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But this image in my head keeps running, where Anakin cries inconsolably from the moment he learns that Obi-Wan is going to lose his sight, and the day Obi-Wan finally sees nothing (not even shadows), Anakin is the one who suffers and cries the most. Because even though Obi-Wan swears that nothing will change for Anakin, everything changes because the only person who has truly always seen him (with all that Anakin is, including his flaws and passions) is Obi-Wan, and the fact that the only person who sees him will no longer be able to see him kills him.

He won't be able to see Anakin's hair turn gray or his wrinkles.

The only person Anakin wanted to see him no longer does, and it destroys him.

How does he live after learning that Obi-Wan will never see him again?

How does he live knowing that no matter what he does, Obi-Wan won't see him grow old?

Anakin will see Obi-Wan grow old (he's already seeing him grow old), but Obi-Wan won't be able to see Anakin's changes.

Perhaps he can sense the changes, perhaps he can smell them or hear them, but not see them; and that's a grief Anakin can never resolve.

Because he's even afraid that Obi-Wan will forget what Anakin's face looked like.

That he'll forget his smile or the type of blue in Anakin's eyes.

Perhaps he'll forget Anakin's scar or the shape of his face.

And then they have the audacity to get angry if someone disagrees with them or questions their methods… Dude, Star Wars doesn't exist to begin with and just because someone doesn't believe your analysis (which often has no theoretical foundations), doesn't make them a bad fan.

Many people don't come here for mental health analysis on each character. They just want to see special monks hit each other with a light wand.

(It's a post where they said "I'm not a mental health professional, but…"

Exactly my friend, you are not a professional and it shows; Do not spread more misinformation about what a person with a mental disorder looks like or should look like, especially if you do not have training in the area and your analysis does not have real criteria from manuals. It is dangerous to promote these ideas even though many do not believe or see it

I’ve seen plenty of people say Anakin doesn’t act like someone who is traumatized, and then there’s the other extreme—people claiming Anakin had ADHD, PTSD, BPD, and a dissociative disorder (I can't recall the specific name right now, sorry).

The people who say Anakin doesn't have anything wrong with him will argue that Obi-Wan does have a condition, yet the fans who insist Anakin has ADHD, PTSD, BPD, and a dissociative disorder will deny that Obi-Wan could have a condition because "that’s not how someone with a disorder acts."

How did they figure it out?

They didn't figure it out; they decided it—which is a different thing entirely.

And it’s so annoying because plenty of people struggle with mental health issues while also being rude or unlikable (surprise, surprise). Mental health struggles don't whitewash a character, don´t make them "deeper," or an don´t add to the tragedy… They simply help us better understand how their brain works and provide a better explanation for their behavior (without necessarily justifying it)

For example, comments that aim to impose a single reading/interpretation of a product.

And that includes dynamics surrounding ships.

This doesn't mean that anyone who prefers Top-Wan over Bottom-Wan is in favor of censorship. What matters in all these cases are the words used to legitimize or reject other interpretations.

For example, saying that you prefer Top-Wan over Bottom-Wan because it seems more in line with Obi-Wan's personality is an opinion that comes from your perspective and isn't censorship.

On the contrary, saying that Top-Wan is the only valid way to ship Obikin, because the reverse implies that you support/normalize blaming the victim, is not censorship. This is already a subtle, implicit, and symbolic way of controlling an interpretation (through guilt) to censor certain content.

Another example comes from the hierarchical aspect, establishing hierarchies between interpretations (something that happens a lot in the Star Wars fandom in general).

If you say you prefer Bottom-Wan because you find that dynamic more interesting because you like an obsessive Anakin, there's nothing controlling about it.

On the other hand, if you say that anyone who doesn't ship Bottom-Wan didn't understand the movies, doesn't understand the Obikin dynamic, and isn't a true shipper… then there is a subtle, implicit, and symbolic violence at play; it seeks to establish a single reading as "valid," "true," or even "canonical."

These two examples have something in common: instead of simply recognizing that these two opinions are personal interpretations (which are just as valid as those of the rest of the fandom), they seek (unconsciously or implicitly) to establish a hierarchy of knowledge or to instill guilt. This can often result in a person changing their perspective (out of fear, guilt, or a need to belong to the "right side"), leaving the fandom, isolating themselves, or ceasing to create the content they enjoy.

So… If you've ever felt guilty for enjoying a specific dynamic or a particular ship, I think it would be good to reflect on where that guilt comes from, how it was constructed (which phrases or comments affected you), and then analyze those phrases/comments.

