So... what is it that's so extremely addictive about sick!Wilson fics?

[housepiglet.livejournal.com]

Hi, fellow addicts.

I'm wondering whether it's possible to put a finger on what, exactly, is so attractive about sick!Wilson fics :)

I know that making Wilson sick/injured/abused provides an opportunity for House to look after him and show concern, and that brings joy to slashy little hearts all over the Housefic community. Non-slashy little hearts too, I should imagine.

I'm not sure that's the whole story, though. Or at least not for me. When I read that theory, I spent some time thinking about whether I'd be interested in reading a sick!Wilson fic in which House didn't feature - perhaps because Wilson was stuck in the woods, or something, with no possiblity of rescue at any stage -- (somebody grab that bunny...) -- and I concluded that my twisted little heart would probably be pounding at the Wilson torture even if House wasn't there. Maybe not pounding quite so hard, but pounding nonetheless.

When I thought further about it, it occurred to me that my sick!Wilson fixation isn't the first manifestation of this rather odd kink in my personality :)  My favourite episodes of various well-loved TV episodes over the years have always involved my favourite male character falling off his horse, or being shot by an outlaw, or battered by an alien, or even (most squeeful of all, in some ways) struck by the other person in my OTP of the time. (Who remembers when Starsky hit Hutch? Or was it the other way round? When I read in the Radio Times that it was going to happen I'd worked it all out as being simply a ruse to deceive a dastardly criminal gang before the episode came on a week later, but still... the moment lived on in my memory for quite a long time :)

I'm relieved to learn that I'm not entirely alone in this strange fixation, but I'm very interested to know whether anyone out there has any theories on what makes all this Wilson bashing quite so squeeful.

Any thoughts, peeps?

Comments

[maddoggirl.livejournal.com]

My favourite episodes of various well-loved TV episodes over the years have always involved my favourite male character falling off his horse, or being shot by an outlaw, or battered by an alien, or even (most squeeful of all, in some ways) struck by the other person in my OTP of the time

Word, wordedy word. Ditto films. Anyone ever seen Miller's Crossing? Every time Gabriel Byrne gets punched, I have to rewind it and watch again. I was re-(re- re- re-)watching Sex Kills yesterday night, and I realised that when Mr Newburger knees House in the groin, I was actually waiting eagerly for the moment and grinned broadly when it came.

I'm gonna put it down to latent motherly instinct where suffering of the Detox kind is concerned. As far as deriving pleasure from these character's physical pain...not sure. Bizarre and yet extremely common sexual kink, anyone? Or perhaps...yes, I have a theory!

Theory: We enjoy the physical pain because our womanly instincts want to see the wounded warrior get his sweet, sweet revenge. The more pain inflicted before he reaches his goal, the sweeter and more gratifying this revenge eventually is. I know Wilson rarely gets revenge in hurt!fic, but he often gets House-sexings or suchlike, which is like a sort of compensation.

[housepiglet.livejournal.com]

Word, wordedy word. Ditto films. Anyone ever seen Miller's Crossing? Every time Gabriel Byrne gets punched, I have to rewind it and watch again. I was re-(re- re- re-)watching Sex Kills yesterday night, and I realised that when Mr Newburger knees House in the groin, I was actually waiting eagerly for the moment and grinned broadly when it came.

LOLOL! That's me all over :)

*is a little embarrassed* Hee....

I've not seen that film, but I will Seek.It.Out.Now :)

[housepiglet.livejournal.com]

>i>Theory: We enjoy the physical pain because our womanly instincts want to see the wounded warrior get his sweet, sweet revenge. The more pain inflicted before he reaches his goal, the sweeter and more gratifying this revenge eventually is. I know Wilson rarely gets revenge in hurt!fic, but he often gets House-sexings or suchlike, which is like a sort of compensation.

Hmmm! Well, that could well be part of it where someone is responsible for inflicting the pain/injury/illness. Still, though, how about the occasions where the pain/injury/illness is nobody's fault? I reckon this strange kink is multi-layered :)

[shadowstark.livejournal.com]

I love watching him fall down :D You know, I think you're right, it's a weird personality thing-- there's always some character I'm happy to do that with in the fandoms I've been most active in. If the question is why... well, I just think it's fun as hell! Um, more objectively, I suppose it's because it's the times where the character is the most stressed that you can see the most interesting parts of their personality. Stressed to the breaking point, you get more... dynamic range out of the character. It can also be a bit of a challenge: keeping them in character while stretching them to (or beyond) the point where they're snapped... (Your idea, btw? Been trying to write something similar for ages, but I can't get any reasoning for it...)

Of course, maybe I just have an evil soul and would be a torturer or murderer if I weren't writing and reading fiction about it.

[shadowstark.livejournal.com]

Actually... You know, I'm much nicer to Wilson than my previous targ-- um, favourite characters. Hmph. This fandom is making me soft, thanks to the crazy rehab fics and so on being so good. I'm not being meaner than death and emotional pain. That's it. I've got to return to my forte.

