The Five Major Warnings of Fanfiction
Mar. 12th, 2006 01:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
justalurkrWhat are the five major warnings of fanfiction?
I've hung out in three or four prolifically fic-generating fandoms, and have seen this discussion come up more than once: there are five major fanfiction warnings that most fic lists that require warnings agree upon, but I can never remember what all five are. I suspect that, like many fans, I only remember the ones I'd want to see and can but guess at the rest.
For example, given the mailng lists and livejournal comms I hang out in, I take it as read that I'm about to read slash, and would expect and handwaving, red light blinking warning for het. Presumably, that would be job one in a bi-fictional environment: warn for m/m, f/f or m/f.
Also, I have no particular issue with the permanent disability of a major character, but would very much like a heads' up if the author is going to whack one. So, I'd say #1 warning would be "character death," whereas I've seen this conflated in some fic groups as "death or permanent disability or disfigurement of a major character."
Side note: doesn't that warning become a bit problematic in fandoms with McGuffins like sarcophagi or Ascension? Or canonical disfigurement of a character, as in a show that shall remain nameless because that's not really the point & some folks around the world haven't seen those bits anyway?
Anyway, the Major Warnings of Fanfic as I remember them are:
1. Major character death.
2. Rape or issues of consent (non-con.)
3. Partner betrayal.
Fighting for the last two slots in my memory because I can take or leave them are:
--Permanent disability or disfigurement of a major character.
--Warn for homoerotic content, or heterosexual content, depending on the communty's standards.
--Bondage, discipline or sado-masochism (BDSM)
--Spanking in a non-sexual context.
--Child abuse of any nature.
--Animal abuse of any nature.
--More violence than would be seen in canon, or torture whether seen in canon or not.
The actual point of all this is that I'd like to second, third or (more realistically at this point) fifty-seventh the recommendation for Freedom's Just Another Word for Nothing Left to Lose, and it totally warrants one of the major warnings of fanfiction, but I think not so egregiously that people who'd normally avoid thatsuch as my weenie self can't appreciate the magificence of the story.
Actually, feel free to discuss the five major warnings question, but let's just leave which one the story needs at...unspecified, as it would detract slightly and becomes blazingly obvious within a few paragraphs both what happened, and why that's not the real point of the tale.
Just go read Freedom's Just Another Word...
It's really, really good. My comment to the author consisted of "way to rip out my heart, grind it up for awhile and put it back," if that helps at all.
And if you comment on the story in the process of discussing the warnings? Please don't specify or hint at which one it needs, thanks.
I've hung out in three or four prolifically fic-generating fandoms, and have seen this discussion come up more than once: there are five major fanfiction warnings that most fic lists that require warnings agree upon, but I can never remember what all five are. I suspect that, like many fans, I only remember the ones I'd want to see and can but guess at the rest.
For example, given the mailng lists and livejournal comms I hang out in, I take it as read that I'm about to read slash, and would expect and handwaving, red light blinking warning for het. Presumably, that would be job one in a bi-fictional environment: warn for m/m, f/f or m/f.
Also, I have no particular issue with the permanent disability of a major character, but would very much like a heads' up if the author is going to whack one. So, I'd say #1 warning would be "character death," whereas I've seen this conflated in some fic groups as "death or permanent disability or disfigurement of a major character."
Side note: doesn't that warning become a bit problematic in fandoms with McGuffins like sarcophagi or Ascension? Or canonical disfigurement of a character, as in a show that shall remain nameless because that's not really the point & some folks around the world haven't seen those bits anyway?
Anyway, the Major Warnings of Fanfic as I remember them are:
1. Major character death.
2. Rape or issues of consent (non-con.)
3. Partner betrayal.
Fighting for the last two slots in my memory because I can take or leave them are:
--Permanent disability or disfigurement of a major character.
--Warn for homoerotic content, or heterosexual content, depending on the communty's standards.
--Bondage, discipline or sado-masochism (BDSM)
--Spanking in a non-sexual context.
--Child abuse of any nature.
--Animal abuse of any nature.
--More violence than would be seen in canon, or torture whether seen in canon or not.
The actual point of all this is that I'd like to second, third or (more realistically at this point) fifty-seventh the recommendation for Freedom's Just Another Word for Nothing Left to Lose, and it totally warrants one of the major warnings of fanfiction, but I think not so egregiously that people who'd normally avoid that
Actually, feel free to discuss the five major warnings question, but let's just leave which one the story needs at...unspecified, as it would detract slightly and becomes blazingly obvious within a few paragraphs both what happened, and why that's not the real point of the tale.
Just go read Freedom's Just Another Word...
It's really, really good. My comment to the author consisted of "way to rip out my heart, grind it up for awhile and put it back," if that helps at all.
And if you comment on the story in the process of discussing the warnings? Please don't specify or hint at which one it needs, thanks.
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no subject
Date: 2006-03-12 07:44 pm (UTC)("Fake non-con" where the writer warns it might look like it but its not, is fine).
Another squick I used to have that I think should be a warning is Firefly related--CSI (Crazy Space INCEST). Took a long while to get over that one--and I can only do it as seeing them as Summer and Sean, really. Couple of other fandoms do this as well--and I just want a heads up on it so that I can get MY head in the right place.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-12 10:46 pm (UTC)Frankly, all I care about is the pairing (if it's not a gen story) and even then I only need to know the main pairing. If the author is good enough, if the story is good enough, I don't care where it takes me. If I'm surprised along the way, I consider that a bonus.
But then I'm contrary that way ;-)
no subject
Date: 2006-03-12 11:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-12 11:41 pm (UTC)That said, I'd prefer warnings for stories that are pretty much about the dark side, very violent or loaded up on the hurt with comfort pretty much not being the point. Oh, and domestic discipline. Won't do it if that's the point of the story. Overdosing on happy-happy, joy-joy is not my cup of tea, but the underlying theme and ending of a story should be at least somewhat hopeful and life-affirming. That, in my opinion, is what story-telling is for.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-13 02:43 pm (UTC)