Rating system changes?

[dark_aegis]

I just noticed that all of my fics have been suddenly rated as "suitable for all ages", including fics that were set up as NC-17/R. Has the rating system been revamped? From what I've noticed now, the ratings are either "All Ages" or "Adult".

Comments

[calapine]

I'm in the middle of a couple of changes, was planning to finish them both before making a post. But the ratings system has been simplified to All Ages or Adult, so you may have to rerate some fic. Anything with graphic sex or violence should be rated Adult, anything can come under All Ages.

[wendymr]

That does make it a lot simpler - I think you'd got up to about seven or eight different ratings categories? - which is nice. Okay, off to rerate...

(Oh, and while I'm here, I like most of the changes. Some... well, I'm sorry to see a couple of things go, including the ability to comment on or ask questions about news posts. But nice work overall - congrats to the team)

[calapine]

Any questions/comments/suggestions, there's always the admin address, yes.

[dave7]

I have to admit, I'm not entirely comfortable with that - in fact, I'm not comfortable with that at all, actually. There are many stories that don't fall under the category of 'Adult' but still aren't suitable for children, and if we rate every PG-13/M story as 'Adult', then the rating of 'Adult' (which I took to mean R/NC-17) loses its meaning.

[calapine]

There are many stories that don't fall under the category of 'Adult' but still aren't suitable for children...

Such as?

if we rate every PG-13/M story as 'Adult', then the rating of 'Adult' (which I took to mean R/NC-17) loses its meaning.

I'd rate PG-13 as All Ages and M as Adult.

[dave7]

Such as stories that allude to sex or violence or contain sex and violence but aren't graphic.

As an author, it makes it difficult to draw the line. As a reader, I don't mind reading R rated stories, but I don't want to read something that's rated NC-17. If you lump M, R and NC-17 in one umbrella category a rating of 'Adult' loses meaning and it'll be difficult to tell the difference before I've started reading unless the author is courteous enough to say something in their notes.

I'm not suggesting you change the way you manage your site, I'm just letting you know that I'm very uncomfortable with this, and if you can point me towards the 'remove account' function I'll be on my way.

[calapine]

Apologies for being short - was dealing with something else at the same time. No, I was wanting you to clarify your concerns.

Alluding to sex or violence would be suitable for all ages under this system. And the system's not ideal, but it's a great deal clearer than the old one, with many user not knowing whether to rate something PG, PG-13, MA15, and so on. There's always recs, authors you trust and the back button.

[dark_aegis]

Thank you for letting me know :) Great work to you and all the rest of the admin team!