What happened to reading for enjoyment? Dan x JK ain't it but shit ain't real. Why can't p...

Well said, I agree! The morally righteous readers probably feel ashamed for thinking Jaekyung is super hot, even though they hate him with a passion. And they probably also like the story. So to cope with their hate and shame, they swarm the comment section of many sites to hate on those who like it in order to make themselves feel better. They could also be trolls who just want to start problems in the comment section to rile up negative emotions for no reason besides their own entertainment.

Personally, I don’t have any real problems with people reading and enjoying Jinx, and I think people coming at others from that angle are. Wrong, lol. While I think it could be/could’ve been much better written, there are other elements of it that are well-done and/or enjoyable, too. I just worry about how some people are interpreting certain elements of the story…you say this story isn’t real, for example. I think that’s a complicated statement to make.

Of course Dan and Jaekyung and the rest of our cast aren’t “real” in the sense that they may not have any direct real world counterparts, but I do find that there’s elements of realism in Jaekyung’s character and in Dan’s financial situation and in the way that their relationship plays out overall. There really ARE deeply insecure men like Jaekyung out there, who mask that insecurity with incredibly toxic masculinity, and who abuse others because of it. And there really ARE people like Dan out there who, because of their financial status, are exploited and forced into doing labor that they’d really rather not do…who have no recourse against the abuse they receive as a result.

I understand not everyone is reading that deeply into it and that’s Fine I guess, even though I think it’s a key facet of the story. But it does make me a bit worried when I see people very seriously and genuinely (because I get it, we can sometimes make light of these stories where horrible things are happening—that’s not what I’m talking about) openly dismissing or excusing Jaekyung’s actions, and/or put undue responsibility on Dan for being in the situation that he’s in. I think it does speak to people’s real life perspectives on these types of issues.

Facts I don't get their weird obsession with this story when they claim it's trash. I personally don't read anything I don't like. I love myself too much to invest in reads I don't like

I get what you are saying and you are right but these stories have synopsis that warn readers beforehand. These stories are 18+ not just for the smut but also to ensure that the readership is at least post high school and has the competent comprehension skills to realise that if a story isn't meant for them
beat it. And lastly and most importantly as reader one can be able to separate reality from fiction without being carried away by the motion of the story. All stories emulate life to some extent but that doesn't mean the contents are to be glamourised or romanticised. The contents exist exclusively for entertainment.

In my case, I don't make excuses for Jaekyung's extreme toxic behaviours (such as the abuse and how he reacted to Dan's gift). His more mild toxicity, like having a bad attitude and being rude to some of the team members, can probably be excused due to his past issues that we aren't aware of at this point. However, I don't hate him. Considering his entire character as a whole, I see good points as well and believe he's redeemable.
I have noticed that some readers seem to only focus on the toxicity, and nothing else. That is their prerogative of course, as they can focus on what they want. It becomes problematic, however, when they try to hate-shame others for liking the story. Even if I don't agree with what someone likes in fiction, I don't feel it's my place to judge or make assumptions because it's none of my business. And considering that it's just fiction, I don't let it bother me. Fiction often does contain real life portrayals of toxic situations, as you pointed out, which can be a positive thing. It allows the reader to witness a toxic character learn from their mistakes and become a better person, and it allows people with various fantasies (e.g. rape) to have a safe outlet to experience something they very likely abhor irl.

Yes, I'm the same way :) I don't read anything that I don't like, and have dropped many stories. It would be a waste of my time to read something I get no enjoyment out of. Jinx is one of the few manhwas that I find really interesting and I love the art style!

Actually,I read the all the comments above me and I agree with all of them. We readers read the story that we like and before reading we read the title,tags and synopsis,so we are responsible of what we read and no one else.

All I'm gonna say is if you can't differentiate between fiction and reality... instead you're getting so triggered by it then it's on you lmao.

