And as long as we're ranting

[minutia_r]

Can we talk about wedding and marriage customs in fanfic for a minute?

Why is Legolas getting down on one knee and giving some girl a diamond ring? Where is there any indication that rings are involved in any way in a Barrayaran wedding? No, it is not traditional in China for a wife to take her husband's family name upon marriage. Referring to "marriage vows" in a traditional Jewish context in nonsensical.

Just . . . stop, okay? Think. Maybe do some research? The customs of your tribe are not the friggin' laws of nature, people.

Sorry, I've run into a rash of these recently--some in otherwise cromulent fics--and it's making me grumpy.

Comments

[kattahj.livejournal.com]

I find it even more annoying when people do that in real life. "I want my dad to give me away!" Because clearly, we don't have enough patriarchal traditions and need to import them from other countries. (Not that people can't do their weddings any way they choose, but... gah.)

[minutia-r.livejournal.com]

Gah indeed. I mean, I'm all for multicuturalism and incorporating things into your practice that are meaningful to you, but . . . why?