Story content warnings

[openthighs_sarah]

I received feedback recently on a story I wrote in the "Anal" category, and the message was something along the lines of, "You really should have put a warning up front that the story contained gay male sex. I found it very disturbing."

I won't describe the "gay male sex" passage because I don't want to disturb anyone else, but it was a very tiny part of the story. It was a little graphic, though, and I can understand why someone who wasn't expecting it might be shocked.

My question is just this: Do any of you feel that you have an obligation to warn the reader up front about elements of the story that aren't clearly implied by the story category? I don't like the idea myself, and I've always just figured that if someone doesn't like something, they'll skip that passage (or the whole story) and move on to something else. Everything won't appeal to every reader. But this person seemed to suggest that I had misled him, and by extension every other reader, by not clearly advertising the story's "disturbing" aspects.

Mostly, I guess I just didn't think it was disturbing myself -- it made me hot. (Huh? What readers?)

Any thoughts?

 

[TheEarl]

Dear God, think of the children!

What are they expecting you to do; point out everything that's in the story in an author's note?

Be advised this story includes graphic descriptions of the characters entering a lift. If you are claustrophobic, don't read any further.

If it disturbs you, just skip the passage that you don't like. Idiotic feedback. Personally I would have said a story involving gay male sex would be in the gay male category (unlesss it was just a tiny bit of the story), but that's just me. It's not as though it's going to warp anyone's mind and cause them to commit horrible horrible deeds. Not without a consenting partner anyway.

The Earl

 

[Whispersecret]

Here's my take, mixed up as it is. I warn you, I'm on my soapbox.

I issued a disclaimer on my novella, Hostile Takeover , because non-consent is a touchy issue. I wanted to make it clear that this was a fantasy story and that writing it didn't mean that I condoned rape in real life.

However, I don't think that you should worry about naming every little thing in a story that you think might offend some reader. (Dear reader, there's an incident with a school yard bully in my story, so for those of you who were terrorized as kids on the playground, watch out!)

Good God, that's political correctness again rearing it's loathsome head. The masses need to get their heads out of their own asses and realize that no one is responsible for making themfeel comfortable about everything in their lives. Part of being a grown up is dealing with being offended. I found Hannibal Lechter's cannibalism disturbing, and yet I don't expect Harris to issue warnings on his books.

I don't think you were misleading at all. I think that issuing warnings for anything you think might offend someone is a knee-jerk reaction. If it was me, I'd write back to the reader and tell him that the categories are only guidelines. That stories often have elements of other categories mixed in and the author tries to put the story in the category that best describes it. I'd probably apologize, something along the lines of, "I'm sorry that that scene disturbed you. That wasn't my intent. My character, John Doe did that because..."

 

[BlackSnake]

Oh shit! Everyone seen Will & Grace. The show freaked me out, but then I got use to watching it, because "those gay guys are a hoot!"

 

[MathGirl]

Caveat

Do any of you feel that you have an obligation to warn the reader up front about elements of the story that aren't clearly implied by the story category?

Dear Sarah,
I've found that the "by DurtGurl" at the top is sufficient warning for those who are feint of hart or sticklers for reasonably correct English.

In "Patty and the Teacher - Part 3" there was male-male stuff, but there were so many other things to complain about that nobody seemed to notice.
MG, DG's Secretary

 

[Svenskaflicka]

I think that a warning on top of the story is only necessary if it contains something that you wouldn't normally expect to find in that category. Like, a lesbian/gay male scene in an otherwise hetero story, or a non-consent element in a first time-story...

 

[deliciously_naughty]

I think the person is an oversensitive idiot who is threatened by their own homophobia. Don't give it another thought.

The only I put disclaimers on was a celeb story and a story that was a fantasy I wrote based on a real experience but I felt the need to write a disclaimer out of respect for the other party involved

 

[Guest]

OTS: First, love your writing and various posts.

Ya know, I'm sorry (NOT) but this is an erotic writing site for god's sake (or probably not for god's sake). AND your story was in the anal category. Should the category be divided into anal per gender, and maybe anal w/dildoes, anal w/vegetables. Sheesh!

We're all adults (to varying degrees) and should be able to self-censor, self-combust, self-destruct, what-have-you.

When I find execrable grammar or simply sloppy writing that offends my literary sense I just close the cyber-page. Otherwise I've yet to take offense such that I would write the author. I don't send anyone comments about the above, only praise when due.

My personal suggestion: send them the url for this thread.

Have a good rest of your day, Perdita

 

[Wyatt]

One of my stories is Nonconsent. I had a feedback saying I should have warned agaist the fact it contained anal. I think Nonconsent covers just about everything doesn't it !

