Where, exactly, is the line drawn?

[LexxRuthless]

It's legal in a lot of US states too, or was. Things may be changing now. At one time, not too long ago, some states allowed it down to 14.

Yeah...a woman of my acquaintance was married at 14, divorced at 16, and started her second marriage at 17. We dated sometime between husband #3 and #4. That still doesn't make her underage, married sex life fair game for this site.

 

[Hypoxia]

This again. It has nothing to do with legality, but with Laurel's successful business model. Stories that won't pass Laurel's scrutiny can be legally posted on other sites, or the author's blog, wherever. If you don't like the rules here, play elsewhere. That's not difficult.

 

[jomar]

I think we writers all share a bit of frustration at the hard rule. But the benefits here outweigh the negatives. Plenty of other sites out there with no rules on writing and age limits.

Got to keep in mind this site offers more than stories so they have to comply with an array of legal considerations/requirements...they’re probably just trying to keep it as simple as they can.

 

[Bramblethorn]

I had to alter some of my stories written before I joined Literotica because consensual sex between 16-year-olds, and even marriage with parental consent, is legal in the UK. It wasn't a big deal to edit the stories to comply.

FWIW, most US states (30 of 50) allow consent at 16 and many places permit marriage before the age of sexual consent. All states except Nebraska and Mississippi allow marriage at 16 with agreement of parents and a judge, and there are eighteen states with no statutory minimum at all. As recently as 2001, ten-year-old girls were being married to adult men in Tennessee.

So Literotica's restrictions are more conservative than US law here.

 

[ChloeTzang]

This one again? Omg I’m starting to understand how you guys who have been here for decades feel! Have I really been here that long? I better check my hair for any grey real quick, she says, being careful not to look worried because, you know, wrinkles.

Under 18? Storiesonline let’s you go to 14 and Asstr, if it’s still alive and it’s servers are still running, is anything goes. Easy peasy.

 

[NotWise]

Under 18? Storiesonline let’s you go to 14 and Asstr, if it’s still alive and it’s servers are still running, is anything goes. Easy peasy.

I don't have any sympathy for people trying to post stories about sex under eighteen on Lit.

I have a little sympathy for people trying to do a characterization that includes sex before eighteen. It can be done, but it has to be done carefully.

 

[Hypoxia]

I don't have any sympathy for people trying to post stories about sex under eighteen on Lit.

Quite agree, because they either haven't read the rules, or misunderstand private sites.

I have a little sympathy for people trying to do a characterization that includes sex before eighteen. It can be done, but it has to be done carefully.

One can carefully hint or report without describing.

My rethink: Underage and snuff are LIT's only real hard limits. Bestiality is finessed with fantasy critters. Rape is finessed with enjoyment. But described underage or snuff/mayhem can't be finessed. They CAN be skirted, though.

And that's why limits are great: to force pervs to be creative. 20th-century abstract art and atonal music have no limits -- and look and sound awful. Walls give one boundaries to work within and challenges to meet. It's like successful vegan food, which tastes good because otherwise nobody would eat that crap. Work right up to the edges of what is allowed. Spice helps.

Or take it somewhere else.

 

[ChloeTzang]

I don't have any sympathy for people trying to post stories about sex under eighteen on Lit.

I have a little sympathy for people trying to do a characterization that includes sex before eighteen. It can be done, but it has to be done carefully.

I guess it’s a learning curve. It’s clear enough but if you’re new it’s an easy mistake to make or rule interpretation to get confused by until you understand. My first story was based on a main character still in high school and I made that one myself. Mind you, I figured it out myself to after the story was rejected. Not rocket science.

 

[jaF0]

I guess it’s a learning curve. It’s clear enough but if you’re new it’s an easy mistake to make or rule interpretation to get confused by until you understand. My first story was based on a main character still in high school and I made that one myself. Mind you, I figured it out myself to after the story was rejected. Not rocket science.

It's not unheard of to be in high school at 18. You don't even have to be 'held back' a year. So, you could do a high school story involving multiple kids that age as long as you explained it.

 

[Handley_Page]

This one again? Omg I’m starting to understand how you guys who have been here for decades feel! Have I really been here that long? I better check my hair for any grey real quick, she says, being careful not to look worried because, you know, wrinkles.

Under 18? Storiesonline let’s you go to 14 and Asstr, if it’s still alive and it’s servers are still running, is anything goes. Easy peasy.

