Choosing a correct category

[Sidney43]

I just read a story entitled "Home" under the romance category which was posted on 6/22/12. About half way through, I realized it was about two young gay males, which is fine if someone wants to write about that , but that is not what I expect to find under the romance category. There are specific categories for gay male and lesbian relationships, so why did the moderators allow this to be posted under romance? If this is going to become accepted procedure, why have gay male and lesbian categories at all? Why not just put everything under erotic couplings, loving wives and romance and require a warning at the start of the story?

Anyone want to offer an opinion on this?

 

[sr71plt]

I guess the best answer is to ask the question of whether or not you realized a gay relationship can be just as much a romance as a straight one and why you think straights own romance.

But looking beyond your blatent blind spot, the website actually agrees with your reasoning, and it normally would have posted the story to the Gay Male category. It was probably just an oversight.

 

[Darkniciad]

You can actually use the "report this" button and alert Laurel to the incorrect category. Odds are that if it's actually GM, it will probably be moved.

Authors set the categories, and it then moves to Laurel to either accept the choice or move it. Keep in mind, she's the one and only person approving all these stories each day, which necessitates a lot of speed reading. Her primary concern is prohibited content and grammar issues. Second-guessing the author on category is peripheral, and in the rush to approve some 60+ stories each night, some are sure to slip through the cracks.

 

[PennLady]

Anyone want to offer an opinion on this?

Opinion: sometimes mistakes are made.

This is a free site, and there will be errors. If the worst thing that happens to you on a given day is that you read a romance about two people who love each other who happen to be the same gender, then you're probably having a pretty good day.

 

[Goey]

Opinion: sometimes mistakes are made.

This is a free site, and there will be errors. If the worst thing that happens to you on a given day is that you read a romance about two people who love each other who happen to be the same gender, then you're probably having a pretty good day.

Made me laugh, so very true.

 

[Sidney43]

Thanks to those who responded and I got the expected from sr71plt who accused me of having a blind spot about gay lovers, which of course I don't. It is obvious to anyone that many gay couples are together because they love each other, hence the push for the formalization of those relationships as gay marriage. Just because I choose not to read about those relationships does not prove I have a blind spot, am a bigot, or prejudiced against gays. I also do not read many Loving Wives stories, non consensual/reluctance, erotic horror, cross dressing, or erotic couplings to name a few categories. In other words I am selective about what I enjoy reading, romance stories being one of those.

I worded my post deliberately just to see what kind of response I would get. I did not put any PC language in just to see if I could get a straight answer to the question.

To those who just explained why this minor issue occurred, thank you.

 

[Cruel2BKind]

I kind of like the catch-all nature of the GM category. It sounds like everyone who writes straight stories ends up getting pigeonholed every day. They have to write their stories carefully to make sure it ends up in the category they want it to. It's like if every piece they wrote, they were trying to get it to fit into a contest.

As long as I write GM, I don't have to worry about that.

 

[elfin_odalisque]

Opinion: sometimes mistakes are made.

This is a free site, and there will be errors. If the worst thing that happens to you on a given day is that you read a romance about two people who love each other who happen to be the same gender, then you're probably having a pretty good day.

Perfect!!

I have a problem with all these tags and categories. If you buy or download an erotic novel it may well cover several lit categories with some gay, lesbian, interracial and light BDSM. If you want to read erotica, shouldn't you have a broader mind than most? sr makes a fundamental point.

 

[sr71plt]

Thanks to those who responded and I got the expected from sr71plt who accused me of having a blind spot about gay lovers, which of course I don't. It is obvious to anyone that many gay couples are together because they love each other, hence the push for the formalization of those relationships as gay marriage. Just because I choose not to read about those relationships does not prove I have a blind spot, am a bigot, or prejudiced against gays. I also do not read many Loving Wives stories, non consensual/reluctance, erotic horror, cross dressing, or erotic couplings to name a few categories. In other words I am selective about what I enjoy reading, romance stories being one of those.

I worded my post deliberately just to see what kind of response I would get. I did not put any PC language in just to see if I could get a straight answer to the question.

To those who just explained why this minor issue occurred, thank you.

So you worded your query purposely to insult gays--excluding them ipso facto from romance? Interesting. It does mean you're a bigot, though.

I don't feel at all bad about having felt insulted when I read your post then--knowing that you wrote it with the insult in mind.

And having the been the first one to have responded that it was probably an oversight in categorizing, you're welcome.

 

[sr71plt]

I kind of like the catch-all nature of the GM category. It sounds like everyone who writes straight stories ends up getting pigeonholed every day. They have to write their stories carefully to make sure it ends up in the category they want it to. It's like if every piece they wrote, they were trying to get it to fit into a contest.

As long as I write GM, I don't have to worry about that.

Well, yes. I think there should be subcategories in gay like there are for straight (plus a couple of bi categories), not that the material should be combined under categories.

