sophinisba | warnings

What are your feelings about warning labels on fics?

How specific do you think they should be? Do you ever get to resenting them as spoilers, feel that the warning is giving away something about the fic that, as an author or as a reader, you would rather keep a surprise? Have you ever had readers complain that there was something in a fic that they weren't prepared for? Have you ever felt that way yourself and resented the author for not having warned you?

Heh, and have you noticed that I tend to ask these questions without giving my own thoughts on the matter? I'm not sure if this is more something intentional like not wanting to shape other people's thoughts too much or make them reluctant to disagree, or if it's more just me being a wimp.

I have mixed feelings about it all. When I started reading fanfic I thought it was a helpful and considerate idea, and sometimes even made it easier to find the things that I wanted. (I don't think most people here will hate me if I say that sometimes, yeah, I'm in the mood for a story with some violence, or a character death, or for something unusually kinky or a PWP.) Also, there aren't many warning labels that will keep me from trying out a fic, but sometimes I'm glad to know the disturbing thing is coming, to be more prepared for it. I don't think I squick all that easily and the things that could really bug me are probably too specific for me to expect authors to put up labels about them.

I should also say though that some of my favorite fics, including monster WIPs which I've spent many, many hours reading, come with no warnings at all, or only something as vague as "potentially disturbing elements" or "lots of angst". And nothing in these fics has made me wish I hadn't read them, but I can see how other people could get upset.

Do I worry too much?

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Personally, I resent them as spoilers. I wish no fics were labeled, because I hate being spoiled. It really ruins my enjoyment of a fic. I don't want a hint that minor character X is to meet a grisly death-- just kill him, and let me react with proper emotion to the event! If you're writing an AU, kill whomever you want: Aragorn, Frodo, I don't care. (Well, I care, but it _is_ an AU; take it where you will.)

I even resent dropping the name of the pairing, because often that's part of the fun--discovering who will end up with whom. However, I realize that many people want to read only about certain characters or certain pairings, so I always provide at least the major character.

On the other hand, I realize that some people really do have issues with certain kinds of violence or kinky sex. It is polite to warn them, but I'd prefer to warn as vaguely as possible. Warnings about slash or het strike me as simply silly, but then, I write both and read both so I don't have a drum to beat in either arena.

What I do like: the rating, and the genre (humor, drama, angst). That's enough to prepare me for the mood. I can trust a good writer to handle the story and plot elements to my satisfaction, no warnings required. :)

Yea! A difference of opinion! This is very good to know, there are definitely times when I enjoy a surprise too. There's some stuff in a fic that I would prefer not to give away but I realize it's the fanfic custom to let people know (and probably moreso in hobbit and interspecies fic than some other areas). I've been trying to think of compromises -- how would you feel about detailed warnings underneath an LJ cut, for instance?

The problem with detailed warnings under a cut is that, as soon as I click the link, I see the warnings anyway! You'd have to make two cuts, one for the warning, and another for the fic.

I really, really hate spoilers. Be as vague as you can. If you are someone whose writing I enjoy, I want to enjoy the story, your vision, and your skill as you tell the tale. I don't want to be warned about something that might happen. The last time I read one of my favorite WIPs, I was mad because I knew a certain character was going to die by the chapter's end. PHAW! It's like going into the second Star Wars movie knowing who Luke's father is.

I realize that I'm very much in the minority here, and won't win this battle. But less is better, in my opinion.

You probably are in the minority, but I think there ought to be a way of accommodating both preferences. I can get pretty extreme about avoiding spoilers myself. Like I'm annoyed that I accidentally read several Harry Potter spoilers this month, even though I haven't even bothered to read more than the first two books yet. It's the principle of the thing, and the possibility that I might get around to reading the rest of them someday. And I get annoyed whenever anybody says ANYTHING about Lost (other than "It's really good") because I'm waiting for the DVD.

And I'll tell you a secret: sometimes I'm kind of glad that I didn't read LOTR until after the first movie came out, because Gandalf's fall at Khazad Dum was a complete surprise to me, and that helped make it one of the most emotional moments I'd had in a movie theater in years. Shocking and horrible, but in a good way, you know?

See, the thing is, you found Gandalf's death "Shocking and horrible, but in a good way." I know some people (because they told me) who threw the book aside at that point and never read on. They truly did! I think it is such a horrible loss, but some people get really, really upset at death (or other understandably upsetting things).

I read what Lily said about her flist, and I so appreciate that. That is why I put spoilers on my fics, even though I wouldn't want to personally. I shocked I friend once-- I truly didn't think it would be shocking, as it was humor. But still, I felt terrible! As long at LOTR is a community, and the community seems to be in favor of spoilers, then I must abide by the community rules. Left to myself, I would avoid warnings, but I'm not left to myself. My enjoyment will be lessened, but my friends won't be upset. That's the deal. It's a small price to pay for being part of such a wonderful fandom.

Yeah, and my mom found that and Boromir's death so upsetting that she refused to come with me to see ROTK until after I'd promised her that no other members of the Fellowship would die. I understand that and I went along with it for her, but I wouldn't want to have known it myself. So I think I'd like to see a way of giving people a choice of whether they get spoilers or not.

Oh, yes. That would be perfect-- a choice. But how to do it?

Also, people vary considerably in what they consider adequate warnings. For example, someone might summarize LOTR as, "Frodo's journey to Mount Doom where he destroys the Ring, and his decline afterwards." That might satisfy your mom, but few others.

We have to be very careful, in these internet days. It's so easy to spill the beans!

And my mom would make an anxious face and say, "And will there be a lot more of those orcs?"

I wrote my idea in a comment to mother2012 below: a separate intro post giving warnings and summary under an lj cut, and then each chapter of the fic would have a link to that post. I'm probably thinking about it too much though. (And should spend more time thinking about how to get Frodo out of jail.)

You absolutely should! As far as the community goes, I pretty much follow the norm of posting warnings-- it's easier. But if you went to the trouble to hide yours, if they are spoilerish, I'd appreciate it!

Heh, well, now I need to go ahead and get some fic written, but I'll keep this discussion in mind.

I kind of agree with that, especially from the writer's standpoint. I hate to put out a spoiler of the very thing I'm building up to.

I wonder whether it would work to simply put the warnings under the cut or, here's an idea, have a link to a post that gives the warnings. Obviously though, a lot of people wouldn't bother with reading the fic that way - too much effort for unknown return.

No, but I think something like that could work in LJ, especially for a longer fic in several installments. Before chapter 1 there would be a sort of intro post: I've been working on a new fic, and some bad stuff happens in it. If you'd like more detailed warnings, please click here. If you'd prefer to be surprised, chapter 1 will be coming soon. And then in the heading of each of the following chapters there could be a link: More detailed warnings here.

I don't know though. It doesn't seem like a lot of effort to me, but some people want their warnings in flashing lights. Hmmm.

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