ITLAPD and a poll about non-con

[emmagrant01]

They're even doing pirate talk on Regis & Kelly. The world feels like a very small place today.

On another topic entirely: I posted a fic the other day that had a non-con warning on it, and the response to it was pretty interesting. A lot of people commented that they had been hesitant to read it because of that warning, but for whatever reason read it anyway. So I was flattered, of course, but also intrigued. I almost didn't label it as non-con, because I wasn't sure it technically qualified. I decided to add that label for the heck of it, and didn't really think that a significant number of people would avoid reading it as a result.

[Poll #824833]

How would you define non-con? Is there really such a thing as "mild" non-con, or do you categorize it all in the same way?

Comments

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

See, that's the sort of non-uniformity among these definitions that does exist, and it isn't because you think non-con is "sort of" rape or anything for which you should be jumped-upon, which does happen. Yes, I use non-con to mean rape, but that's because I thought it functioned as a fandom euphemism for the word rape when I was introduced to the term. But one might just as easily conclude differently, thinking it serves to describe a technical event of rape but one which involves coercion instead of violence, or any one of the other degrees you've outlined above. I keep seeing the issue lead to fights! ^_^

[atdelphi.livejournal.com]

I've definitely been lucky because I've never actually had this be a point of contention with anyone. You're right, though - 'non-con' is definitely used as a catch-all within fandom, and I certainly don't mind that. Most times I'll avoid a warning for 'rape' unless it doesn't seem to be the whole of the story or I know the author (like you) and know they can handle disturbing/sensitive material well (a 'You raped me - now I love you!' story is going to squick me more than graphic torture.) I'm probably more likely to click on a story labelled 'non-con' than 'rape' if I'm in the mood for something dark or angsty, and much more likely to consider 'dubious consent' or 'coercion' as a draw rather than a warning. On the whole, I'm really not picky about other people's warnings, as I'm the sort to just hit the back button when I reach something I don't want to keep reading - but I do try to make my own warnings as exact as possible because 1) I'm anal like that, and 2) I get flamed. A lot. :-D