Is 50 Shades that bad?

[Katsuya]

I've read a little over 300 pages of 50 shades and it doesn't seem bad. Why does everyone hate it? Is it that bad? I mean, i haven't gotten onto the SM yet, so it's more like your opinion of whether it's bad rather than mine.

 

[vaurwyn]

I haven't read it, but as I understand it is the meta of the romance that is apparently deeply disturbing. Supposedly it portrays a textbook example of an abusive relationship, without ever realizing it. Aldo, the SM bits are apparently very misrepresentative, violating a lot of the rules of a safe dom/sub relationship.
After reading a few critiques, my takeaway was that it was written like erotica, where no one cares if the hot stuff happening are morally acceptable or not, and released it as a published novel that skirts the line between porn and romance. Hence a lot of people got upset.

 

[IDKWtWrite-San]

promotes misogyny, abuse, and sado-masochism
I search it up and this was actually the result

 

[Deleted member 57675]

I wonder...last i know i saw on local news when it came out, something about a lot guys hating it and there was burning the books bc their wives loved to read it and expected intimate things to go like what's in the book?....there's also a women's refuge burning those books. Eh. Didn't read it before so idk.

British charity calls for '50 Shades of Grey' book burning

British charity calls for '50 Shades of Grey' book burning

www.latimes.com

DJ: Men can't live up to '50 shades' | CNN

Two DJs from Ohio held a "50 Shades of Grey" book burning party because they feel it is messing with marriages.

www.cnn.com

 

[MrTiemos]

If you know about Game Theory on YouTube- or more specifically the second channel Film Theory, Matt Pat has made a video about how 50 shades’ ‘relationship’ is more like cult indoctrination.

 

[Bartun]

What would you think if Christian Grey was a cab driver instead of a billionaire, it would be like a CSI episode. You can imagine why it is so hated.

 

[tiaf]

If you don't like Twilight, then you won't like 50 shades either. It's a non-fantasy version of Twilight. YA alarm. If you're into it, have fun. Never liked YA and will never do.

Never read it, but I don't need to read since I know there are things in the book that outright creep me out.

 

[Kilolo]

wait, so people actually hates 50 shades for the plot?

I thought they hate it for author bizarre vocabulary.

 

[Irl_Rat]

I'm gonna be honest, I didn't think it was THAT bad. I just love making fun of it, as well as twilight and similar books, since the stereotype audience includes housewives going through a midlife crisis and "I can fix him" girls.

 

[Zirrboy]

Without having read it, or even any sort of review on it, I'll put it in a box with all the other "kinda retarded once you think about it" wish fulfillment.

People crush on drawings of girls who would very likely kill, kidnap or otherwise harm their lovers irl.
And nobody gives a fuck.

People write and read stories about unquestioned, one-sided polygamy.
Cuz no way in hell am I gonna let one of the twelve people I'm dating take a sideway glance at someone else.
They don't question it either.

Hetero romance novels usually have sexually experienced men and virgin/inexperienced women in the same age group.
So unless your man-hunk is mommy's special toy on the side, that leads to a bit of a statistical problem.

Oppressive lovers who disrespect personal boundaries and have everything their way (See psycho girls above) are a nice fantasy because they want you too much to control themselves.
So your pathetic, inadequate self has no need to justify its place in this relationship.
Giving up control also means being released of responsibility.
If the other calls the shot, it's not your fault if things go south.
Twilight and shades falls into the same category

That such a person would also - maliciously or through obliviousness, head through the wall doesn't make you particularly empathetic after all - ignore your refusal on things you don't just deny for appearance's sake is rather conveniently ignored.

It's stupid and doesn't make sense.
But I don't think its much worse than any other

 

[RepresentingCaution]

The guy spends the first part of the book stalking her. While it's a nice fantasy to have a guy chase you that hard, it's a huge red flag for someone to do that in real life.
Then, there's the author's crutch phrase:

My husband joked that I was writing "50 Shades of Kaiba," but if you read the first few chapters of my story, you'll see that I decided to break the mold by having a female character who actually consents from the beginning instead of being cajoled into the adventure. She knows what she wants, and she's willing to take risks to get it.