Because to a large extent, comments about ships or dynamics stem from censorship and control; very rarely are they criticisms or comments seeking a healthy debate.

Especially online, people are incredibly brave in coming up with things like, "If you like 'x,' they're gaslighting, and I'm not going to elaborate because it's obvious."

So… Enjoy what you want and don't harass people for what they enjoy or how they interpret a work.

As a last thought: Language can be violent, because the words we choose completely change the message behind a phrase. Language is something that is always used to exchange ideas, but it is also used to attack people; and specifically in the field of ships, fandoms, it is a tool that can build communities or destroy communities and be used as a weapon to legitimize harassment towards one sector to another or to legitimize the censorship of certain ideas, and although the idea of ​​"removing" what is immoral sounds great, there comes a point where what is immoral is not only erased but also everything that makes those who dictate the rules a little uncomfortable.

An Obi-Wan Kenobi biography becomes incredibly popular on social media (it's published on a platform similar to [AO3] and the author updates it whenever possible). At first, Obi-Wan tries to ignore it, but when he receives so many stares in the street, he starts to worry, and everything comes to a head when the Jedi Council summons him and explains that the biography has helped improve the Jedi's image. Obi-Wan is happy to help the Order; however, the Council mentions that there are some rather strange accounts in the book and they want to clarify a few things.

Obi-Wan reads his autobiography, and at first, everything seems fine, but it's so detailed that it's almost frightening.

Then comes the period when Anakin is knighted, and Obi-Wan notices that the author's intentions toward Obi-Wan become very physical and "passionate," almost like those of a married couple.

Obi-Wan is frightened because he has never had such "romantic" interactions with Anakin, but the author always defends the scenes, explaining that they represent a very platonic camaraderie that no one truly understands except for him, an expert on Jedi who has studied them his entire life.

But each update becomes more intense and features overly exaggerated dialogue.

Obi-Wan is on the verge of collapse, while the galaxy, for once, is entertained and at peace reading how the Jedi "love from a place of duty."

It's interesting and annoying that people often make generalizations like:

"Even if it were a modern universe, Obi-Wan would be a terrible match for Anakin, because Obi-Wan is a terrible match for someone with BPD," and I don't have BPD, but I do have other diagnoses, and I met with people with BPD and other conditions.

So when someone makes such sweeping statements about mental health, I have to get involved because I can't help it. Believing that a person with BPD can only date one very specific type of "person" is very limiting. People with BPD are diverse, and I promise you that even if you meet two people with BPD, they will be different, even if they share the same condition and have similar behaviors.

Furthermore, if Obikin were to exist in a modern universe, logically, his behavior would differ to a certain extent because his environment would have changed (he wouldn't grow up in the Jedi Order, he wouldn't have a code to follow, and his system of values ​​and ideals would likely have some significant differences; not to mention that his life experiences would clearly be different and marked by other circumstances).

Therefore, framing Anakin's existence as irrelevant to the type of modern universe he lived in would be the worst possible combination because he has BPD. This interpretation presents an oversimplification of many situations.

They are not "doomed" to be unhappy in all universes, nor is Anakin destined to always choose someone who "loves" him more than Obi-Wan because Obi-Wan would be a terrible partner.

What Anakin needs and wants will change in each universe, even if he has BPD in all of them, because he would be a person who would have different experiences (even if they were minimal variations), and that would have a different outcome.

En resumen, ten cuidado al hablar de salud mental, evita las generalizaciones, las suposiciones o la repetición de estereotipos.

(When I mentioned this topic to a friend, we were talking about the oversimplifications that are often made regarding mental health, such as believing that depression can only be seen as being bedridden and unable to get up (as it's usually portrayed in TV shows and movies). But it's ignored that some people with depression exhibit other behaviors (in certain social contexts, some people with depression tend to be more aggressive, and this is often little known. It doesn't mean that all people with depression are always aggressive, but some patients manifest their depression in this way).

What if Palpatine is about to turn Anakin to the dark side because he's been manipulating him for months, and then goes to see him in a public place only to find Obi-Wan there too?

He thinks maybe Anakin is finally going to kill Obi-Wan and thus cement his place as a Sith, but surprise! As time goes on and the argument gets heated, Anakin ends up calling Obi-Wan "Mom."

Palpatine doesn't know what to believe, and to top it all off, Obi-Wan returns Anakin's kiss and they end up having sex right there while Anakin calls Obi-Wan "Mommy" as he ejaculates.

