I warn you about warnings
Jun. 25th, 2009 05:44 pmMy warnings policy is very clear - while I seldom write anything particularly explicit, these are the things I will warn for, whether or not they ruin your enjoyment of the story: incest (even when it is consensual sex between two adults), rape/dub-con/non-con, underage sex, self harm, extreme violence (including torture), squidpr0n.
If I were to write a story that explores the results of a character's death, you can expect a character death warning; if the character death, however, is something that's a part of the story's pay-off - not that I ever write plot - a simple 'dark content' warning will have to do.
I seldom actually write anything beyond vanilla pr0n, but the one time I did, the story included bondage and physical discomfort warnings. This is not without problems, as![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
telesilla's post here points out, because when we 'warn' about BSDM on the same breath as rape, we are categorising it as something that is 'wrong' (I added threesome warnings after I was asked, although I certainly don't think they're wrong). She speaks of a separate 'kink' line in the header, which is perhaps appropriate, because the HP fandom has taught me to appreciate kink warnings like anything.
Those who have pointed out that there are problems with warnings like 'dark' and 'disturbing' are right, because how dark is dark? How disturbing is disturbing? Perceptions vary from one fandom to another; so do conventions. The House fandom is not going to expect too many ' graphic medical procedures' warnings, but if someone were to write James Wilson/Danny Wilson, they would most likely be expected to put up an incest warning. HP fandom takes special care in warning about the ages of the characters involved. La Femme Nikita fandom may not warn you about torture or dub-con, but you will be warned for 'slash'. Many slash circles warn for 'het'. There *can* be no universal warning system beyond the ratings; beyond, perhaps, something obvious like rape and self harm. And yes, there will always be someone who comes and demands you warn for apples - real apples, not metaphorical rape apples - because of that one time she sat under the apple tree and an apple fell on her lap. It might be annoying to you, but you will survive. But meanwhile we're talking about triggers - not squick - triggers. And no, we cannot possibly make fandom a 100% safe space - especially when fandom is such a sexualized space. But I don't see the harm in trying.
(Also, DO NOT CARE if you've had this discussion before in three different fandoms. Evidently we haven't learnt very much from them because WE'RE HAVING IT AGAIN.)
(I shall go and watch TSCC shortly. YAY!)
If I were to write a story that explores the results of a character's death, you can expect a character death warning; if the character death, however, is something that's a part of the story's pay-off - not that I ever write plot - a simple 'dark content' warning will have to do.
I seldom actually write anything beyond vanilla pr0n, but the one time I did, the story included bondage and physical discomfort warnings. This is not without problems, as
telesilla's post here points out, because when we 'warn' about BSDM on the same breath as rape, we are categorising it as something that is 'wrong' (I added threesome warnings after I was asked, although I certainly don't think they're wrong). She speaks of a separate 'kink' line in the header, which is perhaps appropriate, because the HP fandom has taught me to appreciate kink warnings like anything. Those who have pointed out that there are problems with warnings like 'dark' and 'disturbing' are right, because how dark is dark? How disturbing is disturbing? Perceptions vary from one fandom to another; so do conventions. The House fandom is not going to expect too many ' graphic medical procedures' warnings, but if someone were to write James Wilson/Danny Wilson, they would most likely be expected to put up an incest warning. HP fandom takes special care in warning about the ages of the characters involved. La Femme Nikita fandom may not warn you about torture or dub-con, but you will be warned for 'slash'. Many slash circles warn for 'het'. There *can* be no universal warning system beyond the ratings; beyond, perhaps, something obvious like rape and self harm. And yes, there will always be someone who comes and demands you warn for apples - real apples, not metaphorical rape apples - because of that one time she sat under the apple tree and an apple fell on her lap. It might be annoying to you, but you will survive. But meanwhile we're talking about triggers - not squick - triggers. And no, we cannot possibly make fandom a 100% safe space - especially when fandom is such a sexualized space. But I don't see the harm in trying.
(Also, DO NOT CARE if you've had this discussion before in three different fandoms. Evidently we haven't learnt very much from them because WE'RE HAVING IT AGAIN.)
(I shall go and watch TSCC shortly. YAY!)
