap out of eddie and his death. and like i love a good foreshadow but they really over did it with him. and i was thinking no way he isn’t gonna die they are making it way too obvious and predictable and they are too smart to do something that predictable but i was wrong. i should’ve known better with bob and alexei.

and the thing that makes me the most mad is that eddie had soooo much potential like it’s crazy how much potential he could’ve had. he would’ve been a great addition to the new older crew and idk how you headcanon him but i headcanon him as gay (and also just really flirty) but like he could’ve helped relate to robin sm and then developed steve’s character sm more and it really just would���ve been a great moment for that time period. and don’t even get me started on his relationship with the kids especially dustin.

“i wish everyone would’ve got to know him. they would’ve loved him”

me too, dusty bun, me fucking too.

and they could’ve easily saved him and had him hide with el while he teaches her dnd and guitar.

and the thing that pisses me off the most is the two days later. like what the hell do you mean two days later?!?? like i get that they had to wrap it up but just leave it on a cliffhanger with the town burning down and actually show the group reacting to eddie’s death. i loved the reunion but come onnnnnn. i needed more closure than that. like is he still in the upside down? they wouldn’t leave him there right? they know that shithole and wouldn’t do that to someone that they started to build a relationship with.

also don’t get me started on how the relationships that were built in volume 1 felt like garbage in volume 2.

and don’t get me started on the queer baiting bc holy shit

so much wasted potential and i’m just sick of it. my love better pull a jim hopper or the duffers will be hearing from a lot of angry people.

anyway steddie is so cute i can’t even 🤭

re: queerbait. God yes! Somebody had to said it!! Why do they care so much if random ppl on the internet think that it is? Do they really think some post is going to change their minds? lol 🤭🤭

Seriously. If they haven't changed their POV/admitted they were mistaken the other 100 times this fandom has tried to "educate" them, the 101st attempt isn't gonna do a damn thing. Let them complain on their own blogs and twitters. If they reply to a post with negativity? Delete it. (The OP does have that option, y'all) If they send an anon defending their interpretation? Delete it. If you don't want to see them incorrectly using the word on social media? Block them. Calling Buddie "queerbait" is the least of this fandom's problems, yet it's on people's minds nearly every damn day. #priorities (TBH, I find this argument pointless af when the community as a whole can't even agree on what should be considered "baiting" these days. I've seen opinions from queer fans of ST, for example, who either reblog that post that says "your ship not going canon doesn't mean it's queerbait" or give examples of things the show/the cast did to entertain the idea while knowing it wasn't gonna happen. Which...used to be exactly what the word meant, but moving goalposts is the new sport or something.)

me at harry’s house: