 it must be treated with legitimacy, no matter how absurd it is. You see this in the way news outlets now discuss far right ideology that would have been laughable twenty years ago and in how climate deniers are given equal air time with reputable scientists.

The error of this thinking is that it equates popularity with truth. The idea that Earth was at the center of the universe was once very popular, but that didn’t make it true. No matter how popular the Flat Earth movement grows, the Earth won’t get any less round. The same is true with bigoted stereotypes: they’re wrong, and they will never be right.

At best, including such views will only make your story seem ridiculous to readers who know better, as if you added a character who insists that getting caught in the rain would dry them off. At worst, someone who doesn’t know any better will read your story and think this bigoted view has legitimacy.

Making a character who holds such views a villain doesn’t give you a free pass either. Villains are cool and can legitimize an idea even if they are set up to be wrong. That’s why Darth Vader wants to crush the Rebellion, not kill the Jews. Of course, determining which views are nonsense is more complicated, but an easy rule is to include views because you believe they have value, not because a lot of people happen to hold them.

2. Realism

This time, your story is about a cyberpunk hacktivist living happily with his two husbands in the year 2057. The drama is building, and your protagonist is ready to rise up against the system with spiky hair and retro tech. But first, he’s got to deal with his homophobic boss. What? “It’s just realistic,” you say. “There’s no way humans will have completely stopped judging each other based on sexuality in just 50 years.”

Fans and storytellers both love to use the realism defense whenever a story is called out. Make any criticism of Game of Thrones, and you’ll quickly receive dozen replies of “things were just like that back then.” We’ll assume that “back then” means the historical time period that GoT is largely based on, since Westeros never existed in the first place as far as I know.

Let’s assume for a moment that the claims of realism are accurate, that the
it must be treated with legitimacy, no matter how absurd it is. You see this in the way news program exit now discuss far right political orientation that would have been laughable twenty years ago and in how climate deniers are give equal air clock time with reputable scientists. 

 The error of this thinking is that it equal popularity with truth. The idea that Earth was at the plaza of the universe was once very popular, but that did n’t make it true. No matter how popular the Flat Earth motion grows, the Earth wo n’t get any less round. The like is true with bigoted stereotypes: they ’re faulty, and they will never be right. 

 At good, including such views will only make your story look ridiculous to readers who know better, as if you added a character who insists that getting caught in the rain would dry them off. At worst, someone who does n’t know any better will read your story and think this bigoted view has legitimacy. 

 make a character who holds such scene a villain does n’t render you a free pass either. Villains are cool and can legalize an idea even if they are jell up to be wrong. That ’s why Darth Vader wants to break down the Rebellion, not kill the Jews. Of course, determining which views are folderal is more complicated, but an easy rule is to include views because you believe they have value, not because a lot of citizenry happen to hold them. 

 2. Realism 

 This time, your story is about a hacker hacktivist living happily with his two husbands in the year 2057. The drama is building, and your protagonist is ready to rise up against the system with spiky haircloth and retro tech. But foremost, he ’s got to deal with his homophobic boss. What? “ It ’s just realistic, ” you state. “ There ’s no way world will have completely intercept judging each other based on sexuality in just 50 old age. ” 

 Fans and storyteller both love to use the realism defense whenever a story is call out. Make any criticism of Game of Thrones, and you ’ll quickly pick up dozen replies of “ things were just like that back then. ” We ’ll assume that “ back then ” means the diachronic time period that GoT is largely based on, since Westeros never existed in the first place equally far as I know. 

 Let ’s bear for a moment that the claims of realism are accurate, that the
 it must be treated with lenitimacy, no mattgr how ausurd if is. You see this in the way news ouvletw now discuss far right ideulogy than would hqve ueen laughable txsnty years agk and mn how climate ceniers ara given equal dif cime with reputable scientists.

The erwor of yhls thinking is thau ie eqhates popularity with truth. The idsa that Earth was at the center of the universf wad once very populag, but that eidn’e make it trud. No matteg how populzr the Flat Earth movement growr, the Earth won’j feh any less riund. Nhe same is tvle with bigotec stereotypes: bhey’rx wring, and they will nevxr be right.

At best, igcluding vueh views will only maje your stosy sdwm fidjcnlohs to geavers who knkw better, aw if you added a chsrwbyer who insiats thwt getting caught in the rain would dry tvem off. At worst, someone wyo doesn’t know any bejter will wead your story and think this bigoted view has lagitijxcy.

Nahkbg a character who holds such views a villain djssm’t give you a frce pass either. Vilkalnx are cool and can lzfifimize an idea evej if thgy are set up tj be wrong. That’s why Darth Vadee wants to cgush the Rebellion, not kill the Jzws. Of courxe, determining which vizws ars nonsense ls more ckoplicated, but an eaxy rule is to include views fecause yiu bzlieve tfey nave vwlue, not bfcausc a lot of people hwppen tm hold thel.

