Why I should not read comment threads -- or -- someone is WRONG on the Internet

[neotoma]

a comment from someone calling themself 'Sean Bahr' on NBC Says Title Character Of 'Constantine' Is Straight. Fans Disagree

but this isn't about a show that represents the entire worlds population as a whole. this is about a story, a very particular story.

why not make gandalf a woman? why not make lukeskywalker handicapped? we cannot keep altering artists vision to suit what we think is the new social norm that must be championed. an artists vision is an artist vision. this tv show is someone vision and their idea for where the narrative needs to go. don't like it? make your own show. but please man, let creative people be creative.

... did this person miss the fact that Luke Skywalker experienced a traumatic amputation at the end of The Empire Strikes Back? The fact that he has a prosthetic hand is kind of important in The Return of the Jedi as it links him to Darth Vader as mirrors of each other.

Because seriously, my reaction to reading this was "Luke Skywalker is disabled, you idiot! Darth Vader cut off his hand! ON SCREEN!"

Comments

[alexseanchai]

*sputter* Seriously?

[neotoma]

I was like "Did you even watch Empire and Jedi?!"

[alexseanchai]

Apparently not!

[neotoma]

It's just such a terrible argument. I mean, seriously. Next they'll be saying "Would you make Daredevil blind?" as a rhetorical ploy.

[alexseanchai]

Um. Who?

mild Marvel Comics geekery ahead

[neotoma]

Daredevil, the Man without Fear! Basically, a Marvel superhero who is a lawyer by day and a vigilante by night -- he's canonically blind, but he has some sort of radar/sonar powers that let him fight crime with noone the wiser.

Re: mild Marvel Comics geekery ahead

[alexseanchai]

Oh, like Toph Bei Fong. Okay.

[greenygal]

...also, you will pardon my cynicism if I don't think a canonically bisexual character being declared straight in an adaptation for a larger audience is due to "an artist's vision."

[neotoma]

ha ha ha... no. I don't think so either. I bet their going to tone down John's working-class resentment and keen perceptions of rich people, too.

[gehayi]

I have a feeling that the person who didn't see Luke as handicapped meant "What if Luke Skywalker was in a wheelchair?" It's amazing how many people don't think that others are disabled unless they're in a wheelchair. (I use a walker or an orthopedic cane. It's unbelievable how many people think of both as optional fashion accessories rather than, y'know, THINGS TO HELP ME WALK.)

[neotoma]

Ugh, people.

I guess I see too many amputees (I live near one of the larger military hospitals, I see veterans with missing limbs and prosthetics all the time) to think that doesn't count as a disability.

[amanuensis1]

I so wish someone would make that point to the guy! (I nominate you, if you're inclined!)