Why Write?

Instead of your empty criticism, why don't you give me an example? Should I give them a Likert scale or something? Like I said, its qualitative. Go look up what that means and how much research is done using open-ended questions.

If you were a real researcher, I wouldn't have to give you an example of a legitimate questionnaire to get at what you say you are researching. Your questionnaire has already been exposed as not doing that and as pushing a bias (the questions aren't open ended; they are irrelevant to any data you could gather, given your statement of what you are actually studying). Neither my criticism of your questionnaire nor that of others has been empty. As a scientific researcher, you are a fraud (or maybe just in your first semester in this class you have to write a paper for), so that leads to the question of what your real goal is here--and it doesn't require me to give you an example of anything.

Critique of methodology is quite proper in the field of scientific research. You show that your's looks like a sieve. So, you need to either stop pretending you are conducting a scientific study or go back to your professor and ask him to repeat the instructions on what you were supposed to be doing--and how it was really supposed to be done.
 
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You keep using the phrase "Rape myths". Would you mind explaining what you mean by that.

Also NC and Incest are two separate categories here on Lit.

And not all erotic story sites are created equal. Some sites will except anything and everything. Lit has it's limits and each story is checked by one of the site owners before it is posted. Maybe you should look up the author posting rules. they might give you some insight into the differences between other erotic sites and this one.

A note of warning, don't try to play games with this bunch. You won't win in the long run.
 
>I don't read rape stories; I definitely would not author one.

>I don’t believe I will answer the questions, but I do find the second portion of the fifth question to be a loaded one.

>Prior researchers invited us to respond, by Private Message. This whole process seems highly suspicious.
 
1) What is the motivation for your writing/reading?
I write to tell stories. I read because I can't imagine not doing so.

2) What types of career/education/family life do you have? Many individuals probably have very stereotypical ideas about the individuals that write about particular themes.
I'm the library lady.

3) How much do you value your anonymity and what do you think might be the consequences if it were broken?
I am a very secretive good little witch. As far as the consequences go, I'd get by. I always have.

4) How many stories have you written personally? How many in personal archive? For this site?
About twenty. I have dozens more in my head, but finding time and motivation to write them has been hard. However, due to a change in my circumstances, I hope to be writing more soon.


5) What did you think about 50 Shades of Grey and its influence on the erotica literature genre?
I haven't read them, but they seem rather silly to me from what I've heard. There's a lot better examples of the genre, be it erotica or fan fiction, to be found.
 
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I was going to respond at first because I misread your name as sexyResearcher. (Although Im still imagining you to be a sexyResearcher)

But then I read through the posts and I decided to respond just because I'm not smart enough to figure out whether your inquiries are unscientific or dubious or not. And really, I dont fucking care. Its just a few questions. I have trouble being that concerned whether the responses are going to be used for some evil political scheme or not.
(If they are, good luck with that ;))



1) What is the motivation for your writing/reading?
Not sure really. Never really thought about it too much. Probably it was to keep me occupied so i dont think about things like my own motivations.

2) What types of career/education/family life do you have? Many individuals probably have very stereotypical ideas about the individuals that write about particular themes.
What types are there? Ive had a lot of different types of careers, education and family life. Probably a bit too much in some cases.

3) How much do you value your anonymity and what do you think might be the consequences if it were broken?
I highly value my anonymity. I doubt there would be any consequences. No one would give a shit.

4) How many stories have you written personally? How many in personal archive?
All my stories are written personally. :D
I only have 1 story posted here and about 40 works in progress.


5) What did you think about 50 Shades of Grey and its influence on the erotica literature genre?
I havent read it but i would like to. After all the bashing the twilight series took, I read those books and they didnt seem as bad to me as many people thought they were. Although I did notice it seemed written for a specific demographic. I'm guessing 50 Shades might be slightly worse but I'd still like to see what so many women are suddenly interested in. And maybe theres something there I can steal..
 
Hello all,


1) What is the motivation for your writing/reading?

2) What types of career/education/family life do you have? Many individuals probably have very stereotypical ideas about the individuals that write about particular themes.