Kaiba’s Prostitute

When CEO Seto Kaiba propositions Joan, she expects a one-night stand, but he and his brother keep coming back for more. Now the Kaiba brothers want an heir from her and will pay any price to get it. How do Joan’s husband and boyfriend feel about her new profession?...

www.scribblehub.com

 

[Temple]

For its genre? It implements tropes pretty well, the stalking, the abuse, etc. Yep, those are pretty bad in real life, BUT, that's the genre standard. Those who consume that type of story fantasize about that. So within the genre, it's awesome. If it's analyzed in a literary sense, obviously it's pretty bad. But then again, we don't analyze isekai or litrpg for their literary value because it's for wish fulfillment. Back in the days when I used to consume tons of isekai for wish fulfillment, I didn't care if it was MTL that fried a few brain cells every chapter. I don't think I have the right to pick on books for prose and grammar if I was fine with MTL shit for years. For 50 shades, it's obviously not a literary masterpiece, but on the wish fulfillment department, it being one of the most sold books of all time says that it did pretty well.

The analogy I'll use for this is critiquing Pacific Rim. It promised hugeass robots fighting hugeass monsters. It did it pretty well. If you're going to analyze the plot and character development (there's barely any), then you're barking up the wrong tree. If you're going to poke holes in the logic of giant robots with swords, then it'll fall on deaf ears. Pacific Rim - promise cool giant robot fights - gives giant robot fights. 50 Shades - promise fantasy of abuse (to repeat, it's bad in real life, but I won't judge those with that fantasy) - gives exactly that. That's why Pacific Rim 2 sucks ass because they strayed away from the product they were selling.

 

[Katsuya]

I haven't read it, but as I understand it is the meta of the romance that is apparently deeply disturbing. Supposedly it portrays a textbook example of an abusive relationship, without ever realizing it. Aldo, the SM bits are apparently very misrepresentative, violating a lot of the rules of a safe dom/sub relationship.
After reading a few critiques, my takeaway was that it was written like erotica, where no one cares if the hot stuff happening are morally acceptable or not, and released it as a published novel that skirts the line between porn and romance. Hence a lot of people got upset.

oh, i see.

promotes misogyny, abuse, and sado-masochism
I search it up and this was actually the result

what... misogyny... really? i mean, the other two, ok... but... huh? that's surprising.

I wonder...last i know i saw on local news when it came out, something about a lot guys hating it and there was burning the books bc their wives loved to read it and expected intimate things to go like what's in the book?....there's also a women's refuge burning those books. Eh. Didn't read it before so idk.

British charity calls for '50 Shades of Grey' book burning

British charity calls for '50 Shades of Grey' book burning

www.latimes.com

DJ: Men can't live up to '50 shades' | CNN

Two DJs from Ohio held a "50 Shades of Grey" book burning party because they feel it is messing with marriages.

www.cnn.com

wow. lol. i mean, i get it. for sure. but wow. the book is HATED.

 

[T.K._Paradox]

I'm gonna be honest, I didn't think it was THAT bad. I just love making fun of it, as well as twilight and similar books, since the stereotype audience includes housewives going through a midlife crisis and "I can fix him" girls.

Yep, got to love the trend of, "I am a fully grow adult girl! My two personality traits are asking plot relevant questions and being clumsy."

The gender switched version is replacing adult girl with man child, and clumsy with awkward.

 

[Katsuya]

If you don't like Twilight, then you won't like 50 shades either. It's a non-fantasy version of Twilight. YA alarm. If you're into it, have fun. Never liked YA and will never do.

Never read it, but I don't need to read since I know there are things in the book that outright creep me out.

I mean.... idk about that first statement. I don't like twilight. Like, at all. it is BAD. No, it's ok. not good though. but, i do like 50 shades.

YA can be cringe, so i get ya.

wait, so people actually hates 50 shades for the plot?

I thought they hate it for author bizarre vocabulary.

im not sure why, so yeah.

 

[Irl_Rat]

Yep, got to love the trend of, "I am a fully grow adult girl! My two personality traits are asking plot relevant questions and being clumsy."

The gender switched version is replacing adult girl with man child, and clumsy with awkward.

These are real people you're talking about, not just fictional characters.

