Ratings question

[osprey_archer]

I'm in the process of moving my fics over to AO3, and I'm in a quandary. I've somehow written two fics that feature non-consensual/dubiously consensual making out (one was for Yuletide! It was not my fault!), and I'm trying to decide how to warn for it.

It seems misleading to click the rape/non-con warning button, but at the same time I don't want to just not warn. Should I mention it in the summary? Or in a note at the top of the page? I think the summary is better, because it means people will know whether or not they want to click through.

Comments

[anactoria.livejournal.com]

You can tag for dub-con in the non-warning tags, I think.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

This is true. It's just that one of the kisses is definitely not consensual, nothing dubious about it - it just seems strange to me to put on the rape warning, given that it is just a kiss.

[anactoria.livejournal.com]

I see what you mean. AO3 does allow custom tagging, though, so maybe just add one for non-consensual kissing?

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that seems like a good way to go.

[carmarthen.livejournal.com]

For dubious consent, I personally tag for it and mention it in the summary (usually in bold, like: "Warning: contains consent issues" or something of that nature). I also feel like it doesn't fit the 'rape/non-con' warning button, but I don't want warnings for dubcon to be easy to miss.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

Yeah; I think I'll put it in the summary and in the notes on top, so anyone who's looking for it can't possibly miss it.