I recently posted a story with a scene that had felt creepy to me, so I added a caution tag to let people know about that. Now I'm starting to wonder if maybe I was being overly cautious. Does anybody have any thoughts on what makes a story creepy, as well as when (or if) it might be a good idea to warn people about it?
What counts as creepy?
A word from our sponsor:
Comments
Clowns
If you have clowns, it’s creepy. So, there’s that. :D
But to answer your question more seriously— I have trouble figuring out when to throws warnings out. There are things that really get to me that don’t seem to distress anyone else; do I put up a warning? There are things that I’m comfortable having my characters discuss, like theology, that are serious triggers for others. Warning, or no? I don’t have a good answer.
— Emma
Bridge freezes before road
My feeling is that I don't want someone to blunder into one of my stories and find something they wish they hadn't. I throw up those CAUTIONS as if they were happy-birthday balloons.
Periodically at BCTS we have a back-and-forth about sex and/or forced-fem and each and every time the only lessons we learn are that some people have very strong feelings and opinions, and that there isn't any point in setting someone off.
I live in New England, and every so often I see a sign that reads CAUTION: Bridge freezes before road. I don't pay that sign no never mind. Maybe the bridge does freeze first, but my car can handle a frozen road or bridge.
Even so, it would be stupid of me to object to the warning, or to fuss about one time when the road froze first. I'm sure the sign is helpful to other drivers.
ALSO, if someone complains that the scene is creepy and how dare you, you can point to the warning and help the reader not make the same mistake twice.
hugs,
- iolanthe
Creepy Is Like a Box of Chocolates
I've been reading a book called "On Tyranny" by Timothy Snyder. It is definitely creepy. I can only read it for a maximum of ten to fifteen minutes per sitting.
There's good creepy and bad creepy. One should be highly valued, the other avoided.
Jill
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
Shocking
This reminded me of a comment to a story of mine: "shocking though shocking good way".
-- Daphne Xu (a page of contents)
The cautions aren't well defined
The problem is that a lot of the cautions mean different things to different people.
My list of dubious meaning cautions:
There may be others, but that's all I can think of right now.
I'm sure that some will look at my list and say, "Well those are pretty obvious."
My big question is about the tag, "Lesbians". Does that mean the a person transitions MTF and the wife hangs in and they now consider themselves lesbians, or does that mean that two genetic females are in a romantic relationship?
The other one is "Adult Oriented". Since Amazon considers all Trans fiction as erotica, that tag could conceivably apply to every story posted here. If I mention sex between consenting adults, but don't give the details of what goes on in the bedroom other than to say it was good or satisfying, is that adult oriented?
Not Office Safe: OK, just what does that mean? It contains sex? It contains foul language? It's likely to make a sensitive person cry? For me, unless a person is out at the office, any trans story is not office safe. Then there's also the question of what kind of office would think it's OK for their employees to read fiction while on company time. The only one I can think of would be Night Watchman. Better they read than fall asleep from boredom.
As to Creepy... that's like beauty, it's in the eye of the beholder. Creepy to me would be paranormal slasher, to someone else, spiders may be creepy. If in doubt, tag it. If it wouldn't be a spoiler a short two or three word description in the Other Key Words block.
Hugs
Patricia
Happiness is being all dressed up and HAVING some place to go.
Semper in femineo gerunt
Ich bin eine Mann
Three possibilities for lesbians
The TERFs would have you believe that only GGs can be lesbians. Sc**w them! Then there is the possibility you mention, that a previously het couple has the husband become MTF and the wife stays married to her.
The third is a MTF decides she doesn't want some pig and takes up with another lesbian that accepts her as she has become. This is my sister's choice. She says she's a Gold Star Lesbian as she has never done anything with a man, and considers the whole idea repugnant in the extreme.
They know they can survive
As for creepy
Children
They know they can survive
Creepy
There are creepy children, and then there are creepy stories about children.
-- Daphne Xu (a page of contents)
Creepy???!
I have three suggestions for you.
Tag it creepy if you think it is creepy.
Check comments for creepy felt by readers and adjust the tag as needed.
Ask a select pre-reader or two if they feel creeped out spots and tag as needed when posting for all.
BAK 0.25tspgirl
Cautions
I would advise tagging it if in doubt, and let the reader decide. It might cause some to skip the story, but that is preferable, in my opinion, to someone being offended that they read a story which disturbed them and wasn't warned. I rarely avoid a story because of the tags, so I might not be the best person to give advice.
Oddly...
...the thread subject just came up for me. This may be too late to get a response in this thread, but it didn't seem to deserve its own.
The old (mostly) children's song, Teddy Bears' Picnic, melody and title from 1907 (U.S.) and lyrics from 1932 (U.K.), was recorded over the years by a disconcerting number of people ranging (on the North American side) \from Rosemary Clooney through Bing Crosby through Anne Murray, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Jerry Garcia shortly before he died. (I think those are all on YouTube, along with many others, including the original, by Henry Hall and the BBC Orchestra, with tenor Val Rosing as vocalist, which here at least only has the first two of the three verses.)
Anyway, one of the comments (with 64 responses!) asserts that Americans invariably find the song creepy and Europeans consider it pleasantly nostalgic. Just wondering how others here reacted to it.
Eric
Favorite Radio Show
Why are they called shows when you can't see anything on radio?
Anyway, there was a story hour type program on the radio when I was small that used Teddy Bears' Picnic as its theme song. I just loved the show and would sing along with the music. So it's nostalgic for me too, but if you really listen to the lyrics, it is kinda creepy. It's in a minor key! D-Minor I think. :)
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
The first time I'd ever heard
the song was on The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's second album, "Ricochet," which seemed to me at the time completely out of left field in the context of the rest of the album. (BTW, great album with "Buy For Me The Rain" and Jackson Browne's wonderful "Shadow Dream Song" the highlights for me) It weirded me out. I think they intended it that way.
Hope you're doing well, Eric.
Hugs,
Sammy