The Problem with Bad Boys


            I don't like "bad boys" in fiction... at all.

             My two least favorite bad boys in YA are Tobias and Edward Cullen.

             They're tough. They're cool. They have a troubled past. And of course, they're super hot.

              Oh, and they're all complete jerks, who are abusive.

               Y'all might be slightly confused, after all, I've said in the past that I like bad boys. In fact, I am writing a more tough character in my current wip, but there's a line between troubled and hurt and abusive and a total jerk.

               Please, stop romanticizing the latter. 

  • Being emotionally abusive isn't hot
  • Being a sociopath isn't hot
  • Being a jerk 24/7 without even P.M.S. to blame it on isn't hot
  • Being void of any morals whatsoever isn't hot

                It's scary that emotional abuse and unhealthy teen relationships (and any age relationships for that matter) are shown and glorified in this light. 

                Please, STOP ROMANTICIZING DESTRUCTIVE RELATIONSHIPS.
                The bad boys are all the same, just with a different names... 

             "I can fix him." is often an excuse used in these types of books, or a form of thought that our MC has throughout the book.

               It annoys me, because first off, YOU CAN'T FIX HIM.
               Secondly, WHY THE HECK WOULD YOU WANT TO FIX HIM?
                Thirdly, YOU CAN'T FIX HIM.

                Also, the angst. So. Much. Angst. Because, dang, it's got to be tough to be a player and a total narcissist.
               There are SO MANY other types of guys, and yet, this is the type we choose to put on a pedestal. Why?
   
               Now, I'm not saying that we shouldn't write troubled characters, or even characters who are struggling with being a bad person in retrospect, but can we please stop glamorizing it?

                It's not hot.
                It's not fun.

                Let's let the girl see his flaws as they are. Let's let him struggle to escape his destructive ways.

               Let's glorify recovery.

             People are messed up, and it hurts. It hurts others and themselves. This isn't a cutesy game. This isn't true love at first glance. This isn't being intoxicated by an eye color.

             Stop dumbing it down to meaningless stereotypes.

What are your thoughts about this? 

Happy Writing,

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