hello,
i've seen a debate going around regarding the writing off taboo fanfiction because of the pitt and I'm here to give my 2 cents about it as someone who writes smut and slight taboo topics on here, on multiple blogs, and on ao3.
there was an app that had a similar purpose as ao3, of being an uncensored "archive" with problematic stuff for those who enjoy writing or reading it, reddit.
reddit started with the purpose of being completely uncensored, with the preface that it was for "freedom of speech" and they didn't want anyone to be silenced, banned or reported for problematic behaviour.
it started "innocent" enough, taboo subjects being talked about openly with little to no judgement from other people, until...it wasn't just fiction, as people claim it always is.
if you dig a little deeper here on tumblr you're going to find several taboo and hard kinks that people enjoy, with the disclosure that 1. it's consensual 2. it's a kink with pre-established boundaries and 3. the involved are of age.
on reddit there were starting to appear subreddits that were openly posting child pornography, videos of real children being raped and abused. correctional rape subreddits with real women and real lesbians being raped and abused and, don't get me wrong, dykebreaking IS a real kink and WORKS with consent from both parties as a roleplay, but reddit was different.
until the police got involved, reddit creators were STILL acting on the pretext of freedom of speech with literal child pornography and rape on their site.
when reddit started to get rightfully censored on these especific posts under high authority order, the users complained about reddit breaking their "rule" of "freedom of speech" which is insane. pedophiles were being OPENLY encouraged and felt comfortable enough to admit that they were pissed at reddit taking out CHILD. PORNOGRAPHY. from their sites.
where do i want to get with this.
no, i do not think ao3 should be censored but i do think writing correctional rape fanfiction about a lesbian because you got triggered that REAL lesbians from REAL life were like "um, I don't really think you should encourage this behavior as lesbians are already very mistreated socially and politically" should be considered a lack of morality and the proff that fiction affects reality.
and fiction does, in fact, affect reality.
if you are incapable of listening to your readers, apologizing, and owning up to your mistakes as a writer, you shouldn't be a fucking writer.
and believe me, i enjoy taboo fanfiction as much as the next person but this crosses a line. writing should be enjoyable and, honestly, i have no idea how you can write about a lesbian being raped straight and enjoy it, or think its okay since problematic media is fine.
its not just a "don't like, don't read" situation, it goes deeper into the sheer lesbophobia society perpetuates and its important to acknowledge your fiction, fetishes, kinks and the like DO affect reality, be it exclusively yours or the general people's.
i have hard kinks, i have taboo fetishes, do you think im proud of them? no lol i got raped at 16 and ended up turning to this to deal with it and i understand that me being in cnc and dubcon is a problematic behaviour and affects the way men act towards women in sexual relationships.
in conclusion, you can write whatever you want, but dont cry about the criticism that comes to you (rightfully so) from people who actually suffer from the "fiction" you're writing about.
