Right
Good point fatherfcker
Right! I'm so tired of typing these same sentiments, every story I read with morally gray characters, I meet readers like that. It's time for some readers to use their logic to understand and read the story as it is, and not get swayed by their feelings ALL THE TIME, and blame the author for feeling that way.
I bet they feel bad for the seme (which is a valid feeling btw, because they are human) but can't accept the reality because the character is evil, they don't want to get their morals tainted, so they'll blame the author for writing this kind of backstory.
Like, common brothers and sisters, it's not bad to admit that you understand and feel bad for the story of the character, it doesn't necessarily mean that you excuse or justify their awful behavior.
When teachers understand your awful behavior in school, it doesn't mean you're free from the consequences of your actions, you'll still get equal punishment. They will only use your backstory to find the solution for your behavior and understand what the fuck is wrong with you. Same with the criminals interviewed in prison and checked by a psych evaluation, you can understand their past but it doesn't mean you cancel out their crimes and blame their victims.
Just like how some authors put those backstories, to spice the character's goals and motivation, to add depth to the narrative in the story.
Learning about a character’s backstory doesn’t mean the author is trying to excuse their actions. It’s there to show cause and effect. A tragic or abusive past can explain how they became who they are, but it doesn’t magically justify or soften what they do now. Context adds depth, not absolution. So why do some people always assume that any backstory automatically means the author or readers are excusing a red/black flag’s actions? This shallow take is getting tiring.