3) How much do you value your anonymity and what do you think might be the consequences if it were broken?

4) How many stories have you written personally? How many in personal archive?

5) What did you think about 50 Shades of Grey and its influence on the erotica literature genre?

1. I'm OCD about influencing people, and writing is my way to do it. Others sing or lapdance or ride bulls, I write. I like to find ways to wind folks up and push their buttons.

2. I'm retired but was a psychotherapist for many years.

3. I prefer to blend in with the wall paper.

4. I've written since 1961 or so. I started with limericks, progressed to humor, romantic poems, editorials, reviews, fiction prose.

5. Not acquainted with 50 Shades.
 
You need to leave. I am so frustrated, and disapointed with all you spamers.
 
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You need to leave. I am so frustrated, and disapointed with all you spamers.

Don't quote spam, use the report button on their post.

If you quote spam it is locked in and removing the spammer doesn't remove the spam.

Sticky crap, that. :D
 
3) How much do you value your anonymity and what do you think might be the consequences if it were broken?

Enough that I don't take it on trust that somebody claiming to be a university researcher actually is a university researcher.

In my experience, when a reputable university runs a survey of this nature, it comes with a link to the university's website that identifies the researchers involved, and includes a privacy statement and approval from a human research ethics board. The fact that you haven't included any of these things makes me REALLY dubious about it, even before getting to the poor survey design.

For instance, the scope (both of subjects and of individual questions) is very poorly defined: although you say you're talking specifically about rape myths, you haven't made it clear whether your questionnaire is actually restricted to only people who write NC/incest. (And why are you lumping those two together?)
 
However, I personally am myself intrigued with the subject matter, or at least direction of the OP's initial questions...

"Rape myths?" It strikes me that I am sure there ARE rape myths held in people's minds not just someone/anyone writing erotic ficition.

I must say, indeed a very very - probably the MOST - important part of why I write erotica is as an intellectual exercise that allows scope to searching beyond usual horizons in order to potentially discover something: how the mind works, how people work, what DOESN'T work, new ways of thinking that you wouldn't ordinarily try...

So would I write rape scenes/sequences - absolutely no question about it. It's a very tricky area but as a writer I have absolutely no limitations whatsoever at all in my own head. Period. I haven't yet conceived of a need to deal with this subject matter but I might - especially just to see how far I could or would go with it and see whether there is any point to doing it at all. However I mightn't write it JUST to test limits - for one thing I know others would be better at that. I'd have to have some other reason... Not sure what yet...

Education? Yes, very.

Job/career? Originally law now stockbroking. Have also had a professional sports/athletic career.

Anonymity? Couldn't care less personally - especially not in today's world - but don't want to stick it in people's faces either. That's unnecessary and a meaningless thing to do.

50 Shades? Not well written, and very ignorant about the subject matter.

As for the potential political tendentiousness of the OP regading rape, hmn... I'd like to hear what he/she wants to say about it. Surprise us all with something new.
 
Enough that I don't take it on trust that somebody claiming to be a university researcher actually is a university researcher.

In my experience, when a reputable university runs a survey of this nature, it comes with a link to the university's website that identifies the researchers involved, and includes a privacy statement and approval from a human research ethics board. The fact that you haven't included any of these things makes me REALLY dubious about it, even before getting to the poor survey design.

For instance, the scope (both of subjects and of individual questions) is very poorly defined: although you say you're talking specifically about rape myths, you haven't made it clear whether your questionnaire is actually restricted to only people who write NC/incest. (And why are you lumping those two together?)

Agreed. This stinks of a think tank wanting to put out a "study" about how awful and destructive erotica is by focusing on the two most shocking subjects. I have NOT seen a prevalence of violent content on Lit, although I admit to generally avoiding the NC section, and that seems to be what the OP is obsessed about. They want to focus on the violence. No reputable University would have approved a thesis based on these thin questions.
 
You wanted answers, so I'll answer even though I agree with ogg and the others.

1) What is the motivation for your writing/reading?
I write because I have ideas for stories. I read because the stories interest me and stimulate me.