So, I have to explain my blocking system:

If someone calls another user stupid or depraved, or uses harsh labels to describe a person or group they don't even know—just because they dislike a specific ship or character—I block them.

If someone starts making passive-aggressive comments about a fandom, character, or ship, I block them.

If someone promotes hatred toward a specific group (including fandoms), I block them.

If someone tries to passively control what others enjoy—whether it's dynamics, tropes, characters, or ships—I block them.

If someone uses symbolic violence in their posts, I block them (this is the most common reason I block people).

If someone shows intolerance toward others' opinions—labeling them "bad" or invalid for not "respecting canon," or trying to "educate" someone on an interpretation (usually in a very passive-aggressive way)—I block them.

If someone makes jokes or comments like: "we should blacklist anyone who likes X," "people who enjoy Y shouldn't be allowed to talk about X," "if you like X, you shouldn't be allowed to write Y," or "if you like Y, you should be banned". —I block them.

If someone create or share "blacklists" regarding a ship or character, I block them

If someone make generalizations about a fandom and refuse to correct the statements, I block them.

If someone talk about the mental health of this or that character but harass people, or share posts of people being aggressive or harassing others, I block them.

If someone enters other fandoms' tags to harass, annoy, or act "morally superior," I block them too.

(I have other blocking criteria as well, but most of them are interrelated.

I've never been so stressed, nor have I ever felt so much stress, helplessness, and anxiety.

For months I was fine without having strange thoughts in my mind, but since joining the fandom, the invalidating comments have played so much on my mind that my brain is still trying to explain to me that there's no danger, that I'm not wrong, that my opinion isn't any less valid, and that actually, calling someone an idiot is wrong.

My respect goes out to the people who have endured this for years.

Because even though I find new profiles to block every day, this situation continues to affect my mental health.

I constantly remind myself that I'm here to have fun, not to prove to anyone that I'm a "better fan" than them, not to prove to them that my perspective is "better, more valid, and more real" than theirs.

I'm here to have fun, to read some funny, hot, or sad things.

I'm here to have fun. I'm here to build community and make a difference, not to endure harassment and people using verbal violence to attack those who have a different perspective.

I'm not here for people to try to tell me how I should create or how I should think in order to exist.

I would like my opinion to be valid and accepted in this space, regardless of which character or ship I like.

I'm here to have fun, enjoy myself, and make friends along the way (if possible).

But… why are people so obsessed with being right?

Why do they want to impose their own viewpoint?

Why do they use harsh words (gaslighting, Nazis) so casually to attack real people or pressure them to abandon one side and adopt another?

Why do you invade these people's spaces?

Why do you want to censor certain groups just because you don't like them?

(If you're a fan of "x," you can't have an opinion about "y."

If you ship "x," you can't have an opinion about "y" ship.

But… why can you have an opinion about any character and ship you want?

Who decides what should be censored?

How is that decided?)

I don't understand it, and I don't know how normal it is for people to be willing to attack anyone who doesn't share their opinion.

That need to feel superior to someone else simply because of your opinion of a character, and not because of your actions, is something I don't understand, and I don't think I ever will.

If you've made it this far, thank you for reading my rant, and I want to say: do whatever you want (as long as you don't bother, harass, or abuse anyone).

You can like any character you want, any pairing you want, any ship you want.

You can interpret it however you want (or however best suits your context, ideals, values, history, and perspective).

You can consume whatever you want, however you want, and your opinions shouldn't be limited by what you ship or which character you like.

But, just as you are free to do what you want, others are too, and they deserve their space and respect. Let them have their space without abusing, invalidating, or humiliating them.

The people in this fandom are real people with real feelings, ideals, values, histories, and above all, real problems.

Just as a great fanfic can be incredibly helpful to someone, a harassing comment can negatively impact their life.

That person has a life, problems, and things that already stress/scare/worry them; they don't need hate or violent comments.

You can simply ignore them and move on without encouraging hate or attacking them.

Never forget that the person behind the screen is a real person, and that ship or character might be an escape from reality, a way to find comfort, or a tool for self-discovery.

No one deserves to be harassed or invalidated for having a fictional preference. No one deserves to have their mental health jeopardized just because you like "x" pixel and not "y" pixel.

(And this affects both sides; it's not directed at just one audience. It affects everyone, because literally every Star Wars sub-fandom participates in this harassment.

Clearly, certain groups do it more than others, but they all do.

