the no politics/religion rule and forbidden romance

[TheLobster]

I generally agree with @TheLobster on this (gasp), with the caveat that I don't actually think you need to time-shift political issues. Don't name specific politicians or parties, don't villainize characters simply because of overly identifiable political ideologies, and in my opinion you'll be fine

Definitely agree with that. (Again? Hell's not just frozen over, it must be entering an ice age!)

The time shift I postulated was specifically for plots that very heavily revolve around the political system; think something like House of Cards. Putting those within the contemporary time frame, and discussing in depth actual hot-button topics that political camps put on their banners -- or worse yet, actual politicians -- I suspect would be quite dicey wrt your publishing chances here.

In other words, I wouldn't try to write recognizably political pamphlets, or fan fiction about the current members of Congress or residents of the White House.

Political issues, I believe, are a different matter, because sometimes they're by nature inescapable (e.g., when they directly relate to economics that impact the characters' lives). It would be silly if you had to time-shift those, as it would preclude your stories from being directly relevant to the real world in the present.

There is of course the perennial question of what constitutes a political issue, but I don't think it necessarily has to be answered. As long as it impacts a character in a realistic way and thus enriches a story, who cares whether it's political to some but not to others?

 

[StrentWriter]

I'm not saying people shouldn't preach.

I'm suggesting people who want their stories posted here without difficulty should probably refrain from preaching.

Those are two different things. If the site hosting my story has rules, and I deliberately try to break them or even skirt them, I'm being at the very least discourteous.

Yeah, I can see the way “my house my rules” works - but also, no. I don’t have to agree with it.

 

[YmaOHyd]

In other words, I wouldn't try to write recognizably political pamphlets, or fan fiction about the current members of Congress or residents of the White House.

There's at least one series rollin' along now that includes information about how Pres. Trump and VP Pence died in office and what actions new president Pelosi took and why.

 

[KittyOfSteele]

I’m going to be bold and say “bollocks to the no politics rule”.

Throughout all of human history, the best writers have been political.

Some of the greatest romance stories are born of war and politics; there was no attempt, for example, to make Casablanca a balancing act between the Nazis and the free French: it was a film whose politics were obvious. Nazis are bad, the resistance is good. And a story of love was built on it.

If you decide to arbitrarily restrict people from being political, the only people that benefits are those whose politics is about censure-ship. Nothing more, nothing less.

So with the greatest of respect to those saying people shouldn’t preach - rubbish. At least be consistent in your view. If politics is out, so is religion. And so is “freedom of speech” that lots of people bang on about but only seem to care when it’s their view being shunned.

While I agree, there's two asterisks:

• Art, by its very nature, it's political in the form of being anti-establishment. It is a form of rebellion. I come from the world of political caricatures, and the greatest editorial cartoonists had an ethos they shared with me: never hold back and mess around with everyone in power, including those with whom you agree with. The moment you stop using art as means to ridicule, call out, and shake down the powers, and start using it as a form of praise for anyone, person or party, your art dies, and it becomes propaganda. There's an anecdote about Beethoven: he wrote the Piano Concerto Nº 5, "Emperor," Op. 73 dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte. Ludwig admired Napoleon back then, and even wrote his name in the cover of the manuscript. As soon as Napoleon invaded Germany, Ludwig took that leaf, threw it to the ground, and spat on it and kicked it in a fit of rage, and replaced Napoleon's name with the word Emperor on a new leaf. I don't know the veracity about it, but it came to me from someone who is a respectable researcher in music, so I have a tendency to believe it. I think this gets my point across. Future KoS Here: I did a quick fact checking, and it turns out he dedicated the concerto later on to an Archduke after his disappointment with Napoleon.
• It should be reminded that the guidelines of Literotica don't exist as a form of code of ethics our stories most follow, or our product must abide to for as long as we keep breathing. The guidelines have one and only one purpose alone: to protect the platform. I will keep repeating this until everyone realizes that their writing is valid, and they can write whatever the fuck they want.

 

[Voboy]

Yeah, I can see the way “my house my rules” works - but also, no. I don’t have to agree with it.

That's cool, but it ain't your thread. I'm trying to answer the OP's question.

 

[Purechicanery]

There's at least one series rollin' along now that includes information about how Pres. Trump and VP Pence died in office and what actions new president Pelosi took and why.

OK so in that series, who's fucking whom?

 

[YmaOHyd]

OK so in that series, who's fucking whom?

Every single lady fucking one guy who will become the next President or whatever. I am ahhh not actively following it.

 

[Purechicanery]

Every single lady fucking one guy who will become the next President or whatever. I am ahhh not actively following it.

Ah the classic president harem or whatever. (IDK I assume that's a subgenre.) Well, some people are gerontophiles and more power to them I guess.

 

[MiaBabe23]

I don’t know, though it looks like others have given useful advice above
It does seem more than slightly ridiculous, though, that political debate or views are to be tiptoed around, while rape, incest, misogyny etc have their own categories
(And yep, no doubt the comments would be filled with political comments; but presumably so would stories about illegal acts…)

 

[StrentWriter]

I don’t know, though it looks like others have given useful advice above
It does seem more than slightly ridiculous, though, that political debate or views are to be tiptoed around, while rape, incest, misogyny etc have their own categories

Omg, so much this. Yes.

