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➡️ Content warnings on fiction are a courtesy.
➡️ Not every medium of fiction and storytelling has or is expected to have content warnings or extensive tagging.
➡️ Print novels do not traditionally warn for content in any way.
➡️ Until AO3 came along, fanfiction did not traditionally warn for content in any significant way.
➡️ An author is only obligated to warn for content to the degree mandated by the format they publish their fiction on.
➡️ Content warnings beyond the minimum are a courtesy, not an obligation.
➡️ ‘Creator chose not to warn’ is a valid tag that authors are allowed to use on AO3. It means there could be anything in there and you have accepted the risk. ‘May contain peanuts!’
➡️ Writers are allowed to use ‘Creator chose not to warn’ for any reason, including to maintain surprise and avoid spoilers.
➡️ ‘Creator chose not to warn’ is not the same thing as ‘no archive warnings apply’.
➡️ It is your responsibility to protect yourself and close a book, or hit the back button if you find something in fiction that you’re reading that upsets you.
➡️ You are responsible for protecting yourself from fiction that causes you discomfort.
-> you are allowed to decide you don’t want to read anything from someone who doesn’t use tags/warnings
-> you are not allowed to harass them/be a jerk about it
-> (I mean this is the internet you are allowed but it’s not great behavior and contributes to the internet being a hostile place)
“Don’t like don’t read” absolutely applies to “I don’t like that this doesn’t come with labels, therefore I will not read”
I believe strongly in content warnings and try very hard to be mindful BUT I also know that it is wrong to abuse people for not having them. I also believe strongly that content warnings and tags are extremely subjective. You can’t possible know what will trigger someone. It is your responsibility to stop reading when something upsets you.
Also I got a crabby comment yesterday about how I tagged something. It made me mad. The bottom line is a tag is based on what the author thinks. It is no different than how a book is cataloged in a library or book store. Believe me when I tell you the dewey decimal system is truly just a shot in the dark. Book Stores also can differ on how they chose to place a book. Tagging is not a science.
I made the decision to just block the person. I write for fun. I’m not interested in mean or rude comments.
Be Nice.
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