#technically me saying i'm a gay mike truther bc the evidence supports it could be seen as invalidating to bi-mike truthers and vise-versa | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

chirpsythismorning · 1 year

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I have multiple versions of Mike in my head if I'm being honest.

gay/bi/unlabeled Mike discourse TW:

There's a version of Mike in my head that's gay and I love him dearly. I think that when you dig a little deeper into Mike's character, beyond what's being outright told to us, but also what's being shown, what you'll find is that not everything is what it seems (ie. mirrors = reflection/deception). And so navigating him as a character that requires more than us just going along with what's on the surface (what the casual viewers see) is what I do think leads to a lot of analysis that leans towards Mike being gay.

And yet still, simultaneously there's a version of Mike in my head that's bi and I also love him dearly. I see him pretty clearly in my head and he is wonderful and dear to me!! I also think this is more than anything because if someone whose bisexual can relate to Mike and his character, then that's great and it sort of just knocks down the basic claim that bi-Mike doesn't make sense at all/isn't realistic at all, as an argument? And so hearing that argument does irc me a little bit. I know we're talking about a TV show here, where everything is intentional. I get it and I agree! I do!

However, if we're going to also in the same breath use real life examples of peoples experience with sexuality, and argue how Mike's arc is going to provide representation to not only queer people watching, but also perhaps have a ripple effect on the entire film industry and how we as a society tend to perceive sexuality based on preconceived notions/stereotypes, in that regard, Mike being bi is valid... Because if this were the real world (again a place many of us are saying will be impacted by this moment in TV), then it wouldn't matter if we never saw Mike outright look at girls in the same way he looked at boys. This is a unique situation bc doing what we're doing in the real world would be despicable. We're talking about our perception of what makes someone gay/bi/unlabeled and all the assumptions at play in regards to that, while using the real world as evidence to support our claims. This is why, because of the impact on our reality, I would be okay with Mike being bi in canon. I'd also be okay with it assuming that Finn was okay with it. No matter what happens, Finn has a lot of say in Mike's arc, just like most of the main cast has a say in their characters. If Finn is standing by it then shit, I'm there!

I may be a gay mike truther, but I will gladly admit that there is bi-Mike evidence, bc there is! There are moments with Mike that show the colors of the bi flag that add up to at least a couple handfuls of times. While I do think the gay imagery sort of outweighs the bi-imagery in the details (there is also gay Mike evidence!), it's still not enough for me to rule out bi-Mike all together bc after all, sexuality is a spectrum and so the back and forth going on could technically be an indication of Mike questioning and figuring himself out!

I also think that Mike can be capable of having internalized homophobia while also being bi (or unlabeled/gay for that matter). I think he's capable of an arc separate from Will/El, related to him and his own insecurities and why he felt the need to be in denial for so long. All that closet imagery was there for a reason! His parents having hints at being aligned with more conservative values was intentional. I also don't think exploring this has to interfere with Will, El or any of the other character arcs. Mike did arguably start the show as the protagonist, who took a big step back from being in focus over the last two seasons and so yes I do think exploring his struggles more outright is something that could and should happen, to bring his character's arc to an end properly, regardless of what label he identifies with once that time comes.

And then there's another version of Mike in my head that's unlabeled Mike and best believe he is loved!!!. While I agree it would be frustrating to have to see people still unable to accept Mike not being straight, just like there are people still in denial about Will and Robin (an ugly reminder ppl will do it regardless), it also doesn't feel great hearing that Mike being unlabeled would be disappointing. Arguably one could make the claim that Mike struggling with his identity all this time and being surrounded by all this imagery back and forth, along with the whole forced conforming speech and that 'bs media propaganda' line alone, could be evidence supporting the fact that he's just an unlabeled king, bc they do exist. Again I welcome criticism to unlabeled Mike along with all the other interpretations of Mike's character bc some criticism is well supported and like I don't have a problem with discourse.

Here's the thing, I personally think it's sort of weird to rule out stuff as a possibility, at all? I think it's weird to make the claim that someone is not media literate or is setting themselves up for disappointment for simply having a theory. So yes I would rather believe all of it, consider every possibility, because it also allows me to not be blinded where certain analysis actually doesn't check out. Both gay and bi-Mike truthers will make a claim, be presented with evidence against it that arguably does check out as more strong that the original claim they made, only to downplay it as not that deep and move on. And it's because neither side wants to really acknowledge those deeper things if it goes against what they want to believe. (However, if it supports what they believe, then nvm, it is that deep!)

Sure it might be a little bit embarrassing to be super convinced a theory is going to play out, only for it to be way off, but this applies to literally everyone. Everyone has theories and most of them are going to be wrong. There's no shame in shooting in the dark when it comes to speculating about what could happen.

What I do however think would actually be embarrassing, is insisting a theory is not happening, only to be the one who ends up being wrong.

Everyone can do whatever they want. I can't stop anyone from making controversial posts and honestly I wouldn't want to. I don't want us to get to a point where we feel like we can't speak our minds about basic things or to a point where we make each other feel so uncomfortable and disliked that we're not welcome. I don't want to hurt peoples feelings and make them feel small over this because it's not that serious and making real life people feel miserable over a TV show is just not worth it to me!

If you find yourself discouraging others, think about the possibility that it could be you that ends up being wrong and maybe don't take it too far?

That's why I will not be caught DEAD saying a theory has no chance because it would be naive to insinuate that. Now, believing theories on the other hand... I could go on for hours about what I do believe. And I'm gonna have fun continuing to do it!

Anyways I love unlabeled, bi and gay Mike and all the analysis surrounding it. Yes I'm controversial as I do personally agree/disagree with both sides at different points. And so until we get confirmation, I'm open to differing takes and thinking about arguments that could be used to analyze each scene for each one bc you'd be surprised how believable each analysis can be (including straight Mike... yeah yeah I love him too (unfortunately). However, he does scare me).

#byler #pls don't insist your right and everyone else is wrong #i do not want to see your heartbreak sprial about how the duffer brothers are terrible writers bc you (1 person) were wrong...#gay bi unlabeled whatever you identify mike as pls leave room for sanity if you want others to take you seriously #btw i headcanon mike as being gay but i could also see him being someone that later on down the line identivies as bi or vice versa...#bc sexuality is a spectrum and we're all figuring our shit out #and whatever mike (finn says in interviews post s5)#i'm on his side idc what he says #if he says mike is straight i will be ummm #lets not talk about it bc it's not happening #if he supports mike being unlabeled and a boy kisser okay tell em #if he says mike is gay then you heard him #if he says mike is bi then don't make him say it again you hear???!#end of rant #i will never talk about this again bc i've made it clear where i stand i think...

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