 

[Purechicanery]

I don’t know, though it looks like others have given useful advice above
It does seem more than slightly ridiculous, though, that political debate or views are to be tiptoed around, while rape, incest, misogyny etc have their own categories

TBH I haven't done any tiptoeing and probs many others haven't either. If, in the future, I feel like getting 'political' is going to add to the story, I'll probably go ahead and do it, and deal with any issues if and when they arise.

 

[Purechicanery]

I’m sure it would make for an interesting story, too

I mostly write incest themed works. If only there was a prominent political figure who was controversial for making sexualised statements about their daughter, or something like that.

But alas.

 

[KittyOfSteele]

If, in the future, I feel like getting 'political' is going to add to the story, I'll probably go ahead and do it, and deal with any issues if and when they arise.

You're going to love Marquis de Sade then lol.

Just remember: your writing is valid, you can write whatever you want.

 

[iwatchus]

I have a piece in the pipeline with a minor national political figure playing a supporting role, using a different name. Serious politicos will have no problem naming her IRL I suspect. It will be a sequel to my original series (I have published one of the eight planned sequels thus far). The story is mostly about the stressors a career can put on a relationship, but many of the background actions have significant political components to them. I will write it the way I want to and decide what to do if Laurel rejects it as too political. The story is primarily about an ongoing relationship in my series, so I am hopeful that it is not considered too political.

 

[big_cane_sugar]

Wow, again, sincere thanks to everyone who's pitched in here. I feel pretty clear guidance.

 

[Off_base]

I mostly write incest themed works. If only there was a prominent political figure who was controversial for making sexualised statements about their daughter, or something like that.

But alas.

Or maybe one who actually showered with their daughter?
It's so hard to choose

 

[Statius]

I had a conservative preacher in a story, even said sex was just for procreation according to his beliefs; had no issue publishing it. The key I think is to be objective in the writing. Don't bash the belief system or insult the religion. It's a hard line for me to walk but it worked.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

I agree with lobster. This doesn't sound like a problem to me. It's ok to use religion or politics as a dramatic element; just don't preach. I recommend leaving out specific names and references to current partisan issues.

Exactly this.

The context will matter, for both the political and religious content, but I have successfully included both elements in stories on this site.

 

[TheLobster]

There's at least one series rollin' along now that includes information about how Pres. Trump and VP Pence died in office and what actions new president Pelosi took and why.

Quaranteam, I presume?

Every single lady fucking one guy who will become the next President or whatever.

Ah, yes, seems like In this case, I don't see any problem with it, because it's clearly done for the (post-)apocalyptic shock value of "OMG! Wven the president and the VP are dead!" and it lands stronger when they have recognizable/current names.

 

[StrentWriter]

Okay, hypothetical (and something I am struggling with writing).

Aid worker in a difficult situation. I have a scene where he’s asked to give evidence to a select committee in parliament. He’s obviously critical of the regime he’s seen first hand. This would be considered political. Is this allowed?

(And I can hear people at the back shouting “where’s the sex in this” and trust me; it’s a slow burn this one!)

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Okay, hypothetical (and something I am struggling with writing).

Aid worker in a difficult situation. I have a scene where he’s asked to give evidence to a select committee in parliament. He’s obviously critical of the regime he’s seen first hand. This would be considered political. Is this allowed?

(And I can hear people at the back shouting “where’s the sex in this” and trust me; it’s a slow burn this one!)

Are you criticizing a real, current administration somewhere? Or is it a fictional administration?

 

[Purechicanery]

Is this allowed?

Write it and find out. The worst that's gonna happen is you could have to change some words and resubmit.

 

[calmlikeabomb]

She is a New York anti contraceptive conservative who wants it missionary.
He is a Blue Dog democrat who likes to do it doggy style.

Is their forbidden attraction doomed to fail, or will they discover common ground in sideways Anal?

 

[cw5523729]

She is a New York anti contraceptive conservative who wants it missionary.
He is a Blue Dog democrat who likes to do it doggy style.

Is their forbidden attraction doomed to fail, or will they discover common ground in sideways Anal?

I really think the ban is more to prevent blatant political propaganda rather than any mention of political leanings.

Visit the politics board on here, read literally any random thread, then imagine what story you'd expect if the OP in that thread wrote one that they wanted to publish on here. That's what they are trying to prevent, and rightly so.

I certainly can't confirm it but I suspect your story would be fine - at least as you've described it. If you get into more preachy descriptions in either direction, especially if you are explicitly slighting either one, then it'll be a different situation.

 

[calmlikeabomb]

I really think the ban is more to prevent blatant political propaganda rather than any mention of political leanings.

Visit the politics board on here, read literally any random thread, then imagine what story you'd expect if the OP in that thread wrote one that they wanted to publish on here. That's what they are trying to prevent, and rightly so.

I certainly can't confirm it but I suspect your story would be fine - at least as you've described it. If you get into more preachy descriptions in either direction, especially if you are explicitly slighting either one, then it'll be a different situation.

I've been to the Politics thread here, and they make the Joe Rogan subreddit feel like civilized discourse with top hats and monocles.

Going by OP's choice of words, it's evident which side of the spectrum they might be leaning towards, but regardless, my suggestion was just a tongue-in-cheek idea. It's refuge in audacity, and though I have no intentions of actually writing it, I'm sure a skillful writer could make something decent out of it.