Ratings & Warnings
As there has been some confusion of late on what constitutes a certain rating or warning, I've decided to elaborate and post a reference guide that will be linked to from our info post and log community profile. There are several different kinds of rating systems to use and several different things that require warnings.
For ratings, there's four major systems: Movies, Video Games, Television, and Internet.
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) uses a rating that is usually determined by a panel of movie screeners.
The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) uses their own ratings that are separate from the movie guidelines. As it is fairly new, it is lesser known what the different ratings mean.
With the advent of the V-Chip, TV ratings on programs became important in helping parents block access to programs they deemed unsuitable for their children.
There are two internet rating systems, and they are rather similar in what they offer. Because they are rather difficult to explain like I did for the other rating systems, I will merely post links to the two and let you as community members decide which ones are best if you choose to use them. They are keyword based, and some of the ratings are actually excellent to use for warnings on our logs instead of just ratings.
Like television ratings, there is no 'not yet rated' option for internet ratings.
As far as warnings go, they're pretty self-explanatory, but there seems to have been confusion as to what constitutes an actual warning as opposed to mentioning a reference or some other alluded to situation. Most fanfiction writers use a "standard" set of warnings that most readers from that fandom will recognize... However, crossing between fandoms (such as this RPG does) can sometimes bring about mixed messages and cause people to misunderstand a particular warning.
Most warnings are rather self-explanatory... language, violence, bloodshed, spoilers... etc... Some warnings need a bit more explaining.
Common interpretations for relationship symbols are:
Simply mentioning a situation in passing may require posting that there is a 'reference', but it does not require an actual warning as the situation is not occurring in the log itself. However, this we prefer to leave up to the writer's discretion, as with all warnings and ratings.
I hope this clears up some of the recent confusion and upset. Thanks for reading!
For ratings, there's four major systems: Movies, Video Games, Television, and Internet.
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) uses a rating that is usually determined by a panel of movie screeners.
- G (General Audiences) - A G-rated motion picture contains nothing in theme, language, nudity, sex, violence or other matters that, in the view of the Rating Board, would offend parents whose younger children view the motion picture. The G rating is not a “certificate of approval,” nor does it signify a “children’s” motion picture. Some snippets of language may go beyond polite conversation but they are common everyday expressions. No stronger words are present in G-rated motion pictures. Depictions of violence are minimal. No nudity, sex scenes or drug use are present in the motion picture.
- PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) - A PG-rated motion picture should be investigated by parents before they let their younger children attend. The PG rating indicates, in the view of the Rating Board, that parents may consider some material unsuitable for their children, and parents should make that decision.
The more mature themes in some PG-rated motion pictures may call for parental guidance. There may be some profanity and some depictions of violence or brief nudity. But these elements are not deemed so intense as to require that parents be strongly cautioned beyond the suggestion of parental guidance. There is no drug use content in a PG-rated motion picture.
As this RPG would be something that is not usually screened by parents, this rating will merely be used to emphasize that content may be inappropriate for younger children. - PG-13 (Parents Strong Cautioned) - A PG-13 rating is a sterner warning by the Rating Board to parents to determine whether their children under age 13 should view the motion picture, as some material might not be suited for them. A PG-13 motion picture may go beyond the PG rating in theme, violence, nudity, sensuality, language, adult activities or other elements, but does not reach the restricted R category. The theme of the motion picture by itself will not result in a rating greater than PG-13, although depictions of activities related to a mature theme may result in a restricted rating for the motion picture. Any drug use will initially require at least a PG-13 rating. More than brief nudity will require at least a PG-13 rating, but such nudity in a PG-13 rated motion picture generally will not be sexually oriented. There may be depictions of violence in a PG-13 movie, but generally not both realistic and extreme or persistent violence. A motion picture’s single use of one of the harsher sexually-derived words, though only as an expletive, initially requires at least a PG-13 rating. More than one such expletive requires an R rating, as must even one of those words used in a sexual context. The Rating Board nevertheless may rate such a motion picture PG-13 if, based on a special vote by a two-thirds majority, the Raters feel that most American parents would believe that a PG-13 rating is appropriate because of the context or manner in which the words are used or because the use of those words in the motion picture is inconspicuous.