The flamer wanted to shove a shotgun up my rectal orifice and pull the trigger....only not in those words

 

[wildsweetone]

The flamer wanted to shove a shotgun up my rectal orifice and pull the trigger....

would it have been loaded?

omg please remind me to never NEVER go reading the threads when i'm in one of these moods!!!!!

can anyone else see a story in that quote or is it just my warped sense of humour kicking in again?

 

[pop_54]

Hmmmmmmmmm

I never put any kind of warning at the start of any of my tales and probably never will, any stupid arsed prudes who read erotica expecting bloody fairy tales deserve to be shocked and offended.

To all idiot feedback senders, and tossers with a weak stomach: If you can't take the heat, don't go into the kitchen!!!!!

Ignore it sarah darling and just keep writing as you feel the need or the urge takes you.

I was tempted to add one of my pops one liners, but that one probably would offend, hehe!!!!!!!!!!

pops...................

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Depending on what it was loaded with, it could either be a Horror story, a gay male story, or a case for the Extreme Section...

 

[DurtGurl]

Depending on what it was loaded with, it could either be a Horror story, a gay male story, or a case for the Extreme Section...

Then again, it could have been a feature article in "Guns & Ammo."
MG

 

[openthighs_sarah]

Thank you all for the replies. My gut reaction was pretty much the same -- "Are you kidding?" -- but I didn't want to just dismiss it out of hand, because it really was something I had never seriously considered before. I don't ever want to be accused of being insensitive to my readers, though.

Perhaps a subtitle would have helped: "Prelude to a Kiss: In Which Vaginas, Mouths and Assholes are Penetrated, and In Which There's One Short Bit with a Man Almost Kind of Sucking Another Man's Cock". And maybe a standard disclaimer, at the top, inspired by TheEarl: This is a lift-free story. (Or would that be taken the wrong way?)

I actually like being shocked in a story. Maybe if I'd written the story better, this fellow would have been overcome with a desire to suck cock. Back to the drawing board, I suppose.

 

[DurtGurl]

Huh?

The flamer wanted to shove a shotgun up my rectal orifice and pull the trigger....only not in those words

Dear Wyatt,
What did he really say?

"Shove a crossbow up your rectal orifice and pull the thingie?"
"Shove a garden rake up your rectal orifice and pull the pud?"
"Shove a ................. Good grief! Forget it. This could take all night.

Sorry for even bringing it up, I guess I don't really need to know.
MG

 

[DurtGurl]

I actually like being shocked in a story.

You may regret having said that. Under separate cover, I'm sending you an autographed copy of DG's latest story, "Me and Mom."
MG

 

[Gabriel_Lee]

Life ...

And, while we are about it, why doesn't Life come with a User Guide and some kind of Warranty or Guarantee ?

GL

 

[openthighs_sarah]

You may regret having said that. Under separate cover, I'm sending you an autographed copy of DG's latest story, "Me and Mom."
MG

Okay. You're right, MG. That... that was...

What the fuck was that?

Thanks, by the way. I'll be in the shower if anyone calls.

 

[Gabriel_Lee]

Originally posted by Gabriel_Lee
And, while we are about it, why doesn't Life come with a User Guide and some kind of Warranty or Guarantee ?

A user guide might help explain the correct and legitimate use of a rectal orifice, as well.

Or would that take all the fun out of it?

 

[MathGirl]

Don't ask me.

A user guide might help explain the correct and legitimate use of a rectal orifice, as well.

Or would that take all the fun out of it?

I sure don't know. Ask Wyatt.
MG

 

[MathGirl]

Okay. You're right, MG. That... that was...
What the fuck was that?
Thanks, by the way. I'll be in the shower if anyone calls.

Dear Sarah,
Do I take that to mean that you liked it?
MG

 

[openthighs_sarah]

Dear Sarah,
Do I take that to mean that you liked it?
MG

What's not to like? The climax was quite explosive...

(off to take another, longer shower)

 

[snooper]

Multiple Categories

This whole thing just points up how useful it would be to have multiple category designation available. Of course, it's too late now with so many stories already on line, but still ...


BTW Hostile Takeover is one of the best stories I ever read on here.

 

[gauchecritic]

resistance is futile

any stupid arsed prudes who read erotica expecting bloody fairy tales deserve to be shocked and offended.

pops...................

Anal? Fairy tales? Hehe.

(ok so it's not pc but it is funny.)

The only warning really required;

May contain nuts

Gauche

 

[MathGirl]

Re: Multiple Categories

Originally posted by snooper Hostile Takeover is one of the best stories I ever read on here.

Oh, dear. "Hoss style" sounds like something to do with quadrapeds of the equine persuasion.
MG