"Average Team Green Fan Is Bastardphobic" "Team Green Thinks Irl Bastards Are Worse Than Other People"

"Average Team Green fan is bastardphobic" "Team Green thinks irl bastards are worse than other people" "Team Green fans are bad people because they actually don't like bastards"

Not sure if y'all know this but... fiction is not real life, and recognizing or discussing the actual dynamics of a cruel and unjust fictional world as it is written by the author does not equal an endorsement, promotion, or adoption of those elements or beliefs as they exist in that fictional world or in real life.

In real life, I and likely most if not all Team Green supporters could care less about the institution of marriage as one of making legitimately born babies. Personally I don't care if your parents were married to each other. Many people don't get married and still have families together. Children are children, people are people. Luckily in the modern world, in many places, having children out of wedlock is not really even that much of a taboo anymore. People can do what they want as long as they're happy. If I get married and/or have kids ever, that's my own business. I have no specific duties expected of me by my family or the world and the messages coming from society that I as a woman need to be married and make babies before I get too old? I can just ignore that. Nothing happens if I do.

In the fictional world of ASOIAF though, this is very clearly and unequivocally not the case at all. Westeros is obsessed with blood and bloodlines. Blood brings power. Blood continues power. The blood and the name together bring power. Great houses intermarry to bring themselves more power and alliances, under the agreement that the next generation will share the blood of their parents and families and that blood will preserve their power and status as it has for generations. This is essential to feudalism and the way that power and inheritance works (in Westeros and in the real-life history upon which it was based).

This is why it's such a taboo to have or be a bastard in Westeros, and why it's illegal to try to place a bastard in the line of succession. Marriage alliances are built on the principle that the trueborn children made from those matches will come from those particular parents and pass down that particular family's blood. If someone without that blood tried to claim that name and power, people would view that as the family losing the power they've held for generations. They would see it as an injustice. Wars would be willing to be fought over it. It's an indisputable fact that in this world trying to place a bastard in the line of succession will lead to bloodshed. This is especially the case for the Iron Throne. If you don't agree, read the source material and rethink how this world views women, bastards, bloodlines, and the right to the throne.

I'm not sure when people started thinking that the discussion of in-universe conflicts and issues as they exist in fictional worlds actually reflects on an individual's real life personal values or feelings. People knowledgeable of the world of ASOIAF criticize the character of Rhaenyra for birthing three obvious bastards (while she is already on rocky political ground as the first woman named heir) and then attempting to unsuccessfully gaslight everyone into thinking they are legitimate heirs despite the opposite being so clearly true. This criticism stems from knowledge and awareness of the world, beliefs, and laws of Westeros (that Rhaenyra herself also knew but believed herself to be the exception to). Yet when people point out how dangerous or stupid it was of her character to do this, knowing everything that is known about the world of ASOIAF and this specific conflict, suddenly stans feel the need to defend the vision of her that exists in their heads (one incorrectly furthered by the show's adaptation of the character as a modern feminist girlboss who can do no wrong) and make up fake scenarios or claims about the world of ASOIAF or about the critics to support their incorrect takes.

Saying Team Green fans, those who are not a fan of Team Black, or those who criticize the show's adaptation are bastardphobic in real life is similar to those Team Black stans who claim that Aegon's actor is a morally corrupt rape apologist because he plays a character who got written to be a rapist (likely after he was cast, by the way) or people who say authors shouldn't write a scene about murder or murderers because it endorses or promotes such behavior. Y'all really out here rewriting the Hays Code and essentially campaigning for censorship of media because you can't distinguish between real life and fiction. It's crazy that media literacy is at such an appalling state, though unfortunately it's clear that certain forms of internet fandom have really exacerbated issues that have already existed. Now, any character can be shoehorned into specific categories or types or memes that fit their understanding of media and those who disagree or desire actual thought, complexity, and analysis to go into stories or characters apparently shouldn't have a voice or platform to express their point of view, or if they do, it means something about them as a real-life human beyond this person is interested in discussing the story.

I've previously expressed that despite the fact that I love this story as a truly a morally gray conflict with gray characters that tells a rich sociopolitical story of a family tearing itself apart for power, and despite the fact that there are no winners, heroes, or correct sides to this conflict, I would call myself a Team Green supporter. And largely this is due to the lack of media literacy and understanding of the source material that the writers and general audience (see: uncritical Team Black fans) seem to have and the absolutely insufferable ways that they seem to constantly want to demonstrate to everyone that actually they're right and correct in their surface-level takes.

Your story matters. You matter. In times like now, we need fiction, original and fandom, written with genuine heart and sincere effort. Stories written by people who care about what they're writing will change the world, whether it's by sending a message or giving the reader a break from reality. Stories written by people who care satisfy some part of us, deep in the soul, that can't be reached any other way. And that goes for both readers and writers.

That's the power of art.

Just remember: You are an artist. And your art matters, even if no one but you ever sees it.

This is so much Aegon and Viserra coded!!

i know there’s an aegon fic with an original character where she’s like “i’m not here to fix him, i’m here to make him worse”, i know there is and i need it. please and thank you!!

Aemond didn’t kill Luke in cold blood because he was a salty sociopath, it was an unfortunate accident and he tried to stop Vhagar he lost control of. You can still safely cheer for your precious misunderstood war criminal Aemond.

Rhaenyra doesn’t have Vaemond killed. Daemon does it on his own because he is a piece of shit anyway and we can’t have Rhaenyra get her hands too dirty.

Alicent just didn’t understand Viserys properly and thinks he wanted Aegon on the throne. She is manipulated by all the men around her.

The most basic examples off the top of my head. Love the whitewashing, next we just need:

- Mysaria ordering B&C

- Vhagar deciding to randomly wreak havoc on Riverlands on her own while poor unsuspecting Aemond is eating his salad

- Alicent walking around with wet soppy eyes like always

I hate this show.

More examples of the WORST mansplaining here.

What if all fanfiction writers had the same attitudes that so many readers do? What if we treated our stories like content?

Readers: I won’t read WIPs, only completed work and LONG fics.

Writers: I will only post finished works once a year, you will never see 90% of my ideas and have no part of the creative process.

Readers: I will only read works that have tons of views/kudos/bookmarks.

Writers: I won’t update unless I have interest in my story. I’ll post a new chapter for every 100 kudos, 10 comments, and 5 bookmarks.

Readers: I can do whatever I want with fanfics, sell bound copies and criticise them publicly.

Writers: I will delete my fics without warning and never share more.

This is how you end fandom culture. This is how you lose AO3 and access to so many incredible stories for FREE.

✨Fanfiction is NOT content to be consumed! It is community and creative expression. ✨