SGA writers, how are you so frustrating?

[wordplay]

So, you know, obviously there is a problem with the SGA writers. I know there's a wide range of opinion about this on my flist but I do think we can probably all agree that there are enough issues with race and gender among the writers to induce a cringe at least every once in a while and quite likely more.

There are a lot of possible responses to this. Here's a range of four:

(a) Ignore it - because sometimes that's just what you do to live with something you can't fix.
(b) Blog about it - because if we talk about it among ourselves, maybe we can find some way to fix it.
(c) Complain about it - because they made the problem, let's remind them that we want it fixed.
(d) Forget about it and walk away - because sometimes things are just too broken to be fixed and you just can't live with them anymore.

I think most of us have been somewhere in the (a) to (b) range during our time with SGA. (Speaking personally: I spend most of my time in (a), because I'm a Texas Democrat by training and I came of age in a v. sexist, heavily male academic environment, so I'm pretty good at ignoring things so that I don't hate, like, EVERYBODY.)

I'm asking (i) is anyone aware of any coordinated efforts to move to (c)? and (ii) is that something you think is worth doing? I was thinking today of something like an organized postcard campaign, 3-5 versions of comments that are liftable, something not OMG YOU SO COMPLETELY SUCK but that might be a useful mirror for the writers.

"Asking your boss to show her tits to 10-year-olds will usually get you fired. It's also gross. It's NOT funny."
"A bunch of white people standing around watching two dark-skinned men fight? REALLY?!"

That kind of thing.

My perspective on... well, pretty much everything, really... is shot to hell right now. Does that seem like a good, productive kind of idea, or just another way to dive deep into a pool of fanwankiness and complaint?

Comments

[wordplay.livejournal.com]

Right, so I'm commenting to myself because, as usual, I have way contradictory thoughts.

My concern is that they don't seem to take concrit v. well (either that, or JMallozzi is just kind of a dick on his blog. Or, um, both) and I really don't want to make things more hostile. Also, I feel like their whole attitude is one of dismissal - I mean, their response will be that OF COURSE it's gross of Rodney to do that, but that it's in character for him. I think pretty much anybody who's sat through his arc and paid anything close to attention will beg to differ, but their point always has been and will continue to be that the point is that Rodney is an asshole and that was a laugh line.

In short, asking them to get it is pointless.

[malnpudl.livejournal.com]

I'm convinced that they're hopeless. They still haven't got it through their thick skulls that Lucius "Galactic Date Rapist" Lavin was NOT OKAY. They still think he was funny.

If they can't understand that non-consensual sex is wrong, I don't think there's a prayer that they'll comprehend why "Midway" was racist.

Not to say that people shouldn't try. I just don't think the message will be heard.

[mirabile-dictu.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid I have to agree with malnpudl. As much as I would love to see changes in the SGA writing, I also believe they're hopeless. For years I've been saying that the writers/producers are sexist, racist, and homophobic, and I see no reason to change my mind.

It's absolutely infuriating, too, because the concept of a stargate is brilliant, and the characters they've come up with are wonderful. That's why the fanfiction is so terrific, I'm sure. But as long as the M&M boys are producers, I expect more of the same.

If enough people decide to participate, though, I will, too -- can Joe M hate us any more than he already does? I don't think so.

[tropes.livejournal.com]

Let's bother Mallozzi! BOTHER BOTHER BOTHER.

Otherwise, I got nothin.

[zorb]

Yeah, I'm going along with the rest in that I don't think it would accomplish anything other than our own satisfaction at having done something. The writing staff seems, by nature and by necessity, largely inclined to lump all response into the same "Great that you're watching, we'll keep doing what we want to, anyway" category, with very rare exceptions (such as the Beckett thing, which...yeah, let's not get started with that until next weekend). I get why - if they let every criticism affect them, they'd be bouncing all over - but the unfortunate side effect is tunnel vision to very valid points. We'd probably be saner if we could adopt our own tunnel vision when watching the show.