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And female circumcision is common in Africa.

I was making no judgement about the perceived rights and wrongs or pros and cons of mutilating the genitalia of children (for non-medical reasons); my point was only that these practices/customs/rituals/traditions which are part of the ‘normal’ and accepted cultural aspects of one society are completely alien and abhorrent to another culture that has no such practices.

However, upon the subject of circumcision and speaking personally; I am from a society and culture that does circumcise unless there is a specific medical necessity. So if a man came at my son’s penis or my daughters vagina with a knife, be he an official from a religious cult or not, I would defend the child with my life from what I’d perceive to be a maniac, a deprived sexual molester. It is just as unthinkable to me as if someone else cooked our family dog and served her up for a family meal.

Whilst in other cultures such would be normality.

So you think the Hmong guy is a stereotypical rapist?

My original point was that I could not understand an author who was motivated to cry by the act of proof reading a scene they'd written.

I did clarify that I was talking about creative fiction rather than non-fiction (memoir, or biographical pieces).

I considered it self-indulgent, sybaritic and precious of them and wondered how an author so emotionally embroiled within their product could rationally interpret harsh yet objective critique upon such a piece in a professional manner? 

My opinions upon the existence (or not) of 'pure' fiction is another kettle. A fascinating subject that I'd readily discuss if other feel the subject merits it?

However, I was reminded that the fictitious scene could cause the author to reminisce or associate with personal tragedy so I conceded the fact that reading one’s own fiction could therefore be an emotional experience that in turn could lead to crying

The original question posed for discussion and that I was addressing, was along the lines of 'what does it mean if you cry when reading your writing?' I surmised at the time that it was either superficial, over dramatic attention seeking or if genuine grief, an emotionally dysfunctional act that could be a symptom of mental illness depression, delusion (etc.).

My opinions upon the existence (or not) of 'pure' fiction is another kettle. A fascinating subject that I'd readily discuss if others feel the subject merits it?

I see, so you were actually discussing social constructs, attitudes and North American political socialization rather than individual human stereotypes?

A 1960’s racist differs from a 2015 or 1930’s racist?  Sexism has evolved into another type of sexism?  Sex offenders might approach the act of rape differently now that they have Rohypnol and handcuffs at their disposal, but the psyche of a rapist is now as it was in 200BC.

Yes, if you want to read about the world the way it actually is, read non-fiction. But unless your fictional characters are believable to real world readers, then your fiction will flop.

A touching story Linda and I am sorry for your loss. It kind of reminds me of a theory someone put forward on the old tNBW site; in that there is no such thing as pure fiction as we re-wrap our own real feelings and experiences into another guise.

My work seems to have retained that very symptom. Could it have pre-dated the change?

Thanks Sol

I have a Novel in my portfolio called 'Eat my Shorts!' that has 7 chapters and was Published/disabled on the old site at the time of transition.

I can actually make the work 'active' - However the site tells me that 30 points are required if I want to add that published/active work to a group.

As far as I can tell, if the work is not added to a group, then although active it appears to be in some kind of limbo state... only I can see it?

I want to add it to the TheNextBigWriter Premium group.

The same condition exists for all my old pre-published work. It is 'active' (or can be made so) but to add it to a group costs points.

Cheers!

See, I could die of a broken heart but without turning a tear.

And yet I live in a world where it is assumed that if you don't cry you don’t care.

I recently attended the funeral of someone I loved dearly. A cousin taken by cancer far too young and a sweeter soul than her I’ve never met --truly.
It was tragic and my insides were in turmoil. I’m grieving still. I don’t suppose I will ever stop in one way or another.

I watched people crying during and after the service. Some of those close relations, her parents and siblings were in tatters. Some people on the periphery were crying too, I hated that. I know it is wrong and unjust of me but I thought their tears fraudulent. They never really knew her and wouldn’t feel the loss of her past the next Tuesday, let alone forever.  I feel that they cried because others cried and they no doubt cry at the drop of a hat because they are emotionally shallow, without dignity and self-indulgent thinking that crying it is the thing to do whilst staunch and respectful is right and proper in my book.

They also seemed to think that because I didn’t cry that I didn’t care whilst in truth they had a one off sad day but the fabric of my life, my family’s lives was irreparably torn for enternity.

I work with a young lady who cries crocodile tears on tap to cover situations where she has erred. I work with a lovely middle-aged woman who cries at nothing, Irrational floods of emotion over nothing and all due to the menopause, they say. 

I’m not a crier.

I’m not going to cry over something fictional that I’ve penned and I can’t relate to those who do.

I apologise for the offence this has caused.

Five? and one of them a 'world shaping' backless bra?

My God but you lot are clutching at straws.

Actually, it was me who invented the backless bra in haste and by accident during a fumble behind a carnival tent aged 16, inexperienced as I was in respect of the mysteries of lingerie fastening.

Far too deep Linda   (And true, I'm strictly talking about fiction not memoir here)

It is just that I've never cried when I've written something. Never felt the urge or need and I can't imagine any circumstance when I would. It doesn’t mean that I don’t have emotions.

Because I don’t feel the crying coming on it means I can’t relate to those who do. I think they must be mad. Just as a ‘crier’ can’t relate to me.

I like being abrasive because it identifies the over sensitive and that helps when choosing who to review

At the outset you asked;

Then you wrote;

Sorry, but I don’t think you were asking a genuine/valid question in the first place. I think the question was loaded as you go on to demonstrate that you already know exactly what you think it means. You’ve also shown that you are not open to consider alternative theories.

I regret for falling for the trick question and I don’t know if you can comprehend that another person might not make themselves  cry, laugh, scream, sigh etc. with their own writing.

I walked home with Dill and returned in time to overhear Atticus saying to Aunty, “…in favor of Southern womanhood as much as anybody, but not for preserving polite fiction at the expense of human life,” a pronouncement that made me suspect they had been fussing again.  -- Harper Lee - To Kill A Mockingbird