Incest story: ethics?

[jimmyjoyce]

I suppose this question is to do with the possible limits of permissible fantasy, if any.

I'm seriously considering writing and posting a story about incest. However, even though I'm currently excited by the topic, I have some doubts about the ethics of writing incest fantasies. I've never experienced incest myself - or even been attracted to it in real life - so I won't be writing from experience. I also know that people who have experienced incest are often scarred by it. I therefore have to decide if it's OK to go ahead and post a story which is solely intended to provoke sexual excitement, at the possible risk of upsetting some people who actually know incest at first hand. That is, I have to ask myself if it's legitimate to play with this topic.

For what it's worth, the story will be about consensual sex and all the characters will certainly be over 18. The central movers will be a pair of sisters and a daughter. They - mother, aunt and sister - will seduce the mother's inexperienced son and introduce him to all kinds of kinky perversions. (You see the kind of dirty fantasy this is likely to be?) I think I'm probably most interested in exploring the - to me - exciting idea of female sexual 'transgression' on one hand (e.g. mother-the-nurturer turning into mother-the-sex-beast) and a complex of male shame and lust on the other.

The story's already mapped out in my mind, and I probably will write it, but I still have doubts about posting it. I don't promise to take any advice given here (I recognize that it's ultimately my decision whether to post or not and nobody else can be responsible), but I'd be very grateful for any opinions on what, I think, is rather a complicated issue.

- jimmyjoyce

 

[OhMissScarlett]

I suppose this question is to do with the possible limits of permissible fantasy, if any.

I'm seriously considering writing and posting a story about incest. However, even though I'm currently excited by the topic, I have some doubts about the ethics of writing incest fantasies. I've never experienced incest myself - or even been attracted to it in real life - so I won't be writing from experience. I also know that people who have experienced incest are often scarred by it. I therefore have to decide if it's OK to go ahead and post a story which is solely intended to provoke sexual excitement, at the possible risk of upsetting some people who actually know incest at first hand. That is, I have to ask myself if it's legitimate to play with this topic.

For what it's worth, the story will be about consensual sex and all the characters will certainly be over 18. The central movers will be a pair of sisters and a daughter. They - mother, aunt and sister - will seduce the mother's inexperienced son and introduce him to all kinds of kinky perversions. (You see the kind of dirty fantasy this is likely to be?) I think I'm probably most interested in exploring the - to me - exciting idea of female sexual 'transgression' on one hand (e.g. mother-the-nurturer turning into mother-the-sex-beast) and a complex of male shame and lust on the other.

The story's already mapped out in my mind, and I probably will write it, but I still have doubts about posting it. I don't promise to take any advice given here (I recognize that it's ultimately my decision whether to post or not and nobody else can be responsible), but I'd be very grateful for any opinions on what, I think, is rather a complicated issue.

- jimmyjoyce

Write what you like and don't worry about what other people think. If someone has a problem with the subject matter, they shouldn't be reading in the category, end of story. Truthfully, I've always had good experiences posting in the incest category. Readers tend to vote and comment a lot more than in some categories here on Lit.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I don't write incest because it has absolutely no appeal to me, even as fantasy, but I can say that for most of the people who write incest, it's not a complicated moral issue at all. Most of the incest stories that appear on Lit are total bullshit and have nothing to do with reality at all, so no one thinks twice about them. Usually they're just normal fuck stories with the fact mentioned that it's a parent and child or siblings having the sex. They never portray the actual horror of incest or deal with the consequences.

We've had a lot of discussions here about why incest is such a popular category, and it seems that everyone wants to see someone else having incest, but no one wants to think of themselves doing it, so go figure.

If you're wrestling with your own moral qualms about writing an incest story, there's not much I can tell you, but chances are, no one here is going to think less of you for writing one.

--Zoot

 

[oggbashan]

...

If you're wrestling with your own moral qualms about writing an incest story, there's not much I can tell you, but chances are, no one here is going to think less of you for writing one.

--Zoot

Except yourself.

If your moral qualms tell you no, then don't write an incest story.

Most incest stories are pure fantasy.

Og

 

[mansome]

Write what you like and don't worry about what other people think. If someone has a problem with the subject matter, they shouldn't be reading in the category, end of story. Truthfully, I've always had good experiences posting in the incest category. Readers tend to vote and comment a lot more than in some categories here on Lit.