Again, because of the general lack of parental screening for an online RPG, this is mainly to warn that some material in the log is even less appropriate for children under the age of 13. - R (Restricted) - An R-rated motion picture, in the view of the Rating Board, contains some adult material. An R-rated motion picture may include adult themes, adult activity, hard language, intense or persistent violence, sexually-oriented nudity, drug abuse or other elements, so that parents are counseled to take this rating very seriously. Children under 17 are not allowed to attend R-rated motion pictures unaccompanied by a parent or adult guardian. Parents are strongly urged to find out more about R-rated motion pictures in determining their suitability for their children. Generally, it is not appropriate for parents to bring their young children with them to R-rated motion pictures.
In otherwords, this one's pretty rough. This would be the movie all the kids under 17 would be trying to sneak into if it were a movie instead of an RPG log. - NC-17 - An NC-17 rated motion picture is one that, in the view of the Rating Board, most parents would consider patently too adult for their children 17 and under. No children will be admitted. NC-17 does not mean “obscene” or “pornographic” in the common or legal meaning of those words, and should not be construed as a negative judgment in any sense. The rating simply signals that the content is appropriate only for an adult audience. An NC-17 rating can be based on violence, sex, aberrational behavior, drug abuse or any other element that most parents would consider too strong and therefore off-limits for viewing by their children.
The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) uses their own ratings that are separate from the movie guidelines. As it is fairly new, it is lesser known what the different ratings mean.
- EC (Early Childhood) - Titles rated EC (Early Childhood) have content that may be suitable for ages 3 and older. Contains no material that parents would find inappropriate.
- E (Everyone) - Titles rated E (Everyone) have content that may be suitable for ages 6 and older. Titles in this category may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language.
- E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Titles rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) have content that may be suitable for ages 10 and older. Titles in this category may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive themes.
- T (Teen) - Titles rated T (Teen) have content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language.
- M (Mature) - Titles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language.
- AO (Adults Only) - Titles rated AO (Adults Only) have content that should only be played by persons 18 years and older. Titles in this category may include prolonged scenes of intense violence and/or graphic sexual content and nudity.
With the advent of the V-Chip, TV ratings on programs became important in helping parents block access to programs they deemed unsuitable for their children.
- TV-Y (All Children) - This program is designed to be appropriate for all children. Whether animated or live-action, the themes and elements in this program are specifically designed for a very young audience, including children from ages 2 - 6. This program is not expected to frighten younger children.
- TV-Y7 (Older Children) - This program is designed for children age 7 and above.It may be more appropriate for children who have acquired the developmental skills needed to distinguish between make-believe and reality. Themes and elements in this program may include mild fantasy violence or comedic violence, or may frighten children under the age of 7. Therefore, parents may wish to consider the suitability of this program for their very young children.
Most anime shown during the 4pm to 7pm after school cartoon prime time slot has been 'dubbed down' to this level or TV-Y. - TV-Y7-FV (Older Children - Fantasy Violence) - For those programs where fantasy violence may be more intense or more combative than other programs in this category, such programs will be designated TV-Y7-FV.
Many anime shows run during the late night segments on weekends (approximately 9pm to 10pm) are this rating or the next one (TV-G) after being dubbed. - TV-G (General Audience) - Most parents would find this program suitable for all ages. Although this rating does not signify a program designed specifically for children, most parents may let younger children watch this program unattended. It contains little or no violence, no strong language and little or no sexual dialogue or situations.
