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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.
I do, however, want to point out that I am 10x more likely to skip a fic that has Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings. You get burned enough times, everyone pays. And I promise, if you don’t use a warning (and I mean the big ones–major character death, rape, etc.) when you should have, I will never read another fic you write. Never.
So remember that when you click that button. Just like me reading your fic is a choice I am responsible for, whether or not you properly warn is your choice, but that choice doesn’t happen in a vacuum and it has consequences.
100% you always, ALWAYS have the right to skip a fic that is tagged “chose not to warn.”
The tag is there to warn you that the author only wants readers in their audience who are consenting to be surprised.
Writers who tag “chose not to warn” are generally not looking to maximize the audience size of their story but rather to present their story in the most authentic way that feels right to them.
Most writers who tag “chose not to warn” will be glad that you skipped their story if you are not someone who wants to be surprised, and happy for you that you chose to take care of yourself.
I don’t care if you never read my work because I checked a box. I don’t write to get you, specifically, to read my stuff. The world does not revolve around you.
If the “consequence” of this action is that I’m rewarded with not having to deal with this level of self-importance, I see that as an additional bonus, not a minus in any way.
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