Easy...

write what you want...

just don't screw your mom....

 

[Stella_Omega]

Sexual fantasies are exempt from ethics, for the most part.

Sharing them-- might be an ethics issue, if you feel so inclined.

 

[romantic_always]

I don't think sexual fantasies are exempt from ethics by any means, but I also don't think you should limit yourself due to fear of upsetting others. As someone who has been severely scarred by this topic, I see neither the appeal nor reason for such a story.
That being said, I don't read them and never will. I also don't read about homosexual encounters, because I'm not gay, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be written.
Freedom of speech is a beautiful thing. Write what you want.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Freedom of speech is a beautiful thing. Write what you want.

Amen.

 

[amicus]

I watched a program on television several weeks/months ago that added a dimension to my thoughts on incest, perhaps it might be beneficial.

Apparently, according to this study, with dozens of interviews, there are thousands upon thousands of incestial marriages/relations around the world, because the two people fell in love and stayed that way.

Most were childless relationships as those involved realized the possible danger of close relationship procreation and took steps to prevent it.

There is, I think, always an added excitement to writing and reading stories that dabble in 'taboo' subjects, peverse beings that we are, and I think there was some good advice offered on this thread.

Good luck!

amicus

 

[Jack_Samuel]

I understand the hesitation but miss scarlett brought up a good point. If someone has been scarred by an incest experience im sure they won't be reading in that category.

Make a note that its pure fiction and let your imagination go free.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

I understand the hesitation but miss scarlett brought up a good point. If someone has been scarred by an incest experience im sure they won't be reading in that category.

Well... actually... that's not ENTIRELY true. Look at Loving Wives, where scorned men everywhere like to rail against their lost women like someone unable to resist the sore spot where the tooth used to be...

There are SOME incest readers who might show up and say "What a horrible person you are!" But you have to remember... what they say says more about them and their views than it does about you or your story.

 

[gauchecritic]

Most incest stories here are about consentual relationships, for the very same reason that although there is a non-consent category there isn't a rape category.

As for people being offended because of bad experience then that's their experience, not yours. I'm pretty sure that, by whatever means, there are many people that, although having been the victim of rape, do actually have a fulfilling sex life afterwards.

Would writing a story that includes sex be offensive to a rape victim?

Your moral dilemma, I think, lies in the coercion rather than the taboo.

 

[AvoidingRealWork]

I don't write incest because it has absolutely no appeal to me, even as fantasy, but I can say that for most of the people who write incest, it's not a complicated moral issue at all. Most of the incest stories that appear on Lit are total bullshit and have nothing to do with reality at all, so no one thinks twice about them. Usually they're just normal fuck stories with the fact mentioned that it's a parent and child or siblings having the sex. They never portray the actual horror of incest or deal with the consequences.

I know of one author, Nick Scipio, who at least scratches the surface of dealing with the consequences. I would consider him my favorite erotic author of all time, except the mother/son stuff is really, really icky to me.

It's a shame, because I've never read such marvelous characterizations in any other erotic fiction anywhere, ever.

 

[DeeZire]

I think you should add a religious angle to your incest story. Incest in the name of God is much more interesting than your average run-of-the-mill trailer park incest. However, trailer park incest has the added appeal of clothes-ripping catfights. Then there's your upscale incest, with inheritances at stake, and your hippie incest, which isn't really incest at all, (at least in a hippie's mind) and there's your camping vacation incest...

Oh dear. I'm afraid I'm going to have to excuse myself for a few minutes. (Damn! Where's that box of kleenex?)

 

[jimmyjoyce]

I want to thank everybody who replied to this. All of the responses have been genuinely interesting, and I'll be mulling them over for some time.

My plan now is to write the story, at least, and then make a final decision on posting. I believe the attraction of writing the story for me is taboo-breaking - that seems to be my main impetus anyway. On balance, I think that's still worth doing, despite - or maybe because of - my reservations over the incest theme.

In a way, posting the story would also break a taboo, and that's probably the main attraction. (That throws up all sorts of issues of why we write and publish pornography in the first place, of course - but I'll leave those for another time.)

