Comments on: The Demon King http://www.active-voice.net/2009/11/02/the-demon-king/ Active Voice for Active Readers Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:23:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Active Voice » The Exiled Queen http://www.active-voice.net/2009/11/02/the-demon-king/comment-page-1/#comment-51801 Active Voice » The Exiled Queen Wed, 16 Feb 2011 02:13:42 +0000 http://www.active-voice.net/?p=484#comment-51801 [...] Every time I review one of Cinda Williams Chima’s books, I wind up mentioning that they are overly long and super dense. Guess what? This one is too! So it’s supposed to be about Han and Raisa and their adventures at this school, right? It takes 192 pages to get them both to school. That’s an entire book! They bump into each other two pages later, but then don’t encounter each other again until page 384. That’s another entire book! I just. Like. Chima’s writing is compelling and I really enjoy the characters and the world-building, but Jiminy Cricket there is no reason it should be that long. Someone needs to edit these down to 400 pages. [...] [...] Every time I review one of Cinda Williams Chima’s books, I wind up mentioning that they are overly long and super dense. Guess what? This one is too! So it’s supposed to be about Han and Raisa and their adventures at this school, right? It takes 192 pages to get them both to school. That’s an entire book! They bump into each other two pages later, but then don’t encounter each other again until page 384. That’s another entire book! I just. Like. Chima’s writing is compelling and I really enjoy the characters and the world-building, but Jiminy Cricket there is no reason it should be that long. Someone needs to edit these down to 400 pages. [...]

]]> By: Jessica http://www.active-voice.net/2009/11/02/the-demon-king/comment-page-1/#comment-48002 Jessica Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:22:15 +0000 http://www.active-voice.net/?p=484#comment-48002 I also appreciate that you have been civil; however, there is no way I can continue to be civil if we continue this conversation, so I am withdrawing now. For future reference, Active Voice is a gay-friendly site, so further comments about homosexuality being wrong will not be tolerated. I also appreciate that you have been civil; however, there is no way I can continue to be civil if we continue this conversation, so I am withdrawing now. For future reference, Active Voice is a gay-friendly site, so further comments about homosexuality being wrong will not be tolerated.

]]> By: Nikki http://www.active-voice.net/2009/11/02/the-demon-king/comment-page-1/#comment-48000 Nikki Sun, 07 Mar 2010 08:56:27 +0000 http://www.active-voice.net/?p=484#comment-48000 I have to disagree. I know what's right and wrong, and it's my right to say my opinion. I get the same arguments you gave from people who smoke pot. It makes them happy and they're not hurting anyone, they say, so what's the big deal? It's just wrong. I know it and I'm gonna keep saying so. It's the same here. A polyamorous lifestyle is wrong, even if the people involved are happy. You, in a sense, got after Twilight's Edward for being so controlling of Bella, and I agreed it was wrong. But one could argue that it's not your place to say he was wrong since he wasn't hurting her (at least, she didn't seem to mind or even notice it) and they were happy. But I think you were right to say Edward was too controlling. I'm guessing you also think homosexuality is ok. Well, I think it's wrong, just like polygamy. Jesus Christ said that a husband and wife are one flesh. From that, I see that God considers marriage to be one person with another ONE person of the OPPOSITE sex FOREVER. And being young is no excuse not to take these things seriously. So kids should refrain from flirting with everyone, refrain from having sex before they're married, etc. Usually, when people say things like I've just said, they get interpreted as hateful or whatever, but I don't hate homosexuals or polygamists or potheads, and I don't want anything bad to happen to them. I just think what they're doing is wrong. I think it's important to let people like me know that it's ok to think this way. People get really sensitive about this kind of stuff, so thanks for being civil so far. I have to disagree. I know what’s right and wrong, and it’s my right to say my opinion.

I get the same arguments you gave from people who smoke pot. It makes them happy and they’re not hurting anyone, they say, so what’s the big deal? It’s just wrong. I know it and I’m gonna keep saying so.

