Why is there so much pain in fanfic?

[severewrath]

I have a question that, for some inexplicable reason, I haven't been able to answer.

Why is this so much sheer suffering in Harry Potter fanfiction?

I go through the archives, and there are just so many of them.

Rape is popular.
Child abuse (of various kinds, including rape) is frequent.
Torture is rather more frequent than you'd expect.

Do people hate

Comments

[severewrath]

Personally, I blame it on authors wanting to be "epic."

Child emotional neglect too common? Let's make it EPIC and involve TORTURE!

Sexual uncertainty and confusion too common? Let's make it EPIC and involve RAPE! Oh, wait... rape too common? Let's make it GANG RAPE! Oh, wait, is that too mild because, after all, "Statistically, 9/10 people enjoy gang rape"? Let's make it EPIC and have it be GANG RAPE with TORTURE and maybe SNUFF!

Or, perhaps it's simpler.

My character is REALLY TOUGH because S/HE went through MASSIVE TORTURE and was WENT BACK TO WORK THE FOLLOWING MONDAY!

Yeah, whatever.

The whole hurt/comfort thing isn't something I like either. Partly because so often, it's poorly done, but moreso because the whole premise is disquiting. I see no need to read something either depressing, or something that will inspire an urge to comfort (Or perhaps I don't have one...). If I wanted that sort of thing, there are a lot of people in real life that need help and understanding.

On a side note, both rape and child abuse creep me out, just in general. I'm not creeped out by a lot of things.

Also: I do like your theory. That Green-Eyed Monster? Possible :-) It's essentially: "OK, you can have the guy, but you already have it too good. So I'm going to destroy you to bring you down to my level, and then give you the fictionalized guy I want to fantasize about."

Fun stuff.