Bringing writing group material that will offend one member?

Limiting scope is simply a means of assuring that all members share the same interests in writing. Presumably, this group has already done that.

 

You know, I have to wonder why people bring the argument OP describes into secondary worlds. Why do some people assume that any group in a secondary world has the same experiences as a parallel group in our real world?

 

People have a very narrow-minded view of these sorts of issues.

 

I think she's sincere - but I do think she's wrong - and having had some behind-the-scenes PM discussion I can conclude that while she is sincere, she is not correct in her assertion that Australians writ large would find this culturally offensive.

Oh - and she'd be fine with your stuff - you're not "writing from a position of privilege" in her terms.

 

We'll see where it goes. It may get to that, although I would have a feeling that would have to be enforced by the moderator inasmuch as she thinks that the point is very important and needs to be forcefully articulated. But that's a question for another day.

 

Somehow I doubt it. People with her sort of thinking always manage to juggle double standards without even noticing.

 

Certainly. And that's sad.

The juggling is truly a sight to behold. It's almost like something out of 1984.

 

Yep, true to human nature.
I "overestimated" her reaction.

 

Oh yes, Orwell's 'doublethink.'

I never thought that would be a reality, yet here it is.

 

Wow, how do you win in this situation? If you were white and all you did is write about white characters, after you published you would be considered a racist because you have no people of color in your stories. If you do write with people of color, you are misrepresenting them and there culture. How do you win?
I would just ask the person who might be offended not to read or critique your work. If you do write about other people with color, maybe try to have one of them take a look at it and see how they feel.
What a world?

 

Maybe it's the coward's way out, but it's easier to slide past the critics if your character who is 'different' from your own culture is not the POV character. In other words, it's safer if you're not trying to portray their lives as if you have lived them. You will not be pretending to know what the 'different' character thinks or feels, if you remain an outsider who is observing and learning.

It's like writing a story set in a place you've only visited. If you write from the POV of a visitor, you can work within the setting, no bother. A visitor won't know everything about the place, or what makes it tick, and neither will you. However, if your POV character was born and raised in that place, you risk annoying people who actually ARE from that locale. They will notice right away if you get any of it wrong ...including tone.

It's just a good trick to keep up your sleeve. Write about anything you want—but if you're an outsider to it in real life, think about writing it from the perspective of the outsider. Nobody can argue with you then! Well they can, of course, but with less authority.