I, personally didn't even read the title or knew the theme, knowing this author in particular was going to release her new manhwa, was enough for me to reading it immediately because I know her talent and what to expert.
If you're not prepared for this content, this is not for you. I'm really wondering how adults can not understand this fact and start accusing you about idontknowwhat, you didn't discover the dark web, this is just a random website u access through browser, we're doing nothing wrong.
Of course, authors try to paint a portrait of the society around them, this is their starting point but that does not mean that these events and these characters exist: the fact of seeing that a person like Dan has had so much luck by seeing himself paid for all his debts, his grandmother being treated in good conditions, immediately makes me feel that it is too good to be true. The dissociation between truth and fiction is already made in the 1st chapter.
I wouldn't go and read Jinx if I wanted to learn more about its social facts, there are other media that do it better, I read because it allows me to detach myself from reality, so I don't tell to myself every chapter ''oh, poor guy, he got fired, there are people losing their jobs every day'' my focus is made on the two protagonists that DOESN'T exist and not on the real facts surrounding them. How? by IMAGINATION. You shouldn't take yourself too seriously, especially when you read this kind of content, you need to step back.

I mean, I’m not really talking about whether or not the story is or isn’t meant for someone, nor am I just talking about people who are underage. Nor am I even really talking about glamorization or romanticization. Definitely there are full grown adults who would (and do!) look at Dan, or someone like Dan, and say something along the lines of “well, he deserves what he’s getting” or “he asked for this” or “he should’ve just done something else,” you know? Which to me shows a lack of understanding not only of this fictional Dan’s situation, but also of how these people might respond to seeing or hearing about someone like Dan IRL. Does that make sense?

I assistant teach a class on sex ed and during a session while we were talking about sex work, one of my students really did acknowledge how harmful/dangerous sexual work could be…and instead of calling for safer conditions for those workers or considering why people do that kind of work to begin with DESPITE it’s dangers, she said that those people should just get another job. This is a college class! My students are adults! The rhetoric some people who I’ve talked to about the consent in this webtoon PERFECTLY aligned with that which people use to talk about real life sex workers. Do you see the issue here?

That’s kind of what I mean when I’m saying what I’m saying. Yeah the story is fictional—but how people are thinking through some of it can reflect their real world biases.

I’m curious what you think are Jaekyung’s redeeming qualities. I’m slowly rereading it and taking my own notes this time around so I can have a stronger analysis of the story but I know I couldn’t see much that felt worthwhile the first time around, and now as I’m rereading it I think…hmmm he’s more interesting than I gave him credit for at first, but still has flawed writing to me. As of right now though I can only give him that he’s dedicated to his craft and hardworking. Otherwise he is…deeply insecure and doing everything in his power to mask that insecurity. Also has the same brainrot rich people seem to get when they have too much money.

Anyway, yeah, I don’t agree with people who are hating on or shaming people who like the story on the mere basis that the story is problematic or depicts bad things. I think that’s dumb—of course we can engage with stories that depict dark and taboo subject matters and of course one’s engagement with those things does not make them an inherently bad person or immediately reflect their real world morals. I even agree with you that these kinds of stories can be good, because it can help people reflect on themselves and, like you said, learn how not to act. I’d even go as far as to say they can help victims who have been in this type of situation (or who are currently in this type of situation) see and make sense of their own experience.

So yeah I don’t have much of an issue with a reader like you, I think. I have an issue with readers who have expressed very particular types of sentiments towards Dan and the situation that he’s in—people who are not factoring in his financial situation when they discuss who is at fault for what’s going on in Dan and Jaekyung’s relationship, who don’t factor in that Jaekyung is Dan’s employer (and also incredibly famous and powerful), who act like Jaekyung can’t behave differently.

What here indicates that I’m a) unable to differentiate between fiction and reality and b) triggered by what I’m reading? Am I wrong for seeing what I think are very blatantly obvious parallels between, say, Jaekyung’s character and the way that insecure men behave? Or the way that the ultra wealthy behave?

I mean I’m more than fine with the contents of this story, just maybe not entirely with how the author goes about it—but I’m still rereading it so my mind might change on some things.

But you are kind of…I don’t know how to say this but the fact that you think Dan’s situation is a completely fictional one is kind of like, part of the issue LOL. And I wouldn’t call Dan’s situation entirely lucky at all—sure his debts get covered and his grandma can get better treatment, but that comes at the cost of his mental and physical health. It’s like he’s traded one poison for another in some ways. Not an ideal situation.