 

[lovecraft68]

I don't think there is anything insulting about the OP's question. Yes two men and two women can certainly be involved in a romance. If this were a regular work of fiction and the homosexuality was just a plot device it would be fine.

But here where the erotica holds sway, there are many who choose not too read "gay sex".

When choosing a category for a story that has more than one "option" you go with what holds sway "kink" wise.

A gay romance would be more than welcome in gay male. However M/M sex may not be welcomed over in the more "vanilla" romance category.

The smart money is it will do well in GM, but risk trolling in Romance.

Problem here is people get defensive for no reason.

Let's switch it up to incest. I recently wrote a story where a son was in love with his mother. It was beyond a stroke "mom's hot, why not" the son had a real love for his mother.

So tell me, incest or romance? Incest of course! Romance would be accepted anywhere, but your "kink" needs to be paramount in your choice.

Even my V-day entry. It was a love story, but between a woman i her 40's and a kid in his early 20's. I put it in mature rather than romance and they loved it, because it appealed to their kink.

Where else but GM would a M/M romance get a better response? It's not like its being banished there, it's better off there.

 

[PennLady]

Perfect!!

I have a problem with all these tags and categories. If you buy or download an erotic novel it may well cover several lit categories with some gay, lesbian, interracial and light BDSM. If you want to read erotica, shouldn't you have a broader mind than most? sr makes a fundamental point.

An erotic novel that you get from Amazon may cross those categories and it may not. However, the book description will tell you that. And the description is there so that people can determine whether they want to read it or not. And I know it was discussed on another thread, but I really don't see how those tags are any different from a summary or description, when the point of it all is to let potential readers know what's in the content.

I like to read erotica, but I have my preferences as well. I like to read romance and even above that, I want the participants to be on equal footing, and to want what's going on and at least to care about each other. I do not care to read non-con or BDSM or Loving Wives or transsexuals, etc. I don't think this makes me any less broad-minded than anyone else. I just know what I prefer and what I have time for, and it's not to say that from time to time I might not seek out something different.

 

[sr71plt]

I don't think there is anything insulting about the OP's question. Yes two men and two women can certainly be involved in a romance. If this were a regular work of fiction and the homosexuality was just a plot device it would be fine.

But here where the erotica holds sway, there are many who choose not too read "gay sex".

And there are many here who choose not to read "straight sex." So what? One automatically gets more concern than the other? Didn't get more than two paragraphs into it before revealing your blind spots, did you?

I'm not at all surprised you didn't see anything insulting about the OP's question (even though the OP poster subsequently said the OP had been carefully worded to be insulting).

 

[lovecraft68]

Still not seeing the issue here Pilot. Nor do I see a blind spot. Sure there are plenty of people here who don't like "straight" sex.

So I imagine they read in GM or lesbian and maybe group because you can find some bi-sexual action there. It's also another reason a BI category would be great.

But let's reverse the premise. Now it's in GM, but there is a lot of straight sex for some reason, would not the GN audience be upset that they are being "subjected" to something they obviously don't like?

Of course they would.

Things work both ways, but it only appears as if one side continues to get defensive and try to find perceived slights in everything they read.

I considered you smarter than that. Have you been drinking Safe Bet's kool aid lately?

 

[sr71plt]

Of course those with the blind spot won't be capable (or willing) to see the blind spot.

 

[lovecraft68]

Of course those with the blind spot won't be capable (or willing) to see the blind spot.

and those with persecution/martyr complexes will have an equally large blind spot.

 

[sr71plt]

and those with persecution/martyr complexes will have an equally large blind spot.

Oh, I don't feel persecuted or martyred by this. I'm bi. I can see the bullshit on both ends of this. The blind spot (for both of you) starts with the natural assumption that a romance category belongs to straights. There's nothing ipso facto connected to romance that makes it naturally gender specific.

This thread is particularly amusing in the OP posters admitting that it was worded to provoke and then punning by saying it was a "straight answer to the question" that was being sought. (I'll remind again that I did give a "straight" answer to the question and was the first to do so.)

 

[podga]

Well, from my perspective, why am I expected to open up every single Gay Male story and check the tags (or search through tags, some of which are not very descriptive) if one night I feel like reading BDSM and the next Erotic Couplings, yet those wanting to read about 'straight' sex have easy access to the main categories? So that someone doesn't get their poor sensibilities offended by the fact that sex might happen between two members of the same sex?

So yes, I consider the opening question (and its intent) both insulting and prejudiced and I consider the characterization of anything other than hetero sex or relationships as "kink" as also insulting and prejudiced.

 

[sr71plt]

Well, from my perspective, why am I expected to open up every single Gay Male story and check the tags (or search through tags, some of which are not very descriptive) if one night I feel like reading BDSM and the next Erotic Couplings,

Very good point, I think. Those looking for a straight read already have a level of categorization that GM and lesbian don't. So, maybe they don't have the best case to complain.