If I post the story, I'll certainly take the advice given above and add a note saying that the story really is fantasy. I suppose, in a way, there's a parallel with writing other kinds of fiction here. If one writes a murder mystery, for instance, one doesn't necessarily condone murder. Murder stories are play with a serious subject as well.

Thank you again for all the replies. I'm grateful.

Regards,

- jimmyjoyce

 

[dr_mabeuse]

If I post the story, I'll certainly take the advice given above and add a note saying that the story really is fantasy. I suppose, in a way, there's a parallel with writing other kinds of fiction here. If one writes a murder mystery, for instance, one doesn't necessarily condone murder. Murder stories are play with a serious subject as well.

The analogy between murder mysteries and incest stories is often brought up here, but it's not really valid.

An incest story focuses on the act of incest in graphic detail. Most mysteries gloss over the act of murder and just use it as an element in a plot about crime and punishment. The act of murder isn't the focus of such stories.

A better analogy would be to compare incest stories with films of surgery, or maybe slasher pics in which the mayhem is presented in loving detail.

 

[epiphany65]

Write the story. Maybe once it's finished you will then change your mind or make a solid decision about whether to post it or delete it. But writing it down may be cathartic, even if no one besides you reads it.

I have known women who have been abused by family members as children. I use the word "abused' intentionally because that's what it is. It is disgusting and violent, not to mention an act of betrayal. But I manage to separate heinous acts such as those from anything consentual involving adults. I (like many others here, I'm sure) have also known women who have been sexually abused by strangers or acquaintences and parters whom they were in a relationship with. That too I find repugnant but it doesn't stop me from writing stories involving (non-related) people having sex. I in no way mean to trivialize abuse or excuse predators, but because it happens doesn't stop me from writing about loving encounters between consenting adults. I'm not saying that this is why should change your mind, but you might want to consider it from this point of view.

 

[sadangel]

Maybe a different perspective?

I'm a survivor of incest/Child Sexual abuse. Several perpetrators over countless years. I do not read nor will I write incest stories. The hurt goes too deep for me. HOWEVER:

IF you were writing the story from a point of view with a child, someone not an adult and non-consensual, I'd have a major problem with it.

You say it's consensual and adults. Then if that is something you want to write, then do so. I do like epiphany's suggestion. Write it whether you publish or not. You may decide you don't want it after all.

It's in the end, up to you to decide what you want to write. In the end, it's up to me to decide what I want to read. I chose not to go to the Incest catagory. That is my choice. I know what is there. I can't deal with it, so I leave it alone. Others won't touch the gay catagory or what have you. That's their choice.

So do what you will and there are some that will read it and some that won't. Just like all the other stories on Lit. *smiles*

 

[sarah_rsl]

The whole concept of incest puzzles me I always though of it as an opportunistic crime with frustrated men fiddling with their children.

It really took me by surprise when I started looking through the net and realised that there was a whole genre of literature and porn associated with it.

It's your story and it reflects on you as a person. I think actually taking the trouble to consider the moral aspects of it will only make it a stronger one.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I know of one author, Nick Scipio, who at least scratches the surface of dealing with the consequences. I would consider him my favorite erotic author of all time, except the mother/son stuff is really, really icky to me.

It's a shame, because I've never read such marvelous characterizations in any other erotic fiction anywhere, ever.

that means you haven't read my work.

(Admittedly, I don't write about nudist camps)

 

[bb_peaks]

It took me a bit to decide whether or not to publish my first incest story and then a while to write a second part to it. I do get more feedback from those two stories than any others. I just kindly tell them that it was written for a friend and was his fantasy and I do not see myself as the mom in the story. I'm merely a person on the outside looking in.

 

[DeeZire]

I'm merely a person on the outside looking in.

So am I. You left a gap in your curtains.

 

[AvoidingRealWork]

that means you haven't read my work.

True dat. I'm very poorly read, you know.

 

[mansome]

That's why I don't write.. people think there's a whole morality issue when dealing with eroticism and incense ...

Also If I did write, I'd promise to be and reference the responsible use of condiments during sex.....

If you don't understand you need to ketchup...

 

[nicegirlreally]

Write it, email it to a friend, then decide. That's what I do, as you well know