But you DO KNOW there are like…real sex workers (both willing and unwilling) whose lives end up following a similar trajectory to Dan’s, right? Like, deeply impoverished people/people in precarious financial situations who do sex work even if they don’t really want to because for one reason or another they can’t do anything else, who sometimes are able to make a decent enough wage to take care of themselves and their families. Or people who are unlucky enough to be preyed on by the ultra wealthy and while, yeah, perhaps getting paid for it, suffer physically and mentally? Jeffery Epstein? Diddy? This was something I actually liked about the story, I thought that the situation was set up quite well, and then…well, anyway.

Stories can and often DO do some kind of social commentary even if/when they’re not meaning to, though. Like I said if it’s not that deep for you, that’s fine, I guess—but I think it’s a bit silly and even demeaning to the author to act like there aren’t these elements of real life she’s drawing from that creates the narrative and the characters and the dynamics between them. The basic foundation of Dan and Jaekyung’s relationship and why it can happen IS that Jaekyung is very wealthy and Dan is very fucking poor I get it’s a trope and I think it’s worth analyzing it through that lens, too—but am I wrong to see that, and think to myself, “hm, this reminds me of some situations I’ve seen and heard of happening in real life”? Or to look at Jaekyung’s character and the way he acts and treats others and be like, “hm, he reminds me of how some men think of themselves and act in real life”?

I don't discuss the author's choices, she does what she wants, it's her imagination, if I don't like what she does I stop reading her. And I don't see how its bad thinking that what happens to a character is just fiction, for good or bad. I think he was extremely lucky. What makes u think that in real life, a guy like JJK would be gay, that he'd be interested in dan, that he would welcome him to his house, defend him against bad ppl and keep him as a physiotherapist despite his incompetence (Dan says it himself, there are better physiotherapists than him).
Do you think that because I detach myself from the social truths in fiction that I am blind to what is ravaging this world irl? Do you believe that if I think that what happens to this character does not affect him, proves that there is a problem with me and that if I ever came across a person like Dan, I would not help him or be insensitive ?
I don't want to find myself talking about serious things I'm precisely supposed to forget when I come here. I don't want to talk about sex workers, or these people you site, because I don't see the connection. I'm here to see a handsome seme fall in love with a cute uke, look no further. When I read I don't look for what is close to reality, I avoid this reality. I just hope you don't think the author's inspirations aren't real psychopaths or rapists.
This fantasy of the rich and handsome guy who kidnaps you or is interested in you when you are nothing does not come from an inspiration.
It's just the unspeakable dreams of adults that are transcribed in what they read.
If jjk was ugly no one would read this manhwa, if the prince who kissed Snow White without her consent at the end was ugly and not noble, everyone would have found it disgusting. Our fantasies begin even in childhood, without knowing the reality of the world around us, in this type of fiction, don't question anything, it is only the feelings that count and not the reason, if you want to appreciate a work. You have to be a dreamer

Correcting my sentence here "I just hope you don't think the author's inspirations are real psychopaths or rapists" because they are not.

I mean maybe it's because all I do in school is read and analyze and break down stories but I think it's perfectly natural and good, even, to like. Ask why an author did things the way they did. Not just for these big picture conversations about what kinds of beliefs and biases might she have consciously or subconsciously included in her story, but simply to better understand how the story is working and how well it's working to convey the things it's trying to convey. YOU don't have to do that if you don't want to, I suppose. But I think, at the very least, it's a good skill to use.

But yeah I think it can be bad to claim that something that ISN'T just fiction, IS fictional, because it can result in dismissing or downplaying people's experiences. I read about this just yesterday—sometimes, for example, white people will dismiss experiences of racism that black people have with others because they think it sounds too unrealistic, or that it's not a big deal. And you literally do it in your next sentence—asking me what makes me think that this type of situation could happen in real life. It's because it has and does often happen in real life! Yes, not exactly like it does in this story—I 100% acknowledge that, but still! I will go back to Jefferey Epstein—he did quite literally offer young women and underage girls an exorbitant amount of money to give him "massages," even though they were, of course, inexperienced! That's real life, dude! https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/epstein-accuser-says-ghislaine-maxwell-groped-pressured-massage-rcna8348

