Birth Control

[Just_John1]

I recently posted a story that included the use of Birth Control. I got some really nasty feedback, not about the story, but about the use of birth control detailed in the story. Was wondering if anyone else had similar responses.

 

[lovetoread]

About birth control or just a nasty review?

I've gotten the mandatory "Your story/poem sucked" ones,but not about BC.

 

[Just_John1]

The obligatory

I think we've all gotten the "your story sucked" but usually they are anonymous. This one told me that any story I put BC into will automatically get a 1. It doesn't bother me, well that's bullshit, it does bother me. I don't mind if people don't like the stories but it seems to me to be a very narrow viewpoint on which to judge a story.

 

[Red Hugh]

Yep, I got some feedback about the use of a condom by some 'help' a couple hired for anal. I was told not to use the word again.

 

[Madame Manga]

Well, screw 'em

If someone is so badly turned off by the mere idea of birth control that he goes on a crusade to purge it from erotica, he can write his OWN damn stories. ;-)

In a *realistic* story, I'd notice the omission of condoms! After all, I'm old enough to know where babies come from. I'll tell you what's a turnoff--worrying about the female character's health! Not to mention, a man who doesn't even think about protecting himself and his partner isn't sexy in the least, IMO. It's one of those things that would nag at the back of my mind and distract me from the point of the story, so I'd expect the author to at least address the problem.

If we're talking about some bit of fantasy stroke stuff, then I don't much care. If she has heaving 40-DD tits and he has a 13'' rock-hard schlong and they're doing it in the middle of a crowded bar three and a half minutes after saying hello, they aren't real people and can't catch anything. ;-) Condoms might well be incongruous in context, but not necessarily.

Of course, the two stories I've posted here so far have no mention of birth control. ;-) One involves an undead male, and the other is fantasy stroke stuff. I left out the condoms on purpose!

MM

 

[Red Hugh]

I accepted the criticism based upon the argument that this was fantasy. However my character was a working woman who was prepared to take it up the arse. That stretched credibility a bit.
My men either fire blanks or the women are pilled up at the very least. For God's sake there if we want these stories to come across as real...
RH

 

[Just_John1]

Thanks for the feedback

I guess the point that I was trying to illustrate in the story was the insecurities of an older man with a younger woman. I thought the birth control thing was another illustration of that. I guess I was just a little disappointed that readers would take such a narrow view but I should also wonder who's living in that ellusive fantasy world. I really appreciate the feedback here. Thanks

http://www.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=62534

 

[susurrus]

To me, the mention of birth control, in a pure fantasy setting or a "realistic" one, to me, just gives the impression that you're talking about *responsible* people. If the writing's good and the sex is good, who gives a damn if they're using birth control?

Yeah, yeah... what about the whole fantasy of casual sex without consequences... That's great, I really have no problem with that, really. The reality, though, as we know, is different.

I think that mentioning such things, even though I don't do so in *all* my stories, just adds a sense of responsibility to the characters. It makes them more "real". (Even though, in reality, there are way too many *IRresponsible* "real" people in the world) I guess it's just the kind of thing *I* would do in a similar situation.

Example: my Stephanie stories. I make a point to mention the guys having to stop what's happening and actually *leave the room* to fetch condoms. For me, a turn off is incestual pregnancy, and I'll tend to back out of a story the first time it's mentioned. I wanted to make sure that it was clear that those characters were responsible people, especially in the light of the activities they were participating in. I even go so far as to mention one character having had a vasectomy!

Fortunately, I haven't had anybody get hot enough under the collar to flame me for mentioning condoms. If having responsible sex turns this person off, screw 'em. And not in the good way.

There are times in these stories to bring up such responsibility, and times to leave it to the imagination. Some folks just don't want to be faced with the real world in an escapist genre like erotica.

As far as the vote threats go: I write this stuff first for myself, and hope like hell somebody else likes it, too. I don't worry about votes. I'd much rather hear directly from the readers what they think...

And know who they are.




http://www.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=29317 http://www.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=32199 http://www.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=35417

 

[Sabledrake]

I wouldn't exactly call him "responsible," but Rob in my Constance stories makes sure to feed his sis a nasty draught to prevent conception ... it'd spoil all his fun!

I wrote a story once in which the couple made the putting-on of the condom a sexy part of the act, her applying it to him with her mouth. Got some good letters about that one.

Never been flamed for including birth control in a story. That does seem an odd thing to take offense at ... one would suppose that someone who thinks birth control is a sin or something wouldn't be reading these kinds of stories anyway. Then again, I take that back ... I know a nice Catholic boy who reads all kinds of smut.

Sabledrake

 

[gauchecritic]

condemning condoms?

I would probably have to say that in the stories I write the aspect of bc is taken care of without mention, neither do I mention std (another use for condoms) as all my characters are disease free naturally.

