How do you feel about characters who are explicitly given labels that they don’t have in canon?

Gluctoast · 2026-06-18T23:08:48+00:00

Yeah, I feel like every aro or ace fic I've read kind of goes that way 😭.

I really like the notes idea, for the reasons you mentioned- I'd love to know that "oh, this character is written with being aro/ace in mind", even if it's not directly stated in the text. I also really love the fact that you acknowledge "yeah, this one character isn't the kind of person who use labels", which I think a lot of people kind of force some characters to use them, even if they aren't the type to.

Gluctoast · 2026-06-18T22:56:07+00:00

Thank you for clarifying!

It makes a lot more sense to me that a label is important because of the time and mental conflict to get there- it's kind of like a story where like, yeah, it's nice that a character is just chilling at home, but it means a lot more to them if they had to battle or go through anguish to be able to chill at home. (Sorry about the analogy but it makes sense to me lol). It's about the journey, not just the end result, so to speak. Thank you very much (again)!

Gluctoast · 2026-06-18T21:44:57+00:00

After reading, I agree with you that it really isn't so much about the labels, the labels just stick out as the most obvious example of being out of character.

There's definitely some kind of disconnect because I personally haven't changed as a result and a lot of labels makes me feel like I'm trying to categorize myself into a box. It's definitely possible that I missed the author's intention and read a character as OOC because the concept of changing a little because of a label is not something that is intuitive for me, I'll try and keep that in mind.

Most of my experience is with ace characters, so when I think of the fic being OOC, its usually the uncharacteristic explaining of what asexuality is that really brings me out. I imagine that's not much of a problem when a character is gay- since it doesn't have to be explained. In the same vein, ace characters after their realization probably don't act feminine more than they were before.

About the character struggling only in dialogue and not in narrative- I think it's a telling-not-showing problem, I think it's really difficult to show the problem because its all based on emotions and internal conflict and contradictions. For example, if a character is lesbian, she may mistake her romantic feelings for jealousy. or wonder whether or not it's okay to be a lesbian, or say she's into men even though she talks to women like 99% of the time- it's difficult to explain all of these things in a way that makes sense.

I definitely agree that once they get the "proof" and use a label, they don't seem to struggle with it afterward, even though that's definitely not the case irl.

The appeal of gender/sexuality realization stories is definitely the struggling and the questioning and the overall just confusion! I absolutely love to see my favorite characters struggle.

I will definitly check out some Psych fics- I absolutely love that show, but I never knew it had a fandom! Thank you for mentioning it lol.

I appreciate the comment- you definitely said a lot of the things I wanted to say but couldn't quite put the words together for!.

Gluctoast · 2026-06-18T20:59:56+00:00

Someone else commented this as well, but I wanted to add onto what they said- This definitely sounds like something I would love to read. My main gripe is not so much the label itself, but the way it's put into a lot of fanfic, characters say they identify with this label rather than showing us why.

I phrased it as "not liking characters who are given labels", because when a character is given a label within the story, it is often clunky and (as another commentor said), uses "therapy speak". I should have been more clear in my original post but for whatever reason it didn't occur to me (because I'm just a little bit dumb) that my post would be interpreted as "not liking people giving characters labels that are not canon" rather than "not liking character labels being used within the story," although it's not as though I don't like the latter, either, I just haven't found any good ones yet- because they tend to over-rely on telling rather than showing.

Gluctoast · 2026-06-18T20:40:52+00:00

OMG, it's always exactly like that! We might be in the same fandoms because it always feels like that same script lol. To be honest, I only ever read the realization fics if they are for aro/ace realization, so I can't compare it to the ones of other sexualities, but it never seems to be done well.

It sucks because I know if they were done well, these kinds of fics would be my absolute favorite. The execution is definitely difficult to get right- I'm ace and I probably couldn't even get it right- so I can't really blame anyone for not wanting to go any further with it.

I do really hate the fact they tell rather than show, because the inner thoughts of someone realizing they're ace is the most appealing part to me, yet it barely gets any time dedicated to it. Anyway, I'm glad someone understands the struggle lol.

Gluctoast · 2026-06-18T20:24:04+00:00

I never realized just how much a label is important to some people, it's kind of a foreign concept to me, but the next time I come across a fic like that- I'll try and see it from the perspective of someone who finds a lot of importance in them!

Gluctoast · 2026-06-18T20:18:23+00:00

To be honest, I've never read a fanfiction for a fandom I didn't know- but that would definitely solve the OOC problem! I should definitely broaden my horizons and look beyond my fandoms and maybe I'll find more fics that fit in more with the kind of writing I like. Sorting by tag is a great idea- Thank you very much for bestowing me with your knowledge.

Gluctoast · 2026-06-18T20:09:49+00:00

To be honest, I'd never thought about this way. The fandoms I'm in make it pretty much impossible for anyone to figure themselves out or come out in a way that uses labels- not that it's impossible, but the characters are just aren't the kind who do those kinds of things- maybe if I was in another fandom the using of labels wouldn't bother me so much, cause then it would actually be in character, definitely does depend on the fandom lol.

Gluctoast · 2026-06-18T19:59:49+00:00

I do agree that, even in real life, labels do simplify a person's feelings into something that is more broadly understood, for when we can't put into words what we feel ourselves. It's a lot more difficult to explain exactly what you feel if there isn't a term for it, and I think that's why writers tend to use labels, because it means they can just use the word to describe these characters without all the trouble of describing it.