2) What types of career/education/family life do you have? Many individuals probably have very stereotypical ideas about the individuals that write about particular themes.
What types are there?
I'm a single guy who lives in an apartment and who works part-time at the local Real Canadian Superstore as a Maintenance guy. I'm also famous both here in my community and around the world for my music videos. Currently my Facebook page for my music identity has about 120 likes.

3) How much do you value your anonymity and what do you think might be the consequences if it were broken?
I don't have much anonymity and what I do I cherish as I'm a celebrity in my community (and around the world). I doubt it would have much consequences as I post links to the stuff I write at my personal blog.l

4) How many stories have you written personally? How many in personal archive?
12 stories - 2 finished and 10 in progress - all fan fiction at my archive. Ideas for at least 50+ more (including quite a few erotic stories). I'll be writing for a long time to come!

5) What did you think about 50 Shades of Grey and its influence on the erotica literature genre?
Never read about it, and don't care $*** about it's influence on the genre, as I write what pleases me. If you don't write what pleases you, what fun is it to write (especially if it's a hobby)?
 
However, I personally am myself intrigued with the subject matter, or at least direction of the OP's initial questions...

"Rape myths?" It strikes me that I am sure there ARE rape myths held in people's minds not just someone/anyone writing erotic ficition.

I must say, indeed a very very - probably the MOST - important part of why I write erotica is as an intellectual exercise that allows scope to searching beyond usual horizons in order to potentially discover something: how the mind works, how people work, what DOESN'T work, new ways of thinking that you wouldn't ordinarily try...

So would I write rape scenes/sequences - absolutely no question about it. It's a very tricky area but as a writer I have absolutely no limitations whatsoever at all in my own head. Period. I haven't yet conceived of a need to deal with this subject matter but I might - especially just to see how far I could or would go with it and see whether there is any point to doing it at all. However I mightn't write it JUST to test limits - for one thing I know others would be better at that. I'd have to have some other reason... Not sure what yet...

I think the term "rape myth" was queried earlier on the thread, and I would agree with that. There's nothing mythical about rape. So I think it begs explanation by whoever is using it. I think perhaps what really is meant is "rape fantasies."

Rape isn't erotic, though. It's self-centered assault. It may be sex, but it isn't eroticism, which requires, in my mind, sensual arousal by all parties.

So, I'm not really tuned into the term "rape fantasy" all that much either--but I am to a degree, and I've employed that both in my life and my writing--recognizing that it's really reluctance or inhibition the receiver just as soon wishes to get over than rape--but since we're talking fantasy, I'm willing to shove it over at the extreme to "rape" as long as all continue to realize it's something less and that the rape part is just role playing.

When I employ this in my writing, it's really reluctance or inhibition blockage that is overcome. The receiver really wants to go there--subconsciously if not consciously. The motivations of the pitcher aren't what's important to me, and I don't care if they view it as rape. What's important to me is how the receiver views it. When I employ it, it usually is the receiver wanting to have no responsibility for what happens to him/her that she/he actually wants to happen in at least the subconscious--with the reader understanding this even if it takes a bit for the receiver to understand it. It's an assuaging of guilt over doing something the receiver really wants.

If it's really rape in the story themes, it isn't erotica to me. It isn't even porn. It's just criminal assault coming more out of rage than out of anything sexual--certainly not sensual.
 
I suppose that another way of looking at the "rape myth" term being used here is in terms of a challenge to stories categorized as nonconsent or reluctance, putting forth the charge that they are really about rape. Is that how the OP and others using this term here are viewing it?

And if so, are they looking from the perspective of the "pitcher" or the "receiver"?
 
I suppose that another way of looking at the "rape myth" term being used here is in terms of a challenge to stories categorized as nonconsent or reluctance, putting forth the charge that they are really about rape. Is that how the OP and others using this term here are viewing it?

And if so, are they looking from the perspective of the "pitcher" or the "receiver"?

The phrase is rather ambiguous, which is why I asked about it earlier. In my mind and under the questions listed, the two words didn't seem to go together. Rape Fantasies, maybe, but not Rape Myths.
 
