Here's A Really Unpopular Opinion For You.

I feel like fans tend to ignore the line between "fictional kitty society" and "intentional veiled commentary of real world societal issues" when it comes to critiquing Warrior Cats.

When you read a piece of media, you will always come away from it with two seperate interpretations.

What the author intended

What the reader interpreted

Like, I don't think the Bumble thing was a commentary on abusive relationships in real life, and I don't think, based on how Kate or Vicky talk about and treat Warrior Cats, that it was intended that way, for instance.

—But, the parallels are there for those with eyes to see them, and I think it's worth noting that the fandom treats her situation as if it were supposed to be interpreted that way to start with— as an analogue for real abuse— and are incensed by the way the topic was handled.

Similar to Bumble, I see this with cats like Snowkit, or cats like Jayfeather, who, at the time of their being authored, were very likely not intended to convey the authors' stance on disability.

And, if Jayfeather were to do that then the best thing you can possibly say about his portrayal is that came from a well-intentioned, well-meaning place.

To summarize, I don't think Jayfeather or any other situation / character in Warriors is or was—

Intended to be an offensive caricature / stereotype

Purposefully demeaning to children or older readers with a similar disability, or in a similar situation as to what has been portrayed in Warriors thus far

That his character or any other character comes from a place of bad faith, or underlying bias

—even if some readers feel otherwise.

The second I even so much as glanced at the sonas on WC JPN twitter, I realized I could get as "out there" with my designs as I wanted to and that I wasn't limited to "natural designs".

Don't know why it happened that way, but here's my new sona. I guess. Pyramidhead JK. Sandwind.

So, anyway, lesson learned, your WC sona can be whatever you want it to be design-wise. Go nuts guys.

Anyway, this post was about Dovewing and Birchfeather. But, like, it's also for everyone else who feels this way.

It's okay to say, "That's a retcon," or "That's a mistake," or "That's OOC," guys. You don't have to accept everything that's canon as canon just because it got printed.

Even if the cat's a background character with zero prior characterization, it hurts no one to be like, "No way would 'xyz' character do or say that".

Who cares honestly, what is canon or isn't canon. It's not like Erin Hunter is going to knock on your door if you don't care about the continuity of a 20 year old book series.

I think where people flounder is when they misread Curlfeather's last scene to be a kind of disownment from Frostpaw ala the Patchkit AU MAP, and not as an indictment from Frostpaw of Curlfeather's actions up to that point.

Frostpaw is not saying— "You're a bad mom, and I don't love you,"

She's saying— "How could you do all this, that goes against the core values and morality of our society, turning Splashtail into a murderer, faking my dreams from StarClan, taking the life of your deputy, tearing RiverClan apart— How can you do that, and not acknowledge your wrongdoing?"

I mean, literally, look,

She doesn't want Curlfeather to leave. She loves Curlfeather, but also is filled with the weight of the betrayal and of her future burden— Rebuilding the home that Splashtail and Curlfeather had destroyed through their actions.

She still loves her Mom, guys.

UTAU fan artists, cover artists, original song makers, fanfiction writers, consumers / merch buyers, etc. typically consume or produce content (blog posts, fanfiction, music, art) about other people's UTAUloids, usually popular ones like Teto, Ritsu, Ruko, etc.

This is a poll about them because I'm very curious! So, if you're one of those people, please respond!

This isn't about releasing one, I'm only asking if you've ever recorded one.

This thread on Reddit about StarClan no longer being mysterious is so good!!

People can and will say things online about Warrior Cats that you will disagree with.

What you can't feasibly do is change their mind by arguing with them about it.

It's not your job to crusade against them and to tell them how wrong they are— You are not the end all, be all self-elected moral arbitrator of the fandom.

I can count on my hands and toes the amount of times I have strongly disagreed with another fan over their interpretation of the books—

I block them, and move on.

It's not a world ending scenario if someone on tumblr thinks Cinderpelt can't be a Warrior with her broken foot, or that Queens don't do anything but sit on their asses all day.

And it's also, not a personal attack against you, it's their opinion on a book series, devoid of any relation to you.

—You are not the center of their universe, their life does not revolve around yours, and Warriors is made-up! It's fake! Not real!

Put the phone or tablet or computer down and go outside. The Internet is not real life. And there is zero reason to treat it like it is.

My biggest tumblr fear is making a sideblog and not knowing what to do with it. I just talk here. If I made a sideblog, it'd just be me talking somewhere else??

Ahhh, I can't decide.

Tigerstar death scene but he's Caesar and all the Clan Cats come at him with knives (claws) at a Gathering or something.

What if Warrior Cats had executions? Like, guillotine, hangings, etc. How absolutely sick would that be? Let's behead Splashtail.

To make my stance clear.

I don't think anyone should be able to decide, for someone else—

—What accessories are and are not allowed on a fictional cat they drew, what couples they are or are not allowed to ship, and whether or not their interpretation of the books is 'valid'.

No one— Not the creators of the franchise, and not other fans.

And if you think you should be able to decide that for someone else—

Then you're an asshole.