Controversy Chapters

[Keith Inc.]

I am strangely fascinated by the idea of a controversy chapter as discussed at the end of the thread here: http://www2.adult-fanfiction.org/forum/inde...?showtopic=6629

There are certain guidelines for story disclaimers.

There are standards for the lists of warnings.

I would suggest that anyone writing a CONTRO introductory chapter should meet some guidelines as well.

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This is an attempt to start graphing them out. What topics deserve such exposition, what to put in the warning chapter. I've written one CONTRO chapter so far. It's an introduction to some slash fiction involving biblical characters. I expect to write one for chapters involving vore and other lethal sexual interests. Perhaps one for the xenophilia stories. And the Jack Chick slash, of course.

As for the tone of the warning/explanation:

First and foremost, the very fact of writing a CONTRO chapter indicates your awareness that there is or will be controversy about some part of the story. You're acknowledging that people will take opposing positions to your writing the story. I think we should respect that. I don't necessarily say we should respect a critic, but we should respect their right to express an opinion, even if it's one that involves a lobotomy and a case of cheap liquor.

You don't want to indicate that a critic has no right to voice their opinion. But by the same token, the same freedoms they enjoy in criticizing your story apply to writing it. You don't have a right to threaten them for their reaction, but they cannot threaten you.

We do support all laws about slander, libel, overt threats and sedition, if only to keep the site out of entrenched legal complications.

But the key point in writing fiction is that it is a fictional account. Words on paper or letters on the screen. No real people are hurt. My personal feeling is that even writing fiction about celebrities is not hurting anyone. A court has upheld that obvious fiction does not do any measurable damage to one's reputation.

They may be offended, but I don't know of any legal basis for the idea that they have a right to not be offended. How the hell would that work, anyway?

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So. What do you think are the sorts of stories or conditions that would warrant a CONTRO warning/chapter?

[hanyou-elf]

the CONTRO sounds like a good idea, but i think it needs to be used as an optional choice. it would be nice if somebody was going to write something controversial and warn others that they are, but it shouldn't be something adopted as necessary. the biggest problem with that is because what's controversial or offensive to one person wouldn't necessarily be the same to somebody else.

however, that being said, there should be special warning for people who are about to read rape, anything involving minors, death fics (be they murder, accidental, suicidal, or natural), and things involving BDSM. nothing necessarily controversial about a lot of those things, but people tend to get up in arms about the topics the most.

[Keith Inc.]

the CONTRO sounds like a good idea, but i think it needs to be used as an optional choice.

Yeah, it's not going to be possible to make it a hard and fast rule with clear outlines.

This would be something that might be expected, as i understand the discussion, encouraged or suggested, but not demanded.

You mention BDSM. that reminds me of a book i picked up in Waldens a few years back.

I've read a few stories where the characters indulge in some sort of fantasy play, including master/slave and other dominance games. Usually the author either just goes ahead with the scene or has a paragraph about how it's all harmless play as long as everyone is a consenting adult. At most a couple more paragraphs about how the submissive partner is actually in charge, they're the ones with the power to end the fantasy.

This book, the author was black. The characters were black. They mutually agreed to enjoy some master and slave loveplay. the author spent, IIRC, a page and a half making sure that everyone understood that the love play was just a game, not to be taken as any sort of validation of the industry of slave taking/owning/trading or the institution of slavery, AND that it was all just fun and games between consenting adults, AND that it didn't mean that they'd take any crap from an abusive redneck...

I wish i could remember what book that was in because it would make an excellent CONTRO chapter.

I would guess that the warning would be entirely on the shoulders of the author. If they get a lot of grief over a scene, or expect a lot of grief over a topic, element, lubricant, then they should add an explanation.

What i want to do here is explore what might be good or bad ways to go about it, and maybe good reasons for it.

[PorkChopExpress86]

would it really do anything? there's a thread on here about people ignoring tags that say things like death, rape, minor, etc. and still flamimg the author for having the content they were warned about. if a reader ignores the tags, why wouldn't they ignore the contro paragraph?

[Keith Inc.]

would it really do anything? there's a thread on here about people ignoring tags that say things like death, rape, minor, etc. and still flamimg the author for having the content they were warned about. if a reader ignores the tags, why wouldn't they ignore the contro paragraph?

that's what i said.

But it's starting to grow on me. At least the author can rest assured, sitting in a position of moral superiority, that they have taken every step in making the attempt to illuminate their goals and motives in making the effort.

[Guest Agaib]

Meh, I don't care if people get shocked by My work. I could never take a review seriously that derided me over content.

*shrug*

[PorkChopExpress86]

At least the author can rest assured, sitting in a position of moral superiority, that they have taken every step in making the attempt to illuminate their goals and motives in making the effort.

Well if it works for you then go for it. I dont think it will be coming up for me any time soon. i used to think a story of mine was hardcore until I started looking at some of the other stories out there.

[DemonGoddess]

from a mod's viewpoint, I can tell you that people who see the tags and description which STATE things like minor, rape, and etc; and yet still go in to the story to flame the author, I'd look at as trolls and flamers. To my way of thinking, they click that link, knowing what's there, and flame the author because they think they can with impunity. They can't though. Which they're starting to find out I hope.

[PorkChopExpress86]

They can't though.

Whats to stop them? are you banning flammers now? I think i'd probably just delete any flames I got and leave it at that. if one person repeatedly flamed i'd report it but that would be an obvious case of trolling.

[DemonGoddess]

people who repeatedly flame, flamebait, act trollish, and in general try to wreak havoc with other members get deleted, once I can prove the necessary patterns of behavior. There is no good reason I can fathom to allow them to access this site to harass others, which is generally done via the review board.

[Psychostorm]

At least the author can rest assured, sitting in a position of moral superiority,

I don't want to be mean but BWHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Come on now, who gives a shit about moral crap if its just a flamer you're worried about. People's so called morality will always clash, don't worry about shit like that. If they can't handle your shit they can go fuck themselves with an ice cream cone. And this whole CONTRO crap is retarded, just write whatever you want and if people can't handle it fuck em'.

[Keith Inc.]

I don't want to be mean but BWHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Come on now, who gives a shit about moral crap if its just a flamer you're worried about. People's so called morality will always clash, don't worry about shit like that. If they can't handle your shit they can go fuck themselves with an ice cream cone. And this whole CONTRO crap is retarded, just write whatever you want and if people can't handle it fuck em'.

yeah, that's healthy.

[JayDee]

Well, if it's a low fat ice cream cone...

[Keith Inc.]

Well, if it's a low fat ice cream cone...

Oh, well that changes everything.

[AnotherArchAbraded]

It's unbelievably silly that a section for 'controversy' would be needed on a pornographic website.

[Keith Inc.]

It's unbelievably silly that a section for 'controversy' would be needed on a pornographic website.

Why?

No matter where you stand, there's going to be something that's still 'across the line.'

People that read and write celebrity slash fisting AIDS positive public-sex porn stories still get upset that there's Bible fanfiction around, or that NAMBLA has a smut newsletter.