I was expecting it to happen before, but I kind of hope it doesn’t happen now. It was actually refreshing to see Tony apologize and not “make a move” on Selkie. It makes me want to see more of him in the future—especially if he does things (beyond trying to be a romantic interest) to be a cool friend.
The “bully boy just like-likes the girl” (or “pulled pigtails”) trope is so overplayed, and it’s really a stereotype that actually hurts girls/women in real-life—regardless of whether or not it’s true in some cases. It results in people feeling sorry for bullies and predators and giving a pass for their terrible behaviors while minimizing the bullying/harassment/sexual assault girls and women experience.
People say its overplayed, but I think its just what they say in current culture. Look at it a different way, children don’t often know how to act properly socially, and can act out when they want attention. It is not healthy and it us up to the adults and their peers to help them learn to act more appropriately.
You notice I said children and not boys, because this is true of all children. And we can understand a behavior without approving it.
Is it overplayed? Maybe. But more important to me is how it’s played. Is the fact that the person has a crush used to excuse the action? Is the behavior painted as “cute”? Is the recipient of the behavior excepted to forgive the person and return their affection upon learning of it? If so, that’s mess up. But if a piece of media portrays a child acting this way and then learning why it’s wrong and better options they can take, then cool. If it’s less life lesson-y and just has consequences that don’t excuse it, then that’s also fine by me.
I was thinking about the example of Helga from Hey Arnold as an example of a girl acting this way to a boy. I do think the series may have been too forgiving in the end of some of her behavior, but it has been a while since I’ve watched most of it (I watch the Christmas episode annually, though). I do know there are times when she gets properly called out, and overall I do love her character.
“hmm” indeed.
Tony is sad. Or just melancholy.
I get the feeling Tony is gonna have itchy lips soon
I was expecting it to happen before, but I kind of hope it doesn’t happen now. It was actually refreshing to see Tony apologize and not “make a move” on Selkie. It makes me want to see more of him in the future—especially if he does things (beyond trying to be a romantic interest) to be a cool friend.
The “bully boy just like-likes the girl” (or “pulled pigtails”) trope is so overplayed, and it’s really a stereotype that actually hurts girls/women in real-life—regardless of whether or not it’s true in some cases. It results in people feeling sorry for bullies and predators and giving a pass for their terrible behaviors while minimizing the bullying/harassment/sexual assault girls and women experience.
People say its overplayed, but I think its just what they say in current culture. Look at it a different way, children don’t often know how to act properly socially, and can act out when they want attention. It is not healthy and it us up to the adults and their peers to help them learn to act more appropriately.
You notice I said children and not boys, because this is true of all children. And we can understand a behavior without approving it.
Is it overplayed? Maybe. But more important to me is how it’s played. Is the fact that the person has a crush used to excuse the action? Is the behavior painted as “cute”? Is the recipient of the behavior excepted to forgive the person and return their affection upon learning of it? If so, that’s mess up. But if a piece of media portrays a child acting this way and then learning why it’s wrong and better options they can take, then cool. If it’s less life lesson-y and just has consequences that don’t excuse it, then that’s also fine by me.
I was thinking about the example of Helga from Hey Arnold as an example of a girl acting this way to a boy. I do think the series may have been too forgiving in the end of some of her behavior, but it has been a while since I’ve watched most of it (I watch the Christmas episode annually, though). I do know there are times when she gets properly called out, and overall I do love her character.