Sensitive Subjects (or: The only thing MacB thought about before posting it)

[A/N: The only blog I will repost from the old batch, because it's the only one I put actual thought and effort into writing and didn't just vomit onto a page]

As soon as writers write something that's worth writing (and reading) it's going to breach sensitive subjects and be close to the hearts of the readers. If it wasn't, it wouldn't be worth writing about.
I encourage people to write about these things because they make stories and characters matter to people. It is the whole point of writing.

However, sensitive subjects are very subjective.
There are many subjects, very sensitive to me, that I keep seeing thrown around willy-nilly. But no one seems to care about that, because they're not as obviously sensitive as the big dogs like rape and other traumatic events.
This, I think, it is a testimony to the narrow-mindedness of RolePlayers. It is the fact that we can make such a fuss about the things that are obviously sensitive subjects, but neglect and forget that certain things are sensitive to certain people as well.

Alcoholism, addictions, deafness, mental illnesses, they’re just a hand full of fairly common things in RolePlay that are done wrong very consistently. They are just as validly sensitive, and they can be just as offensive when done wrong, yet most people can forgive that with a flick of a hand and not a care in the world. Apparently they are somehow less bothersome, not as hurtful and can't be as offensive.
It can be bothersome, hurtful and/or offensive to the people who have suffered because of these things. Their pain is no less real or valid than the pain of a rape victim and someone with post-traumatic stress. Their feelings are just as valid, and these subjects can be just as offensive when done wrong.

I'm not asking you to avoid sensitive subjects, on the contrary! Write your heart out!
I'm not asking you to put warnings for triggers and sensitive issues on everything you write, that's ludicrous and pointless. Writing would be teeming with warnings.

What I kindly request is to always write with a conscience and your empathy cranked up high, so that you may do justice to all the things that matter to people and be a great writer whose stories matter.