Query: re warnings
Out of curiosity, what do the pro warning types assume when you see a fic without warnings.
I mean I don't have a standard template header, I do tend to put all the same information into each of my headers but I don't have a text file with all of it laid out so often it doesn't get presented in the same manner and skip categories that don't apply to specific fics.
And I often (in fact, make that almost always) write fics that don't need warnings at all. And I don't mean gray areas, but I mean fics that truly don't need warnings. So I don't put them on the headers. Some days I don't even have the tag because I don't need it. (my most recent fic used "Warnings: None?" mostly because the whole debate was still raging strong so I remembered).
So what do you when you have a header full of information. Title, rating, summary, author's notes. But no "warnings" category. Do you assume?
I don't want to actually get on anyone's case. I'm genuinely curious if you've let some perfectly light and fluffy fic slip by because that specific category wasn't there.
It's a two way street I guess. Do you go in assuming the story doesn't need it, or assuming the author is trying to trick you into something?
ETA since I've been asking everyone in the comments, I'll post it here:
How would you feel about slightly more generic warnings that tell you to maybe check the comments first. Like warning: Mature themes. This way it doesn't give away more than a movie trailer or a book jacket, but let's you know something is there to look for?
caveat: If you ran into a nice set of headers (without the warnings entry) and a very good summary, one that implied some slightly less happy things. How would you react?
ETA3:Gah! Metafandomed! I uh... have a busy day but I'll see what I can do about the responses!
I mean I don't have a standard template header, I do tend to put all the same information into each of my headers but I don't have a text file with all of it laid out so often it doesn't get presented in the same manner and skip categories that don't apply to specific fics.
And I often (in fact, make that almost always) write fics that don't need warnings at all. And I don't mean gray areas, but I mean fics that truly don't need warnings. So I don't put them on the headers. Some days I don't even have the tag because I don't need it. (my most recent fic used "Warnings: None?" mostly because the whole debate was still raging strong so I remembered).
So what do you when you have a header full of information. Title, rating, summary, author's notes. But no "warnings" category. Do you assume?
I don't want to actually get on anyone's case. I'm genuinely curious if you've let some perfectly light and fluffy fic slip by because that specific category wasn't there.
It's a two way street I guess. Do you go in assuming the story doesn't need it, or assuming the author is trying to trick you into something?
ETA since I've been asking everyone in the comments, I'll post it here:
How would you feel about slightly more generic warnings that tell you to maybe check the comments first. Like warning: Mature themes. This way it doesn't give away more than a movie trailer or a book jacket, but let's you know something is there to look for?
caveat: If you ran into a nice set of headers (without the warnings entry) and a very good summary, one that implied some slightly less happy things. How would you react?
ETA3:Gah! Metafandomed! I uh... have a busy day but I'll see what I can do about the responses!