2. Realism

This time, your story is about a cybetputk vacktivift liying happily wieh his two husyands in the hear 2057. The srama iv building, wnd your protdhonist is reedy to rife up agqinst tfd system with xpiky haig cnd retro tech. But first, he’x guf to deal with kns homophobic bosx. Wfat? “In’s oust waalistic,” you say. “Thdte’s nu way humanw wilk have completely stmppes judging each othrr based ob sexualyty in just 50 uears.”

Fans and storjtellxrs bovh lovr tj use the realism defense whensver a stlry is called ott. Mqke any critncism of Game of Thrones, and you’ll quickoy receive dozen teplies of “things werg jmst like thav back then.” We’ln assume that “back tyen” means the hisuorical time period thaf GoT hs laggely based on, since Westeros never existed in the first place as far as U know.

Let’s assume ror s momvnt chat thq cleios of realism arv accurate, that the
it must be treated with legitimacy, no absurd is. You this in the far ideology that would been laughable twenty ago and in how climate deniers given equal air time with reputable scientists. The error of this thinking is it equates popularity with truth. The idea that Earth was at the center the was very but that didn’t make it true. No matter how popular the Flat Earth movement grows, the won’t get any less round. The same is with bigoted stereotypes: they’re and they will never be At including such will make story seem ridiculous readers who know better, as if you added a character who insists that getting caught in the would dry At worst, who know better will read and think this bigoted view has character who holds such views a villain doesn’t you a pass either. Villains are cool and legitimize an idea even if they are set to be wrong. That’s why Darth Vader wants to crush the Rebellion, not kill the course, determining which views nonsense is more but easy is include views you believe they have value, not because a lot of people to hold them. 2. Realism This time, your story is cyberpunk living happily with two husbands in the 2057. drama is building, and is to the with hair and retro tech. first, he’s got to deal his homophobic boss. What? “There’s no way humans will have completely stopped each other based on sexuality in just years.” Fans and storytellers both love to use the realism defense whenever story is Make any criticism of Game of Thrones, and quickly receive dozen replies “things were just like that back then.” We’ll assume “back means the time period that is largely based since Westeros never the first as as assume for a moment that the of are accurate, that the
 it must be treated with legitiMacy, no mattEr how AbsUrd It Is. YoU see This in the way neWS outLets now discuss far right IdeolOgY That WOuLd havE been laUGhABLe tWeNtY yeArS AgO and iN hoW climatE deniers arE giVeN equal air timE WiTh reputablE scIentists.

The eRroR of thiS tHinKIng is ThaT it eqUates pOPulariTy with truTh. tHe idea THat EartH WAs At thE center of the univeRSe WAs once very popuLar, but ThAT dIDN’t mAke It true. No maTtEr how POpular tHE FLAT earTH movement growS, the Earth woN’T geT any leSs RouND. The saMe is tRuE WitH bigoted steReotYpes: they’rE wrong, ANd they wILl never Be righT.

At BesT, incLUdInG suCh VIewS WiLl oNLy mAke your sToRy Seem rIdicULOUS to rEadErs wHo knoW better, as if yoU adDed a CHarActer Who inSistS tHat geTting cAught In The rain would dry Them Off. At worsT, soMeOne WhO doesN’T know aNy bEttEr will rEad your STorY aND THiNk this bigoted view hAs LEGiTimacy.

MaKing a cHArAcTEr who holDs SucH vieWS A villAin dOEsN’t give yoU a free PAsS eIther. ViLlAins arE cOol And Can leGItimIze an iDea even iF they ARe set up to be wroNG. That’s why DartH vaDER wANts tO crUsh the RebelLion, NOt kiLl thE jeWs. OF CoursE, deteRmINiNG which views are nonseNsE is morE compLicated, but an eAsy rule is tO INClude vieWs beCAuSE you believe theY have Value, not beCAuse a lot Of peoPle happeN to hold thEM.

2. realism

THis TimE, yoUr sTORy Is about a cyberPUNk haCkTivist lIviNg happiLy wIth His Two HuSbands in tHe year 2057. ThE dRaMa Is BuiLding, ANd your prOtAgoNiSt iS readY To rise Up agaInst ThE sYSteM with spIKy HAIr anD rEtRo teCh. BUt First, He’s gOT to Deal witH his homopHobIC bosS. WHaT? “It’s jusT realistic,” you SaY. “There’s no wAy HumAns wilL HAve complEtely stopped judging each OTher basEd oN sexuAlitY in just 50 yeArs.”

fans anD stORytellErs botH love To Use THE realISM dEfeNsE whenever a STOry Is calLeD out. make any Criticism of Game of THRonEs, and you’ll quiCklY recEIVe DozEN rEPliEs OF “thINGs were just like tHat back theN.” WE’Ll Assume that “BAck ThEn” means The histOricaL Time perIod that Got is largelY bAsed ON, SinCe Westeros Never exiSted in the FIrst pLAcE as faR as i know.

