Hetalia: Not like Star Wars.

yuletide is the community for a huge annual fic exchange that works like a Secret Santa. The focus is on obscure fandoms, and for many years the mods have had the final say on what is and is not eligible. While working out some kinks in a brand new automated system, they posted a non-final list of the fandoms nominated that were eligible for this year. Now, there's a whole ton of wank about that, but I'm focusing on a specific complaint. One that dips its toes in the realms of unfunny.

vom_marlowe is very unhappy with Hetalia being on the eligible list. Not just because it's popular, but because "Third, Hetalia is the fandom where a bunch of fans stood in public at a convention this April and sieg heiled Hitler. It made the news.

This is not like having Star Wars accidentally added. The fans sieg heiled Hitler. Yes, I find the addition of Hetalia particularly upsetting."

Nevermind that what members of a fandom have done has no bearing on its Yuletide eligibility.

ETA: A mod has frozen

vom_marlowe's thread.

(Read comments) - (Post a new comment)

rosehiptea
2010-11-10 09:04 pm UTC (link)

If there were a bad-taste line, the Care Bears BDSM fic would have crossed it years ago.

*snort*

Seriously, I realize that Hetalia has issues, and that's part of why I never got into it, but the only reason I'd want it out of Yuletide is that I also don't get why it's not eliminated due to having a bunch of fic.

There have been other fandoms on the list that have iffy material. I kind of doubt there is going to be truly offensive (due to history) fic coming out of Yuletide this year just because of Hetalia.

(Plus there are fandoms like the Bible. Bible fic offends a great number of people just by existing, but it seems to make the list every year.)

(Reply to this)(Thread)

	gusty 2010-11-10 09:22 pm UTC (link)
	Pretty much. I agree that Hetalia shouldn't count as being obscure, but what does something dumb some fans have done have to do with Yuletide? I bet if we searched news articles, we'd find something despicable done by a Star Wars fan or two. That fandom is much larger and older than Hetalia's by a landslide. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	phosfate 2010-11-10 10:32 pm UTC (link)
	The number of Luke-and-Leia weddings alone... (Yes, I know, just GIVE ME THE JOKE ALL RIGHT?) (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	cmdr_zoom 2010-11-10 11:51 pm UTC (link)
	banjo music (Reply to this)(Parent)

	lady_ganesh 2010-11-11 08:01 pm UTC (link)
	I feel like offensiveness is the place where 'we don't have the time/energy to try to judge this' is a legitimate excuse, because there are so many debatable points and there've been so many revisionist takes of problematic fandoms over the years. But Hetalia's problems are in no way similar to an enjoyably absurd story about stuffed animals. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

rosehiptea
2010-11-11 09:37 pm UTC (link)

But Hetalia's problems are in no way similar to an enjoyably absurd story about stuffed animals.

You have a good point there, and I shouldn't have implied they are.

But last year, if I remember correctly, there was some debate about Gone With the Wind and Breakfast at Tiffany's. (I don't think there was any debate about whether to include them (not sure if anyone nominated GWTW anyway.) And it turned out the person who requested Breakfast at Tiffany's wanted a redemptive rewrite of the horrific Mickey Rooney character, so that was pretty much OK too. (Come to think of it maybe that's what you're referring too... sorry for rambling on about it.)

I guess I just have trouble picturing a truly offensive Hetalia story being written for Yuletide. But that's naive of me, as all it would take is one in well over a thousand people making the request and getting matched.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	lady_ganesh 2010-11-11 09:46 pm UTC (link)
	IMO, you weren't the one implying it-- it was whoever brought up Slave Bear in the first place. Yeah, the Breakfast at Tiffany's story was pretty awesome. I have Strong Opinions on Hetalia, but I certainly know people I like and respect who write non-faily fic about it. I just...we shouldn't even be having this discussion, because HETALIA IS TOO BIG omg. (Reply to this)(Parent)

(Read comments) -