What is a “Clerith”, you may ask? Cleriths are those that ship the characters Cloud Strife and Aerith Gainsborough in the video game Final Fantasy 7. Some may do so with a light-hearted attitude, simply just preferring the dynamic between the two over Cloud and Tifa, the canonical romantic couple. Others insist that the deceased Aerith Gainsborough is the true canonical romantic interest of Cloud, and believe that she will come back to life so that they can be together albeit that not happening in the original game and despite the fact that Tifa and Cloud, Aerith’s friends, are in a romantic and involved relationship.
Note: When I say “Clerith” I’m only speaking about certain ones (obviously)
So without further a do, these are Cleriths’ 4 favorite words to use when describing anyone who doesn’t agree with them:
1) Misogynist / misogynistic
This one is what they call you if you do something like mention nonchalantly that Tifa is a virgin in Final Fantasy 7 after someone notes surprise in the fact that she has loved one man her whole life. To you, it may be just discussing the fictional story you know and love or her character backstory, but to them, it’s an attack on their real world identities. That, or for kicks they just decide to harass you for mentioning it.
They may call you this because they believe Tifa should be “freed” from the sexual repression imposed on her by her “so called fans”. And yes, even though Tifa is a fictional character and clearly a virgin until arguably a certain scene with the hero, that doesn’t matter because what matters is hypotheticals and what is in their imaginations.
You are a misogynist for even mentioning a very popular fictional character’s long-debated and questioned virginity — because you shouldn’t think that it matters — even though it does from a character arc perspective. If Cleriths imagine Tifa to be promiscuous because of how her body looks on the outside, then no one should ever contest that. And no, Cleriths cannot ever be misogynistic. Only other people.
Fictional characters’ virginities should not matter to you or the storyline anyway, because in the world, a woman’s sexual history should not matter to any man. A prostitute is basically the same as a nun and there should be no distinction between them in fictional writings either!
2) Homophobic
If you dare even write “LGBTQ” — as a straight person — you’re pretty much homophobic according to this group.
If you observe that profiles who told you to go kill yourself and delete the game you’ve loved your whole life for simply commenting “Tifa is a virgin” tend to ship the Final Fantasy 7 heroes and heroines in ways so they are part of the LGBTQ — that means you’re practically homophobic. Even though it’s a true statement. And you were just making an observation.
Even though you did NOT make any claims that everyone belonging in LGBTQ are inherently bad, it doesn’t matter, you’re still homophobic. Because you shouldn’t even comment on it, especially as a hetero.
3) Purity
If you even remotely note or express appreciation for Tifa and her dedication to Cloud, you are a part of the hateful “purity culture” that needs to be squelched immediately. This culture is harmful. Tifa should be able to have sex with whoever she wants! Even though she was created to be the smokin’ shy and reserved childhood sweetheart of Cloud, that doesn’t matter. What matters is that you don’t observe her character as having “pure” characteristics because she should be allowed to let loose and do Aerith with a strap-on if she so desires. Plus, you’re basically saying she’s better than Aerith because she’s sexually “pure” — even though you never even mentioned Aerith or said she wasn’t.
Suffice it to say, Cleriths’ imagined characteristics of Tifa are more important than the ones she has based on the source material…
4) Tradwife
If you dare even mention that Tifa is a great cook and mother, you’re practically imposing a terrible prison on her. And yes, even though she is written to be that way, those things about her shouldn’t be appreciated because if you deem those qualities noteworthy even for a moment, it means you only like her because she’s a tradwife and you stupidly and ignorantly think tradwives are better than everyone. And you’re basically racist at that point too because being a good and dutiful wife is rooted in white supremacy.
Never mind that Tifa is a caring and good person, masterful martial artist, has her own business, can actually have an opinion and friends outside of her marriage… you mentioned she loves to cook and is great at it, and that she’s an amazing mom, which means you’re trying to make her into some tradwife for Cloud and that’s not nice, especially for people who can’t cook and don’t want kids or aren’t built for motherhood.
Cooking good meals for her husband and family doesn’t make her a good woman. She didn’t save the world with her prayers, so she shouldn’t get any praise for these simple and basically inconsequential things she does for the people she loves on a daily basis, especially when she can just order delivery or something. Cooking and raising kids is so unnecessary and does not make her worthy of praise. Anyone can do it after all.
Praise for homemakers is so overrated and toxic.
Conclusion
So basically the same disputes that happens and goes on outside of fandoms, in this case Final Fantasy 7, also happens within them.
The same misunderstandings, the same biases, the same hogwash, the same beef… all somehow occur inside and play into the Final Fantasy 7 fandom. Except now people are attacking each other over them based on the events in the game, over theories, or favorite characters rather than news headlines, viral videos, or whatever else.
Do they understand that people can make factual observations without it being a personal attack on their identities? I wonder. Or must everyone take on the voice of a lowly mouse and preface every sentence with “This is just an observation, I don’t mean to offend…” before interacting with them?