I can see that making use of condoms can be made to be sexually arousing but having a female describe her considerable efforts at inserting a 'cap' or 'coil'?

As for incestual pregnancy it seems to me that a great deal is made of this subject by the authors themselves, many of the mom/son stories have the son reluctant to 'cum up mum' but the mom is, in lots of cases, only too eager to be made pregnant by their offspring. (Not THE Offspring the band btw)

 

[jerryl50]

Every thing is a target for somebody!

When you set a story <or poem> afloat on the public sea, it's going to encounter some rough waters at some point. The quality of the construction will keep it afloat, or perhaps cause it to sink. In either case, you built the ship, set it afloat, and charted a course based on your own private star to steer by.

If you write at all, the ubiquitous complaints are inevitable. The question you must answer is quite simply is whether you submitted your best work to float on that uneasy sea of opinion. If you did, you did your best, and the Mrs. Grundy's of the world shall simply have to make the best of it. If you did not, on the other hand <and sometimes even if you did>, such a stupid petty criticism of a minor point in a larger work may cause you to rethink how you approach your craft.

Personally, I find the idea of criticizing an erotic story simply because it contains mention of some sort of birth control to be laughable. It is reminiscent George Carlin's old comedy routine about the "Seven Heavy Words," which led to the abusrdity of some people using sentences like, "All right, you motherfuckers, I'm going to tinkle now."

Criticisms of your writing, the syntax or construction, are hugely helpful <or at least I find them so>. A criticism of a prop I selected is like telling me you are objecting to baseball because it requires a bat!

I'm not sure I've said anything helpful. But were I you, I'd tune in to the critics who may have something to say about my craft or <God forgive me> artistic sense in my work. But if I make a character decide yes or no on a pill or a condom. . .

Best of luck.

bookworm

 

[Just_John1]

Criticism

Jeryl,

You make some very valid points. I expect to get flamed if the images I try to create are pale, or the characters are hollow or the situations they encounter are boring. I fully expect to get flamed for improper syntax, bad spelling, poor grammer. I also am ready to deal with the "you are an asshole" flames. I agree these are the risks of floating our creative boat out on the sea of criticism. I guess part of the fun is to find out whether our craft that we've constructed is worthy of our efforts and has the ability to float. I found, however, that this particular flame was such a surprise based on one line in a total work, that it created the feeling of watching my forecastle swirl off into the darkness as I watch the swirling, white foam frosted, dark green water flow unabated into the torpedo torn hull of my ship. No big deal, but I was interested in whether others had similar experiences.

 

[Barnaby]

Condom Complaint

The version I got said that since this was a fantasy, there should be NO CONDOMS! and I was being voted a "1". Yes, it was a fantasy:MY fantasy! This one happened to be a brief attempt at a more romantic, more realistic type of scene in which, as others have stated, responsible adults attempted to BE responsible adults. It was barely mentioned and was done to achieve a certain effect. Its not really a story, just a scene, a writing exercise if you will. But I think it works.

 

[katiekums]

Funny...two of my stories which are personal fantasies of mine include the male character putting on a condom without being asked.
Imagine that?

Giving you a hard time about mentioning contraception in your story is like giving you a hard time for writing about penetration on a naughty story site.

What an ass.

 

[jerryl50]

Kudos to Katiekums

Somehow, my innocent <yeah, right! > remarks have sparked a bit of intelligent dialogue.

My mother would be SO PLEASED. Luckily, she won't read this site. <I hope>

Anyhow, Katie also raises another point I alluded too; we set our stories adrift on the public ocean, but we steer by our own personal star. Ergo, my question of "What makes 'hot' " becomes at best a subjective exercise of our readers.

To those of you who cross story-type guidelines, as I do, I find this debate wonderfully enlightening. Thanks to all who posted an answer to this thread <especially since I didn't start it>, for giving me new fresh insights, and helping me work out some kinks of some stories in progress.

Love you all,

bookworm

 

[friendami]

Condoms

Whats wrong with condoms, I like them.

 

[BigTexan]

IMHO I don't mind condoms being included or left out of stories, as long as either way is done appropriately.

I DO mind authors lecturing me about condoms during a story. I do NOT mind characters lecturing other characters about condums during a story.

I have only written one story for lit. It hasn't yet been approved. But I don't use condoms or birth control in the story. I may in my next story, or I may not.

The fact that this one single person is dedicated to giving you a 1 for mentioning birth control in your story makes him the poster child for birth control in my book. He needs to grow up and get a real life. Unfortunately you are being forced to suffer for his mother's lack of foresight.

Just my thoughts.

BT

 

[Just_John1]

"The poster child"

Holy shit I found that funny!!! Thanks for the insight Big Tex. I agree with you.