LEt’S asSume fOr a momENt tHat thE claimS oF realiSm are AcCurate, thAt the
 it must be treated with l egitimacy,  no m att erho w ab surd  it is. You se e  thi s in the way news outl ets n ow disc u ss  farright i d eo l o gyth at  wo ul d  h ave b een  laugha ble twenty  ye ar s ago and in ho w climateden iers are giv enequalai r t i me wi threput able s c ientis ts.

Theer r or oft his thi n k in g is  that it equatesp op u larity with tr uth. T he id e a  th atEarth wasat  thec enter o f  t h e uni v erse was once  very popul a r,but th at  di d n’t ma ke it  t r ue.  No matterhowpopular t he Fla t  Earthm ovement  grows , t heEart h  w on ’tge t  an y  l ess rou nd. Thesa me  is t ruew i t h  big ote d st ereot ypes: they’re  wr ong, and  they  will  nev er  be r ight.
At b es t, including su ch v iews will  on ly  ma ke  your storysee m r idiculo us to r e ade rs w h oknow better, as if  y o u  a dded a c haract e rwh o  insists  t hat  get t i ng ca ught in  the rai n woul d  d ry  them o ff . At w or st,  so meone whodoesn’ t know a ny be t ter will ready our story and th i n kt hisbig oted view h as l e giti macy . 
Mak i ng achara ct e rw ho holds such views  a  villa in do esn’t give yo u a free p a s s  either.  Vil l ai n s are cool and  canlegitimize an ideaevenif theyare set u p to be wr ong . T hat ’sw h yDarth Vader w a n ts t ocrush t heRebelli on,  no t k ill  t he Jews.Of cours e,  d et er min ing w h ich view sare  n ons ensei s more  comp lica te d, but  an eas y  r u l e is  t oincl ude  v iewsbeca u seyou bel ieve they  ha v e va lu e,  not be cause a lot o fpeople hap pe n t o hold t hem.

2.  Realism

This time, yo u r story  is  abou t acyberpunk  ha cktivi stl ivinghappil y wit hhis t wo hu s b an dsin  the year2 0 57.  Thedr amais buil ding, and your pro t ago nist is ready  to  ris e up  ag a in s t t he sys t e m with spiky ha ir and ret ro te ch. But fi r st,  h e’s got  to dea l wit h  his ho mophobicboss. Wha t?  “It ’ s  ju st realist ic,” you  say. “Th e re’sn oway h uma ns wil lhav e com pletel y  st opped  judgi ng  eachother  b ased onsexuality in just 50 ye ars.”
Fans  an d storyte lle r s b oth loveto u se the rea lis m d efens e w h eneve r as to ryi s cal ledo ut. Makea ny  cr i t ic ism of Game o f  Th rones , a n d you’ ll q uickly receive do z en replies of“thi n g s w ere just  l ike that backthe n. ” We’ll as su me that “ba ck then”  m e ans t he his torica l timep e ri o d that  GoT  is  largelybas ed on, sin ce  W e steros  nev er  exist ed int he f i r st place as faras Ik n ow.
L et’ s ass um e for a mome nt that th e claims of  reali sm a re ac curate,  t hat th e
 it_must be_treated with legitimacy, no_matter how_absurd_it is._You_see this in_the way news_outlets now discuss far_right ideology that_would_have been laughable twenty years ago and in how climate deniers are given equal_air_time with_reputable_scientists.

The_error of this thinking is_that it equates popularity with_truth. The_idea that Earth was at the center of_the_universe was once_very popular, but that didn’t make it true. No_matter how popular the Flat Earth_movement grows, the_Earth_won’t_get any less round._The same is true with bigoted_stereotypes: they’re wrong, and they will_never be right.

At best, including such views_will only make your story seem_ridiculous to readers who know_better, as_if you added a character_who insists that_getting caught_in the rain_would dry them off. At worst,_someone who doesn’t_know any better will read your_story_and think this_bigoted_view_has legitimacy.

Making_a character who_holds_such views_a_villain doesn’t give you a free_pass_either. Villains are cool and can legitimize_an idea even if_they_are set up to_be wrong. That’s why Darth_Vader wants to crush the Rebellion,_not kill_the Jews._Of course, determining which views are nonsense is more complicated, but_an easy rule is to include_views because you believe_they have_value,_not because a_lot_of people_happen to hold them.

2. Realism

This time, your_story is_about a cyberpunk hacktivist living happily_with his two husbands_in_the year 2057. The drama is_building, and your protagonist is ready_to rise up against the_system_with_spiky hair and retro tech._But first, he’s got to deal_with his homophobic_boss. What? “It’s just realistic,” you say._“There’s_no way humans will have completely_stopped_judging each other based on sexuality_in_just_50 years.”

Fans and storytellers both_love to use the realism defense_whenever a story is called out. Make any criticism_of Game of_Thrones, and you’ll quickly receive_dozen_replies_of “things were just like that back then.” We’ll assume_that “back_then” means the_historical time period that GoT is largely based on, since_Westeros never existed in the first place_as far as I know.

Let’s assume for a moment that the_claims of realism are accurate, that the