The 18 Year Old Rule

[ForeverLaughing]

Hey guys, I'm a new author on here and have a question about the requirement that characters be eighteen or older. Does this apply to all characters, even those who aren't involved in anything sexual? For instance, can I have a character with a sibling under eighteen who has no involvement with the sexual part of the story whatsoever? Also, I'm working on a story where the two main characters (who are eighteen for the sexual parts) meet when they're children. Can I say that they had a childhood crush on each other? I realize that these may be simplistic questions, but I don't want to waste my time submitting a story that's going to be rejected.

Thank you in advance for your answers!

 

[PennLady]

Yes, you can have characters under 18 in a story. They just can't be involved in a sexual situation, which would include observing one or listening in or something like that.

You can make statements -- if you want -- like "She lost her virginity at 15," so long as there's no details given.

You can have them meet as children, and you can have children as characters. I've done it and so have lots of other people; there are any number of stories on here involving parents, single parents, etc.

Good luck.

 

[BuckyDuckman]

It's one of the little rules that seem pretty hard and fast around here.

However, most of the readers seem willing to accept the age limit. While many of us may have had enjoyed a sexual awaken at frowned up ages, lots of other people remained virgins well into adulthood. With a little creative storytelling, I believe most writers should be able to tack on the necessary extra years without losing the soul of their stories. If not, then Lit may not be the place for your story. Good luck with your writing!

 

[Bramblethorn]

Hey guys, I'm a new author on here and have a question about the requirement that characters be eighteen or older. Does this apply to all characters, even those who aren't involved in anything sexual? For instance, can I have a character with a sibling under eighteen who has no involvement with the sexual part of the story whatsoever? Also, I'm working on a story where the two main characters (who are eighteen for the sexual parts) meet when they're children. Can I say that they had a childhood crush on each other? I realize that these may be simplistic questions, but I don't want to waste my time submitting a story that's going to be rejected.

Thank you in advance for your answers!

That should be fine. I have one story that begins with the narrator teaching a primary-school class.

 

[Cmdr_L]

Tangentially related question: does the 18 rule apply to non-human characters?

Aliens in a sci-fi story, for example, which reach adulthood quicker than humans?

 

[Learin]

Tangentially related question: does the 18 rule apply to non-human characters?

Aliens in a sci-fi story, for example, which reach adulthood quicker than humans?

Quick Answer:

Anything the admins deem unacceptable will be removed. Doesn't matter what it is.

 

[Weird Harold]

Tangentially related question: does the 18 rule apply to non-human characters?

Aliens in a sci-fi story, for example, which reach adulthood quicker than humans?

If you stress the age instead of the adulthood, it will be rejected on "if a scene taken out of context is indistinguishable from underage sex, it will be considered underage sex and rejected." That applies to aliens, mythical creatures, role-play between adults, and any other attempt to circumvent the under-eighteen rule.

 

[Cmdr_L]

If you stress the age instead of the adulthood, it will be rejected on "if a scene taken out of context is indistinguishable from underage sex, it will be considered underage sex and rejected." That applies to aliens, mythical creatures, role-play between adults, and any other attempt to circumvent the under-eighteen rule.

My plan was to stress the adulthood and not explicitly detail the age.

 

[Hypoxia]

Tangentially related question: does the 18 rule apply to non-human characters?

Aliens in a sci-fi story, for example, which reach adulthood quicker than humans?

If they *appear* to be underage then sexual activity and thought is out. As Harold said, don't focus on their age. Don't depict them as pre-adult.

One easy fix for nonhumans is to not emphasize Earth years but instead say and show they are mature young adults of their species. A shape-shifting young were-seal (selkie) had better morph into an adult human. A millennia-old faerie who looks like an adolescent human won't pass muster. Aliens with the lifespans of mayflies must be adults when they mate on LIT.

In Bride of Kong I introduced Kong-human hybrids, lab-grown with forced development so they were fertile adults in only a very few years. But I waited until 18 years had passed from their births before depicting sexual activity. Was that necessary? I dunno. But it was prudent, and it worked.

Don't try to skirt the under-18 rule. 'Tis unseemly.

 

[Cmdr_L]

If they *appear* to be underage then sexual activity and thought is out. As Harold said, don't focus on their age. Don't depict them as pre-adult.

One easy fix for nonhumans is to not emphasize Earth years but instead say and show they are mature young adults of their species. A shape-shifting young were-seal (selkie) had better morph into an adult human. A millennia-old faerie who looks like an adolescent human won't pass muster. Aliens with the lifespans of mayflies must be adults when they mate on LIT.

In Bride of Kong I introduced Kong-human hybrids, lab-grown with forced development so they were fertile adults in only a very few years. But I waited until 18 years had passed from their births before depicting sexual activity. Was that necessary? I dunno. But it was prudent, and it worked.

Don't try to skirt the under-18 rule. 'Tis unseemly.

They appear adults. It's a timeline thing within a larger universe, not an excuse to depict pre/adolescents.

The specific individual in question is the equivalent of an 18 year old in terms of physical and mental development.

 

[Serafina1210]

I was glad to discover, when I submitted "Augustina's Confession," that breast-feeding an infant doesn't count as under-age sex. Common sense rules! Presumably if an adult male were simultaneously feeding at the other breast, the story would be rejected.

 

[ForeverLaughing]

Thank you

Thank you for all of your answers! I definitely know how to proceed now.