It’s the same here. A polyamorous lifestyle is wrong, even if the people involved are happy. You, in a sense, got after Twilight’s Edward for being so controlling of Bella, and I agreed it was wrong. But one could argue that it’s not your place to say he was wrong since he wasn’t hurting her (at least, she didn’t seem to mind or even notice it) and they were happy. But I think you were right to say Edward was too controlling.

I’m guessing you also think homosexuality is ok. Well, I think it’s wrong, just like polygamy. Jesus Christ said that a husband and wife are one flesh. From that, I see that God considers marriage to be one person with another ONE person of the OPPOSITE sex FOREVER. And being young is no excuse not to take these things seriously. So kids should refrain from flirting with everyone, refrain from having sex before they’re married, etc.

Usually, when people say things like I’ve just said, they get interpreted as hateful or whatever, but I don’t hate homosexuals or polygamists or potheads, and I don’t want anything bad to happen to them. I just think what they’re doing is wrong.

I think it’s important to let people like me know that it’s ok to think this way. People get really sensitive about this kind of stuff, so thanks for being civil so far.

]]> By: Jessica http://www.active-voice.net/2009/11/02/the-demon-king/comment-page-1/#comment-47946 Jessica Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:12:21 +0000 http://www.active-voice.net/?p=484#comment-47946 Nikki: While not flirting with anyone but your significant other may be what makes you comfortable and happy, it doesn't work for everyone, and it's not fair to declare your way is the way it should be across the board. Regardless of whether you are flirting with multiple people or have made a decision to live a polyamorous lifestyle (which, by the way, are such different things as to not really be comparable), if you and your partner(s) are happy, safe, and consensual, it is not anyone else's place to judge. Unless you're hurting someone, no one gets to tell you your expression of your sexuality is wrong. Nikki: While not flirting with anyone but your significant other may be what makes you comfortable and happy, it doesn’t work for everyone, and it’s not fair to declare your way is the way it should be across the board. Regardless of whether you are flirting with multiple people or have made a decision to live a polyamorous lifestyle (which, by the way, are such different things as to not really be comparable), if you and your partner(s) are happy, safe, and consensual, it is not anyone else’s place to judge. Unless you’re hurting someone, no one gets to tell you your expression of your sexuality is wrong.

]]> By: Nikki http://www.active-voice.net/2009/11/02/the-demon-king/comment-page-1/#comment-47943 Nikki Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:38:17 +0000 http://www.active-voice.net/?p=484#comment-47943 Well, that's basically what you said before and I don't have much to say except what I said before. But I'll restate it anyway. If you're not in a committed relationship, you shouldn't be flirting with ANYONE, whereas if you are, you could flirt with your significant other. If you just toss around displays of affection, they lose all meaning and it won't be special anymore when you display affection to someone you actually like/love. If Raisa can't be in a committed relationship with someone she loves, she shouldn't treat anyone as if she loves them, tossing out acts of love. It's not innocent behavior at all. I find it horrible. And it doesn't make it ok if everyone knows what's happening and is ok with it. In polygamous marriages, everyone knows what's happening and is ok with it. It's still wrong though. And it doesn't matter how old you are or what gender. Polygamy and "physical expressions of the like" to multiple people, are wrong. Twilight might not be my favorite book, but compared to THIS BOOK'S shallow treatment of love and affection, "life-or-death, true-love, Twilight-style serious" sounds pretty good. Well, that’s basically what you said before and I don’t have much to say except what I said before. But I’ll restate it anyway. If you’re not in a committed relationship, you shouldn’t be flirting with ANYONE, whereas if you are, you could flirt with your significant other. If you just toss around displays of affection, they lose all meaning and it won’t be special anymore when you display affection to someone you actually like/love. If Raisa can’t be in a committed relationship with someone she loves, she shouldn’t treat anyone as if she loves them, tossing out acts of love. It’s not innocent behavior at all. I find it horrible. And it doesn’t make it ok if everyone knows what’s happening and is ok with it. In polygamous marriages, everyone knows what’s happening and is ok with it. It’s still wrong though. And it doesn’t matter how old you are or what gender. Polygamy and “physical expressions of the like” to multiple people, are wrong. Twilight might not be my favorite book, but compared to THIS BOOK’S shallow treatment of love and affection, “life-or-death, true-love, Twilight-style serious” sounds pretty good.