I really do think that there should be a 'sticky' about this.
Every now and again, someone decides that he/she has found the way to get round the no-sex/ under 18 rule.

 

[SimonDoom]

It's fascinating to see how much brainpower and creative ability has been spent thinking about, skirting, avoiding, ignoring, defending, supporting, criticizing, and just plain bullshitting about this rule.

I feel the same way as Chloe. I've been here for only two years but I'm starting to feel like an oldtimer seeing the same issues, like this one, recycled ad infinitum. I've been repeating myself like an old man, too. I've got to cut that out.

 

[ChloeTzang]

It's not unheard of to be in high school at 18. You don't even have to be 'held back' a year. So, you could do a high school story involving multiple kids that age as long as you explained it.

Yes, but my glitch was she was stated as being 17. Once she was 18, it was fine.

 

[oggbashan]

I really do think that there should be a 'sticky' about this.
Every now and again, someone decides that he/she has found the way to get round the no-sex/ under 18 rule.

There is a post in an AH sticky:

http://forum.literotica.com/showpost.php?p=84740810&postcount=18

1. Characters exposed to sexual situations cannot be under 18, or look or act under 18. No exceptions or loopholes. It doesn't matter what era the story is placed in, magic and technology don't invalidate the rule, dream sequences still count.This rule has nothing to do with any laws anywhere; it's just Laurel's decision on this, her privately owned server. Don't do it or even ask about it.

There is also this linked from the FAQ from Welcome Authors! Please Read:

3. No sexual activity involving bestiality (you can write stories about supernatural beasts like ghosts, unicorns, werewolves, etc.) or underage persons will be considered. For the purposes of this site, the minimum legal age is 18. This site does not publish stories, articles, essays, or other material supporting, encouraging, or defending child abuse and/or exploitation.

 

[JKendallDane]

If I remember correctly, once before over the last decade or so when this topic popped up for the hundredth time, Laurel dropped by and very simply explained why the "nothing under 18 rule" was established.

Paraphrasing from memory, she said a line had to be drawn and by choosing 18 it instantly eliminated any chance of giving the "uptight-upright , virginity-until-marriage, and then sex-only-for-procreation" crowd any opportunity to attack the site with cries of "child pornography!" She didn't pick 18 to keep us authors from writing coming-of-age stories, but more so to protect herself from expensive frivolous lawsuits and legal challenges because of stories involving two fifteen-year-olds falling in love.

Although I don't remember her saying so, I'm pretty sure that decision was also made to help keep the incest and non-consent categories from getting out of control with people constantly trying to test any boundary under 18 she would have set.

Another big problem arises with while sixteen might well be the typical age of consent with the law, the law also tends to put a wide variety of restrictions on difference in ages and "positions of authority" on whom someone under the age of eighteen may consent with. That would again open up potential legal headaches that Laurel chose not to risk having inflicted on her.

As far as what will pass her muster, in my experiences it comes down to keeping it short, keeping it simple, keeping it totally generic , and use your brain! You don't have to be a member of Mensa to realize the difference between "I'll always remember losing my blowjob virginity at 16" and "I'll never forget the lusty feelings and trembling excitement of that first cock crossing my spit-soaked lips at 16."

It's pretty simple: Don't play games with Laurel and you most likely won't have any problem.

.

 

[PWilton]

Fosta-sesta

Discussion in another thread re the imminent closing of Tumblr may one day be relevant to Literotica:

http://forum.literotica.com/showpost.php?p=90123907&postcount=95

In other words, if Tumblr falls, will Literotica be targeted somewhere down the line? Keeping the age limit at 18 is good protection to postpone that calamity. Kudos to Laurel for having and enforcing that limit!

 

[ElectricBlue]

Discussion in another thread re the imminent closing of Tumblr may one day be relevant to Literotica:

http://forum.literotica.com/showpost.php?p=90123907&postcount=95

In other words, if Tumblr falls, will Literotica be targeted somewhere down the line? Keeping the age limit at 18 is good protection to postpone that calamity. Kudos to Laurel for having and enforcing that limit!

Tumblr is banning visual adult content, but has stated written erotica will still be allowed.

It appears freedom of speech is sacrosanct, but a peek of tit is terrifying.

Edit: spelling (peek) corrected. Although 'peak' might be appropriate. I blame auto-correct rather than inability to spell...

 

[yukonnights]

Tumblr is banning visual adult content, but has stated written erotica will still be allowed.

It appears freedom of speech is sacrosanct, but a peak of tit is terrifying.