At the end of the day, I am whatever they say I am and they are whatever I say they are… but come on, the objective conclusion has to be that: Yes, you can operate from a place of love and make observations pertaining to certain groups and not inherently be biased or hostile towards them. And that no, you don’t have to preface every sentence waving a white flag.
A fact is a fact — and the fact is, they did blow up over an unbiased statement (Tifa is a virgin) and projected their own internal negative feelings about virginity and Tifa as Cloud’s love interest onto it, thereby turning the simple statement into an attack on women’s sexual liberty (and Aerith?) when it really wasn’t that.
I find this… curious.
It went like this —
OP: Tifa Lockhart has only loved one man, wow, that’s crazy
Me: She’s a virgin too
Cleriths: Omg!!! Why does that matter! Ya’ll are so misogynistic!!! Poor Tifa needs to be freed from her purist fans! This obsession with purity culture is so sickening I hate this fandom ughhhh….
Come on. I can’t be the only one that thought that was strange piranha behavior.
But hey. I guess that’s the cost of being on the internet. Misunderstandings and folks jumping to conclusions are just bound to happen…?
While I do have more moderate views and preferences when it comes to sex, I am by no means a “purist” when it comes to sex. I do know imperial Japan was, at least on the topic of wives and families, and in many ways that sentiment in Japan still exists today — traces of which I can recognize in the game. These are things I’m not ashamed to be particularly attentive to and interested in.
And look — this is not me trying to explain myself, I’ve relegated to the fact that this fandom is just toxic. Someone is going to be misunderstood and a witch hunt is going to take place someway somehow. There’s a new one everyday. I just like to ponder on these things. It helps me in my own work, too.
Whether it’s the fandom or just social media in general, people are hell bent on misunderstanding each other and being agitators on some level. I admit I’ve been guilty of this but I try to only do so when justified — like the whole Clerith baby weapons theory. That was silly. If anything I saw it as Zack and Aerith in the Lifestream manifesting as weapons to save Tifa. Anyway…
Yes, I called that one person a “hoe”. I called her a hoe on purpose. She shouldn’t have been a rabid piranha dog about Tifa’s virginity, acting like it was a slight on her and women’s sexual liberty — period. And I stand by that. Plus, she told me I didn’t deserve the game meanwhile she wasn’t even born yet when it first came out. She even had the nerve to screenshot my comment and edit the words “sexual offender” on it. Boys — stay clear from her lest you want a sexual assault charge. Honestly.
My question is, why is it that they’re allowed to mislabel me as a “misogynistic purist” that Tifa needs to be “freed” from off of one comment but I can’t call her a hoe as a response? I don’t know, something seems unfair and skewed here. But then again, I am unabashedly based and thats how the based are typically painted. Hypocritically, I might add. Despite having a common interest in media or whatever else, ultimately our political leanings and those aspects about ourselves still unfortunately precede how we get along with one another it seems (at least on the internet, but not always!).
Here’s what I really think about the rabid Clerith dogs (notice how I did not say every Clerith, just the rabid ones, because at the end of the day you can ship whatever you want just don’t get triggered by canonical facts) :
I think you’re egregiously sensitive and on the offense about everything, much like piranhas when something touches the water. I don’t know if it’s your generation or political leaning, but consider that some people on the “other side” aren’t that bad or after you like you think they are. No one I know is that vexed about who you fuck or how many, as long as it’s not morbid or unethical — myself included.
One of my favorite people is both pro-life and a proud slut. And on the same coin, I know a hilarious hard-working girl who’s also not ashamed to be a slut and got an abortion, and I didn’t see her as any less for it.
I like people that don’t fall into stereotypes, like Tifa. I am neither right-wing or leftist. I like women who can admit they’re sluts or being one — it’s these women that won’t get triggered over some statement about Tifa’s virginity. An old friend, when we were getting ready to go out, used to joke about her Victoria Secret bombshell push-up bra and how it’s a $50 dick magnet. I found that kind of stuff funny, and in no way did I judge her even though I would never.
Point is, while I have my views on sexual behaviors and values that increase well-being for the individual and thus society, I don’t judge others. Just keep it respectful to those around you who may be affected. It’s that simple. And no, I’m not some religious nut (another assumption people had).
Consider that while you may have strongly held beliefs about the world, you’re young and that may change. One day, the things your parents have been drilling into your head which you were so annoyed about may actually make sense.
From what I’ve seen these past few days, you’re so hell bent on making people into the villain you imagined in your head. You have this image of some homophobic, misogynistic Republican or Conservative or something and the moment anyone says or does anything that you think someone like that would, you immediately group them together and impose every negative characteristic you deem those groups to have on that person. And I get it, I’ve been there. You’ve been consuming information that tell you you’re under attack. But what if you’re not? At least, not by this person you’re projecting negative intent on?
If anyone is under attack now, it’s nuclear families. The family unit. Wife and husband. Children.
Which is why Tifa and Cloud, and their growing family, should be protected at all costs 🙂
What If True Love Is Real? 