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I don't want to make this bigger than it is, but would all of our authors here please be careful to mark their stories at the beginning with the warnings and other descriptors if the story contains rape, incest, molestation or abuse of any kind. Having an 'R' in the beginning is helpful, but it isn't a sufficient enough warning regarding these issues.
We have quite a few readers and writers both who have been the victims and survivors of rape and abuse. For us, it's like walking into a minefield to get into the middle of a story and discover that the hero(ine) or another character has been hurt in such a manner. I'm dealing quite well with own issues, but I know others here who have been disturbed to begin reading a story only to be confronted suddenly by this. I have used these issues myself in my stories, but I try to label them as such, since an R could merely mean more graphic details of sexual encounters or something like that. Thank you. Andrea
Comments
Caution
My understanding is that the CAUTION tag under TG Elements is a good all encompassing indicator that uncomfortable things happen in a story, without giving away anything (which is the normal reason people don't provide all the warning descriptors).
There's a problem
Yes I agree there should be a warning. In bold, and between the title and the text of the story so reader is warned at the beginning.
If there is anything close to being rape in my stories, I put this warning.
There is a single scene consisting of intense violence, while the scene is not gory, it may shake up sensitive readers.
I've only used that warning twice. Once for my Altered Fates- Chess Prodigy and the other time for DHCF Part 10. The CP scene was rape, the later a husband forcing his wife to have sex against her wishes. I'm going to have a similar scene too in Chapter 26.
Neither scene was graphic. I'm never going to write such a scene, if I did, there would be a stronger warning
but
The rape in the story written by any author, could be meant to surprise or shock readers. My Chess Prodigy story was that way. I screened it with several FM authors at the time, who were all frankly surprised(They thought the warning I used was good) by what happened. It was shocking but an important plot element. Requiring the author to label the story as including rape won't work because of it ruining the plot.
Frankly, the few times I read rape scenes in TG fiction at Fictionmania, they came off as horribly gratuitous. The work of Author Lorraine B was the only exception. I don't have an opinion on stories here at BC that contained rape, only because I haven't read one.
Daniel, author of maid, whore, bimbo, and sissy free TG fiction since 2000
What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.- Oscar Levant
Good point too, Danielle.
The authors do have control over their own content, and such a warning at the
beginning of the story is even more obvious and complete. I almost did this
once, to warn that Elegant Gothic Lolita is a for a Street Fashion, and not a
refined form of Pederasty! I just never thought of it, cause I never needed
it. Excellent though.
Sarah
I think it's a good Point, Drea.
The problem is, that in an effort to streamline things around here,
and keep the presses going, I think there are limits to the tags, so
adding even important ones can become problematic.
I'd suggest that if a reader sees a caution tag, they should just
write to the author and ask why they felt it necessary. I'm sure that
most of the Writers here would be able and willing to advise the reader
as to the nature of the rougher content, without ruining the story for
those who would then want to go on and read it.
I shy away from using such themes too graphically for that very reason,
but if anyone has any questions about a story of mine, I'd be more than
happy to try and help in any way I can. Failing that, you could ask one
of the people who made a comment on the story. The names of those who've
been around for a while will be familiar enough to many, and I can't think
of even one who would not take a minute to help with such a question.
Good thought, Andrea.
Hinted at, or overt?
This never even occured to me, honestly, but as anyone who's read Becoming Robin knows, one of the main characters was abused as a child.
It's more overtly hinted at in her counterpart's life in Shadowcraft: Aria Blade but in both cases I try to keep the actual discussion as minimalist as possible. I'm wondering if I should go back and add a tag/Author's Note to chapters where this is discussed though.
In general I don't "do" explicit content anyway, but the other reason I ask is that something of this nature (a character revealing they were hurt) may be about to come up soon, and while it's likewise not going to be anything more than an admittance that it happened years earlier, I don't want to suddenly throw anyone into an uncomfortable situation without warning either. :-)
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triggers
Hmmmm.
I understand the problem. There was a brief period when there were so many stories of a particular type that I dropped a line to Erin asking for a new tag so that I could avoid being triggered. Her response was that this is a place for the authors, so requiring a tag wasn't desirable, and in any event couldn't be enforced.
