Warnings in fandom are such a curious thing. Or has the blurb text of a novel or movie ever warned you for the main character dying? Of course not. It would take away the big bang in the end.
Then again, I do not read erotica outside fandom. And I like to have warnings on potentially disturbing sexual activities.. such as hard kinks or dysfunctional dynamics. Let's say, what makes warning for these things so important to me (in fandom) is that many things are described in graphic detail. Don't get me wrong, that's fine! It's why I click on a NC-17 rated story. ;) Only that in the novels I read, when I stumble upon a sex scene, it isn't graphic. Often it's mentioned in passing only. And that certain potentially upsetting sexual preferences EXIST, everyone knows that. So what I'm trying to say is, the more graphic the content, the more you should warn for it. (Or that's a rule for me.)
As for the uproar caused by kamerreon's guide, I simply don't share it. I don't think warning for "slash" means equating it with other warnings, such as "rape". It's just in there as well, IN CASE anybody needs it. How about a fanfic reader who doesn't want to see characters paired up that aren't an item in canon? It's their right as well. I think it's just decent to mention that you paired them up. (Therefore: (fem)slash warning.) To me, that has NOTHING to do with "warning" for homosexual people in the real world.. the term "slash" itself has clearly evolved in the world of fiction.
...that last paragraph being compromised if there are listed pairings in the header. And we assume that every fanfiction reader knows what "/ + rating" implies.
no subject
Then again, I do not read erotica outside fandom. And I like to have warnings on potentially disturbing sexual activities.. such as hard kinks or dysfunctional dynamics.
Let's say, what makes warning for these things so important to me (in fandom) is that many things are described in graphic detail. Don't get me wrong, that's fine! It's why I click on a NC-17 rated story. ;) Only that in the novels I read, when I stumble upon a sex scene, it isn't graphic. Often it's mentioned in passing only. And that certain potentially upsetting sexual preferences EXIST, everyone knows that.
So what I'm trying to say is, the more graphic the content, the more you should warn for it. (Or that's a rule for me.)
As for the uproar caused by
How about a fanfic reader who doesn't want to see characters paired up that aren't an item in canon? It's their right as well. I think it's just decent to mention that you paired them up. (Therefore: (fem)slash warning.) To me, that has NOTHING to do with "warning" for homosexual people in the real world.. the term "slash" itself has clearly evolved in the world of fiction.
...that last paragraph being compromised if there are listed pairings in the header. And we assume that every fanfiction reader knows what "/ + rating" implies.