How much is too much -- for YOU? Why?

Since the fan fiction article thread brought up the issue of "certain stuff" and this sparked some discussion, I became curious.

Do you like to read "certain stuff?" (Are you of AGE to read "certain stuff?") If you like "certain stuff," how much is too much? What kind is too much? Are there conditions that must be present in order for you to read it? Or you just opposed to it appearing in SW fic on principle?

The topic got me wondering about the demographics of our group of writers and readers here.

 

Does certain stuff mean sexual content? polygamy for example, 'wrong' interpersonal pairings? Interspecial stuff? What does it mean?

 

I'll put up with pretty much anything as long as there's a valid reason for its inclusion in the plot. Once it gets to the point where one could Edit->Replace "Han" with "Anakin" or "Jacen" and "Leia" with "Tahiri" or "Tenel Ka" without any noticible difference is where I stop reading.

 

I won't say that I'll absolutely refuse to read anything. I'll read just about anything.

But--I can't stand sexual cut scenes, and I usually don't like the parts of chapters right before those cut scenes would be written. I read one sex scene private message someone sent me just to show me what I was missing. Um... I'd rather stay missing it. It strangely disturbs me.

I'm not usually a big fan of hurt/comfort either. It has to be well written for me.

 

I think that it'll take a lot for me to not want to read a fic (provided that it contains the paring/chracter that I like reading about). If its well writen and the character/pring, genre, plot, or whatever else is up my alley then well most warnings won't turn me away. But that's just me...I'm not overly sensitive to stuff...though the one warning that does give me pause ia that of "explicit violent content" I'm not really up for the blood and gore.
Also "PWP" warnings are always helpful...lots of times I'm just not up for the "all sex" stories.

Though I do agree that warnings should be included. There are subjects that people are sensitive to and that should be respected.

 

Gosh, I'll read just about anything.

With racy stories, it can be slash (males, females, aliens, what have you), smut, something written solely for the purpose of hooking up two characters, romantic epics. One of my favorite slashfics involves an underage character with an adult. Many people think that kind of pairing (both slash and underage aspects) is plain wrong, but to me the story's so beautifully written.

Fics with non-consensual sex and rape have to be extremely well-written for me to even go past the first few lines. If non-con is written just for the sake of writing non-con, then I probably wouldn't read it because that's a subject I have a hard time with, whether it's fiction or real life. If there's a point to the story (e.g. how will the character(s) deal with it), then I'd read for the same reason I'd watch a movie along the same lines - the tragedy makes it a worthy read.

There are really weird stories out there - for instance, Leia has Luke's baby (and they're still siblings). You may think the authors have sick and twisted minds, but I'd look at that story just out of curiosity.

Bottom line, it has to be well-written. That's something I judge from the first couple of paragraphs. Keywords help as well. For one story there was no warning about the squid...not that I'm complaining...


edit: DarthSanctimonius said it well.

 

"certain stuff" = anything that really ought to have a warning displayed prominently before you read it.

But I've never heard the term "cut scene" before. What's that?

 

"cut scene" typically is a TOS unfriendly scene that is sent via email to readers who follow the story if they opt to receive it.


As far as "How Much is Too Much?", I used to be a beta for a couple of authors who wrote the kind of stories that would melt the paint off the side of a church. Actually, my standard is that it must be well written and if that's the case, I'll read just about anything, although I do tend to get creeped out by violent non-con, but if it fits into the larger context of the story, I'll keep reading. As for gore and excessive violence, I'm always on board--I've even written splatterpunk horror myself.


Additionally, if the sex is going to be gratuitous, then it needs to be well written--I'm 31 and I'll admit that some days you just want to read smut for the sake of smut, BUT it has to be well written, e.g., no second person point of view, ever.

Interesting topic, LLL.

 

I can read just about anything as long as it's tastefully done. I like it when an author creates an atmosphere for the sex scene and one that goes along with the fic. It can be as graphic in the content as they want as long as it fits with the story. And there have been some that have made me go "WOW! I read one last night.

However, if the whole point of the fic is to just get the characters together for a quick roll in bed and there's nothing after that then no thank you. I don't like those fics. Some are the PWP's Alley mentioned, others are longer fics I started but stopped reading after I realized that's what they were.

 

That reminds me of a scene from the Simpsons where Flanders is mad at Homer because Bart told a joke to Rod or Tod involving an octopus and a set of bagpipes, and the punchline implied that they...well, you can fill in the blank. Homer thought it was funny.

Anyway, I agree that a fic being well-written is one of the most important factors. With sex in fics, I'll read almost anything involving my favorite pairing, but I'll only enjoy it if it's well-written.

