Does he really think that no one ever asks gay men if they really prefer dick? Hasn't every out non-stereotypical gay man been asked that question a million times?
Considering the few excerpts I've read from the books, I doubt Martin's a good enough author to have done that character much more service than the brief time he was around. Reducing him to yet another overly-cocky guy who has it cost him at the last moment is a real shit move.
"would you ask a gay man if he was sure he was into dudes?"
Seriously? EVERY gay guy I know has been asked that.
And honestly, good for the author for being able to be into both men and women. But articles like this that imply that somehow non-bisexuals are somehow missing out by not being bisexual don't seem to fully appreciate the nature of sexuality. You don't miss what you aren't interested in.
I'm sure we can easily find bisexuals who aren't into certain things. Blonds. Brunettes. Tall women. Short men. Asians. Black people. Butch people. Femme people. Skinny people. Big people. Whatever.
Everyone does have their preferences. That some bisexuals don't have a preference related to gender doesn't dismiss that they have a preference about something. And that old canard, "you are missing out" can be turned on them just as easily in those instances.
This "Your missing out half the world's pleasures" BS is as annoying as the old "I fall for people, not genders" that SOME bisexuals tramp out over and over, implying that straight and gay people are only concerned with what's between someone's legs when they fall for them.
"You really prefer both boys and girls?" certainly is an annoying question. But the idea that bisexuals are the only ones asked such things is absurd. I have even heard straight people asked versions of that question by people who perceived them as gay and were surprised to find out they were straight, and somewhat reluctant to accept that their initial impression was incorrect.
Bisexual have to deal with a lot of bullshit, I believe that. But lets not make mountains out of mole hills. I'm sure its not hard to find some genuinely bisexual specific issues to rant about.
It would have been better focusing on what appears to have actually started out as the point of the article, and a valid one, which is the lack of bisexual characters on TV.
Also, was it really necessary to dump on Captain Jack Baroness just because the author obviously had a major crush on the GoT guy?
Sheesh. Dude. Take a step back. Yeah, it sucks that there was this awesome, cool bi male character and you dug him. And as always, it sucks that George R.R. Martin wants to destroy all of our feeble dreams by killing off anyone we like. But there will be others! The sun will shine again, someday!
"Oberyn Martell, the most important male bisexual character in TV history..."
Nope. Best Bisexual in TV History goes to Captain Jack Harkness...at least in the Men's category. Any nominees for Best Bi Female? Best Non-Binary Gendered Bi?
In any case, Harkness wins because, as far as I know, he is the first unambiguously and demonstratively Bi, leading male character in a series. Not to mention that he is very popular across several demographics. He's got fucking action figures!
While there isn't much overt/unambiguous/unpunished bisexuality in the media, TV is changing, US TV--as US culture--is just behind the curve. In the British series Misfits and Fresh Meat [not to mention Torchwood and Dr. Who] while there aren't many Bi characters Homophobia is scoffed at, and a lot of straight characters have, or have had, or might have gay experiences. I think that normalizes bisexuality in principle if not by name.
Also, I mostly agree with Fortunate @5, especially, "You don't miss what you aren't interested in," in response to the inane sense of superiority some Bis have to non-Bis.
I'd look at it this way. GRRM has killed off some of the best characters (good and evil) so Oberyn is in legendary company.
While Oberyn's sexuality was discussed on the show it was done in a positive light. It didn't play into his motive for revenge but was just part of who he was as a man. It certainly didn't play any part in his bad-assery fighting with those spears.
The actor also deserves much credit for taking GRRM's sketch off the pages and making him an instant fan favorite.
He will be missed and nobody will ever forget his awesomely gruesome death.
He did seem to undercut himself a little by dismissing out of hand all the possible role models presented to him as Not The One He Wanted. I'm glad to see he ran into a bit of resistance over Mr Cumming, who has just about done it all, having books, films, stage and television to his credit.
It did strike me that he chose to compare bad things he/bi men in general experienced from gay men to bad things he experienced from straight men. Even avoiding the question of whether "Repent or Burn!" really shows a less negative attitude rather than just being of less immediate negative impact, it would have been nice of him to acknowledge that bi men in general ask a great deal more of gay men than they do of straight men. Why not compare it to bi-negative feedback from straight women?
