Originally Posted by
Neo Goblin
Even if they aren't fans, a message is being sent that DC may do this to characters they ARE fans of. So I can understand alarm because of that.
I mainly just wanted to say that, but in regards to the core topic. Eh...I kind of see both sides of it and I don't think there is a "right" answer. If fans of a character feel negatively toward a favorite of theirs suddenly being turned gay or bisexual, I think that's understandable. I don't believe that makes them bigots. They formed an emotional connection with something that was presented a certain way, and when it becomes notably different in a major way, I don't believe it's weird for them to have a negative reaction to that.
When I was little, I liked seeing Screwball Squirrel when he wasn't wearing his Napoleon hat. When he had the hat on...I don't know, for some reason, it turned me away somewhat. People can be fickle like that and that's okay. They shouldn't need to justify their tastes and preferences. They just are what they are.
However, I do understand that this isn't necessarily a betrayal of the character, because...you know...people can change, or realize different things about themselves, or decide to try different things. That happens in real life. So...*shrug*
That said, I'm mostly for creating new characters or using existing ones because I don't like to pull the wool over people's eyes, because I know I generally don't like that being done to me. When people decided to become fans of Tim Drake, bisexuality wasn't a part of the deal. I'm not going to pretend like that's no big deal and it shouldn't make any difference to them.