Debate Fanfiction.net

This is a subject that's of great interest to me, and I just wanted to gauge everyone else's thoughts on it.

I'm sure 99 percent of us are aware of the Internet-fueled spread of fanfiction. Whereas before the 'net people were confined to writing their own spinoffs of shows in cluttered notebooks, now they can be broadcast for the world to see on special websites for them. Far and away the most popular of these if fanfiction.net (Which I have a few stories on as well).

A couple of months ago, fanfiction.net decided to ban several types of stories that its staff was apparently growing concerned about. Among the types banned were stories based on "real" people (As in musicians, reality show contestants, politicians and others who actually exist), and X-rated stories, stories with explicit sex and more-than-gratuitous violence. Both sparked a frenzy of complaints from writers, but so far fanfiction.net has stood firm on its ban.

Where do you guys all stand on the issue? Is fanfiction.net, whose motto is "Unleash your imagination and free your soul" right to ban stories that get complaints from lawyers and angry parents? Or is it practicing censorship and hypocrisy by limiting the kinds of views that can be expressed?

 

They own the servers, they own the content, they have control over what goes onto their site. They're not stopping anyone from writing creepy stalker/sex stories, all they're saying is that they won't host them, which is both perfectly legal, and 100% morally acceptable.

- Ark

 

Personally, I signed a petition to bring those things back. It pissed me off because even though I don't read adult fanfiction, I believe it is our right as humankind to be able to write whatever we want, even if it is erotic. It's HUMAN NATURE, DERN IT!

 

I agree with Ark that it is their site, they are hosting it, so they have the right to do as they please to it. I was a bit pissed by it all, but y'know, there really isn't all that much we can do about it. S'their site. Just have to put up with it unless someone can change their minds. (Shame, I liked some of the Angel Sanctuary NC-17 Yaoi they had on there :/)

 

you can still write it, they just wont host it for you

 

The issue is this---is this site a free site??

Can anybody gain access to it? Take a look at this subject from their side of the fence. If they allow such matter to post onto their website, they still need to answer to higher authorities. There are reasons why such industries have a rating system. No body knows the power of an angry or offended parent until that wrath is lashed out on them.

If I were a parent, and my young child was reading adult matter on a free website, I would flip out also.

It is not just a matter of banning the subjects, they may also have faced fines and possibly their licensing to operate their website.

As stated by others, no one is stopping you from writing what you enjoy, but there will always be a control system on how it is distributed.

Vic

 

If you want to write erotic fanfiction so badly, then write it. NO ONE IS STOPPING YOU.

Then, you can put it up on geocities, or angelfire, or any of a dozen other FREE webhosting services (at least, until they check your site and see what it is, see that it violates their Terms of Service, and remove your site).

People need to understand the nature of the First Amendment. It states that the GOVERNMENT will not stop your free speech, assembly, et al, unless it is violating the rights of another human. It does NOT guarentee that you can post whatever you want whereever you want. If someone puts graffiti on your car, you don't have to leave it there. If someone uploads something you don't like or don't want to your site, you can delete it. It's a concept called PRIVATE PROPERTY.

When the government puts you in jail for writing it, or when you're denied a job because of what you've written, then you have a First Amendment issue. Until then though, you're simply whining about rights that you never had.

- Ark

 

One thing to consider...

The reason fanfiction.net had to ban nc-17 stories was because it was very easy for children and/or young teenagers to access that kind of stories.

Clicking on the [ OK ] button of the "Yes, I'm over 18 and I accept that I'm reading an adult rated yadda yadda" is too easy. If fanfiction.net decided to ban that kind of stories was because they were asked to in the first place. Let's remember that fanfiction.net isn't made only for writers. It's made for readers, too! (doh!?)

A solution would be having a specific adult section (adultfiction.net ? ) that would only be accessed thru AVS or the like.

What I do NOT agree is removing violent fics. (unless of course they're really insane, like extra-violent-depressing-and-driving-you-nuts-with-lots-of-angst-and-suffering kind of fics.

