Originally posted by Aurelius
I normally try to keep out of discussion/argument threads, but I have an important question:

Is having sex with children, or abusing them considered to be a sub-category of BDSM activity?

(Personally I don't think so.)
I don't think it necessarily is, either--but is rape? I think that if rape is considered a sub-category, then the age of the victim in works of fiction involving rape should likely be left up to the author. If rape is not a legitimate subject to be written about on this site, an awful lot of stories don't belong here.

Of course, at this point, we're still not sure what consitutes a child. I think we all agree that if it toddles (and isn't drunk), it's not okay. But a 14 year old to many is a sexual creature, fair game for works of fiction. But for others, 14 is a babe, and not to be messed with, even in the confines of a story.

I think the best policy is one I've always employed--if I don't like it, I don't read it. There is a lot of material here that I find personally distasteful. I would never dog the author or ask that the particular genre be removed from the site (not saying you did that, only that it occurs on occasion), but I do exercise my right to not partake.

Personally, I think it's a good way to live online. After all, we are talking about stories, not children.

Kallie