And honestly, I struggle to respect both the people who harass and the groups that allow or encourage it. I've stopped liking or being interested in characters, ships, or theories simply because I see fans insulting and harassing others (even if they don't do it directly, it still contributes to the harassment). I find it very difficult to coexist or have positive feelings when a group behaves in that way.

And if you ask me, I think a true Star Wars fan isn't the one who loves Anakin, Luke, or Leia the most; rather, it's the fan who, even if they don't like something, respects that other people do, and doesn't promote or participate in harassment because they remember how harassment has affected the Star Wars film community itself, including actors and executives.

It really bothers me when people use aromantic arguments to invalidate a queer couple's interpretation. I'm a person who falls within the asexual and aromantic spectrum (although I'm still struggling to figure out if I'm demi-aromantic or aromantic), I deeply value platonic relationships, and queerplatonic couples mean everything to me.

In fact, Obikin gave me an incredible queerplatonic fic that I cherish and always return to when I'm having a bad day.

But I often notice that people always use the argument of "why can't they just be friends?" or "not every relationship has to be romantic to matter," and I agree, but then you look at their profiles or start to notice that this argument is only directed at non-canon queer couples.

In other words, if your interpretation doesn't align with canon and you see a non-canon queer couple, you're trying to "impose" a romantic interpretation (even if it's a personal interpretation). And sometimes it's even frowned upon to change the canonical romantic relationship and transform it into a platonic bond (on Twitter I saw an artist who likes the canon couple through a platonic lens, and she was either questioned very rudely or, conversely, her drawing was ignored as platonic and interpreted romantically).

So I find it sad that the "not everything is romantic" argument only applies to queer couples, implying that multiple interpretations can't coexist.

I'm also an aromantic person, and I love platonic relationships, but I love it even more when people can love a queer couple without being immediately questioned and accused of "erasing" friendships.

I am in favor of people talking about whatever they want, but friend, if you are going to use terms related to mental health, research the terms and use them correctly and not just because they occurred to you. Social networks ARE NOT a reliable source of information.

Talking about mental health is sensitive, and the fact that you still use it to win stupid Star Wars arguments is even worse, because you just use "gaslighting," "dissociation," and a bunch of real terms that affect people in real life and decide to use them in a nonchalant way, like you're talking about the weather.

Dissociation is something that has criteria, these criteria have to be met based on manuals, not "I think". "I think" is not a criterion.

(If I ever read someone else say that Anakin has dissociative disorder or some similar nonsense to justify it, I'm going to finish pulling out what little hair I have left. The worst part is that they only say he has dissociation, but they never explain why… Why wouldn't they? Could it be because they don't know the criteria?

Every time I see someone mention in a derogatory way that Anakin was a problem child, it gives me a strange feeling, because I feel that many times people view being a problem child or a "bad" child negatively, without considering the child's reasons.

Usually, and speaking with other friends who also work with children, I think the reasons for a child's behavior are diverse, but in many cases, problem children aren't actually problematic because they want to be or because they enjoy ruining other people's lives, but because they are seeking attention. And if they don't know how to ask for it, or feel that attention isn't forthcoming when they ask for it calmly, they start looking for other ways.

So, if children notice that they get attention when they do something problematic, they may try to repeat the behavior to get the attention they otherwise don't receive.

It's not that the child enjoys being scolded (as many parents claim), but rather that they crave attention, and if that's the only way, they'll take it.

So, I think it makes perfect sense that Anakin is a "troubled" child for that reason. He wants attention, and Obi-Wan gives him very measured and limited attention (based on what he knows), which can make Anakin feel even more ignored.

Then Anakin observes that if he gets into trouble, Obi-Wan will dedicate more time to him, and the pattern repeats itself even as an adult. Subconsciously, Anakin continues to seek Obi-Wan's attention and approval by getting into trouble (and probably because he knows that Obi-Wan will back him up even if he scolds him afterward).

(Yes, that was it. It's just something I've been noticing the last few days, and it's bothered me a lot. When you deal with kids in those kinds of situations, you understand why they act that way, and I've never really liked classifying a child's behavior as good or bad [it's a very personal thing, really].

(Obviously, later the data would be shared as a graph, and names or emails would not be requested).

I was doing research to try to find the first obikin content (pages, groups, blogs, whatever). And the oldest one I found was from 2005 (I know it's not that bad, but for a second I got excited, because I thought I was going to be able to find the oldest pages or oldest groups, but Wayback machine couldn't find the supposed pages (I think many were not saved) and others that looked promising had broken links.

And not even like searching on Yahoo.