Just because there's a scene that might be considered "controversial", oh well.

Still, I support their decision. In cases like this, i think "take the choice which harms the least."

By the way, anyone knows why fanfiction.net has been ofline for so much time recently?

 

i have been a member of that channel but, uh, lately i was too lazy to post any new development so i am not aware of the problems still i am there to watch for a freinds story "mia-" oops! this is geting way out of the topic.

still, it is their right to banned sexually charged story-i agree with them

 

So what if fanfiction banned nc-17 stuff? That isn't gonna stop kids from getting ahold of that stuff. If they want it, it's not hard at all to get on the net. You can't beat the net, people will always keep writing things and publishing them on geocities and angelfire. So, why not let people express themselves? I don't plan to write anything like that anytime soon, but if some one wants to write it, and trust me, many people want to read it, why stop them?

 

A private website is no different than your house. If you don't want graffiti or other things you don't agree with on your house, no one has the right to put it there.

- Ark

 

If you want to read NC-17 fanfic so bad go make your own. I do like to read some fanfic mostly inu yasha. There are websites that will post the hentai. Some don’t want to for reason all ready posted. I agree with Ark.

 

You missed the point. They banned it to cover their asses not because they want to clean up the internet.
In which case it was a very wise decision.
It's the same reason someone couldn't post a load of hentai drawings on the M2A art board.

 

I basically agree with things people have been saying. It's their property and they have the right to control what goes on in it. If they get sued, it's not the writers that are gonna pay the fine and go to court, is it now?

 

i think considering their motto they shouldn't have the right to ban those things. my opinion is that people should be allowed to publish those kind of fanfics if they want. it's their fanfic right. it's not a fanfic if it has limits.that's like trying to draw a manga with out using the colors black and white and any shades of gray. it can be done but takes the fun out of it. if people don't want to read that then don't read it.

 

Some people might disagree with it. But it makes perfect sense, right now if I wanted to I could go to tons of other sites that are things like blahblah.com and post adult content too.

There is no need to post the stuff were kids can find it so easily. I mean at least give them a challenge and make them go to another site that doesn't have tons of teens or kids posting there own material.

I'm not saying that adults don't post there too, but if they want to post adult content where kids go every day.

And you can't even use Free speech here, because your in their domain.

 

I disagree....Its fanfiction...whats the worst that can happen. So what if the kids find the adultry parts...theyll find out sooner or later. Though its thier site they should still go by what believe as in writing anything you want unleashing your imagination and YOU KNOW WHY because its FICTION....

 

I think you're missing the point...

If I'm not mistaken, they're aiming to be a site geared to most audiences and sex and the likes are a touchy subject when it comes to kids viewing it. It's the same concept as showing uncensored swearing or posting hentai on this site; it's the rules because it's what the owner wants. But hentai, in turn, is a type of anime as well. Don't see you defending that.

 

I guess my thoughts are a little scattered at the moment...but what do you mean by you dont see me defending that. Are you trying to say im for it

 

Vicious, I believe what Zack is saying is that your arguments are spurious and lack basis. You claim that because it's just fiction, even NC-17 fiction, it's not that bad and doesn't really matter if underage folks chance to read it. That's a mistaken assumption. To use Zack's excellent analogy: what about hentai? Hentai is just anime, though a perverted one. But using your logic, it shouldn't matter, right? Because it's just anime, and therefore only make-believe, it can't do much harm. Now does that seem right? The analogy between hentai and NC-17 fics is similar — just because a thing is not real doesn't mean it is in any way harmless.

Now, regarding FFnet's ban of certain types of stories... it's their right and prerogative to do so. Fanfiction.net is a free service that provides for budding authors a place to air their stories. And to continue to remain a free service, they must take steps to protect both themselves and their clients (i.e. the authors). If the site is taken down because of legal action by angry parents and outraged companies or artists, they can't very well continue their service, now can they? Yes, people do have have the right to write anything they want, and they can. They just can't do it on FFnet.