Asking advice about potential title.

[PBAnnie]

Firstly, let me appologise for posting here instead of the Poet's Hangout, but my dilemma could apply to stories as well as poems and this forum seems to get more traction.

I have a poem that's ready for submission that is tentatively called "1-800-SEX-TALK". This title does not appear in the poem itself, and therefore can be changed, but describes the content well. It looks like 1-800-SEX-TALK is a real outfit and I don't feel a need to give them free advertising, and since the poem is not necessarily favorable to the hotline I wouldn't want anyone getting in trouble because I've described them in a negative light.

Should I work on a new title or not worry about it because it's just a title and titles can't be reserved or copyrighted?

 

[MillieDynamite]

Firstly, let me appologise for posting here instead of the Poet's Hangout, but my dilemma could apply to stories as well as poems and this forum seems to get more traction.

I have a poem that's ready for submission that is tentatively called "1-800-SEX-TALK". This title does not appear in the poem itself, and therefore can be changed, but describes the content well. It looks like 1-800-SEX-TALK is a real outfit and I don't feel a need to give them free advertising, and since the poem is not necessarily favorable to the hotline I wouldn't want anyone getting in trouble because I've described them in a negative light.

Should I work on a new title or not worry about it because it's just a title and titles can't be reserved or copyrighted?

1-900-SEX-TALK, there would be a per-minute charge on the phone bill so not as hidden as the 1 800 and to be honest I don't know if the 1 900's are still around. But they used to be a thing. I know this, because my brother told me about the time he shopped for my dad a wife on a 1900 site and the shit storm that followed when Pops found out.

 

[LAHomedog]

I just Googled them and yes, they are real and actively in business. I'd advise against using the title. Two reasons: They own it (probably trademark), and doesn't Lit not allow the use of other domain names in stories?

Maybe a play on it like: 1800- S3X-T4LK, or 1-800-S3X-7ALK.

 

[PBAnnie]

1-900-SEX-TALK, there would be a per-minute charge on the phone bill so not as hidden as the 1 800 and to be honest I don't know if the 1 900's are still around. But they used to be a thing. I know this, because my brother told me about the time he shopped for my dad a wife on a 1900 site and the shit storm that followed when Pops found out.

I'm sure it wasn't funny then, but as an outsider hearing about it later that sounds hilarious. Hopefully, they got things worked out.

 

[PBAnnie]

I just Googled them and yes, they are real and actively in business. I'd advise against using the title. Two reasons: They own it (probably trademark), and doesn't Lit not allow the use of other domain names in stories?

Maybe a play on it like: 1800- S3X-T4LK, or 1-800-S3X-7ALK.

That's good advice, thank you. I think a Leet alternative will work just fine.

 

[KeithD]

Laurel doesn't allow either telephone numbers or URLs, real or not, so, if she catches it, I assume it would be rejected.

 

[PBAnnie]

Laurel doesn't allow either telephone numbers or URLs, real or not, so, if she catches it, I assume it would be rejected.

Good point. Since it's the title I'm guessing it would cause an immediate rejection.

Maybe I can use a title that's a generic description without a phone number format, like "Sex Chat Hotlines," or something similar.

 

[MillieDynamite]

I'm sure it wasn't funny then, but as an outsider hearing about it later that sounds hilarious. Hopefully, they got things worked out.

My dad laughed his ass of when bro related it to me. However, he wasn't laughing at the time. Greg was 10 at the time, and saw the ad on late night tv and wrote the number down. Raising him, with our sister only visiting them. She and he watched some late-night movie on a Friday night, A monster movie I'm sure, and the add came on called for some phone dating service called soulmates.

Greg said he got about eighteen phone numbers of girls wanting to talk to my dad (not to the kid on the line) and he got one woman that connected and started talking dirty to them. They hung up. But it had taken about 40 minutes to the numbers before that happened.

