Ratings. A good story is a good story. Sex in canon.

[bluesqueak <pipdowns@etchells0.demon.co.uk>]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "heiditandy" <heidit at n...> 
>  
> I think this pretty much sums up how I feel about things I read, 
whether
> in fanfic or hardbound or paperback novels. A good story is a good
> story, and the category it's placed in isn't as relevant as 
whether it
> tells a good story. Am I unusual in this, at least in the
> non-fanfic-reading universe ( : broadens the question in hopes of
> bringing some of those who read *no* fanfic into the discussion)?
>  
> 

As a *no* fanfics reader... 
::Puts on tin hat and flame proof underwear::

No, I don't think it's an unusual attitude. I would hate to 
see 'slash' style warnings on paperback books. I don't 
like 'romance' genre books (excepting Jane Austen) and a required 
warning that 'this book contains same sex relationships' would imply 
to me that the story was *entirely* about relationships. Similarly, 
when I read a blurb along the lines of '30 something Liz had decided 
Mr Right was never going to come along' I go 'yuk!' and put the book 
back on the shelf.

There's a book by S.M. Stirling which I've reread several times 
('Island in the Sea of Time'), because it *is* a good story.
SPOILERS AHEAD
If it had required warnings about 'adult' sex content, I would 
probably never have read it, because the book contains [in order of 
appearance]:

straight characters
gay characters
not so mild scenes of hetrosexual rape
long term straight relationships and descriptions of straight sex
long term gay relationships and descriptions of gay sex
mild scenes of sado masochistic straight sex
threats of homosexual rape

and I really don't want to go into the 'bestiality sex scene with 
live jaguar'... 

The point is, the blurb doesn't mention sex at all, and the book 
isn't about sex. The relationships and sex are all plot and 
character driven (yes, even the bit with the jaguar...). Most of the 
sex scenes are two or three lines and leave the rest to the reader's 
imagination. The book is a time travel story, largely keeping to the 
conventions of the military/sf genre.

But requiring it to carry detailed categorization would make it 
sound like the sort of pornography that should be in 'Adult Only' 
Bookstores.
 



FictionAlley, as Heidi said earlier, is a 13 + site. That means it 
is more protective of children than a television set, which makes no 
attempt whatsoever to determine who is switching it on and watching 
whatever comes out (unless you're a caring parent, and install a 
child lock). FictionAlley has taken more precautions than a 
bookstore. It has told readers 'this fic is definitely adult in 
content. If you're not 17 or over, you should have your parents 
permission to read it.'

If a child in a bookshop decides to pick a book off the shelf in the 
adult SF section, opens 'Island in the Sea of Time', and unerringly 
hits the bit with the jaguar, that is not actually the fault of the 
bookshop. They've put the book in the right section. It's the child 
who's found their way into the *wrong* section. 

And yes, the kid probably should be better supervised by their 
parents, and yes, lot's of kids aren't, as I know from experience. 
But the bookstore, and the website, have done their job when they 
say 'this is not the children's section.' FictionAlley have done 
more than their job. They tell the kid *again*; 'this particular fic 
is for adults. Are you sure you're old enough? Do your parents let 
you read adult stuff?'

**Sex and the HP characters**
Well, IMO, it's there in the books already. It's just largely in the 
background, because the books are mostly from Harry's pov. Harry 
doesn't really notice adult sex yet. He hasn't picked up that 
Professor Grubbly Plank is running for 'most stereotyped lesbian 
teacher of the year' award. That Aunt Marge is downright disturbing 
in the pleasure she gets from bullying him. That Molly and Arthur 
have seven kids. That Professor McGonagall flirts with Dumbledore... 
And in his own age group, that Justin's attitude to Lockhart was 
extremely similar to Hermione's outright crush. 

I'm not a fanfic writer. But if a fanfic writer decides *not* to use 
Harry's pov, why should they have to keep sexual relationships in 
the background? The main reason they are in the background at the 
moment is because we are seeing the WW through the eyes of a young 
boy. The older he gets, the more we are seeing. Why should that 
constraint apply to a fanfic writer who has chosen a different pov, 
or chosen to age the characters up?
 


And why should any writer have to warn their adult readers about the 
nature of their characters sexual relationships? Writers reflect the 
real world in their creations. In the real world, people are gay, 
bisexual, straight, promiscuous, faithful, celibate, or frankly more 
interested in chocolate. 

So why should they be required to warn a reader about their 
character's chocolate fetish? ;0)

Pip