 

[lazyhobo]

I take your post....

Oh, I don't feel persecuted or martyred by this. I'm bi. I can see the bullshit on both ends of this. The blind spot (for both of you) starts with the natural assumption that a romance category belongs to straights. There's nothing ipso facto connected to romance that makes it naturally gender specific.

And I Raise you one post....

I don't think there is anything insulting about the OP's question.
A gay romance would be more than welcome in gay male. However M/M sex may not be welcomed over in the more "vanilla" romance category.

Romance is less of a category and more of a "genre". The romance you generally find in categories is more of a "vanilla" romance, as lovecraft mentioned. Vanilla is more of a category, as its depicting straight romance, STRAIGHT sex, beteween man and women, with no (or minimal) kinks.

We compare that all categories have the potential for Romance, the genre, then their wouldnt be much of a point for the romance category, because all kink related stories Should be posted in their appropriate kink. So, all thats left, is the kinkless, Vanilla Romance, which is mostly known as "Romance".

That is why we assume that the Romance category is MxF, while all Gay / Bi types should go in their respective sections.

Final thought : All categories have the potential for any genre, including romance.
If possible, any story should be placed in the appropriate Category, although mistakes will be made.

A story can be countable in multiple categories, (e.g. Twin brothers get into a BDSM relationship with eachother) Its gay, its Bdsm, and its incest. Thus, three seperate categories, and its up to the author / the person that checks to decide which it should go in. Its not unusual for stories that while being one Cat, appear in another. Hence why you'll constantly find stories in the "wrong" section, on your side. Best to report it to them, see what they do about the category.

 

[sr71plt]

Romance is less of a category and more of a "genre". The romance you generally find in categories is more of a "vanilla" romance, as lovecraft mentioned. Vanilla is more of a category, as its depicting straight romance, STRAIGHT sex, beteween man and women, with no (or minimal) kinks.

Wrong. There is a GM Romance category/genre (no matter how you want to cut it) in the greater literary world. You are just operating from a limited, prejudiced perspective. Romance isn't gender specific. And M/M for F/F Romance can be just as vanilla as M/F Romance. Again you are just being prejudice.

And again, there's a broad breakdown of straight stories in categories here that isn't here in GM or lesbian (and there is no bi category at all). The OP is moaning about what all of the straight categories aren't given greater refinement. I'm simply saying that he should stand at the end of the line if there's going to be such groaning here.

 

[lazyhobo]

I didnt say romance was gender specific, I said Vanilla was Normal, Straight sex with no kinks.

"Adjective:
Having no special or extra features; ordinary: "vanilla sex"."

And that, if we seperate all stories via kinks, then the only stories left are the kinkless ones, which would only be able to go to romance, which thus would make them vanilla.

 

[sr71plt]

I didnt say romance was gender specific, I said Vanilla was Normal, Straight sex with no kinks.

"Adjective:
Having no special or extra features; ordinary: "vanilla sex"."

Which is just as possible with an M/M or F/F story as an M/F story. You are being blindly prejudice.

 

[lazyhobo]

Which is just as possible with an M/M or F/F story as an M/F story. You are being blindly prejudice.

The fact that Vanilla and Gay / Lesbian / Bi categories are always seperated shows that to most people "MM / FF" romances are not Vanilla, I havent once said anything against MM / FF, all i've said is that Vanilla is Straight Romance with no kinks. Gay lesbian and bi to "most" are kinks, thus Vanilla does not include any kinks.

Im not saying gay / lesbian Cant have romance, im saying they're not Vanilla, and to people, say like our Poster here, they go to romance for Vanilla. The fact that these complaints are made shows that they dont want to see anything other than Vanilla.

And saying "gay" and / or "lesbian" relationships isnt "ordinary", is like saying an overweight person is fat, or a short person is short. Im not saying anything with Offense intended or prejudice, Im just saying it as it is "To alot of people". Remember, until just recently, Gay / Lesbian WAS Not ordinary, just because most people have accepted it as allowed, doesnt mean everyone thinks of it as ordinary, and thus why the Gay / Lesbian was ADDED as its own category.

 

[sr71plt]

False premise. Point out a "Vanilla" category and let's see if it's separated. Nope, there is no such category. To the extent there is here, it would be the Non-Erotic category. You can write a non-erotic M/M or F/F story here and put it in the Non-Erotic category. There just would be no graphic sex in it. I'm sure I can find such stories in this category (in fact I'm pretty sure I've done that in more than one account, covering both M/M and F/F). Or I could do it again now and show you it can be done.

Vanilla sex just means with no kink involved, and that's not sexual preference specific. To believe it is is just being naturally prejudice.

Just your prejudice playing with you.

The thread point is that readers here really shouldn't expect to have further refinements in the straight genres here if any are going to be made before even the refinements the straight readers already have are provided for the gay and bi readers.