Before you read a Prosfic...

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Somewhere along the way I've picked up the impression that Pros fans tend to be divided most strongly into either slash, gen or het (or various combinations thereof) readers, and that it is on this basis first that we decide whether or not to read a particular Prosfic story. Following an interesting discussion a few weeks ago about labels/categories/warnings etc on Prosfic, Circuit Archive is experimenting with including other information in their lj (and presumably other) updates, and this has got me thinking about it all again - in a rather needs-first-coffee-of-the-morning kind of way!

Basically, I know that I hate all warnings etc on a Prosfic story that I'm about to read, except that I'd like to know whether it's slash, gen or het, because I adore slash, I'll read gen if there's some reason to (or a chance of adding my own subtext!) and I don't want to touch het with a bargepole... a very long bargepole! During the discussion, I came across the idea that most people would view a label of slash, het or gen (or the story's pairings, which actually is a much smarter way of telling us whether it's slash, het or gen!) as the same kind of "spoiler" as, say a deathfic warning, which completely surprised me, took me aback, and got me thinking even more... *g*

And then I remembered that lj lets you do those poll-thingies, and wondered if I might try one of those... though I'd like to hear what people think as well as just seeing numbers, so please do comment as well! So - what kind of, if any, information do you look for before you read a Pros story? (And I'm not really going for the to-warn-about-deathfic/rape/non-consensual debate here, although I've included it in my question and I'm curious about numbers there too, it's more the broader sense of the question - and do we care about age ratings? Are there other things people consider that I've never even thought of?!) So, without further ado:

[Poll #1043269]
I've never tried doing a poll before, so here's hoping it works - do let me know if you have problems... Oh, it looks like you have to vote first, and hit submit, and then comment afterwards - you can't comment and vote at the same time (I just tried it...)! And non-lj members can't vote (says lj, not us), but you can still comment!

Comments

[schnuffi.livejournal.com]

I definitely want to know if it's slash, gen or het cause I won't touch het with a long bargepole either ;) I'd also like to have warning if it's either death fic or rape because I won't read either. Otherwise I like surprises and need no further warnings.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Ah, so you're really F) as well then! There seems to be a preference for slash/gen/het and content warnings so far, which is probably what I expected actually... Mind you, it always surprises me when I hear that people want to know the end of a story, even if it's a sad end!

[schnuffi.livejournal.com]

Hehe, we do have quite a lot in common - even almost matching icons *G*.

I don't want to know the end of a story (though I tend to scroll down sometimes...) but I don't wanna read anything where one of the lads will die or is dead already. And I definitely don't wanna read about rape. Raises unbidden memories so big nono.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Yes, I need an icon of Bodie reading too, to alternate!

There are definitely good reasons why people don't want to read about certain things, and they shouldn't have to if they can find a way to mitigate those things - I do think it's great to have the search options at our archives!

[schnuffi.livejournal.com]

Yes, the search options are incredibly helpful. Wouldn't know what to do without them.

Bodie? Reading? You must be kidding. Ok, he might read weapons magazines like "Babes in Arms" or such *wicked grin*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Well, he gets the poetry from somewhere, you know... He just wants to present himself as a thug - but that boy's not stoopid...

[schnuffi.livejournal.com]

Never said he was. I just think that he's got better things to do during his time off than reading books }-)>

[smirra.livejournal.com]

He reads the labels on food tins. The poems he reads with a mag lite under the duvet.

[schnuffi.livejournal.com]

*snort* that definitely sounds like him.