Quote:
Originally Posted by andyh2000
Has it bothered you having warnings before TV programs for 'strong' language, extreme violence etc for decades? Or is that only on UK TV?
Andrew
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As I don't watch TV or go to the cinema, such warnings are useless to me. However, I've noticed content and trigger warnings, and lines & veils creeping into the RPG hobby over the past few years. In a way, that's a good thing given the age range of players; it's also useful for open gaming (i.e. convention games) where the GM doesn't know the players and you have no control over who sits at your table. It's also useful for a player to know in advance what sort of game is being offered.
For books, I don't necessarily approve of them. The book description should indicate that there is potential triggering content without spelling it out - a crime novel set in a violent society would probably include descriptions of violence; anyone reading the book ought not to be surprised by that. If someone complains, it was on them to read the description and make a choice whether to continue.
However, there's a line to be drawn between problematic content included gratuitously or where it's an integral part of the story - albeit a shock. Mark Smylie's Artesia novels are a case in point; someone picking them up without knowing the original comic series would be shocked by the kinky and pornographic sex scenes which my partner referred to as gratuitous. Knowing the comics, you wouldn't necessarily be surprised.
What I object to is random LBGHT content which looks like it's been grafted onto the story at the behest of an editor seeking to tick boxes. Again, if well-written and it flows naturally, no problem, but it's where it appears out of the blue and isn't a natural part of the story.