Should Novels Come with Explicit Content Labels?

[[deleted user]]

Humberto, I don't mind being called Memo, especially since Nemo is not my real name. However, it might cause confusion.

Humberto wrote: Memo: moral responsibility?
And who is the moralist?
You are. We all are. Deciding your own morality and then acting on it is part of being grown-up.

So what would you consider immoral?
Bad words.
Sex scenes.
Violence.
Atheism.
Saying that Obamacare is good.
Ogres and macabre scenes as in many children books.
What?
I was answering Matthew's assertion that responsibility rests with people other than the author. In that context, what is at issue is not what I or anyone else thinks is morally relevant about your book, but what you yourself think is relevant. Does your book contain, say, sex scenes of a kind which you yourself think are unsuitable for under 18s? In that case, you have a moral responsibility to try and prevent it being read by under-18s (if you can). What I or anyone else thinks of the sex scenes in your book, though clearly relevant to the more general argument about the morality of publishing, is irrelevant in the context of my reply to Matthew.

We would need a factory of labels.
That's a question for further down the line. At present we have almost nothing in place. To start with, at least, we could go with the same rating system as is used for movies. The basic issues, after all, are the same.

And I would not be able to sleep because I would be worried about my writer's morality.
If you really think that, then that suggests that your book does contain things that you yourself think make it unsuitable for all readers: in which case, do you not agree that you have some responsibility to try and limit its availability by whatever means (if you can)?

[Humberto]

Nemo. (iPhone corrects to memo).
I sleep well. Only if I paid attention to your guilt would I have problems.

Why under 18?
Last time I looked around or watched TV it seems that the age of sexual discovery is puberty. Between 12 and 14.

May I ask you, if a boy or a girl are already practicing sex, what is wrong if they read about it?
It is not my fault if their taboos include reading about sex but not practicing sex.

My fault would then be that they could learn a new position. If they are already having fun, good for them.

The other option is that a boy or a girl are not practicing sex and they read about it. Have you watched TV? Sex is explicitly shown at all times and in all kind of programs. Remember, sex sells and a major customer group are teens who buy sexy clothes, makeup and many things related to finding a partner.

Also, my recollection is that before puberty, reading or hearing about sex doesn't ring any bells and is absolutely boring.

I respect your theoretical impediments. But the are not real and I will not abide by them or recommend them to anybody.

[[deleted user]]

Detail, detail...

18 is the age of majority (in the UK). It's also the age at which you're allowed to see adult movies (in the UK). That's the only reason I chose it. I'm not here to argue about ages.

Humberto wrote: Only if I paid attention to your guilt would I have problems.
Nemo has no guilt about writing. Nemo reads. Nemo does not write.

As I recall, my own interest in sex began several years before puberty. I doubt if I am unusual. (And no, you don't get further details.)

If I come across as a prude, then either I am being unclear or you are misreading me. I don't give a toss what teenagers do to each other, so long as they don't do it in my garden.

[Justin]

I think labeling is a good way to show the reader about what they are getting themselves into before hand. It's a way for an author to show what they are writing to be controversial and are again doing the reader a favor. Not everyone has to do this and it isnt right or wrong but rather up to the author as to whether or not they wish to alarm their readers of explicit material. An author probably shouldn't label every single book they write as this may generate some curiousity as to what the authors intention is in writing these books.

It's a good thing to readers because it gives them a heads up as to say 'hey your about to read something thats a bit detailed more in the sex and violence department so this is just to let you know.' And theres nothing wrong with that, in fact better safe then sorry. Some like to be informed of what they are getting into while others enjoy a surprise.

[V.K.]

Hear, hear to Justin's post. I'm in agreement there. Let's think about our readers. After all, we're readers too.

On a different note, I'm majorly disappointed that Nemo left. I actually snorted some coffee out my nose upon reading "so long as they don't do it in my garden."