 

[Katsuya]

The guy spends the first part of the book stalking her. While it's a nice fantasy to have a guy chase you that hard, it's a huge red flag for someone to do that in real life.
Then, there's the author's crutch phrase:

My husband joked that I was writing "50 Shades of Kaiba," but if you read the first few chapters of my story, you'll see that I decided to break the mold by having a female character who actually consents from the beginning instead of being cajoled into the adventure. She knows what she wants, and she's willing to take risks to get it.

Kaiba’s Prostitute

When CEO Seto Kaiba propositions Joan, she expects a one-night stand, but he and his brother keep coming back for more. Now the Kaiba brothers want an heir from her and will pay any price to get it. How do Joan’s husband and boyfriend feel about her new profession?...

www.scribblehub.com

True. Real life... nah. lol. ima watch it.

Woahhhh, respect to your husband, yo. Oh, that's interesting.

 

[tiaf]

I mean.... idk about that first statement. I don't like twilight. Like, at all. it is BAD. No, it's ok. not good though. but, i do like 50 shades.

YA can be cringe, so i get ya.

im not sure why, so yeah.

Edward and Gray have similarities.

First their stalker behavior, second their mysterious aura (former because vampire, latter because secret pleasure for BDSM)
Both didn't want to impregnate the FL, but still do and both are against that child. (The former still makes somewhat sense because it's dangerous for Bella, but the latter is just an arse.)

Both FLs are suffering from not being with ML. Excuse me, but eyeroll. The way Bella suffered was...ridiculous. Get a life girl. And to Anastasia, I don't understand how she isn't creeped out by that stalker behavior.

Aside from that, twilight is indeed a tad more melodrama, but 50 shades has an arse ML. Also, wtf is with this crooked display of BDSM.

CONSENT and COMMUNICATION. The red flag was there the moment I heard she isn't into BDSM, but then she gives it another try because she missed him? Bruh, there is a thing such as compatibility in bed. And when you aren't into it, then you shouldn't be cajoled into it.

The wish to bleach my ears and eyes came when that fucker of a ML blamed FL for not taking the pill and getting pregnant, even though it needs two to make a baby. And all that whining because he can't go travel with FL with a baby. Garbage, you are a billionaire, get a nanny.Utter garbage of a ML. Even more than Keith Pittman from the most toxic BL I read. But at least they both are toxic to each other, so they are a match in heaven.

50 Shades is marketing AO3 erotica as romance which makes me smh. Maybe the beginning is ok, but isn't it more hyped because of the detailed description of BDSM sex? I can't seem to find anything in the plot that is innovative enough to explain the hype it got back then when it rolled into the cinemas.

 

[Cipiteca396]

If you don't like Twilight, then you won't like 50 shades either. It's a non-fantasy version of Twilight. YA alarm. If you're into it, have fun. Never liked YA and will never do.

Never read it, but I don't need to read since I know there are things in the book that outright creep me out.

Assuming you mean Young Adult and not something I'm unfamiliar with, 50 Shades is NOT YA. It's explicit smut(and not the SH definition). I also haven't read it, but I have heard some of the lines read out.

Seriously, don't let your kids read this.

50 Shades is marketing AO3 erotica as romance which makes me smh. Maybe the beginning is ok, but isn't it more hyped because of the detailed description of BDSM sex? I can't seem to find anything in the plot that is innovative enough to explain the hype it got back then when it rolled into the cinemas.

It... Seems like you know more about the story than me, though.

Probably the explicit BDSM, yeah. For most 'mainstream' readers, it may well have been their first experience. Imagine reading the absolute worst story from your favorite genre as the first thing you ever read. You might actually have liked it, and then realize how dumb you were looking back on it.

 

[Katsuya]

Assuming you mean Young Adult and not something I'm unfamiliar with, 50 Shades is NOT YA. It's explicit smut(and not the SH definition). I also haven't read it, but I have heard some of the lines read out.

Seriously, don't let your kids read this.

It... Seems like you know more about the story than me, though.

Probably the explicit BDSM, yeah. For most 'mainstream' readers, it may well have been their first experience. Imagine reading the absolute worst story from your favorite genre as the first thing you ever read. You might actually have liked it, and then realize how dumb you were looking back on it.

lol, the vid is hilarious.