On "Wilson Must Pay for His Sins Against House" Fics

[deelaundry]

(As an aside, one sin I do want to see Wilson punished for is skipping out on the "backstage-pass" monster trucks event that House paid for with money out of his own pocket, for dinner with a distant friend/acquaintance. OMG the woobie face on House when Wilson turns him down! And his sad little attempt at covering up the disappointment with a "Secret Friend Club" -- my lip is still trembling, eight years later. RESCHEDULE THE DINNER, WILSON! RESCHEDULE THE DAMN DINNER!!!)

Here is the irony of fics in which Wilson is condemned by a third party for the bad things Wilson has done to House: You are witholding approval from a person who needs it in order to function, and giving that approval to a person who doesn't give a fuck what you think about him. House needs and appreciates Wilson's approval, his mom's approval, and for a while Stacy's approval and Cuddy's approval. But he does not care about a random acquaintance or stranger's approval. That's not how he's built.

"But everybody needs approval!" Yes, everybody needs approval, but each person differs on who they need it from.

Comments

[blackmare.livejournal.com]

Whereas my major problem with such fics is that they push both Wilson and House OOC. In my experience, at least. I haven't been reading the current example, for the same reason that I don't buy sweet pickles: I know I don't like them. Other people do, and I'm okay with that, just not so okay with the people who used to insist that this was gospel truth and Wilson in canon deserved to be punished punished punished. Which may not be what's happening here; again, I wouldn't know, because not reading.

Editing to add that I don't want to punish either of them. I don't feel it's what House needs either.

MOAR LOVE, I SAY. They've suffered enough.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

they push both Wilson and House OOC True. But the enjoyers of that particular kind of fic don't see it as OOC. They think House not generally caring about other people's feelings is a result of him hiding his true self or cruelty inflicted on him. Whereas the show showed us that House genuinely doesn't care about other people's feelings, most of the time -- and THAT'S OK. He is a good person who saves lives and is "a positive force in the universe" to quote Wilson, without giving a damn what Joe Q. Public thinks or feels.

[readingrat.livejournal.com]

the show showed us that House genuinely doesn't care about other people's feelings, most of the time -- and THAT'S OK.
I agree about House not needing random people's approval not caring about other people's feelings (certainly not random people's feelings), but whether that's okay or not is a personal opinion, and not canon truth. Personally, I don't think that's okay.

I wouldn't approve of the 'let's show how dastardly Wilson [or any other character] is' fics (even if House showed the slightest interest in other people's approval) for a different reason: House seems perfectly fine with the situation. He's a mature adult who has not been declared incapacitated. I don't go around questioning my loved ones' choice of friends, or wondering whether those friends are 'right' for them, or passing judgment on whether those friends are good friends or not, or offering advice unless and until my loved ones ask for it. I assume that they see something in their friends that maybe I can't see, and that their friends fulfill some need of theirs, and I don't interfere. Why should House be treated any differently? When all's said and done, it's House's choice and his call, and taking care of that for him is tantamount to declaring him incapacitated, incapable of making choices of his own.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

the show showed us that House genuinely doesn't care about other people's feelings, most of the time -- and THAT'S OK.

I agree about House not needing random people's approval not caring about other people's feelings (certainly not random people's feelings), but whether that's okay or not is a personal opinion, and not canon truth. Personally, I don't think that's okay.

I do agree we can each make a personal opinion, but within the context of canon, it was supported as ok. House was the hero of the show, not the villain. Wilson confirmed verbally more than once that in spite of faults, House was effective and worthwhile.

I also agree that making House's choices for him is ridiculous and patronizing, as is excusing his actions, statements, or choices as "he can't help it." Of course he can help it.

