[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: Fanfics with slash & sex...I don't get it

[Queer as John]

Before I start, I'd like to say that I'm taking the common definition of
slash as gay pairings, m/m or f/f. I do *not* count explicit non-gay
pairings as slash, however subtextual (Dumbledore/Sinistra all the way!)
they may be. I point out that "slash" has been argued to mean any subtextual
pairing, regardless of the participants' gender(s); for ease of use,
however, I take the common definition.

Haggridd <jkusalavagemd at yahoo.com> said:

> I trust that you can see that this is an example of a proof
> by "reductio ad absurdum" and that it shows that it is logically
> bankrupt to hold that "everybody is entitled to their likes and
> dislikes" means that nobody can criticize another's opinion.

To quote a certain Ent, "It doesn't make sense to me, but then again you are
very small." I've always held that it's possible to have a meaningful
discussion without recourse to terms like "logically bankrupt", "reductio ad
absurdum" and "deliberately disingenous".

In addition, HPFGU policy has *always* been to use words which respect
others opinions while at the same time advancing one's own.

> I personally have no problem with Vicki's or anyones right to write
> these stories.  Even as an adult, I do object to having my nose
> rubbed in them.  

<snip>

> A slash mb or slash section in FA or some other site would allow
> readers to know precisely what they are getting into--so to speak--
> and any complaints thereafter would have little validity.

Well, that's certainly true. However, the vast majority of slash stories are
labelled as such in order to prevent theme-related flames from homophobes.
In addition, most slash writers will increase the rating of their fics by at
least one point in order to be on the safe side. Furthermore, most Authors'
Notes/Summaries proclaim clearly all warnings, pairings, themes and age
warnings.

Frankly, I'd much rather see

In my experience, it's *very* difficult to stumble onto slash fics without
knowing what's contained therein. Mine, for example, are hosted and linked
to from www.queerasjohn.com and http://queerasjohn.livejournal.com -- domain
names which portray what's behind the metaphorical curtain. Even on FA, my
fics have slash warnings and mentions of the pairings either before clicking
on the story or in the summary and author's note at the top of the page.

As for the "nose-rubbing", I thought we were avoiding ad hominem attacks and
loaded words.

> In response to this, I can only say that there are degrees of
> plausibility in speculation, and Diane, myself-- and more others that
> you might want to admit-- feel similarly. It is the utter closed-
> mindedness that we encounter when we broach this issue that
> discourages free and open discussion about it.

As a slasher, and one of the very few male slashers, I have to say that I
share your opinion. It's too often that we find someone espousing the cause
of free speech while at the same time insisting that simply because of their
sexual-orientation related material, fics be forcibly separated somehow from
other types of fic, simply because of who the relationship is between. And,
moreover, what about a rollicking adventure story which contains a slash
pairing? The Draco Dormiens/Sinister/Veritas trilogy, for example, contains
one. Where to draw the line? And *why* draw the line?

> It is the "in your face" aspects of each side of this issue that is
> wrong.

I couldn't agree more.

--John

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Queer as John || john at queerasjohn.com

AIM, YM & LJ @ QueerAsJohn || www.queerasjohn.com

"There's nowt as queer as folk."  --English proverb
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