- TV-PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) - This program contains material that parents may find unsuitable for younger children. Many parents may want to watch it with their younger children. The theme itself may call for parental guidance and/or the program contains one or more of the following: moderate violence (V), some sexual situations (S), infrequent coarse language (L), or some suggestive dialogue (D).
The additional letters would be added to the rating in a similar way "FV" was added to TV-Y7 (ie: TV-PG-VSLD).
A good portion of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim segment is run at this level or higher.
As with the movie ratings, this would, for our purposes, merely be tagging something as a bit more mature in content, as there would probably be a lack of parental screening for this RPG. - TV-14 (Parents Strongly Cautioned) - This program contains some material that many parents would find unsuitable for children under 14 years of age. Parents are strongly urged to exercise greater care in monitoring this program and are cautioned against letting children under the age of 14 watch unattended. This program contains one or more of the following: intense violence (V), intense sexual situations (S), strong coarse language (L), or intensely suggestive dialogue (D).
Again, most of Adult Swim is considered inappropriate for children under 14.
This would be just something to let us in the RPG know what to expect since, as I've mentioned already, there probably won't be much in the way of parental screening of posts. - TV-MA (Mature Audiences Only) - This program is specifically designed to be viewed by adults and therefore may be unsuitable for children under 17. This program contains one or more of the following: graphic violence (V), explicit sexual activity (S), or crude indecent language (L).
Used in the same way as the previous several ratings for us with additional letters added as necessary.
There are two internet rating systems, and they are rather similar in what they offer. Because they are rather difficult to explain like I did for the other rating systems, I will merely post links to the two and let you as community members decide which ones are best if you choose to use them. They are keyword based, and some of the ratings are actually excellent to use for warnings on our logs instead of just ratings.
Like television ratings, there is no 'not yet rated' option for internet ratings.
As far as warnings go, they're pretty self-explanatory, but there seems to have been confusion as to what constitutes an actual warning as opposed to mentioning a reference or some other alluded to situation. Most fanfiction writers use a "standard" set of warnings that most readers from that fandom will recognize... However, crossing between fandoms (such as this RPG does) can sometimes bring about mixed messages and cause people to misunderstand a particular warning.
Most warnings are rather self-explanatory... language, violence, bloodshed, spoilers... etc... Some warnings need a bit more explaining.
- Shounen-ai - male/male flirting or engaging in non-sexual romantic situations
- Yaoi - male/male sexual content
- Shoujo-ai - female/female flirting or engaging in non-sexual romantic situations
- Yuri - female/female sexual content
- Hentai/H/Ecchi - any sexual content that is considered inappropriate for young audiences
- Slash - used for non-Japanese fandoms, but is also used to warn of homosexual pairings, usually used for male/male, but can also be used for female/female
- Femslash - used for female/female pairings to distinguish itself from 'slash', has similar meaning
- Lemon - also used for sexual content, usually explicit
- Lime - less explicit than lemon
- Citrus - usually used for longer stories to indicate several situations that could be either lemon or lime
- Squick - refers to slash/lemon/lime/citrus, but in a context that may be disagreeable to a reader that is usually open to such things... such as rape, incest, molestation, bondage, torture, etc...
- Chanslash - using 'chan' in a similar context to the Japanese honorific, refers to underage slash, though actual ages may vary due to cultural differences on what's considered the age of consent
Common interpretations for relationship symbols are:
- x - romantic (usually the first character listed is the more dominant character in the relationship, 'top' or 'male', sometimes first character is repeated after second character to indicate a back and forth switching of 'top' and 'bottom')
- + - platonic
- = - equal level romantic (no 'top' or 'bottom' for same gender relations)
- / - used in non-Japanese fandoms to indicate romantic
Simply mentioning a situation in passing may require posting that there is a 'reference', but it does not require an actual warning as the situation is not occurring in the log itself. However, this we prefer to leave up to the writer's discretion, as with all warnings and ratings.
I hope this clears up some of the recent confusion and upset. Thanks for reading!