Question - Why 18 year olds?

[SeraphNocturne]

Originally I thought the question would be why the age limit regarding stories on this forum is 18.

Seriously, though, it wouldn't kill us if we reduced it to 16.

Yeah, no. It's eighteen for a reason. I don't think anyone in their right mind wants to read or write about anyone under the age of eighteen... judging by this thread in general, it seems like eighteen might even be a bit too young for majority of authors here.

The reality of it is that there are some really fucking creepy people on the internet, and nobody should be providing them under eighteen content. That's a door that does not need opened here on Literotica, and I guarantee if you play with those rules, you're not going to be around here for very long.

We really need to just kill this thread.

Yeah, it's gotten creepy and highly controversial quickly, and the n-bomb dropped out of nowhere--I'm out, guys.

 

[Euphony]

Originally I thought the question would be why the age limit regarding stories on this forum is 18.

Seriously, though, it wouldn't kill us if we reduced it to 16.

18 is as arbitrary as 16 and even more problematic ages.

18 works as a generally applicable legal definition that doesn't draw the ire of morality groups or at least enough judicial system support (currently) to make the administration of this site more risk than reward.

If the digits offend one's sensibilities, there are PLENTY of other sites that trade and even communally support these types of stories far better than here.

That's why I've never understood the "creativity" gripes. There are other places and they are already favorable to these types of subjects.

Claiming to be "beholden to my art" while simultaneously preferring to wholesale change Lit into another place seems incredibly disingenuous.

People just like the feeling of getting away with stuff. And it ain't "getting away with" on the other sites (which, again, would support, develop, and audience your stuff way freakin more than here.)

 

[JohnSm123]

That's a door that does not need opened here on Literotica, and I guarantee if you play with those rules, you're not going to be around here for very long.

Oh God, suddenly I have a feeling that comment has already gotten me banned. I deleted it, but I'm afraid it's too late and the next time I come here, I'll see the well-known perma-ban message. If that happens, it was nice to meet you.

 

[Voboy]

Oh God, suddenly I have a feeling that comment has already gotten me banned. I deleted it, but I'm afraid it's too late and the next time I come here, I'll see the well-known perma-ban message. If that happens, it was nice to meet you.

No. You're fine.

But the question is asked many, many, many times on the forum, and the most consistent reason Laurel has for rejecting stories is any whisper of sub-18 content. It's a red line for her.

 

[Euphony]

No. You're fine.

But the question is asked many, many, many times on the forum, and the most consistent reason Laurel has for rejecting stories is any whisper of sub-18 content. It's a red line for her.

I'm billing you Vo for my pitchfork resharpening since you have short-circuited its purpose.

 

[AH_Mod]

Everyone, please refrain from quoting posts with racial, etchnic, etc. slurs. It should go without saying to not use them in the first place, but please don't quote them, because it requires an additional layer of scrubbing. Some things I leave up because I think there should be a record of bad behavior, but slurs do not fall into that category.

 

[EmilyMiller]

This thread is a train wreck,

Same as anything about writing actual non-consent becomes one.

We have in the blue corner the free speech advocates - slogan: no “normal” person would have their real-life decisions influenced by my art.

In the red corner people (me included) who wonder why we bother writing if it has so little impact on “normal” people.

I hope that all can agree that:

1. It’s bizarre to think sexual activity begins at 18 - TBH, I was a virgin on my 18th birthday - though not for lack of trying and I may have masturbated at least once before then.
2. Those significantly older than 18 who think it’s justifiable to have sex with people under 18 (or 16 depending on your country) need to get some therapy.
3. Writing has an impact on people, why else do it?
4. Pedophilia is a crime - rape is a crime - writing about either may or may not be, but any author with an ounce of integrity should approach these areas with extreme caution.

Emily

 

[RejectReality]

*Sigh* This thread wasn't about underage. People turned it into that. The question at the beginning was the polar opposite. The question was why the younger half of a May/Dec. story tends to skew so young on Lit.

It wasn't complaining about the underage rule. It wasn't advocating to change it. Nothing of the sort. This didn't have to turn into one of those threads if people hadn't jumped the rails and turned it that way. We get more than our fair share of people raging about the underage rule. Do we really need to turn a thread that has nothing to do with it into one?