]]> By: Jessica http://www.active-voice.net/2009/11/02/the-demon-king/comment-page-1/#comment-47939 Jessica Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:42:03 +0000 http://www.active-voice.net/?p=484#comment-47939 @Nikki: No, I said the treatment of sexuality is casual, which may have been a misleading word. What I mean is that Chima accepts that teenagers possess sexuality, and that it's natural and nothing to be ashamed of or uncomfortable about (and, incidentally, that Raisa and the other girls own their sexuality just as much as the boys do). And while I agree with you that if you are in a committed relationship you shouldn't be flirting with other people, Raisa isn't, and in fact can't be, because showing too much favor to one suitor would be, essentially, making a political statement and perhaps tying herself to marrying that suitor, which she is not ready to do. That said, she does enjoy chatting up, dancing with, and even kissing multiple boys, and quite frankly, as long as everyone involved knows what's going on and is okay with it, I don't see such innocent behavior as a problem. I like that this book suggests that it's okay to like a boy, or several boys, when you're only 16, and that it's okay to enjoy physical expressions of that like. Everything doesn't have to be life-or-death, true-love, Twilight-style serious. @Nikki: No, I said the treatment of sexuality is casual, which may have been a misleading word. What I mean is that Chima accepts that teenagers possess sexuality, and that it’s natural and nothing to be ashamed of or uncomfortable about (and, incidentally, that Raisa and the other girls own their sexuality just as much as the boys do). And while I agree with you that if you are in a committed relationship you shouldn’t be flirting with other people, Raisa isn’t, and in fact can’t be, because showing too much favor to one suitor would be, essentially, making a political statement and perhaps tying herself to marrying that suitor, which she is not ready to do. That said, she does enjoy chatting up, dancing with, and even kissing multiple boys, and quite frankly, as long as everyone involved knows what’s going on and is okay with it, I don’t see such innocent behavior as a problem. I like that this book suggests that it’s okay to like a boy, or several boys, when you’re only 16, and that it’s okay to enjoy physical expressions of that like. Everything doesn’t have to be life-or-death, true-love, Twilight-style serious.

]]> By: Nikki http://www.active-voice.net/2009/11/02/the-demon-king/comment-page-1/#comment-47938 Nikki Wed, 24 Feb 2010 04:54:21 +0000 http://www.active-voice.net/?p=484#comment-47938 "It’s rare to see a healthy, casual treatment of teenage sexuality like this, but I enjoyed it a lot." Um, that sounds a lot like you're saying casual teenage sex is a good thing...I'm going to assume the best and assume you didn't mean anything so horrible, but that's how it sounds. And why not, you ask? Because it's stupid, annoying, and shallow to flirt with EVERYBODY, as you say Raisa does. If I read this book, I'm fairly sure this issue would make me hate it. People SHOULD commit to just one person and restrict shows of affection to just that person. If you're not old and mature enough to do that, you shouldn't be involved in any kind of romance, however inconsequential. I'm not saying you must only have feelings for one person. It's impossible to do that sometimes, having had past relationships, been divorced, widowed, etc. I AM saying you shouldn't go around making physical and verbal displays of affection to multiple people. Call me old-fashioned or prudish or whatever, but I have strong beliefs about this. “It’s rare to see a healthy, casual treatment of teenage sexuality like this, but I enjoyed it a lot.” Um, that sounds a lot like you’re saying casual teenage sex is a good thing…I’m going to assume the best and assume you didn’t mean anything so horrible, but that’s how it sounds. And why not, you ask? Because it’s stupid, annoying, and shallow to flirt with EVERYBODY, as you say Raisa does. If I read this book, I’m fairly sure this issue would make me hate it. People SHOULD commit to just one person and restrict shows of affection to just that person. If you’re not old and mature enough to do that, you shouldn’t be involved in any kind of romance, however inconsequential. I’m not saying you must only have feelings for one person. It’s impossible to do that sometimes, having had past relationships, been divorced, widowed, etc. I AM saying you shouldn’t go around making physical and verbal displays of affection to multiple people. Call me old-fashioned or prudish or whatever, but I have strong beliefs about this.

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