Loaded words and other gay issues (was: Fanfics with slash & sex...I don't get it)

[vulgarweed <fluxed@earthlink.net>]

> > Frankly, if Joe and Jane Six-Pack are letting Little Joey and 
> Little Suzie
> > roam around the Internet unsupervised,  reading slash is the 
least 
> of our
> > concerns. 
> > 
> 

ER:
> But as we can do something about it, why not do it? The longest 
march 
> begins with the first step or whatever it was.

Well, what do you mean, "doing something about it?" Do you mean 
limiting the free speech of adults to "protect" children from the 
vaguely defined "threat" of stumbling across erotic fiction?

Sorry, that's not acceptable. Noway, nohow. 

It's not like the Internet is unique in this way either--where I 
live, any kid can walk into the gigantic chain bookstore and flip 
through all sorts of novels, which may or may not be sexually 
explicit (which are usually NOT clearly labelled). In fact, flat-out 
porn novels are in the "Erotica" section, which is right next 
to "Psychology." It's usually only _visual_ media which is monitored 
at all.

I don't actually think this is necessarily a bad thing. If they're 
not old enough to be interested, they'll say "ew" and toss it away. 
If they are, what's the harm in them exploring their new feelings 
through reading and writing? I may be old-school, but I read all 
sorts of smut in jr. high (everybody's copy of _Clan of the Cave 
Bear_ fell open at the *exact same page,* folks) and don't think it 
did me any harm.

AV