 

[Rob_Royale]

This thread is a train wreck,
Emily

Yes. And I'm sorry for that. For those of you who tried valiantly to address my original question, thank you.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

*Sigh* This thread wasn't about underage. People turned it into that. The question at the beginning was the polar opposite. The question was why the younger half of a May/Dec. story tends to skew so young on Lit.

It wasn't complaining about the underage rule. It wasn't advocating to change it. Nothing of the sort. This didn't have to turn into one of those threads if people hadn't jumped the rails and turned it that way. We get more than our fair share of people raging about the underage rule. Do we really need to turn a thread that has nothing to do with it into one?

That is no way to fight the topic derailment! No no, that was such an amateurish attempt from you. Underage is as big as Non-Con when it comes to people bringing their volatile and opinionated views to the thread. You fight fire with an even bigger fire! But what could possibly be bigger than these two inflammatory topics, you ask?

Ahem! In my opinion, these May-December stories do not deserve the red H, no matter how high their ratings get. They are being 5-bombed by the granny-loving incels to an average of 4.76 thus making our ratings in other categories appear smaller. Laurel should remove voting rights from all the anonymous readers unless they fill out a questionnaire "Why do you love grannies, you dirty incel?"
The other solution is to make their red H orange, because it can't be that the red H is worth the same in lesser categories and in LW where readers are far more intelligent unless they belong to the BTB scum who 1-bomb stories and the sweeps don't catch all of that and then LW stories get lower ratings even if they are so awesome.

 

[MediocreAuthor]

*AHEM*
Back on topic....

Okay, I have written 2 stories with 18 year olds, and I chose that age for certain reasons.

In Test Subjects, Kelly is an 18 year old virgin in order to highlight her complete inexperience, and to increase the drama created by the scenario that she finds herself within (the least sexually mature woman possible thrown into an incredibly sexual scenario )

In my Women's World series, Blake is 18 specifically because I created an alternate universe where (among other things) high school began at 18 and ended at 21. I wanted to recreate the drama of high school sex-scandals, without dipping into the illegal and upsetting area of underage erotica.

Case in point, while I have no particular interest in 18 year olds personally, sometimes I write pandering trash (like Test Subjects, lol) and I know that some people DO have a particular thing for them, so I include it. It doesn't bother me, so why not?

 

[madelinemasoch]

I really enjoy May/December stories. But it seems like 90% of them feature an 18 or 19 year old kid. What is the attraction to a character that young as a writer? They have nearly no life experiences. Nothing to make them attractive or interesting beyond the physical.

Now, admittedly I didn't come into my own as a young man until I was 22. That's when women began noticing me sexually. I lost my virginity at 22. So it's possible I'm just seeing myself at that age and seeing the young man as I was. Pretty likely in fact.

Also, I'm a non-conformist by nature. If something is commonly done, it's something I usually avoid and generally disdain. So my attitude could just be that.

But my question remains. What about that wet behind the ears kid is a draw to you as a writer? Wouldn't a 26 year old with a degree and a job or military service be more likely to attract that MILF next door?

Because there's zero appeal to reading about 50 year old geezers. Also because I'm 22 years old myself. I don't like old people sexually.

You'd be surprised the erotic darkness that exists in college-aged people, if I can leave it at that.

 

[ElectricBlue]

You'd be surprised the erotic darkness that exists in college-aged people, if I can leave it at that.
there's zero appeal to reading about 50 year old geezers.

I doubt it. Every new generation thinks they're the first with whatever, but they're not. You've still got a lot of catching up to do.

And just so you know your place in the AH demographic:

Emily's AH Age Survey

I bet you didn't expect that.

You're somewhat un-representative, but if you stick around, you might pick up a thing or two .

 

[Bramblethorn]

Because there's zero appeal to reading about 50 year old geezers. Also because I'm 22 years old myself. I don't like old people sexually.

You'd be surprised the erotic darkness that exists in college-aged people, if I can leave it at that.

Why would we be surprised? We were all that age once and many of us still remember it.

 

[onehitwanda]

You're somewhat un-representative, but if you stick around, you might pick up a thing or two .

Like an appreciation of hubris perhaps.

