Writing characters that are awkward about sex (or romance in general)

[A. E. Lowan]

All good, moms need sleep (sometimes /j) too! especially if sick.
I tried to give them the benefit of the doubt at first cause it had been ages since they posted but nope. Same nonsense.

I honestly think that person is playing a 'character' because their statements seem irrational even for someone who believes in what they say. I get what they're driving at but it's an odd hill to die on especially the whole 'my opinion is the only right one' angle.

The thing that kinda bummed me out about the whole thing was that the joke in question wasn't even about sending kids to erotic fanfiction but fanfiction in general. There is a lot of erotic fanfiction out there (Don't get me started on horny ship fics, it's a plague) but there's also a lot of normal fanfiction out there, including ship fics. The two things aren't mutually exclusive lol

I live in rural SW Missouri. That was a Tuesday in my neck of the woods. Lots of real big truck flags. There's a mega-church going up with the slogan Make Jesus Famous. Even I can't make this up.

I'll admit, I have a secret - not-so-secret, my name's all over the internet - life as a liberal internet troll, and that sudden argument inflation is a really common debate tactic on that side of the fence. They've cued onto the human tendency to backtrack under attack and to spend more time clearing the air than to pushing onward with their argument and will deploy it at any and every given opportunity.

Which is unfortunate. It's their only trick.

I also write a whole lot of political fantasy, have a really weird sense of humor, and spent way too much time rewatching The West Wing. So, the fiction-dealer at the schoolyard fence is one we're known for. Whenever we put Faerie Rising, our first-in-series, up free for a promotion, I'll say that is exactly what we're doing. First one's free, kid. And the readers laugh, and they take their free book... and come back for the rest about an hour later.

 

[Mad Swede]

I honestly think that person is playing a 'character' because their statements seem irrational even for someone who believes in what they say. I get what they're driving at but it's an odd hill to die on especially the whole 'my opinion is the only right one' angle.

No, they're a person with some real mental health issues. I came across a few like it on the various UN missions I served on, although in those cases it was often the conflict that had led to their breakdown. If you're not a mental health professional there isn't much you can do apart from be patient, try to calm them down and draw them into gentle conversations. Even then it doesn't always help.

 

[Naruzeldamaster]

No, they're a person with some real mental health issues. I came across a few like it on the various UN missions I served on, although in those cases it was often the conflict that had led to their breakdown. If you're not a mental health professional there isn't much you can do apart from be patient, try to calm them down and draw them into gentle conversations. Even then it doesn't always help.

I figured it could be either one but mental health is a bit of a sensitive topic online. So I try not to bring it up if I can avoid it. (I personally have a couple of things, but nothing terrible compared to how it could be)

Back to the Original Topic.

In The Zelda Story, the main character is an amnesiac who has the social capacity of a tube of toothpaste. (He's genuinely nice, and a little sassy, but he doesn't chat much) So people are genuinely thrown when he throws out a line even close to flirting. For the fish girl (look up the Zora from Tears of the Kingdom/Majora's Mask) she's especially thrown because she's (badly) imitating a "dominant" personality so when people say stuff like 'I'm fine with that' she's surprised enough to make her panic. When people are actually receptive of her attempts at flirting, her heart rate goes up, her thoughts start racing etc.

As for the character in the original story who is awkward about sex. It's more of a cultural difference than anything else, the Dragon Kin take the 'act' very seriously and two dragon kin lovers will frequently disappear (often for many months) doing who knows WHAT with eachother (But to keep it family friendly, that's all that's mentioned) so for the Female Dragon kin who's never done it before, she's terrified if humans and other species are similar. She has the instinct, but she doesn't know much about other species and how they handle, thus her paranoia goes through the roof. Which causes some anime-like reactions to merely mentioning the subject.

 

[pmmg]

I'll admit, I have a secret - not-so-secret, my name's all over the internet - life as a liberal internet troll, and that sudden argument inflation is a really common debate tactic on that side of the fence.

Do I need to say it?

The tendency to misconstrue, and blow things out of proportion is in no short supply on your side of the fence as well. It is not the result of a side, but instead poor skill at something. Josh has poor skills for getting along on the internet.

Enough about Josh.

I feel this topic has run its course, is there anything the OP'er still has a question about?