Impression Discussion

[Sparrow]

Reading through threads, I'm really curious to see what it is that people think is the most important point when a dragon Impresses to someone.

It looks to me like everyone seems to think that the most important thing is a person's sexual orientation. But is that really all that should be considered? It kills me every time I see Ame post with Meagen and she nearly always has something to say about how she doesn't really get why Toath would Impress her when she is not interested in other girls.

I've always felt that a dragon looks for the personality most in tune with theirs. Sexuality will have an effect there, but it doesn't seem to me like it should be what people think of first. When I decided to have Toath Impress Meagen, I had a lot of reasons. That she is straight kind of fell out of the mix because I felt the good was far overpowering that, and yet it's all I see noticed by her. (And sorry for using you for an example Ame, but you're... very prominent at the moment. xP)

I've tried to see what other people think through rp, just having characters ask questions about it here and there, and again, sexual orientation always seems to be on top.

When you're considering a queenrider and the rider of the male who catches her queen, I can understand that you would want them to be interested in the opposite sex because that has a good chance of making their suddenly forced relationship less awkward (although I think it's been shown in the books that they don't have to have one, just so long as they're not at each others throats when it comes to the work they do have to do together). But a Bronze will still chase Greens, so I think a Bronzerider could very well be attracted to men as well. A Goldrider could still sleep- despite the stigma there may be against it- with a woman if she wanted to.

This enormous focus on sexual orientation simply doesn't make much sense to me. I'd just like to hear what you guys think.

[Amejisuto]

Actually Sparrow, Anne herself stated that dragons impress based on personality and sexuality. All Golds must be ridden by females that like only males and have leadership qualities. All Bronzes must be ridden by males that like females only and have leadership qualities. Browns usually pick hetero sexual or bi-sexual males... That have leadership qualities and tendencies but are alright with sitting back. Browns can very rarely in Non-cannon pern impress females, but it almost ALWAYS means that the female either likes girls or no one at all. That's just the way it's done. Blues and Greens pretty much impress to someone based on personality, sexuality doesn't matter.

Just my input on the situation...

[Sparrow]

I don't recall her ever saying that has to be the case. What I mean is that I think personality should have far more to do with it than sexuality, but just in general discussion it always looks otherwise.

I'd also point out that this is, obviously non-Canon and hundreds of Turns after AIVAS. Since the dragons were created, they've gone through several extreme bottlenecks. Between being inbred and time, they will mutate and evolve. Women are fairly established as Candidates now, and I think that would also have a big effect on how they Impress. There's a lot of room for change here.

[Amejisuto]

There is indeed, it's mostly characteristics that need to be taken into effect. I'm surprised a female brown hasn't hatched yet. With how many mutations have happened, it should be possible for reverse genders int he dragons - to start happening.

[Jenth]

This is always a major subject to debate in most Weyrs, expecially non-canon ones. I dont believe it was ever stated that golds could only[/b] impress to hetro girls and bronzes could only[/b] impress hetro males. I think it was more of stating observation of the majority, who's to say a few didn't slipped through the cracks? Many try to hide their sexuality in real life, this might have also been the case on Pern.

People must remember that this is non-canon too, and some pairings are formed to help create twists and storylines. That way things stay interesting

[Amejisuto]

But it still creates controversy and problems when you have a female on brown - for instance Meagen. She'll have other females that like females picking up on her... but most males will end up seeing her as one of the guys - and she'll never be an object of a males affections XP

It does cause problems sometimes.

[Sparrow]

There are guys who ride female dragons that like women though.

[Amejisuto]

Even if they like women, most people will automatically assume - that because she rides brown she likes women or likes NO ONE. XP Age old stigmas are hard to break.

[Sparrow]

I think she's made it pretty clear to the Candidates that she doesn't. People will most likely believe her if she talks to them.

[Amejisuto]

XD LOL - yeah I suppose. But then they might consider it like someone that is gay, not wanting to come out of the closet XP

[kandykat]

Personally, I base it more on personality. I have some male characters who really work better on female dragons, and vis versa, and it's not always because of their sexuality. I think awkward situations are the most fun to RP, so it's also fun to put a straight character on an opposite gender dragon and see what happens. But I understand that some people don't feel the same way, and I respect that.

Also, I stopped listening to Anne's theories about sexuality after I read the "tent peg" interview.

[Sparrow]

Possibly, but then again... if it's Meagen doing it, I think people would believe her. xD

Go Kat~ xD

What's the "tent peg" interview? xP

[Amejisuto]

Basically how Anne states 'Anal sex causes men to become effiminate and gay, as soon as something passes the anal orifice'. Something along those lines.

[Jenth]

In real life i am a bit of a tomboy, but completely straight. Especially when I was in school i was seen as one of the guys because i got along better with them, and I was quite oblivious and personally wasn’t ready for a relationship to notice if any were flirting with me anyway. Even now, I am starting to settle into a serious relationship with my boyfriend but i still have my guy friends.

I wouldn’t have been surprised if people had thought i was a lesbian, but im not even bi. People can assume all they like, but it doesn’t mean its true. Meagan is Candidate master which shows she has the leadership qualities of a brownrider. With Toath's narcolepsy he might have needed the patience and nurturing support only a female rider could give him

[Amejisuto]

I can see the points you are making. Meagen has more patience for children and those around her, then some others might. Though she does need a little love in her life. She's starting to feel like a crazy old cat lady. Except hers is with flitts. I'm half tempted to introduce the candidates to teh whole fair...

[Jenth]

you might as well, it'll be easier use the flitts instead of dragons when making refferences for example between colors and genders. But then again i dont know what you plan for your classes

[Amejisuto]

I don't have one of each color with Megs... though Hope has a lot that seems to stalk her... *hums*

[Sparrow]

Kora can provide a Violet and Tan there, if Meagen wants to invite her to another lesson. xD I'd imagine it's not very likely a Violet follows Hope, anyways.

But then again, we pretty-much have every color lined up at that other lesson so I don't know how much you really need flitter introductions as well. o.O

[ShadowReine]

I have noticed that some people really do seem to go by 'straight characters always Impress same sex and gay opposite'.

But let's see. Gwen is a straight female on a male dragon. R'mer is a gay male on a male dragon. T'mar is bisexual, and quite likes the ladies. (Hey, maybe Toath can chase Freyjath! ). B'can is, of course heterosexual male.

I believe Anne's intent is that golds and bronzes go for the most female and male minds they can find respectively and the chromatics are less fussy about gender.

One of the most fun characters I had, some years back, was a straight man on a green. He spent his life telling people he wasn't gay outside of flights *laugh*.

[franny]

I personally go for personality... I love mixing things up. I feel that the mixing of gender and dragons is one of the charms of non-cannon weyrs.

(I love my Embra...)