[housepiglet.livejournal.com]

I find that Wilson doesn't have to be *terribly* seriously injured for the situation to work its magic for me. (Although very seriously injured is always extremely squeeful, of course:)

[housepiglet.livejournal.com]

I suppose it's because it's the times where the character is the most stressed that you can see the most interesting parts of their personality. Stressed to the breaking point, you get more... dynamic range out of the character.

Good point!

Your idea, btw?

D'you mean wondering about this? Well, I've been wondering about it for many years now LOL! Sort of like a guilty secret. At uni I met a pal who turned out to have the same problem enthusiasm, and that was quite a relief! *g*

[housepiglet.livejournal.com]

Oops... sorry for the long strike

Brain fart...

[shadowstark.livejournal.com]

Nah, your bunny. I've been wanting to get a road trip together where Wilson gets stuck in the mountains a la ... um, that family that got stuck in the mountains and the dad went off to look for help. Damn, I forget who they were.

Although, this is a topic I've wondered about too. My beta keeps telling me I go overboard in the fandoms she betas for me on...

[mad-march-hare.livejournal.com]

I remember when Starsky hit Hutch! (Starsky actually hit Hutch a couple of times, and one time he actually meant it, too, in "Starsky vs. Hutch" for Season 4. I'm only 21; is it sad that I know that?)

I think that character abuse adds another layer to the character, specifically to the male characters. If a hero strides across the page/screen/what have you, without taking a single blow, we lose interest. He's two-dimensional, a caricature of masculinity, a force with no reaction. How boring would Superman be if kryptonite didn't exist?

By taking male characters and stripping them of their various "powers" (even if it just be their good health or rationality), we get two things at once:

1) We see the character in a new context, a mode of functioning outside his usual sphere, and note his reactions to this new challenge (in this case, illness or injury). This broadens our view of the character as a whole.

2) We also see changes in the periphery characters, observing how they react to the changes in their environment. Usual test subject in this case is House, but Cuddy and the ducklings can experience the paradigm-shift as well. Yet another layer of reaction and psychology is added to all of these characters, though indirectly.

So, there you have it. Hurt/comfort and its psychological and creative ramifications in five minutes. Or at least, my uneducated and fannish opinion on it, anyway. ^_^

[housepiglet.livejournal.com]

Interesting thoughts!

Hey! Someone else who remembers when Starsky hit Hutch :) I didn't see the later one when he meant it (is disappointed). I may have to go and look for that.

How boring would Superman be if kryptonite didn't exist?

An excellent point.

We see the character in a new context, a mode of functioning outside his usual sphere, and note his reactions to this new challenge (in this case, illness or injury).

That's a good one too. Thinking about it, Wilson in a coma without House around to react wouldn't be interesting after the initial novelty of the idea, and introductory detail.

*goes off to think about it further*

[maddoggirl.livejournal.com]

I've friended you because I adore your icon muchly, 'kay?

[housepiglet.livejournal.com]

That *is* an extremely cool icon! I'd not noticed it :)

[geekygecko.livejournal.com]

*scratches head*

I'm not sure I can explain my warped fetish strange fascination. It's like faith—it just is.

My affliction started in early childhood. Any time a major male character got sick or injured, my little heart leapt with joy. I'd even tune into shows had never watched before, just because a description in TV Guide for an upcoming episode would catch my attention. "Character X fights for his life after a serious car injury."

The 1970s television show Emergency! was like manna from heaven. Johnny Gage got sick and injured a lot. *blushes in embarrassment to admit that I've actually cataloged all of his injuries and "near misses"*

It was the same way for me in The X-Files. All of that lovely Mulder torture rocked my world.

When House came along, I'm not sure why I latched onto Wilson as the object of my peculiar obsession. House would have seemed like a more obvious choice, with his damaged leg, dependence upon narcotic pain meds, etc.

After giving the matter some thought, I suppose I'm more partial to Wilson because he's not what he seems to be. I believe that illness and/or injury lowers his emotional defenses, allowing us a glimpse into his twisted soul.

The funny thing is, I don't necessarily enjoy seeing pain inflicted upon our favorite oncologist just for the sake of torturing him. I want there to be a reason for it—to make him rise to a challenge, or to learn something about himself.

House providing the comfort is icing on the cake. It's nice, especially if leads to an exploration of their friendship.

I'll think on this some more as soon as I'm more awake. I need to go make a pot of coffee. :)

(reposted without that annoying unclosed italics tag *g*)

[housepiglet.livejournal.com]

My affliction started in early childhood. Any time a major male character got sick or injured, my little heart leapt with joy. I'd even tune into shows had never watched before, just because a description in TV Guide for an upcoming episode would catch my attention. "Character X fights for his life after a serious car injury."

LOL again! This is so like me :) I'm thinking back to The Champions, Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased), Star Trek, Starsky & Hutch, The High Chapparal (sp?), The X Files, ER etc etc etc

When House came along, I'm not sure why I latched onto Wilson as the object of my peculiar obsession. House would have seemed like a more obvious choice, with his damaged leg, dependence upon narcotic pain meds, etc.