I'm not here to take away from your enjoyment of this story, but I think two things can be true at once. You can enjoy the story for the reasons you say you do while still acknowledging some of its truths, whatever those truths may be. Or at the very least, you don't have to shut other people down when they point out those truths. I'll sometimes go back and listen to Pink Album by Filthy Frank and laugh at it, but I know full well he's saying very rancid things that people could justifiably argue he should NOT be saying, even if he's doing it for the sake of parody. I'm glad that you would try to help someone like Dan IRL and that you wouldn't be insensitive towards him and his situation (which, like, side note...you have been repeatedly claiming that Dan didn't experience any rape or coercion amongst other things, which is why I might think you might be insensitive but idk, I don't know you), but still...just because you want to escape from reality doesn't mean you get to deny that reality is true. In fact, aren't escapist fantasies made precisely in response to some undesirable reality?

People dream about the rich guy who captures/kidnaps you partially because, to some degree, they WANT to be obsessed over and treated lavishly, or at least want to experience some kind of financial security. Of course not in the way it plays out in this webtoon but like, yeah! And that desire can stem from their own reality or just from something else psychological. Often both! And even you just said previously that the author was pulling from the society around her. People make up that society! The art that those people produce, amongst other things, make up that society's culture! I'm not claiming the author pulled from real psychopaths and rapists, I don't know that for sure—and honestly, nothing would be inherently wrong with that—but she's gotta be pulling from somewhere. Absolutely nothing and nobody exists in a vacuum. Honestly, it's an interesting question to ask, given Korean society's gender politics right now...those are the kinds of things that can subconsciously sneak its way into people's stories.

My news feed was bombarded by the news about P d*ddy and how he SAed Justin B.,and the other of his talents. We don't know what is the terms and conditions inside their contracts or if these victims were threatened by Diddy ( pointing a gun on their heads,threat to kill their families,or dirty videos). JB was also 15 when he was allegedly SAed by him and his company ( I just saw it from a news ). That means he was a minor when he was SAed and any contracts signed by him with Diddy can be revoked or reviewed. And can be used against Diddy.

Let's review the contract between Dan and Jk,what are the terms and conditions. Let's also review if there are deceptions in the contract from Jk since he is the employer because it can be revoked and used against Jk. Or if there are threats from him when Dan showed aggression of not signing the contract. Let's also review the capacity of Dan when he signed the contract if he is able to read or understand their contact and,if he was a minor without his consent and his guardian's consent in the contract. These are the legal process. And if Jk was found guilty he can be sued by Dan in the court. Sex workers are most especially deceived by their employers and their contracts, HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND EXPLOITATION,and that is illegal and is a crime. Most of the victims are also minors who don't know and understand their contracts and only signed it out of deceit and lack of understanding.


I'm not defending JK because I know his character and his nature,and sometimes fictional characters are overrated like him. And if Dan is a real person,I doubt if I can help him because Dan is secretive and and it's his private life unless he opens to me personally. If I rubbed my nose on their business I can be seen as someone who is interfering with them,and what if JK will sue me instead? We cannot even interfere with our neighbors businesses,how much more of a big celebrity like him? Besides even if there are assaults from jk,only the government or the law makers can assist and help Dan. That is if Dan is willing to sue jk.

I believe that Dan can leave Jk even from the start if he really wants to. He even left him now,so that means he have a choice. The thing is Dan is into Jk ( the sad truth ) the reason he cannot leave him then. He even chose him from Heesung who is willing to pay Jk their contract value.

Bro, it's just two inexistent sexy characters making out :// nothing deep I swear.

I know babe, I'm just replying to a comment saying or asking how we respond to seeing or hearing someone like Dan in real life. The comment was also talking about real celeb Diddy. Thank you for reminding me.

Again with u're examples... I don't wanna hear about Epstein in comment section of my favorite manhwa, dude. To put it simple : real life sucks man, and I don't want to hear about it :// you, on the other side, you're the opposite, I bet u reading every article u find, you go through every document... It's called morbid curiosity. I know the main points that's enough for me. "That's real life blablabla" mmh life is wonderful, there is not only misery in the world-_-
Why can't u just stop comparing this fiction to something you know? I'm telling you this is not the purpose. Stop questioning everything. Go read scientific facts, real ppl that need help and comment to them.