Content Policy

[Richard Laird Cole]

Does anyone else consider Gay Authors' content restrictions puerile, jejune and a egregious cave to prudish cultural values?

Why would any serious gay writer ally himself with a group that presumably would prohibit the posting of Ginsberg's 'Howl' ?

Edited January 13, 2019 by Richaed Laird Cole
elaboration

[CassieQ]

1 hour ago, Richaed Laird Cole said:

Does anyone else consider Gay Authors' content restrictions puerile, jejune and a egregious cave to prudish cultural values?

 

No.

Edited January 13, 2019 by CassieQ

[northie]

1 hour ago, Richard Laird Cole said:

Does anyone else consider Gay Authors' content restrictions puerile

No, like Cassie. If the guidelines here don't suit you, there are plenty of other story sites elsewhere.

[MacGreg]

The bigger question is: why should a gay writer have to align him/her/their self with a smut site in order to be taken seriously as a writer?

 

Good writing can be found in many forms, and GA authors run the gamut. I think it's a great site, writers and readers alike. There's a real community here. Personally, I hate censorship, but I prefer to align myself with quality people here than post my writing on a site where readership is in a vacuum. 

[Thorn Wilde]

...where did you get the idea that Howl would be unacceptable on this site?

 

There are restrictions on the forums, but content restrictions for stories and poetry are, in fact, extremely limited. There are literally two things that aren't allowed under any circumstances: Stories that romanticise pedophilia, and necrophilia. Read the stories archive guidelines (under Help > Guidelines) if you're confused. It makes it pretty clear that, with sufficient warnings, ratings, and quality of writing, you can post pretty much whatever you write, though sometimes requiring moderation review beforehand. These rules are perfectly reasonable, and if you want to read stories about pedophilia you're pretty much a scumbag anyway. You want necrophilia, you can go elsewhere. 

 

EDIT: Actually, here you go. Scroll down. Read them yourself. https://gayauthors.org/guidelines/

Edited January 13, 2019 by Thorn Wilde

[Carlos Hazday]

5 hours ago, Richard Laird Cole said:

Does anyone else consider Gay Authors' content restrictions puerile, jejune and a egregious cave to prudish cultural values?

 

Not me... and I've been known to push the envelope. Hell, I was even moderated when one of my stories was mostly sexual. It pissed me off at the time, but it helped me become a better writer. I've experimented with lots of story types and content, and plan on doing more in the future. Hell, I wrote an entire book about politics, and have had plenty of political discussions as a result. As @MacGreg mentioned, I like being associated with a site that allows such great leeway and encourages interaction with readers. I posted on Nifty for a bit but I'd rather use that place for smut when I need it and GA for actual stories.

[Parker Owens]

I believe GA’s content guidelines are sensible, considered and sufficient to allow a wide expression gay experience.

 

True, not everything goes here. But enough warning and preliminary information allow writers to tackle some sensitive and highly charged issues and story lines. 

 

Moreover, the deep and abiding sense of community on GA is unique, and encourages writers to improve and grow. 

 

For what it’s worth, that’s my view. 

[mollyhousemouse]

As a reader, i appreciate the work that the authors and poets do here.

There's a level of skill in these works that is sorely lacking elsewhere. The writers here support and encourage each other, they take the time to learn and study about what they're doing.

If you have an issue with the guidelines, or your work isn't up to the standards of GA, then don't post here.  

[Brayon]

7 hours ago, Richard Laird Cole said:

Does anyone else consider Gay Authors' content restrictions puerile, jejune and a egregious cave to prudish cultural values?

No. I actually find that Gay Authors' content restrictions clement to other sites, and that they foster a sense of comradery among the authors that choose to be here. Only a petulant child would find the policies constrictive to the point of being prudish.

 

7 hours ago, Richard Laird Cole said:

Why would any serious gay writer ally himself with a group that presumably would prohibit the posting of Ginsberg's 'Howl' ?

Judging from the fact that you've only made one post in the four years you've been a member, and have never interacted publicly with any of the authors here with comments or reactions---yes, anyone can look up anyone else's activity---I must assume that this is a trolling post. Because had you interacted with the very people you insult, you would see how wrong you are.

 

Now I shall do the best advice there is with dealing with internet trolls... I won't feed them.

Edited January 13, 2019 by BHopper2

[Mikiesboy]

It's exactly because I am a serious, gay author that I post here.

[Defiance19]

I bet Mr. Cole didn’t expect this amazing response to his query..Bless his heart.. 

[Carlos Hazday]

1 minute ago, Defiance19 said:

I bet Mr. Cole didn’t expect this amazing response to his query..Bless his heart.. 

 

And while he was somewhat insulting, none of the above comments has followed his approach, nor has anyone called him names. Papi Carlos is so proud of all you kids. You've all reacted like mature adults instead of being childish.

[Headstall]

Sir, I thank you. You just helped us illustrate how serious we are as writers, gay or otherwise. We are loyal to GA for many reasons, as we are to our faithful readers. I hope we have given you pause, but some minds can be difficult to change. Either way, please feel free to browse my catalog... there is no charge for all my hard work and dedication. Cheers... Gary....

[Cia]

Thank you to all the site authors who took the time to respond with such measured, supportive responses and showed so much loyalty to GA. I appreciate you have answered quite well why we do have some content guidelines in place for Stories as well as the hard work site staff always go toward trying to make fair decisions when working with authors who choose to make GA a home for their fiction that might address sensitive subjects. I will elaborate more on the other areas of the site, because, yes, the other public areas for the site community do have more restrictive content guidelines. That is because we are restricted by Google's policies in order to be able to run their ads which maintain the revenue needed to keep the site running and up-to-date. 

[Thorn Wilde]

2 hours ago, Carlos Hazday said:

 

And while he was somewhat insulting, none of the above comments has followed his approach, nor has anyone called him names. Papi Carlos is so proud of all you kids. You've all reacted like mature adults instead of being childish.

...I may have hypothetically called him a scumbag, though. You know, if by chance his issue is with the rules that prohibit glorified pedophilia. But, as I said, this is a hypothetical.

[Saraband]

4 hours ago, Defiance19 said:

I bet Mr. Cole didn’t expect this amazing response to his query..Bless his heart.. 

I actually do wonder.

 

As @BHopper2 said, the OP hung around for quite awhile before making his spectacular entrance. Taking into account his . . . somewhat ostentatious word choice (along with an incorrectly chosen indefinite article) and the shout-out to Howl, it occurs to me that Mr. Cole may be doing some sort of performance art, and we're all just part of the show.

 

(If that is the case, I would suggest to him that a more effective example of this sort of commentary can be found in Yoko Ono's re-interpretation of Katy Perry's "Firework.")