Warning for gay content on... slash comms?
I've realized.... I'm a rather slow person. I follow a handful of comms. All slash. Two comms more than the others. Now, there was a post on a certain comm (I'll not name names because I don't want anyone to get upset; I mean no harm) where a commenter had brought up people who post slash as warnings on a lot of comms (worded of course better than
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Now... I still think things like dubcon, noncon, violence, language can be put under warning, but then again, it doesn't offend me (may to some?) I just wonder.... if people started relabeling the word 'warning' they may start making the other word BE a warning, and it defeats the purpose in a way... maybe if you had both; though of course warning would have to actually be content that will be triggering to individuals (or what you think will be triggering). The other word (maybe "content"?) could be just another way to tell the reader that it has this or that without making it seem like it's a bad thing... Though maybe that defeats the purpose as well...
I may be thinking about it too hard. I do think another word choice is ideal---or at least another word added for comm posts. You bring up a good point that the word “warning” seems to be central issue, here.
Anyway, I have no idea if I made sense at all here! Optimism is a good thing, though; perhaps all we really need to do is have this subject discussed more broadly and then you can see what others feel/think and perhaps there could an outcome, something that’ll actually be used. I mean, I don’t think people who use slash as a warning are doing it harmfully---if they just know that in putting it as a warning it’s making it seem like it’s wrong (abnormal like you said, and more) then I’m sure they’d stop. Eventually most (though of course not all) will do likewise….
Heh, I’m babbling. Ignore me. Sorry if I made no sense. In simpler words, I agree with you.
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Label should never be another word for warning! Good point, hadn't thought that far *nods*
So maybe violence, cursing or hot smexing could be put under 'warning'.
Content could be another word, but the same applies as discussion about warnings. Not giving the whole plot away (like 'character death' might).
I think many slash writers have had people angry at them for writing what they love (slash) and are putting 'warning' as a guard against that @_@ But in a way it is a way of agreeing to the issue that homosexual content may be harmful. Which I totally disagree with.
Preaching to the choir of course, but that is the safest way to preach, ne?! Love should never be labelled as harmful, the way the love is expressed may be harmful, but even that is not always covered in the warning. BDSM can be a very warm and loving experience if executed well (which maybe the best warning: bad BDSM ahead *grin* ^_^). Rape and other violence should always be warned for, in my opinion. But this could also be a very interesting discussion ^_^
Thank you for starting this discussion by the way!
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I'm sure many have! But I do agree with you that in putting a warning it's agreeing that homosexual content is harmful. Not right at all. There's an easier way to mention that your fic has m/m content or even f/f without putting it as a warning. You can make it obvious in your summary perhaps---if you're posting it on a comm or somewhere that isn't just for slash.
And I agree about the BDSM thing. It's one of my kinks ^^ so I feel it shouldn't be warned unless it's obviously one of those more bad---borderline or is noncon/forced kind. Like, for example, the story Dandruff. I love the fic (don't know if you've ever read it) but I'd definitely put that under a warning just because of how the BDSM is handled in it. I think I've actually warned of kinks before... It's hard to figure out whether you should or not. It definitely should be mentioned because some people can't handle it---I may start putting those under "content" tag maybe, and anything like you said about "bad BDSM" under warning. Hm.
Thank you for starting this discussion by the way!
You're welcome! Took awhile to reply to you, for which I apologize. I'm bad at responding quickly :P
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Anyway, I don't mind that you took a long time. Says to me that you read carefully, think about it carefully and then carefully answer, right?
Not the way I'm responding now. @_@ (Urgh I need to go to bed like yesterday)
You got any good BDSM recs? I'm always looking...BDSM when handled well can touch on deep inner workings (and pain, insecurities and trust and letting go issues) that I want to read about. (not that I want to turn this lovely discussion into a reccing spot @_@)
Don't know if I'd dare read that story you're talking about though, if you'd warn against the way they handle it. Good BDSM is really rare I believe.
Oh well, never mind. Clearly this is proof why your way of responding is much better ^_^
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Anyway, here's a few I recall that may be the kind of BDSM that you're looking for:
Time Out by Ann Somerville: http://www.logophilos.net/timeout/timeout_1_1.php ---read it last year but remember really liking it. It's a consensual BDSM relationship between two grown men. Has a prequel, too.
Turks Cay by Kirby Crow: http://kirbycrow.com/TurksCay1.pdf ---from what I recall of this (read it forever ago so I'm sketchy on the details) it's kind of smutty. It may be more D/s then BDSM though (I LOVE D/s btw).
Jack Series by Mexta: http://mexta.blogspot.com/2009/01/fic-index-jack-accepts.html ---this one is primarily D/s but I'm pretty sure the series as a whole has BDSM elements in it. Again, it's been awhile. But it's pretty good! It's kind of a consensual slavefic, too, I think. Has several short stories in the series as well.
I'm drawing a blank for any others, though I know I've read them. Most of what I read though is slavefics or D/s. Dandruff is pretty... it's good, but not something everyone would be able to read. It's kind of forceful, borderline dubcon (not really just the BDSM but relationship altogether). The "love interest" is an asshole. I do like reading about assholes though ^^ which is why the story doesn't bother me.
I agree though that it's rare in finding good BDSM. Most of them are very noncon in either the relationship or the BDSM aspect. I'm unsure if the ones I've recced are technically "good". Hope you like them, though!
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I've read Time Out and liked it actually! So thanks for that.
The other two I've looked at but are not really my thing.
But thank you for the recc's and the discussion. I've really enjoyed trading views with you.
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Falls Chance Ranch: http://fallschanceranch.blogspot.com/2009/12/chapter-1.html
They're all grown men, too ^^ and cowboys! Love stories taken place on ranches/farms :)
And you're welcome. I've enjoyed trading views with you too. You brought up some great points.
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I hope it'll be continued...
(Sorry if I was snooping around you LJ! :-P)
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I love it too; especially the setting and the characters. Though I've yet to finish the third book, I do check in on the fourth every so often to see if it's coming along. So far it hasn't :/ but I'm sure it will eventually considering they wrote three LONG books already :)
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Now I have something to read to last me for quite some time ^_^
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