When I first started reading Housefics I quickly became addicted to sydedalus's brilliant sick/hurt!House fics. My focus shifted to Wilson with time, just as yours has. I still like sick!House a lot, though :)

Coffee! Good plan.

[maddoggirl.livejournal.com]

Oh, I gots another one! The 40s movie Murder, My Sweet with Dick Powell. It's one of my favourites, but I've just realised that he gets punched, smacked with a gun butt, blackjacked, shot full of some naroctic and locked in a cell to detox. Gratuitous, OTT, but it's one of my favourite movies of all time.

God, I'd never thought about how weird it was before *blush*

[housepiglet.livejournal.com]

*g*

There's a Bruce Willis film that I rather like, called The Last Boy Scout that's rather good too :)

[toolazytowork.livejournal.com]

Y'all are so much fun. I love reading all your reasons for hurting poor Wilson. What did he ever do to you?
I want to friend you all and join in the crusade to find all the best and most fascinating ways to make Wilson's life a living hell.

My personal favorite example of character torture is George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life. Poor guy gave up every dream he had. Worked a thankless job. Was broke all the time and took care of everyone at the expense of his own interests.
Hell, he was going to commit suicide on Christmas Eve. How low can you go? Oh---wait...
He did get to marry Donna Reed. That's a big plus. She was a hottie.

[housepiglet.livejournal.com]

*g* Poor Wilson. This is such an unsafe place for him :)

[peapods42.livejournal.com]

I've looked over my fandoms and the only commonality I can comeup with is that they all look fantastic in pain. Any kind-physical, emotional, you name it. I love to torture(or see tortured): Wilson(duh), Obi-Wan, Rodney McKay, Daniel Jackson, Nick Stokes, etc. Of course it helps that the writers and producers like to torture these guys too.

Really I think we simply see something in their characters that would lend itself very well to being tortured. I think we also like to see men emotional/human.

Wilson's humanity, as seen on screen, is somewhat of a farce. He puts on a certain face for his patients and everyone but House. With House we get someone more like House and then we get the real glimpses of Wilson's humanity when House hurts him. We simply exploit it to its fullest potential.

Or maybe that's all bullshit and we're all secretly masochists. Oh well, I'm fine with that.

[housepiglet.livejournal.com]

It's hard to analyse :) I definitely think there's something in what you say about it being good to see men being emotional/human, and how Wilson generally hides that.

Or maybe that's all bullshit and we're all secretly masochists. Oh well, I'm fine with that.

Yeah, could be there's a bit of that in it too *g*

[evila-elf.livejournal.com]

Firstly, gotta say that I love this comm! Been a blast reading and rereading ficcies :D

Isn't there a saying that we torture the ones that we love? Hehe.
I have always had this facination with people getting hurt. I remember when I was 10 and watching old Bonanza episodes and jumping up and down with excitement everytime that Little Joe ended up getting hurt lol.
And my first online group I was ever involved in was SeaQuest, where we were the Evil Lucas Fans (hence the elf in my username).
My Mom thinks that I have something wrong with me because of all the depressing things that I love to watch/read ;)
Loved it for so long that it is hard to place the exact why of it. Because the person doesn't deserve it? The hurt/comfort definately plays a huge part with this fandom.

And damn your bunny! Like I need any ideas! Haven't been writing Housefics for awhile now--preoccupied with my RPS--but now I want to start up again. Might fiddle with some ideas. I do want to write something for this comm since most of my other ficcies are fluffy or House!torture.

[housepiglet.livejournal.com]

Hello there! :)

It's so reassuring to learn that there are others out there with this strange desire to watch nice blokes getting bashed *g*

And damn your bunny!

*bunny cries*

*pets bunny*

G'won! You know you want to write one :) I finally came up with an idea today, so maybe I'll go and write a bit of it now :)

[lady-insanity.livejournal.com]

Just figured I'd post since I just joined recently. I've noticed that I do this to not just Wilson in the House fandom, but also Reid in my beloved Criminal Minds fandom.

I agree with everything everyone else has said and add this. Maybe what we find so fascinating is a two-fold question. Firstly, we enjoy having the deep inner emotions of our characters layed bare. Secondly, we enjoy the drama and angst that we so blatantly feed off. Not mention we get to humanise someone that we love and adore.

And, this just came to me now. Maybe in some wierd way, we're trying to play God. Think about. We have these characters, and we have total control. Pain is away of exerting power.

Which I think makes me a Sadistic sociopath, but there are worse things to be.

[housepiglet.livejournal.com]

Hello :)

Firstly, we enjoy having the deep inner emotions of our characters layed bare. Secondly, we enjoy the drama and angst that we so blatantly feed off. Not mention we get to humanise someone that we love and adore.


Absolutely right, I think. I'm sure that's a large part of it.

And, this just came to me now. Maybe in some wierd way, we're trying to play God. Think about. We have these characters, and we have total control. Pain is away of exerting power.


A very interesting idea! That hadn't occurred to me at all. Certainly I did notice, though, when I started trying to write fics, how bizarre but satisfying it is to be able to direct the characters.

>i>Which I think makes me a Sadistic sociopath, but there are worse things to be.

Lol :) Hmmm....