There's a certain difference, as well; my trigger was/is overt christian religiosity. I can deal with my abuse issues; I have more difficulty with holy rollers. But I think that Erin was right; just as many of the authors spouting stuff that I find objectionable have *no intention at all* of offending (quite the reverse), so some of the authors doing cathartic work around rape and abuse might reasonably object that their work is *anti*-bad-stuff. And there are prolly authors (I haven't encountered them on BC/TS, but have elsewhere) who have no clue that the "sex scenes" that they're writing are about rape/abuse.
So ... sure, watch for triggers, and especially for triggers that have a high incidence in our community, and try to offer a warning, if possible. But ... can't be mandated, and the folks encountering it are going to have to find a coping mechanism, at some point. I'm guessing that you're helping the friends who've had issues with that as well, though.
Amy!
there is a big difference
between stuff that happens "off camera" as it were, and a graphic description of events. As an author, i know i am capable of slipping up on this issue too, so this isnt about throwing stones, just trying to make all authors aware of how this issue can affect a reader.
There's also the roll-your-own "Other Keywords" category
An author can write a warning, general or specific, there.
It's fine to ask people to do this, but for reasons discussed before, it is not desirable to require it.
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
Caution
I do have a habit of writing unpleasantness into my stories, but apart from 'Uniforms', where there was absolutely no way to avoid the horrible and graphic stuff I try and keep the full details off-stage. My problem is that I often dropit in as a plot twist, and spelling it out when it is unexpected can spoil the story. I have just dropped back to edit one episode to add a 'caution' tag, but I am more likely in longer runs of pain to write a personal statement at the beginning, such as "here be darkness"
Totally confused
I have to confess I am always totally confused over the marking system on this site for extreme content. I guess part of that is because I live in the UK where we have different classification system for films, but the main problem is that this whole issue is so extremely subjective.
For example, if an author uses the words, "I was abused as a child," with no other reference to it, does that mean you would like to see a warning, or are you only referring to more graphic content of the abuse?
It is violence that I deplore, rather than sexual content, but I have to concede I am quite happy with a few murders in an Agatha Christie novel. However, a more detailed description of the murder or of torture I find abhorrent.
Perhaps a simple scale of 0 - 10 would be the simplest to apply and understand for everyone.
A clarification and an apology.
I'm sorry that I didn't communicate better yesterday. My words were only suggestions meant to bring awareness to a situation that I've discussed with other readers and writers.
What I meant to say is that when a story features, as you put it, more graphic content, it would be helpful to provide a warning. Of course we have stories where the protagonist mentions their past history, or an event happens in passing. What concerns me is where a story features a graphic or even moderately graphic portrayal of abuse or rape, in the context of the story. The word CAUTION could apply to anything, and refer to anything of a graphic nature. A more specific warning, such as what I typically use - "Recovery from sexual abuse," or "Depiction of Rape (or Abuse) in context of the story," would be helpful. And of course, these are only suggestions meant to call attention to what I see as a need.
This isn't just a community of readers and writers. Many folks see this as a safe haven; it has become a home. From my perspective, it just makes sense to be more specific in the warning 'above the fold', since so many of us have been hurt in that manner, and words can be triggers. Thanks
Dio vi benedica tutti
Con grande amore e di affetto
Andrea Lena
Love, Andrea Lena
I wasn't being harsh
Just pointing out in my comment the difficulty with putting a label for what you advocate on stories.
Rape and abuse is more often than not portrayed poorly fiction and sometimes in mainstream fiction. A woman is repeatedly whipped but hours later is engaging in a 3-hour sex session. Only in the world of James Bond as written by John Gardner.
Daniel, author of maid, whore, bimbo, and sissy free TG fiction since 2000
What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.- Oscar Levant
R and A
I have only ever written one rape, and the gap between that and what can be called 'normal sex' was a bit longer than hours. I will choose my words carefully here; rape is a powerful plot device that is useful to an author. It is also, clearly, not only an extremely unpleasant one but also something that, as Drea says, can produce terrible reactions in survivors. I have a number of site members who I correspond with so as to avoid causing distress with my writing. There are ways of using the device that minimise its adverse effects,and there are ways it is used (off site) where I feel I would like to discuss matters with the author in a frank,detailed and very physical way.
I offermy writing here as entertainment,but also catharss for myself. If I ever thought it caused dstress without any healing or similar byproduct, I would pull it mmediately.
This is whay I find the stores where someone comes to like ther abuse so difficult to read. Yes, it does happen in certain cases, but to portray that as 'desirable' makes my flesh crawl.
It's a minefield, but I think that honest intent can be read from a story; porn is not for me.