rping people outside of your privilege?

[jade]

sorry about the wacky title! i didn't really know what to put for that.

but what are everyones opinion on rping outside of your privilege? aka: white people rping poc, cis people rping trans individuals, nt people rping mentally disabled people, etc?

i personally dont mind it, as long as theyve done their research and understand that there are certain things those privileged people simply cant rp,but what do you all think?

i ask this because im a white person, so i try not to play my characters as poc, simply because i dont know what i am and what i am not allowed to bring up with her. but i also ask because im trans, and i get really uncomfortable with cis people rpin trans folks in certain situations.

but what do you all think!! im interested to hear?

(i put this in this group because i want to also get salty about this but i dont wanna bring out the mortons yet lol)

[Chairubplay]

I think that people can and should roleplay diverse characters, but that they should be prepared to do their research when it comes to knowing what they're writing. Not everybody is adequately equipped to write for any character with any aspect outside of their own personal experience, and while I think it's more than possible for people to portray a gender/sexuality headcanon or write for a disability, too often, people are prone to get it wrong or use that differing character trait for the wrong reasons.

Take me, I'm blind, and I would love to see more people writing blind characters. (Especially the ones that are, you know, blind in canon.) But sadly enough, every "blind![character]" prompt I see falls into one of two camps. 1. "I have literally never seen or spoken to a blind person outside of highly inaccurate media, also I've seen Daredevil so I know what I'm talking about." or 2. "I am using this character's disability to emphasize how poor and helpless they are for the purpose of getting my rocks off. Come take advantage of my weeping widdle baby and be as disgusting as you want."

It's really disheartening and makes me dread even thinking about the possibility of someone, somewhere getting it right because by then, I might be too jaded to give them a chance.

Being inclusive matters, doing research matters, making sure that you're respectful and accurate matters, and while I think that it should be done, oftentimes it isn't always possible.

[jade]

yeah i get that!! i just also feel kinda worried im going to be shoving myself into a safe space not meant for me. i say this because like. im really tired of cis people using trans characters to show theyre a 'good ally' and give themselves a pat on the back. (ive seen it happen too many times before.) or they shove stereotypes down the characters throat and refuse to realize that wow, people who are a part of a minority are, you guessed it, people!

but then theres also that balance between realizing that sometimes, being a part of a minority IS important, and needs to make its path.

idk i just have a lot to say about this!!!

like when people call you out for headcanons, like trans girl!jade, and say shit like "i dont believe in headcanons i believe in respecting already existing trans characters " what do you even say??