At 7.50 a minute, it came to 300 bucks. Most of them only sent their phone information, a few connected and told them to get off the line. Then there was the other one LOL. Greg didn't understand that the call was 7.50 a minute, he thought it cost 7.50 period. From what they tell me, Pops was more than upset and Greg had to work for free for six months on house choirs and lawn work to pay dad back. Dad never called any of the numbers.

 

[PBAnnie]

That's hillarious, Millie. You've got yourself the framework for a great Lit story right there, assuming you haven't written it already.

 

[PBAnnie]

Thank you all...

Thank you all for your input and advice. "The Sex Chat Hotline" has been submitted and should be available by the end of the week.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Thank you all for your input and advice. "The Sex Chat Hotline" has been submitted and should be available by the end of the week.

Looking forward to reading it.

No, I couldn't write that for here. I wouldn't write it out Greg's approval, and I don't think it would pass muster with a 10 year old and six year old on a phone sex line looking for their father a mate. that has to run afoul of the rules.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Looks like you've found a solution, but another option would be "1800-SEX". Too short to be a real phone number, but gives the same idea.

 

[PBAnnie]

No, I couldn't write that for here. I wouldn't write it out Greg's approval, and I don't think it would pass muster with a 10 year old and six year old on a phone sex line looking for their father a mate. that has to run afoul of the rules.

That story just got ten times funnier, but I see your point. It's definitely out of bounds.

 

[PBAnnie]

Looks like you've found a solution, but another option would be "1800-SEX". Too short to be a real phone number, but gives the same idea.

That would have worked too. The piece hasn't gone live yet so there's still time to change it...

 

[Trionyx]

How about 1-800-SEX-XXXX?

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Laurel doesn't allow either telephone numbers or URLs, real or not, so, if she catches it, I assume it would be rejected.

She will just change it to xxx-xxx-xxxx for US numbers even if you use a 555 number which are reserved for movies and TV to use as they are never real numbers.

My last had a fake phone number in it and she changed it. Then again I have another one with that fake 555 phone number and it's made it through.

 

[Bramblethorn]

How about 1-800-SEX-XXXX?

Are you sure that's not a real number?

She will just change it to xxx-xxx-xxxx for US numbers even if you use a 555 number which are reserved for movies and TV to use as they are never real numbers.

Hardly ever, not never. 555-1212 is often used for directory assistance, and only the 555-01** numbers in non-toll-free area codes are specifically reserved. One recent video game accidentally included a real phone sex number because they mistakenly assumed all 555 numbers were fictional:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/555_(telephone_number)

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Are you sure that's not a real number?



Hardly ever, not never. 555-1212 is often used for directory assistance, and only the 555-01** numbers in non-toll-free area codes are specifically reserved. One recent video game accidentally included a real phone sex number because they mistakenly assumed all 555 numbers were fictional:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/555_(telephone_number)

Good to know. Directory assistance has always been 411 since the three number dial codes were introduced. I have never even use the (ac)-555-1212 number. I guess it's just a relic that still hangs around.

 

[KeithD]

For this instance, perhaps the OP will let us know what Laurel accepted.

 

[PBAnnie]

For this instance, perhaps the OP will let us know what Laurel accepted.

I opted to stick with "The Sex Chat Hotline" to avoid any hassle with using a potentially real phone number.

https://www.literotica.com/p/the-********-hotline

I have no idea if this is what really happens when you call one, but it's what I always imagine really goes on.

 

[MillieDynamite]

I opted to stick with "The Sex Chat Hotline" to avoid any hassle with using a potentially real phone number.

https://www.literotica.com/p/the-********-hotline

I have no idea if this is what really happens when you call one, but it's what I always imagine really goes on.

Nice poem, gave it a five.

 

[Emirus]

How could I not give it a 5? Enjoyed every line and left you a comment.

 

[LilyWaters]

I loved it! Left you a comment.

And for what it's worth, I like the new title even better than your first idea. Something about making it even more generic really works for the poem, I think.

 

[PBAnnie]

Thank you all for the constructive feedback and kind comments. They are all appreciated.