[readingrat.livejournal.com]

I do agree we can each make a personal opinion, but within the context of canon, it was supported as ok. House was the hero of the show, not the villain. Wilson confirmed verbally more than once that in spite of faults, House was effective and worthwhile.
Ah, alright, classical misunderstanding. I agree with you. I didn't mean, 'House is not an okay person because he doesn't care for people's feelings.' I meant that in my personal opinion, not caring for people is an aspect of a person's character that I don't admire. It is, however, only one aspect of a person's character or, in your words, a fault. It doesn't make him a villain. I don't have to like House/Wilson/Cuddy's faults any more than I have to like my own, but they needn't blind me to their virtues.

Oh, and I think (but that's JMO) that House would absolutely hate not being considered responsible for his own choices or having people excuse them because he had a tough childhood, an abusive father, a bad deal with the infarction, trust issues, etc. He's your poster boy for holding people responsible for their actions, no matter how tough life has been to them. (Season 2, Ep 1: Acceptance)

[taiga13.livejournal.com]

I also agree that making House's choices for him is ridiculous and patronizing, as is excusing his actions, statements, or choices as "he can't help it." Of course he can help it.
(nods) That's what it comes down to for me with these fics. Wilson, Cuddy, everyone is blamed for House's poor pain management. But that's HOUSE'S responsibility! Never once was it said on the show that House HAD to get his Vicodin from Wilson. He CHOSE to. As we saw plenty of times, he didn't have any trouble getting meds when he wanted them and Wilson (and Cuddy) never stopped him from seeking alternative pain management. Or making new friends.

[damigella-314.livejournal.com]

I'm wondering what you feel about fics where Wilson punishes himself for not being sufficiently supportive of House. I have been known to write several, mostly because I think Wilson is the kind of person who does feel guilty, especially if something really bad happens.

[blackmare.livejournal.com]

Can't speak for Dee, but I find Wilson precisely the kind of guy who would -- and does -- punish himself for his shortcomings, both real and imagined. So I don't think that's out of character at all, though it hurts to watch.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

As Mare said, I think punishing himself for not being perfect is exactly who Wilson is. And I also think that sometimes Wilson is so busy obsessing about an imagined error or imperfection of his own that he misses or can't cope with a true mistake that he's made.

There's also a lot of masculinity bullshit that gets in the way of both House and Wilson expressing to the other when they're hurt, and giving and receiving apologies. I devised one solution for them in Account Balance Zero (http://deelaundry.livejournal.com/187870.html)

[petitecuriosity.livejournal.com]

I agree so much with this comment. THIS.

[cuddyclothes.livejournal.com]

This needed to be said. When I first started reading fic, these kind of stories elicited a "wtf?" response. Wilson can be thoughtless and manipulative, but again, as Mare said, he punishes himself for it.

I've been baffled by those who say Wilson was mean to House during the Tritter arc. I mean, Wilson lost EVERYTHING, but was motivated to turn House in when House physically hurt someone else (the little girl, but Chase in particular). House displayed typical addict behavior throughout, mostly refusing to take responsibility for his actions.

And even when he turned House in, he said that House was a greater force for good than himself. (paraphrasing) I mean, how on God's green earth can you say that demonstrated cruelty?

He also sacrificed his career (although not intentionally) during the Vogler arc, by refusing to vote to fire House. House basically said he would do what he did all over again, even if it cost his friends and the hospital terrible consequences.

[srsly-yes.livejournal.com]

Well said. My brain melts down when I think too much about this type of fic. The whole House universe becomes unrecognizable.

...we’ve known each other for years, we've put up with all kinds of crap from each other, and we keep coming back. We’re a couple!
I'm a simple soul. That's good enough for me.

[petitecuriosity.livejournal.com]

I'm a simple soul. That's good enough for me.

Same here.

[barefootpuddles.livejournal.com]

I haven't been reading the fic you speak of but I have read other fics like it and I find they majorly distort my perception of the characters, as well as often canon (or they put a spin on canon that I do not believe was intended). I am okay with people doing that though because I know I like to read to fics that make House gentler towards Wilson than he is in canon and Wilson more understanding of House than he appears in the show. Of course I know that I am reading distorted matter (and occasionally writing it as well) and the big "Wilson is a jerk while House is a saint" authors often don't seem to be aware of what they are doing which is odd.