User blog comment:Corbierr/Examining Dark Stories/@comment-25576856-20141122030023

I wouldn't say that I prefer dark stories over light stories; that's too much of a sweeping generalization. It really depends on the story itself. But if I must pick one, I pick dark, and I'll tell you why.

I hate cliches. I hate the cliche boy-meets-girl-they-fall-in-love thing. It makes me want to barf. I hate the riding-off-into-the-sunset ending. Why? Because they're unrealistic. They're TOO happy. I'm not saying that all happy stories are like that, but when I think of happy stories, this is what I think of. Also, a story can't be all happy; there is no story if there is no conflict. The conflict doesn't have to be super dark and depressing, but there needs to be something.

Lighter stories are seen as immature because, like you said, they are often aimed at young kids. It is very easy to upset them, and they can't effectively appreciate the troubles of darker stories, so it's much safer for them to read a light story. But that doesn't make them immature, it just makes them, again, a bit cliche. Darker stories are not necessarily more mature, but they tend to be aimed at a more mature audience, and the troubles the characters go through are more depressing. But a dark story that is made dark just so it seems mature is not truly a dark story. True dark stories have a lot of meaning.

Now, to directly answer your question, why do I prefer dark stories: I am not a depressed person. I was in a depressed state once, but that was years ago, and I got myself out of it. However, I am an extremely angry and lonely person and I come from a dysfunctional household. I know that this is absolutely nothing compared to what some other people have to go through, but it--as well as a few other things--has made me a damaged person. So I can sort of relate to darker stories. (And my preference of dark things mostly has to do with something very personal to me, and if you'd really like to know the reasoning, private message me or ask me on our thread. I'd rather not write it here, where everyone can see.)

Overall, darker stories are more relatable than lighter stories, and they tend to be more intriguing.