So, since Oberyn asked (ordered) a male prostitute to join in his mostly female orgy, that makes him a shining beacon of bisexuality? Over Jack Harkness, who had lengthy, deeply loving, and tender relationships with both sexes over the course of his life? And GoT is a bigger show than Doctor Who? (Depends who you talk to, really.) I guess that makes Ramsey Snow and Theon Greyjoy BDSM role models. And Robert Baratheon a positive example of polyamory. Sheesh.
I knew how the scene was going to end, having read the books. (Yes, the TV show has been changing a lot of things, but pretty sure they wouldn't change that.)
But still heartbreaking to see his arrogance cost him!
Of course, I know what happens to The Mountain (Gregor Cledane) in the books... it ain't pretty.
"would you ask a gay man if he was sure he was into dudes?"
Seriously? EVERY gay guy I know has been asked that.
And honestly, good for the author for being able to be into both men and women. But articles like this that imply that somehow non-bisexuals are somehow missing out by not being bisexual don't seem to fully appreciate the nature of sexuality. You don't miss what you aren't interested in.
I'm sure we can easily find bisexuals who aren't into certain things. Blonds. Brunettes. Tall women. Short men. Asians. Black people. Butch people. Femme people. Skinny people. Big people. Whatever.
Everyone does have their preferences. That some bisexuals don't have a preference related to gender doesn't dismiss that they have a preference about something. And that old canard, "you are missing out" can be turned on them just as easily in those instances.
This "Your missing out half the world's pleasures" BS is as annoying as the old "I fall for people, not genders" that SOME bisexuals tramp out over and over, implying that straight and gay people are only concerned with what's between someone's legs when they fall for them.
"You really prefer both boys and girls?" certainly is an annoying question. But the idea that bisexuals are the only ones asked such things is absurd. I have even heard straight people asked versions of that question by people who perceived them as gay and were surprised to find out they were straight, and somewhat reluctant to accept that their initial impression was incorrect.
Bisexual have to deal with a lot of bullshit, I believe that. But lets not make mountains out of mole hills. I'm sure its not hard to find some genuinely bisexual specific issues to rant about.
It would have been better focusing on what appears to have actually started out as the point of the article, and a valid one, which is the lack of bisexual characters on TV.
Sheesh. Dude. Take a step back. Yeah, it sucks that there was this awesome, cool bi male character and you dug him. And as always, it sucks that George R.R. Martin wants to destroy all of our feeble dreams by killing off anyone we like. But there will be others! The sun will shine again, someday!
Nope. Best Bisexual in TV History goes to Captain Jack Harkness...at least in the Men's category. Any nominees for Best Bi Female? Best Non-Binary Gendered Bi?
In any case, Harkness wins because, as far as I know, he is the first unambiguously and demonstratively Bi, leading male character in a series. Not to mention that he is very popular across several demographics. He's got fucking action figures!
While there isn't much overt/unambiguous/unpunished bisexuality in the media, TV is changing, US TV--as US culture--is just behind the curve. In the British series Misfits and Fresh Meat [not to mention Torchwood and Dr. Who] while there aren't many Bi characters Homophobia is scoffed at, and a lot of straight characters have, or have had, or might have gay experiences. I think that normalizes bisexuality in principle if not by name.
Also, I mostly agree with Fortunate @5, especially, "You don't miss what you aren't interested in," in response to the inane sense of superiority some Bis have to non-Bis.
While Oberyn's sexuality was discussed on the show it was done in a positive light. It didn't play into his motive for revenge but was just part of who he was as a man. It certainly didn't play any part in his bad-assery fighting with those spears.
The actor also deserves much credit for taking GRRM's sketch off the pages and making him an instant fan favorite.
He will be missed and nobody will ever forget his awesomely gruesome death.
It did strike me that he chose to compare bad things he/bi men in general experienced from gay men to bad things he experienced from straight men. Even avoiding the question of whether "Repent or Burn!" really shows a less negative attitude rather than just being of less immediate negative impact, it would have been nice of him to acknowledge that bi men in general ask a great deal more of gay men than they do of straight men. Why not compare it to bi-negative feedback from straight women?
But still heartbreaking to see his arrogance cost him!
Of course, I know what happens to The Mountain (Gregor Cledane) in the books... it ain't pretty.
you fucking asshole.
you don't go spoiling game of thrones in a fucking headline with no spoiler warning
seriously uncool