 

[Handley_Page]

My plan was to stress the adulthood and not explicitly detail the age.

A simple statement at the start of the story:
"All humans in this story are over 18 years old."
or similar.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

It's really too bad that there is always some author that comes here to try and skirt the rules, and I think that's what's going on here. I may be wrong, but it looks as if he/she was trying to get a consensus among the authors about having under age aliens having sex?

If I were to be the one to edit the story in question, I would reject it on the basis. Alien or human, in our world they all have to be over 18 years of age. I would say even if they were tortoise's, which live for 100's of years, they would have to be 18 before they procreated here on Lit.

Just my view, I know, but it's my 2 cents and I'll spend it how I see fit.

 

[Cmdr_L]

It's really too bad that there is always some author that comes here to try and skirt the rules, and I think that's what's going on here. I may be wrong, but it looks as if he/she was trying to get a consensus among the authors about having under age aliens having sex?

If I were to be the one to edit the story in question, I would reject it on the basis. Alien or human, in our world they all have to be over 18 years of age. I would say even if they were tortoise's, which live for 100's of years, they would have to be 18 before they procreated here on Lit.

Just my view, I know, but it's my 2 cents and I'll spend it how I see fit.

Well, it's a good thing you're not editing, because you apparently lack reading comprehension.

They appear adults. It's a timeline thing within a larger universe, not an excuse to depict pre/adolescents.

The specific individual in question is the equivalent of an 18 year old in terms of physical and mental development.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Well, it's a good thing you're not editing, because you apparently lack reading comprehension.

No I comprehended just fine...you're try to skirt the rules. No matter how you couch it, it's skirting the rules."They appear to be adults" could be said about every 16 year old in the world these days. So quit the bullshit.

 

[Cmdr_L]

No I comprehended just fine...you're try to skirt the rules. No matter how you couch it, it's skirting the rules."They appear to be adults" could be said about every 16 year old in the world these days. So quit the bullshit.

No, I'm not. "Fantasy creatures" are exempt from the rules, according to a closer reading of the FAQ. Since ayys don't exist, they're fantasy creatures.

>you're try to skirt the rules

Doesn't bolster your claim to have good reading comprehension when you can't even spell properly.

If you claim to think 16 year olds appear as adults, I think you may be projecting a bit about who's the pedo here.

 

[Handley_Page]

No, I'm not. "Fantasy creatures" are exempt from the rules, according to a closer reading of the FAQ. Since ayys don't exist, they're fantasy creatures.

>you're try to skirt the rules

Doesn't bolster your claim to have good reading comprehension when you can't even spell properly.

If you claim to think 16 year olds appear as adults, I think you may be projecting a bit about who's the pedo here.

I gotta ask this:
Are you some kind of Legal Beagle who tries to find some 'wriggle room' every time ?
'Cos it sure reads/sounds like it.
To my mind, there can and must be absolutely NO doubt that the human/human-shaped character is of legal age.
For the purposes of the Lit, that means over 18, because one can never be absolutely sure that where Lit goes the minimum legal age is 18.

 

[Cmdr_L]

I gotta ask this:
Are you some kind of Legal Beagle who tries to find some 'wriggle room' every time ?
'Cos it sure reads/sounds like it.
To my mind, there can and must be absolutely NO doubt that the human/human-shaped character is of legal age.
For the purposes of the Lit, that means over 18, because one can never be absolutely sure that where Lit goes the minimum legal age is 18.

Yeah, you're definately projecting.

 

[Hypoxia]

How much is that in dog years?

 

[geronimo_appleby]

No, I'm not. "Fantasy creatures" are exempt from the rules, according to a closer reading of the FAQ. Since ayys don't exist, they're fantasy creatures.

>you're try to skirt the rules

Doesn't bolster your claim to have good reading comprehension when you can't even spell properly.

If you claim to think 16 year olds appear as adults, I think you may be projecting a bit about who's the pedo here.

write what you want, submit it, see if it gets through.

to-and-fro here is a waste of time. put it to Laurel and get the question answered by 'the boss'.

 

[Cmdr_L]

write what you want, submit it, see if it gets through.

to-and-fro here is a waste of time. put it to Laurel and get the question answered by 'the boss'.

You're not wrong. Worst thing that could happen is I have to change one paragraph.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

You're not wrong. Worst thing that could happen is I have to change one paragraph.

BOOM!

 

[Hypoxia]

Ygdrasila is one year old. One year somewhere; the multi-solar system is many parsecs away. Ygdrasila is of one of several sexes involved in producing offspring; call it 'her' because 'she' doesn't emit anything resembling sperm. At one year 'she' is a fine mature specimen of 'her' species, with voluptuous polyps and curvy tendrils. Hubba hubba!

'Her' tendrils would be thinner if 'she' was underage. We won't go there.

Ygdrasila joins with 'her' heptoid mates for a kinky procreation session involving certain neo-abstract objects and odd unguents. Their elders would be shocked but youth is for experimentation, right? The doubling-up merely adds spice, along with the almost-toxic substances they ingest. PARTY ON, dudes and dudettes and dudolias and didoramas and...

Are they more exciting than banana slugs?

 

[oggbashan]

Ygdrasila is one year old. One year somewhere; the multi-solar system is many parsecs away. ...

But Ygdrasilia's planetary rotation is 20 years, so in Earth terms she is 20 years old...