Lord please do not let this become a dumpster fire

[Senor_Smut]

Before I start this post proper, let me give you a list of things I am NOT trying to do:

1. Complain about Lit policy
2. Change Lit policy
3. Push boundaries to squeeze in something that breaks the rules

The only reason for this post is to clarify in my mind what remains, in spite of huge amounts of discussion, complaint, and flame wars, a slightly nebulous and haphazardly enforced policy. To whit:

is it permissible for two adult characters to mention that they had or did not have sex ed classes in school under the age of 18? This is coming up as a natural and inevitable part of a conversation in a story I am currently writing, and if it violates policy to talk about 14-year-olds having sex ed classes (which is pretty standard in American schools, at least) then I will need to rewrite the entire conversation. NOTICE I AM NOT SAYING THAT THEY HAD SEX AT THAT AGE, only that they received a standard education.

Again, I am doing this because I want to stay inside of the policy, not exceed it. To do that, I need to know where the boundaries are, that's all.

God, this is going to turn into a dumpster fire.

 

[Agent0069]

Unless sex ed included practical part and homework assignments, I think you should be fine.

 

[AwkwardMD]

Plenty of my own stories feature characters alluding to underage sex, their first time, etc.

The line Lit draws is sexualizing that encounter. It can't be described in any significant way.

 

[Bramblethorn]

That should be fine, though I would stick something in the Notes field flagging what you're doing ("this story contains brief discussion about how two characters had sex-ed classes at age 14, no actual under-age sex is described") just to avoid the possibility of an accidental rejection via skim-reading.

 

[Britva415]

In real life, kids get aroused in or as the result of sex ed classes. Not all of them, but it seems like there's one in every class.

Don't have this happen, or don't talk about the kid developing any sexual fantasies, and, you'll probably be fine talking about a kid in a sex ed class.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

Should be OK as long as the retelling is about facts and maybe funny anecdotes, and definitely not for the purposes of arousal. Even mentioning a character had sex under age is OK on Lit if it's only a factual statement, and again, not described for titillation.

I'd mention it in the Notes when submitting.

 

[Senor_Smut]

Thanks for the information all, and especially thanks for the civil tone. I know conversations around topics like these are a perennial flashpoint around here, and I had no desire to ruffle anyone's feathers.

 

[ElectricBlue]

God, this is going to turn into a dumpster fire.

It only becomes a blaze if the "question" is being asked in such a way that it's obvious the asker knows the answer, and wants to push over it. Your question doesn't do that, all you want to know is, where's the line?

As the others all say, a one-liner mention of sex-ed is fine, just don't go into details. As Bramblethorn suggests, a Note to the editor is very sensible, drawing Laurel's attention to any mention of age, so she can immediately see context and assess it.

I think you'll be fine.

 

[MrPixel]

What I recall of sex ed vs. most of us kids at that age is largely "Ewwwww...". So I would think in that context it should fly, caveats above observed.

 

[Senor_Smut]

What I recall of sex ed vs. most of us kids at that age is largely "Ewwwww...". So I would think in that context it should fly, caveats above observed.

Yeah, we all "ewwwed" even though we were fascinated. That's how you were obliged to react. LOL

 

[MillieDynamite]

I've got some lighter fluid and a match, do I need to get this fire going?

 

[SimonDoom]

Done right, this shouldn't be a problem. I have an alternative approach to that proposed by Bramblethorn (which I think is reasonable). When you mention that characters recall having sex ed:

1. Don't state their ages when they did. Just vaguely refer to it being when they were in school.
2. Don't refer to any anatomical or sexual details.
3. Avoid any specifics that might conceivably arouse somebody reading the story.
4. Be on the look-out for any words that you might use that might trigger whatever the screening method is. Be vague.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

The "is this OK" threads are usually pretty drama free.
The "How can I get away with this" or "how can I subvert the rules" threads are dumpster fires.

In your case a couple of characters comparing notes about what they learned in school should be fine, as long as it isn't an attempt to be titillating.

 

[Whanmore]

Yeah, we all "ewwwed" even though we were fascinated. That's how you were obliged to react. LOL

I was just so intrigued like...hmmm . "So there's just... nothing there?"

 

[Senor_Smut]

Basically the extent of the conversation will be one character asking another what she learned in school about sex ed, and her replying something to the effect of, "All they taught us was 'Don't do it because Jesus.' Remember, I lived in Kansas." That will be all.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Basically the extent of the conversation will be one character asking another what she learned in school about sex ed, and her replying something to the effect of, "All they taught us was 'Don't do it because Jesus.' Remember, I lived in Kansas." That will be all.

I'd be shocked if that causes you any problems.

 

[AchtungNight]

From my own experience, it was okay for my heroine to constantly refer to her backstory of growing up with three polyamorous retired hippie parents who encouraged free love and were okay with open relationships and bisexuality yet also stressed she should adhere to the law and avoid sex till age 18. It was also okay for her to have an estranged lesbian older sister, a history of playing the dating field with guys, and a reputation as a teen tease. But when I referred too much to her masturbation prior to age 18 or when I detailed it excessively is when my stories got rejected. I restricted such details along with discussions on her sexual attractions and activities in general to when she was of legal age and I was fine. It’s a fine line.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Red hair is the finest hair, and that's the line you must tread.

From my own experience, it was okay for my heroine to constantly refer to her backstory of growing up with three polyamorous retired hippie parents who encouraged free love and were okay with open relationships and bisexuality yet also stressed she should adhere to the law and avoid sex till age 18. It was also okay for her to have an estranged lesbian older sister, a history of playing the dating field with guys, and a reputation as a teen tease. But when I referred too much to her masturbation prior to age 18 or when I detailed it excessively is when my stories got rejected. I restricted such details along with discussions on her sexual attractions and activities in general to when she was of legal age and I was fine. It’s a fine line.

 

[gunhilltrain]

I've got some lighter fluid and a match, do I need to get this fire going?

Yes, but it's got to be bigger than a dumpster fire. Let's burn down the entire block.

Noble Avenue fire

 

[ElectricBlue]

Basically the extent of the conversation will be one character asking another what she learned in school about sex ed, and her replying something to the effect of, "All they taught us was 'Don't do it because Jesus.' Remember, I lived in Kansas." That will be all.

Can't see a problem with that at all.

 

[Voboy]

I've included underage references to sex ed in my stories before, OP, and nobody cared. Go with your bad self.

 

[AchtungNight]

Red hair is the finest hair, and that's the line you must tread.

What a coincidence. The character I’m talking about is a redhead.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Well, that one isn't me, I swear it.

Yes, but it's got to be bigger than a dumpster fire. Let's burn down the entire block.

Noble Avenue fire

Yeah, so is one of my friends!

What a coincidence. The character I’m talking about is a redhead.

 

[gunhilltrain]

Well, that one isn't me, I swear it.

Well, it wasn't me either, although I live about two miles from there. I guess I like the photo because I've never seen that many ladder trucks at a fire before. By comparison, dumpster fires are trivial. We need a new metaphor, I suppose.

 

[gunhilltrain]

In real life, kids get aroused in or as the result of sex ed classes. Not all of them, but it seems like there's one in every class.

Don't have this happen, or don't talk about the kid developing any sexual fantasies, and, you'll probably be fine talking about a kid in a sex ed class.

I seem to remember one sex ed class on a single day. The whole course was called something like "Health Ed." I remember it being rather boring rather than arousing.