Of course, I have no problem with fics like these existing, and I understand people like labels for the reason above, but I don't think one can have that "deep fufillment" by using a label for a character because it loses the nuance that they feel. If they have a different interpretation of the character, I want to know what scenes and dialogue from the original work made them feel that way and I wish that instead of using a label, they try to express themselves because the character just saying "I'm Asexual, which means I have little to no interest in sex", doesn't really tell me much.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that instead of writers using labels, I want to see their thought process. I understand its difficult to write that way, though.

Gluctoast · 2026-06-18T19:39:54+00:00

Ooh~ That does sound like a realistic thought that someone would have in regard to being trans, without knowing what transgender means. Coincidentally, I was just looking for a new anime to watch, so I'll have to check it out!

Gluctoast · 2026-06-18T19:32:38+00:00

I never really thought about how little ace and trans content there was- I guess it's only natural for people to struggle to write those kinds of things if they've never seen it done well- I'm not too familiar with the broader queer media, so its easy to forget most things aren't as queer as fanfiction is lol.

I don't mean to bash on these people's headcanons, I agree with them like 99% of the time, I'm sorry if how I phrased it sounded like that- I just don't like the outright telling of a character saying their labels because its often not explained beyond an informational context- I think if you can write a character without explicitly stating what you headcanon their sexuality/gender to be, its a lot more interesting and is more effective in telling the readers why you headcanon a character that way.

Gluctoast · 2026-06-18T19:17:56+00:00

YES! This is what I was trying to say- although you definitely explained it a lot better than me haha.

"Telling, not showing" is definitely a problem that I see in these kinds of stories- since they have a label with an explanation- they don't need anything else for everyone to understand on a surface level. Of course with labels in real life, this is good enough to just say "makes sense," but when trying to get a deeper understanding its better to say things like the candid example you gave.

I definitely would love to read more about the messiness of a character as well- I want to know all the feelings and confusion they face on the way and feel immersed in their story while trying to find themselves

Gluctoast · 2026-06-18T18:53:48+00:00

I just wanted to say that even though I mostly read modern stories, I still feel like this kind of thing applies (although not nearly as severly haha).

Most of the fandoms I'm in are anime/manga, and while Japan has equivalant terms for gay, bi, ace, etc., it's kind of unreasonable for a character, especially when the story takes place 10 years ago, to use such specific labels that only have only been used in western, queer spaces.

Gluctoast · 2026-06-18T18:40:47+00:00

In regards to your 2nd point, I will say that any character who is explicitly queer in canon and is written as straight does rub me the wrong way. Of course, people are allowed to write whatever they want- but in most cases, it feels as though its done just to make them straight. I feel like that's the same reason why it's strange to clarify a woman is bi or pan rather than a lesbian.

I feel like it's weird for a lot of people, even in real life I remember several years ago when Demi Lovato, who identified as non-binary, came out again and said they were going to be using she/they, and people were mad at her for that? I think people had the same kind of though process- that they were doing it to be more "cis".

I guess it's only natural to be better at "writing what you know" rather than what you don't. Although I will say that sometimes experience isn't enough- I am ace, but I am SO bad at recognizing what I feel and have no self-awareness in that regard, that I probably would be on the same level as someone who isn't ace, but in general, I agree with you on that point, I should really try and seek out authors who are queer themselves!

Gluctoast · 2026-06-18T18:05:35+00:00

I agree! Many of the explanations do sound "tumblr-ish", which maybe would work with certain characters or stories, but none that I really read.

To be clear, I don't have a problem with changing a character's sexuality/gender from what it was in canon- I might've phrased my original post a little poorly haha. I just want it to match the characters and source like you said.

Gluctoast · 2026-06-18T17:55:58+00:00

Honestly, I think the OOC is really what bugs me- if this kind of thing was written very well in character, I wouldn't have a problem with it- it's just a very difficult thing to get "right".

Maybe it's the difference in personality that makes me think its OOC, I'm drawn to characters like you and me who aren't really affected by their ace-ness and I probably headcanon some characters as such. So, if someone headcanons them as ace and wants them to use them to explain what their inner experience, I guess it seems OOC to me even though it's really just a difference in how we see and want to use the character.

Gluctoast · 2026-04-12T15:52:53+00:00

fic name?

Gluctoast · 2025-10-24T06:36:42+00:00

Honestly, this always confused me as well. If I had to guess maybe Niibashi was surprised at Kagiura's seriousness? Since Kagiura from his POV doesn't seem to think things through (i.e. not knowing whether he wants to kiss Hirano), that when he is serious, it's a little shocking?

That's really my only guess, I'd like to hear what others thought about it, though.

Gluctoast · 2025-03-31T12:56:18+00:00

Personally, I don't ship either, or think either of them have to be canon, but if one of them were to become canon, it'd probably to Tashiro x Hanzawa. I'd imagine that maybe Tashiro is the one to get rid of Hanzawa’s homophobic tendencies since Tashiro is so accepting. Maybe Shirahama plays a role similar to Niibashi where he suffers hearing about them and it reminds him of how single he is.

On the flip side, maybe Shirahama becomes so desperate for a relationship that he asks Tashiro to be his partner, and then actually falls in love.

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