When it comes to things like excessive blood-and-guts violence and excessive swearing, I'll usually pass (unless it's done for humor). Ratings and brief plot summaries or warnings are always a good thing...if they tell the truth!

 

Pretty much what I think. I'll read just about anything if it's well written -- well, maybe not horror but if you are talking sex or smut or slash... bring it on.

And Jade, the squid was funny.. admit it.

 

Oh, I'll absolutely admit it. But I sure as hell wasn't expecting it!

 

First off I don't expect to change any minds on this.
I'm 25 and could read anything. Will I? No.

Maybe it's because I read to get away from reality and the crap that goes on there. I've known too many people who have been raped, abused, etc. That every time I have come across it in books and fic I just get sick thinking about all the trama and fear those people went through. I'd be like I was consenting to that sort of thing happening to them and then I think about the character. How would this be messing that person up? I'd like to read a fic where a girl sleeps with a guy and gets a STD, or gets pregnant,or feels used instead of whitewashing the reality.

Fluff is fine. But I something of a cannon nazi. There were only a few kisses in the whole 6 movies of SW. No making out. No footage of torture. So It's hard to see these characters act hormone crazed. I can handle implied stuff happening if it is part of the plot. I figure if my reader is old enough to know how things work they're old enough to use their imagination to put stuff in if they really feel like it.
Guess I just killed any and all hopes of their being a cut scene or something like it in Dare to be Oblivious. Ah. well.

 

I'm old enough to read it all and usually do.

I do think warnings are an essential courtesy, but like all courtesy, can only be enforced so far. Like by tos rules. If there aren't any, well, you take your own risk as a reader.

As for lack of torture scenes in the trilogy, I have to disagree with SpiritofEowyn. We do see Han and Chewbacca being tortured, one by that grid-devicce and the other by sound. We just don't see the whole session.

As far as writing anything, I don't. Even though I love Zeltrons and use them, I've yet to write a cut scene or even any scene steamier than the movies. It's not because I won't. It's because there hasn't been any reason to do so yet. I can freely imply that Zeltrons are sexual beings without showing all the details.

 

As much as I love a good sex scene, I can't stand reading it in every single chapter. After a while it gets old, and so usually I stop reading. Not because i don't enjoy the sex scenes, but because it gets boring to read.

Other than that, I can read about anything. I look at everything as if it's a story, an unprofessional fanfiction tale, so I don't find a problem with non-con, rape and torture fics. If they're well written with a plot, then I'll read it.

I hate the word slash ( ), but love it I do. i don't hold a different criterion for a homosexual relationship v. a heteosexual relationship.

So I'll read anything if it's good.

-Krystal

 

Sorry. Not trying to be disagreeable. It's just the ESB torture scene wasn't very torture-y for me. (I was thinking Casino Royale level torture) And we can only guess that there were needles involved with Leias.

(then again I can't watch horror flics. They give me nightmares and make me paranoid and sick inside. ) Shurg. Each their own.

 

I think the implied torture scene between Vader and Leia was rather disturbing especially after you find out that he was her father. Disturbing, I say, and I write horror.

 

And the implied torture scene is even more disturbing in the audio play that National Public Radio did of ANH. Soundwise, it's very graphic.

 

[image=http://www.vienna.cc/wienpix/arsenal11.jpg]

 

To me, graphic sex and/or violence just cheapens a story ... makes it seem like the author couldn't come up with anything better than sensationalized trash. And that goes for profic as well as fanfic. That said, a bit of tasteful implied "content" is fine, but keep it PG-13 as a general rule.

 

I agree entirely with ZebulaNebula. I actually think that implied "content" can be used to even greater effect than explicit scenes focusing on it, if the author does a good job with it. Then again, as long as the scene in question is done in a tasteful manner that actually adds to the storyline (as opposed to gratuitous chunks of sex!gore!violence!), I don't mind it too much. I try to keep my material at a PG-13 level as a general rule of thumb.

 

I disagree, you can have graphic, if not gratuitous violence without loosing the enssance of the story. That's why I like Kill Bill, it's violent, it's coarse, and it has a great story. the only reason I do not write really graphic stuff is that the board here would not approve. While writing without elaborate descriptions of sex or violence is 'sophisticated', one must remember, most people will settle for smut(AKA 'romance novels').

 

Oh, well, as for my own writing I usually keep my stuff on the PG-13 level. Mostly because I?m usually not very comfortable in writing stuff at a higher rating (though I?ll definitely read it). The only posted exception was a story at an LJ comm that I put an R rating on simply because it involved a rape scene. It wasn?t exactly graphic but I felt that since it was more then just implied and people can be rather sensitive to the particular subject I felt an R rating would be appropriate (plus a warning).