EROTICA

colleen belatedly, John, I am extremely relieved that you are not censoring this list.

on my first or second day as a member I saw a comment belittling another person's list because some of the words were too mundane for that commenter's taste. it disturbed me. it was petty and pointless. and now we have this list, where 'crap' and 'disgusting' are being applied, and that disturbs me too.

what if someone made a list of common epithets, and included nigger, kike, and faggot? I imagine (hope!) that those words would offend all of us, but I would argue that they have a right to be listed. "words you hate" is in the mission statement, after all.

perhaps an option of making a list private could be worked in? you once agreed with me that part of the beauty of this project was authorial intent. perhaps gmb means this list in a way none of us will ever understand, and that is all right with me. Dec 24, 2006

maygra Not to beat a dead horse; but just to fix in context, that "eye fuck" isn't nearly as violent as it sounds, it's a vernacular for the kind of heated, sexually charged glances given across distances -- i.e. along the lines of undressing each other with their eyes. I'm sure it could mean something more violent but that's the context I know it from. "Gang rape" on the other hand I could see as people finding offensive or distasteful, but rape (or rather, rape fantasies) have been the staple of bodice rippers for years. It may still be offensive to folks, but it's a pretty common literary trope.

Ooooh. Bodice rippers! ::adds to new list:: Dec 23, 2006

john Ok, no problem, I'll leave it be. I'd rather defer to community standards than act peremtorily; my initial comment was basically an excercise in figuring out what the standards are.

To those of you who don't find some of these words offensive, though, I don't get it. It's not the sex I mind, it's the violence. This list purports to be erotica, and I personally don't find "gang rape" and "eye fuck" to be erotic on any level. But to each their own. Dec 23, 2006

sonofgroucho I think it's surprising that anyone finds a list like this offensive. I can accept that these words could be combined into sentences that some would find offensive, but I agree with Lampbane that forbidding a list such as this would set a most unwelcome precedent. Dec 23, 2006

oroboros All these and a lot more are listed in "The Encyclopedia of Unusual Sex Practices" by Linda Love; there are 47 copies of it in LibraryThing catalogues. There is the issue of "family friendly" but I imagine John knows whether that can be done or not. Dec 23, 2006

maygra If they weren't all gathered together in a single list, just random words on someone else's list, would it be as much of a problem? I could argue that some of this list aren't words but phrases, but I've seen that elsewhere too.

I don't find anything on this offensive as a list of words. Thought provoking yes, but context makes the difference and part of the whole joy of this site it to take the context out of the equation and just enjoy the words.

I agree with Lampbane that you may be setting a precedent you don't intend, and requiring the members to second guess what you (or anyone else) might find personally offensive. But it's your project and your site. Dec 23, 2006

uselessness It's disgusting. But nobody's being forced to look at it. I certainly don't think I'll be back to this page again. That ought to be enough. Go to the lists you like, don't go to the lists you don't.

If you want to keep the home page family-friendly, you might consider censoring which words pop up on there. But I don't think you should involve yourself in an individual's lists. Dec 23, 2006

lampbane I personally don't find it offensive, and think it just sets a dangerous precedent to dictate what kind of lists people can make (because what is offensive is highly subjective). Dec 23, 2006

john I don't like a lot of the content on this list, and I'm considering nuking it. Anyone have an opinion on whether I should do that or not? On the one hand, I generally have an anything-goes attitude. On the other, I prefer that we respect each other, and some of the crap listed here is offensive.

Anyone have an opinion on whether this should stay or go? I'm listening. Dec 23, 2006