I suppose that another way of looking at the "rape myth" term being used here is in terms of a challenge to stories categorized as nonconsent or reluctance, putting forth the charge that they are really about rape. Is that how the OP and others using this term here are viewing it?

I interpreted it as being about how the myths associated with RL rape are handled in fiction. ("Can't get pregnant via legitimate rape", "rapists are usually strangers in dark alleyways", etc etc etc). Which might've been an interesting topic if approached better.

But that might have been an overly-generous assumption - and our confusion about interpretation underscores some of the problems with the original pitch.
 
Agreed. This stinks of a think tank wanting to put out a "study" about how awful and destructive erotica is by focusing on the two most shocking subjects. I have NOT seen a prevalence of violent content on Lit, although I admit to generally avoiding the NC section, and that seems to be what the OP is obsessed about. They want to focus on the violence. No reputable University would have approved a thesis based on these thin questions.

Under that interpretation, the "how much do you value your anonymity" question takes on some rather sinister connotations - it begins to smell like "how can we exert pressure on the people who write this stuff?"

It'd also explain the ambiguity. Ambiguity in a study design is a bad idea if you're looking to find out the truth, but it's not a problem if you already know the conclusion you want to reach and you just want fodder for quote-mining.

eg: somebody who writes only romantic consensual porn reads the survey, doesn't see anything excluding them, and answers in that context: "I write in order to explore my own sexuality and history". Researcher then presents that as "In a survey of people who write rape 'fiction', one respondent stated they were writing about their own life!"

Even if your responses are perfectly innocuous in their original context, anything can be twisted when taken out of context.

Of course, it's possible that the OP's motives are not as nefarious as this, but a good researcher doesn't require respondents to take that on trust.
 
Aha!

http://sexscience.org/dashboard/articleImages/2012 PrelimProgramSSSS.pdf

Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, 2012 Annual Meeting

Symposium

Extra! Extra! Read All
About It! Non-consensual
sex acts and rape myths in
online erotica

50 Different Shades of Grey: Estimating the Ratio Of Rape-themed Stories to the Total Number of Erotic Stories Online
William Crissman, BA, Samantha Amses, BA; Sabrina Biddle, Andre Patterson, Miranda
Outhwaite, Jessica Farris, Ric Topolski, PhD

A Content Analysis and Frequency Estimation of Rape Myths Contained in Online Erotic Stories
J. Nicole Weaver, BA; Samantha Amses, BA; sElizabeth Taylor, BA; Kellie Borror, Suphawinee
(Ann) Sanguansri, BA; Tadd Patton, PhD

Looks as if the "small southeastern university" mentioned by the OP is Augusta State; several of the names above show up in connection with their psychology department.

On a quick glance, the conference seems above-board; this isn't my field and I'm only going by what's in the program, but it doesn't look like a fundie-fest.

That said: ASU has some fairly standard guidelines about human-subjects research, and this approach does not seem to meet those guidelines. http://www.aug.edu/irb/sample Informed Consent.pdf

Based on this, my best guess is that the OP is acting with good intentions but hasn't been adequately trained on how to conduct human-subjects research (or possibly has not considered that this approach should conform with those guidelines).

I've sent a polite note to the two faculty members listed on this work, noting the problem and suggesting that they remind their students about the importance of human research protocols. I'm not trying to get anybody in trouble, but anybody working in psych research with human subjects needs to understand that this stuff is important.
 
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Yes, Bramblethorn, this. Good grief, when I was collecting data for my thesis, I had to run all my questions past my advisor and was required by the university to supply any interviewees with a form letter, explaining how my research would be used with a name and number at the university for them to contact to verify my claims. I also had to state in that letter that my notes from their interview would be destroyed within a year from the date I completed my studies.

Your letter is a good idea and I hope the OP will be properly instructed in human research protocols. Not to mention that leaving this until the last minute wasn't going to make for a great presentation.

Looking at that link, I'm highly amused by the presentation described at the top of page ten. "Dealing With Ethical Issues in Sexuality Research."
 
