Opinion Question

[lyriel]

Greetings, everyone. Hope this question is appropriate for this comm; if not then feel free to delete.

I would like to hear people's feelings on the following issue. I know it's subjective, so there's no "right answer", probably:

How would you handle warning/tagging for a fic where it *seems* like a major character has died, but it later turns out that he didn't? Think of a Sherlock Holmes type of situation where someone disappears, is presumed dead, then comes back a few years later.

Would you use the "Major Character Death" warning on AO3? How can I warn/tag this story properly without giving away the plot twist? Would you feel disturbed/squicked/annoyed if you read a story like this and there was no specific warning for "major character death"?

Can I get away with using a vague warning like "dark themes"?


Assume that the death is not graphically described, and this is a canon where death and violence are not common occurrences.

Thanks in advance; this one has been puzzling me.

Comments

[ayumidah]

I only ever warn for slash, but that's already clearly stated in the tags, so... I guess I'm just mean that way, heh.

[perfectworry]

You warn for slash? Why? Do you warn for het, also?

I've never understood slash warnings, so I'm genuinely curious.

[ayumidah]

I only do it because I know how some people get about things, and it's not really a warning, I'll just say at the top "This is a slash fic" sometimes. I've begun slacking on that lately, though.

[lyriel]

Most places, like AO3 and FF.net, have you name the pairing. Most LJ communities do, too. You put "Bob/Steve" in your header. You shouldn't have to warn for slash, if you simply name the pairing.

Just a thought.

[serria]

Yeah, to be totally fair, a lot of "warnings" should more accurately be called... I don't know, "tags" or just "labels"? I mean, I'd be the type to specifically look for something labeled slash. A lot of people specifically look for things that might be "triggers" to other people - non-con, or specific kinks, for example. And a lot of "non-triggers" might be essentially warnings to other people - I'd probably avoid a fic labeled "fluff", for example. :P

[ayumidah]

Yeah, I'm a pretty... safe writer, I think, for the most part, but it's so hard to tell what could trigger some people, you'd have to warn or label for basically everything if you start going too far down that road.