And that's why I always...yes ALWAYS...wore a blindfold when I was on Tumblr.

But, it does bring to mind the number of "picture threads" here on Lit. No doubt new sources of images will take the place of Tumblr here. These may indeed see more control in the future. It' always the perverts who screw it up for everyone...Tumblr took action because of actual child porn violations. Lit has a somewhat easier policing task, with Forum moderators, etc. But, we'll have to see.

 

[Hypoxia]

There is a post in an AH sticky:

http://forum.literotica.com/showpost.php?p=84740810&postcount=18

1. Characters exposed to sexual situations cannot be under 18, or look or act under 18. No exceptions or loopholes. It doesn't matter what era the story is placed in, magic and technology don't invalidate the rule, dream sequences still count.This rule has nothing to do with any laws anywhere; it's just Laurel's decision on this, her privately owned server. Don't do it or even ask about it.

But of course it's constantly asked about. Keeps this forum busy, hey?

And there IS at least one loophole: they are physically over 18 but mentally underage. I've not yet seen or written a comatose-from-14-to-18 tale but I do recall a well-received story of a 14-year-old whom Santa turns into an 18-year-old who must deal what his other, rougher personality did in his missing four years, and learn about love with his young adolescent mind.

I don't know if underage centaurs, vampires, or elves are covered.

 

[ElectricBlue]

But of course it's constantly asked about. Keeps this forum busy, hey?

And there IS at least one loophole: they are physically over 18 but mentally underage. I've not yet seen or written a comatose-from-14-to-18 tale but I do recall a well-received story of a 14-year-old whom Santa turns into an 18-year-old who must deal what his other, rougher personality did in his missing four years, and learn about love with his young adolescent mind.

I don't know if underage centaurs, vampires, or elves are covered.

Hmmm, I recall the mental under age vs physical under age thing coming up in previous discussion on this, and the answer was the same - characters must act and be over 18. Same for littles role play, same for fantasy critters.

Is the story you cite still up? It sounds well over the line to me - "Yes, Virginia, everybody is over eighteen."

 

[jaF0]

I have an idea how it could work if explained properly, but kids creep me out, pictures of kids creep me out, people that write about kids creep me out and I feel that people that even consider writing about kids on this site should be ejected off the planet, so I won't detail the idea here.

 

[ChloeTzang]

I have an idea how it could work if explained properly, but kids creep me out, pictures of kids creep me out, people that write about kids creep me out and I feel that people that even consider writing about kids on this site should be ejected off the planet, so I won't detail the idea here.

Personally, I see a difference between kids and teenagers. I totally understand why Laurel has that 18 years age limit here and it makes sense to me.

On the other hand, I have a large collection of YA novels targeted at teenage girls from when I was a ... gasp... teenage girl, and the sex in those is quite open and at times fairly detailed. They're marketed and sold by mainstream publishers on Amazon and targeted at that impressionable 12/13 to 17/18 year old teenage girl market and the explicitness and the types of sex they get into I personally find rather more disturbing than a bunch of older guys fantasizing on some website(s) that no teenage girl would even bother looking at. And then there's Wattpad! Even more explicit at times and I think 70-80% of the readership are teenage girls.

Depends too on what your definition of kids is. For me, under 14 is "kids". Over 14? Well, I know what I got up to at 14, and those YA novels are much closer to the reality than the rules here. Anyhow, Literotica has it's hard 18+ rule and for this particular website, that's something you understand and deal with as an author. If you want to write stories with under 18's, there's storiesonline, which sets the limit at 14, and asstr which has no limits at all on anything.

Or you can write a YA novel, find a mainstream publisher and away you go....

 

[jaF0]

Under 18 doesn't exist.

 

[jaF0]

My 'Amy' story does that. NO kids under 18 in the community. They're off in some other place. On the night they turn 18, they return to the community, then ... well .

 

[Hypoxia]

Hmmm, I recall the mental under age vs physical under age thing coming up in previous discussion on this, and the answer was the same - characters must act and be over 18. Same for littles role play, same for fantasy critters.

Is the story you cite still up? It sounds well over the line to me - "Yes, Virginia, everybody is over eighteen."

I don't know if it's still around. I probably read it 3-4 years ago and I don't see it in my Favorites list. I'd have to ask on the Find A Story subforum. I'll do that right now.

 

[colddiesel]

Laurel should raise the age from 18 to 21 - maybe on April 1 next. It'd be fun to see who and how many got sucked in.