This week: On Good and Evil Characters Edited by: NaNoKit  
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Do you think that it's easy to tell if someone's evil? Is it something about their eyes, or their smile?
This week's Spiritual Newsletter is all about assumptions, and why they are so problematic.
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How can you tell that someone is evil – other than when they do something terrible, that is? Can you tell by the way they talk? Do you just know it when you look at them? Is it the way they dress, or the way that they do their hair? That seems silly, doesn’t it? Yet, it is not unknown for people to claim that there are such tell-tale signs, and far too many fiction writers appear to agree with them.
It all begins when you’re a kid and read stories about wicked witches with hairy warts on their crooked noses. You move on to learning that if a character has less-than-perfect teeth they’re bound to be highly questionable. Fat? A lazy, somewhat dim baddie. Very thin? They’re plotting world domination. Basically, if someone isn’t what is classed as beautiful by a certain society at a certain point in time, or at least considered passable, they’re characters worthy of your suspicion. Of course, if they’re too beautiful you should not readily trust them, either. Even the colour of a character’s eyes can tell you that they’re the enemy: beware if they’re a pale blue, or a dull brown, or so dark that they’re almost black…
It wouldn’t be so bad – other than being not very imaginative – if such perceptions did not have real-world consequences. Those perceived as beautiful by their society are treated more favourably. They are considered to be kinder, more successful, more intelligent – all manner of good things. That perception of good in someone considered beautiful can even affect whether or not they are found guilty of a crime. Indeed, it can be difficult for some people to even consider someone beautiful may be guilty of less-than-desirable behaviour. This is sometimes called the halo effect.
If, then, we associate good with attractive features and evil with less-attractive features we undermine both our own judgement and societal justice. Because there is no actual truth in these associations. One’s appearance tells little to nothing about one’s morals and values. Of course, if someone wears a t-shirt with a hateful slogan that does express certain sentiments to the world, but our bodies do not tell the story that some claim it tells. If anything, it tells a story about the conditions one lives in. Poverty, for example, can have a significant impact on appearance. It should go without saying that being poor does not make someone a bad person.
The Brits are often said to have terrible teeth and it is true that crooked, off-white teeth are common. This is for two reasons: firstly, the trend of super-white teeth hasn’t caught on here as it has in other countries and secondly, dental care can be very expensive. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have the kind of teeth that need no work. Getting that perfect smile can cost thousands of pounds and for many that is unaffordable. It is sad, really, that the result of a lack of money is too often used as a signal to viewers or readers that this is one of the bad guys.
A very odd one to me is when being overweight = a lack of intelligence. I have heard it explained that this assumption stems from the belief that, surely, intelligent people would know better than to permit themselves to become overweight, but I don’t buy that. There is this other belief that poor people tend to be underweight, but poverty can also lead to a lack of access to fresh, healthy food. There exist food deserts – entire areas where fresh, healthy, affordable food is difficult to come by. What are available are processed food items that are high in sugar and fat. Not everyone can afford a car and all the expenses that come with owning a car. And it gets more complicated – people can have difficult relationships with food, including addictions, and where many addictions are overcome by cutting out what one is addicted to that is simply not possible with food. People have to eat. Also, there are various kinds of illnesses that lead to weight gain. And there are treatments that lead to weight gain. Mental health problems can lead to weight gain… you get the idea. None of the above involve a lack of intelligence. None of them mean that people are lazy, either. Such stereotypes are incredibly harmful.
As writers, we can help. We can avoid these stereotypes in our stories. Instead, we can write truthfully: good people and bad people come in all shapes and sizes. That’s why we don’t know what someone’s like until their actions tell us who they are. There’s no point telling children to be afraid of the lady with the wart. And it’s unwise to tell them they can unquestioningly trust the guy who looks like a fairy-tale prince. By adding that touch of realism we may begin a trend of judging people by what truly matters: their character.
NaNoKit
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Spiritual: August 04, 2021 Issue [#10911]
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