I told him/her that this was a smart group. When the Prof reams him/her a new asshole for the way he/she handled things here, maybe he/she will believe me. :D

Talk about making stupid assumptions about dumb porn writers. :cool:
 
...I hope the OP will be properly instructed in human research protocols. Not to mention that leaving this until the last minute wasn't going to make for a great presentation.

Depends on how it was going to be used. If it was the main focus of the presentation, absolutely. But if they've already got most of the presentation planned, and just thought at the last minute that a few human perspectives might be a nice cosmetic touch to make it more engaging... I can relate to that. I've made plenty of last-minute presentation tweaks in my time, but I never* leave the big picture that late.

I'm guessing that might also be how this didn't go through the proper IRB process - the OP might have been well aware of the protocols, but not considered that a little thing like this still needed them. Given that one of the two PhDs listed is chair of ASU's IRB, I really hope their students have had training in this!

*well, hardly ever
 
Sr71plt "Rape isn't erotic, though. It's self-centered assault. It may be sex, but it isn't eroticism, which requires, in my mind, sensual arousal by all parties."

Disagree with that statement entirely.

In vivo, the act of rape isn't erotic in the same vein that for me the real act of incest or pedophilia isn't 'erotic'. We're talking fantasy.

You might want to ask women why rape fantasies figure so prevalently - I base this anecdotally on women I speak to, of course, however, it seems a pretty common fantasy for 'women'. Surely, for these women, the act of rape, being dominated, utterly subjugated is HIGHLY EROTIC for them or it wouldn't be arousing.

Think you're looking at 'rape' literally, in vivo, as it were and purely form the male perspective.
 
1) What is the motivation for your writing/reading?

Are you asking what motivates me to write/read, in general? Or what motivates me to write erotic fiction? Or, are you trying to ascertain what I hope to get out of writing/reading?

I can think of several ways to interpret your question. And an infinite number of responses.

I do write non-consent. As well as BDSM fiction, and incest. You want to know what it is about me that would possess me to write such things? Am I twisted? Was I abused as a child? Is writing/reading such things my outlet for my hidden desires?

I don't know. I try not to go that deep, it ruins the mood.

2) What types of career/education/family life do you have? Many individuals probably have very stereotypical ideas about the individuals that write about particular themes.

I have a degree in Psychology. Worked in that field for 10 years, then switched to IT. Been a systems engineer for many years now. Grew up in a very healthy environment; am now happily married with teenagers.

3) How much do you value your anonymity and what do you think might be the consequences if it were broken?

In general, I value my anonymity a great deal. I've written some things that no doubt offend some people. I have no way of knowing the real consequences of exposing my true identity; better safe than sorry. I have divulged my pseudonym to acquaintances with mixed results. That was my choice, though.

4) How many stories have you written personally? How many in personal archive?

I've written 9 novels, I think, but I've only published 2 (3rd with editor now). I intend to publish 4 more of the ones written for sure. I have 2 more partially written novels. I don't know how many short stories I've written. Not nearly as many as TxRad or Ogg, or some of the other veterans of this site.

5) What did you think about 50 Shades of Grey and its influence on the erotica literature genre?

I think that this series has increased book sales for me. It has also increased returns. I think that is because 50 Shades is about the mildest/tamest degree of erotic fiction out there. I mean, let's face it, much of the writing is the inner dialogue of a recently-deflowered girl. It borders on teen romance, really.

I don't know what the long-term effects will be on erotica, if any. I think mainstream romance has been getting minutely 'racier' every year. And I've heard teenagers talk. They're pretty explicit. So, I expect as adult consumers they will not subscribe to the tamer fiction. Just my guess.

And yes, I did read 50 Shades. I have a lot of opinions on why it resonated with women, as well as how unoriginal and badly written it was. For the sake of this discussion, in relation to erotic content, I hate how it portrays BDSM as some proclivity of the rich and tortured. Like it's nothing more than a by-product of long-standing abuse. So, I don't see any ground gained there.

I sincerely hope that readers do not think all erotica is written as badly as that series.
 
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