 

[onehitwanda]

There is one girl whose age I'm uncertain of, so to err on the side of caution, perhaps the age limit should be 18, the squat rack should be removed, and a dress code should be enforced; those cycling shorts should be banned!

Why punish her? The correct reaction is for those of us who are older is to respect her person and not treat her like a sex object. There's no rule forcing you to stare at her.

 

[onehitwanda]

Your sense of humor exhibits a peculiar blindness when it carries an agenda. Unfortunately, I possess this supernatural power to deeply influence people, leading them to hold an eternal grudge.

There is no girl involved, and I myself am wearing cycling shorts. But keep trying.

I'm so sorry for misunderstanding your deliberately obtuse phrasing. My mistake.

 

[Rob_Royale]

Unfortunately, I possess this supernatural power to deeply influence people, leading them to hold an eternal grudge.

I'd hardly call being rude and condescending, supernatural. It's just who you are. I appreciate you seeing my point in this thread, but I'm more and more surprised that anyone bothers to banter with you. But then again, Ali won a lot of fights with his rope-a-dope, you use it well here on the forums.

Edit - Wanda, I'm not calling you a dope.

 

[onehitwanda]

Edit - Wanda, I'm not calling you a dope.

But I am one, I keep responding to the baiting

 

[ElectricBlue]

Your sense of humor exhibits a peculiar blindness when it carries an agenda. Unfortunately, I possess this supernatural power to deeply influence people, leading them to hold an eternal grudge.

There is no girl involved, and I myself am wearing cycling shorts. But keep trying.

That is the ugliest image I've been given in a very long while, but I'm still laughing at the rest of it. Tilan, you're proof that God (who I don't believe in for a moment) has a sense of humour!

 

[alohadave]

I wouldn't consider honesty and well-honed humor as being rude. Some of us have this peculiar tendency to be brutally honest, expressing and highlighting obvious things that others lack the courage to address.

Things trolls say. It's funny how people like you hide behind "brutal honesty", when it's just an excuse to act like an asshole.

potentially harboring pedophilic tendencies.

When you want to completely derail a thread, call them a pedophile.

 

[djrip]

"Just as misogyny can stem from 'mommy issues,' misandry can arise from 'daddy issues.'" I strongly recommend everyone to consider therapy. To avoid potential bias, it may be advisable to seek a therapist of the opposite sex.

Think I read a story about that...

 

[SimonDoom]

Apropos of this thread, there's a movie coming out soon, No Hard Feelings, starring 32-year old Jennifer Lawrence who is hired by the parents of a 19 year old boy to "date" him to bring him out his shell before he starts begins his freshman year at Princeton. She immediately sets out to seduce him. It looks pretty funny, based on the trailers. There are obvious comic possibilities with an innocent and inexperienced young man that age.

 

[Voboy]

I posted this elsewhere about dear Tilan.

Your posts tend to be the same, in predictable progression:
1. Make a seemingly innocuous point about something.
2. Be scathing toward those who disagree with you.
3. Insist that your synthetic view of reality is more believable than other peoples' lived experiences.
4. Redefine your terms in an increasingly tautological manner.
5. Dig in vociferously while resorting to ad hominems.
6. Supply a quotation, un-sourced, by somebody else.
7. Airily declare that you never really cared to begin with.

We're at 5 and 6 at the moment, for those keeping score. The un-sourced quotation is up in post #88.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

Is it really that almost all age-gap relationships feature an 18/19yo, or that most where age is mentioned feature someone that age?

I would guess that many such stories mention having left high school a while ago, being in college or having left college, worked a few years after high school, whatever - so don't need to state the precise age because it's obviously compliant with the Lit requirement. Only if it's doubtful - still in high school or recently left - does an author need to mention their exact age.

If someone's really playing up the age-gap angle, going for the largest gap they can makes sense. And if you know that the older person being beyond middle age will deter a bunch of readers, you can only go the other way.

Given it wasn't the OP's intent, I'm not going to attempt to point out the differences between paedophia, hebephila or ehebophilia, beyond noting that calling someone a pedo for potentially thinking it's ok for someone of legal age to consider sex (the age of consent is 16 in the UK and 14-18 across Europe), is pretty pointless. Which is totally different from what people are allowed to write about on Lit.