Dumb question, but how does murder not destroy your world, not to mention the world of those around you? See what I'm saying? Every argument you list can be applied to rape, murder, and a host of other such problems. Which affects a person more is completely determined by the person and, for lack of a better word, the presentation of the story in question.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say any of this is good. Far from it. I just simply don't get the idea of a "lesser evil." When you're dealing with this stuff, it's either wrong or it isn't. I don't think there's a question as to which it is.
As to whether or not it should be dealt with in fiction... I think everything should be dealt with in fiction. Used responsibly, it's easier to present these kinds of arguments in fiction. The way racism was dealt with in To Kill A Mockingbird, for example, made it easier to address the real life equivalent. Why should rape be off limits because it makes people uncomfortable? It's supposed to be uncomfortable. That's the point. That's where hard-hitting storytelling begins. The problem isn't the subject matter, it's the maturity level of the writer and/or audience. If it's being used to for the sake of exploiting it as window dressing, then it's not a case of it shouldn't be used. It's a case of the writer shouldn't be writing. If it's a question of the audience being uncomfortable, that goes into the arena of personal taste. Personally, I go out of my way to be offended at least once a week just to remind myself I don't have the right not to be offended. It's a lesson everyone needs. Most people can't handle it or don't want to, and that's fine. If you don't want to see it, my recommendation is simply don't look at it. If you know it's there and don't want in, then avoid it. Some things are done simply to make money, and they will because that's the objective, whether the subject matter is handled well or not. There's no fighting that other than to vote with your dollar.
Anyway, I hope that didn't ramble too badly. I'm not trying to support it. I just get how things can work sometimes, whether I like it or not.
Re: Warning: Not making sense ahead.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say any of this is good. Far from it. I just simply don't get the idea of a "lesser evil." When you're dealing with this stuff, it's either wrong or it isn't. I don't think there's a question as to which it is.
As to whether or not it should be dealt with in fiction... I think everything should be dealt with in fiction. Used responsibly, it's easier to present these kinds of arguments in fiction. The way racism was dealt with in To Kill A Mockingbird, for example, made it easier to address the real life equivalent. Why should rape be off limits because it makes people uncomfortable? It's supposed to be uncomfortable. That's the point. That's where hard-hitting storytelling begins. The problem isn't the subject matter, it's the maturity level of the writer and/or audience. If it's being used to for the sake of exploiting it as window dressing, then it's not a case of it shouldn't be used. It's a case of the writer shouldn't be writing. If it's a question of the audience being uncomfortable, that goes into the arena of personal taste. Personally, I go out of my way to be offended at least once a week just to remind myself I don't have the right not to be offended. It's a lesson everyone needs. Most people can't handle it or don't want to, and that's fine. If you don't want to see it, my recommendation is simply don't look at it. If you know it's there and don't want in, then avoid it. Some things are done simply to make money, and they will because that's the objective, whether the subject matter is handled well or not. There's no fighting that other than to vote with your dollar.
Anyway, I hope that didn't ramble too badly. I'm not trying to support it. I just get how things can work sometimes, whether I like it or not.