Prezes and crew are looking to add an age rating to the stories for sex and violence. As we all know there are several levels of sex and violence and some are acceptable to certain age levels whilst others are not.

I feel a simplified rating is required somewhere along the lines of:

General - For all readers.

13 - For readers 13 and over.

15 - for the more mature readers 15 and over.

18 - For adults only, 18 and over.



I've left PG (Parental guidence out of it as I don't really see a parent sitting there reading an AvP story to their kids). Opinions on that please.



The main question is, at what point does violence move from one category to another.



Explicit sex scenes (graphic) would most likely be 18. Very graphic violence or torture scenes would also most likely attract an 18.



Should bad language govern a rating? Bear in mind that most 10 year olds can swear better than their parents.



Any input, anyone?



Anise.

Actually a good idea. About swearing, personally I have a image that the more bad language is used in a story, the more childish it is (as some childs tend to try look good with it). A couple well chosen words here and there but not constantly, so no age rating there.

Swearing isn't that bad unless it is used in a manner that could upset someone like a racist comment but I don’t see that happening.

But I was wondering what is an AvP related story with out violence? Violence seems to be a big part of the stories so the changes are better that most of the stories would be rated 13 or perhaps something a little lower.

OK, we all know that by their very nature our stories contain violence but the rating is directed at the level of the violence and how gory/graphically written it it. For instance:



'N'Tak darted to the left, spun and brought his wristblades down hard, severing the marines arm.'



or



'N'Tak darted to the left, spun and brought his wristblades down hard catching the marines arm. The marines muscle and flesh was ripped open and, as the blade slid downward, scraping the bone, the tissue sloughed off and fell away to hang loosely by a few sinewy threads, blood flowed copiously to te ground. The marine screamed in agony when N'Tak took another strike and severed the arm so that it landed with a wet thud on the ground. The marine clutched his armless shoulder that was pumping blood by the pint.'



So, which one deserves the higher rating? From what I can see the more descriptive the writing the more it could affect a sensitive mind. The difference can push a story from a 13 rating to a 15 rating or higher. Most will attract a 13 with others attracting a 15. The trouble is, it's down to personal opinion really. What one sees as a 15 another will see as an 18 and yet another a 13.



{MODERATOR} If unacceptable please remove the following paragraph:



In fact, you could just give it an 18 and have done with it, there is no control that stops a 12 year old reading an 18 story but then it becomes their problem.



The rating can only be a guide.



It's perhaps interesting to note that books in general do not carry a certification other than maybe those marked as strictly adults only, and no, I wouldn't know what those are but you can bet any bookshop will have an adults only section.



Anise.



[ This message was edited by: Anise on 2002-04-07 10:34 ]

Actually cliff, that was not quite what I ment...

It would work as a guide, but how many people would want to read an 18 that a 13? I mean, to a younger kid, s/he is more likely to govern how good a story is by what age rating it has.



If they've seen the films, then there's not much s/he couldn't put up with really.



Just some things to think about, but yeah, a rating scheme would make it a more respectable site from a parents POV.

not only that, we need to cover our assess in the long run.

Assume that the site takes off and stories start coming in.... if we introduce a major feature 12 months from now it would require months of recoding.

If we do it now- no work.



BTW: You might wanna read the Writer Agreement.

Comments appreciated [not that we'll change anything ]. I bet you'll find most of the points covered there to be MOST familiar....

Something else to keep in mind is the Alien(s) and Predator films, and most of the games, were originally made for a mature audience. The comics, some of the games, and especially the toys may have introduced Aliens and Preds to a younger audience but I still have reservations about making a universe for mature readers more child-friendly.

Stupid idea deleted.



[ This message was edited by: Anise on 2002-04-08 16:41 ]

a general disclaimer??? why? if they played any of the FPS [first person SHOOTER for christ sake!] games, then..................



We definetlky are going the age ratings, but I'd be more worried about a copyright disclaimer than ageneral "violence" thingy.



Anyway- Writer agreement??

Writer thingy is very thorough, but tis agreeable

I agree with Demi and Dv on this - all the Alien and Pred films are rated 18 - why should we pander to the hysterical rantings of parents just because they can't control their kids' viewing habits.....? All too many times parents scream rather too loudly as soon as THEY decide THEY don't like something and for some reason everyone rushes to appease them....



/me expects much flaming, but it's how I feel...

Quote:

On 2002-04-08 14:45, DaggleC wrote: Writer thingy is very thorough, but tis agreeable

Some points sounded familiar from around here??

Sorry, Demi, it was only an idea thrown into the melting pot.



Anise slopes off, tail between legs.

Quote:

On 2002-04-08 16:31, Anise wrote: Sorry, Demi, it was only an idea thrown into the melting pot. Anise slopes off, tail between legs.

Don't do that Anise, there's nothing wrong with your idea. You have every right to be concerned with how and to whom your material is presented. The thing about kids is they're natural inclined to see/listen/try things deemed 'adult', so the first stories they select might very well be the ones rated "18 and over". In any case, the thoughts and opinions of authors here are always welcome.

this is WHY we're having these discussions- to knock about ideas and see what comes out alive.



Issue is- too many disclaimers make a site look pathetic, so we have to analyse carefuly what we wanna protect ourselves from and how.

Well my Predator DvD is rated PG and my P2 is rated 16 LV not sure what rating the Alien movies have.

Well I think the age rating would be a good idea give a few children a warning about the content they will be reading but it would not stop them from reading content that is meant for older people but atleast they would have a warning.

From what I have seen from a few posts there could be a small problem with the rating because the rating would be selected by the writer (I think) and not everybody would have the same opinion about what needs to be rated what.

but the writer might KNOW things about the story that one one else would.... like what willl happen later, will there be more violence, less sex, etc...



We do NOT wanna POLICE the site unless absolutely necessary...

I think the option to age-rate it should be there and if a story is definitely an 18+ or so, the writer should be forced to state that.



If this is for GS, then I think the editor should rate it accordingly to stop writers for purposefully setting it too low/high...

we want the GS editors to maintain a watchful eye and let the authors take most of the responsibility, after all, it IS their work...