Gen and what it means

[katikat]

A friend of mine asked me why I didn't read gen fics. And I realized that she was right - lately, I've almost stopped reading gen stories. And that got me thinking. Why? Am I consciously avoiding them? I pondered and ruminated and then I realized what my problem was...

GEN is not HET! And yes, a lot of authors just DO NOT GET THAT! Labeling a story GEN but adding "Pairing: McKeller" is an oxymoron.

GEN --> no shipping at all, be that canon or fandom pairings
HET --> heterosexual shipping
SLASH --> homosexual shipping

It's that simple. When an author labels her fic as GEN but Rodney/Jennifer or John/Teyla or John/Elizabeth or whatever het is plastered all over it, I have to wonder: Is the author just ignorant, is she trying to grab attention or is she outright homophobic, lumping both GEN and HET into one big "safe" category? I mean, can you imagine the uproar if someone labeled even a G-rated SLASH fic as GEN?

And don't think that the homophobic thing is nonsense - I was told by a person who took over the archiving duties in one of the anime archives on the net that all SLASH/YAOI stories should be labeled NC-17 and therefor purged from the archive because they are not a safe reading for children! But tentacle porn was safe because she considered it HET.

So, to sum it up: I do prefer slash because I just love gay romances. But I do like gen - when it's actually gen, not het in disguise. For het, I have shows/movies/books.

Comments

[sharona1x2.livejournal.com]

That's one of my pet peeves, too. I have a problem with any story that's labeled incorrectly. Authors who try to trick me into reading something I normally wouldn't are authors I never read again.

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Exactly my reaction. I mean, when I start reading something and it turns out to be something else than what I expected, I make a 180 and I'm outta there. I'm one of those who like their fics properly labeled and with warnings.

[seraphina_snape]

Word. I absolutely hate it when people label their story gen and then halfway through reading it I stumble over a het love scene. WTF?

Gen =/= canon het pairings. I wish they'd get that into their thick skulls.

I was told by a person who took over the archiving duties in one of the anime archives on the net that all SLASH/YAOI stories should be labeled NC-17 and therefor purged from the archive because they are not a safe reading for children!

The sad thing is that I have absolutely no problem believing that. I've seen way too many people who say that any slash fic should be "adult" no matter what happens in it, even if the characters are only holding hands. And there is no arguing with people like that because most of them won't even consider that two guys (or girls) holding hands is exactly the same as a guy and a girl holding hands.

~ sera

[katikat.livejournal.com]

It makes me sad too. I just don't get the difference between, I don't know, Dean and Anna kissing and Dean and Castiel kissing. So?

I just want my fics properly labeled! I want to decide on my own what to read, I don't want anyone tricking me into reading something I don't want to read!

[bodgei.livejournal.com]

Well when I was writing fan fic I had a universe where Sam was married with kids. If it was a case spacific story I would label it GEN - but Sam may call home and talk to said wife and kids. But same with my slash pairings.

I guess I'm trying to say that if the realtionship (gay or straight) isn't in the forefrount to me it's gen. If the relationship is in the forefrount it's HET or SLASH.

Mind you the lableling and name calling thing goes both ways - I was called homophobic in the SPN fandom becuse I don't do incest (het or Slash) my lesbian aunt and my gay best freind thought that was helarious.

[katikat.livejournal.com]

For me it's not so. IMHO, when Sam is married, it should be labeled as, at least, "implied het, Sam/said female character" - I know that I tend to avoid fics where Sam or Dean are married or in a heterosexual relationship, so if I came across a fic labeled as gen and then found out that Sam was married, I would stop reading feeling tricked.

[bodgei.livejournal.com]

pulled from my fic

Story type: Gen, Case fic, future fic, AU
Authors Note: This is a stand alone fic in a Universe that includes long term het relationships, mention may be made of wives and children.

It was my standard Note if the fic didn't include the wives or children.

All that being said I've stoped reading Gen fic becasue the last 10 gen fics I've read ended up with Sam and Dean falling into bed with eachother (I guess the author was useing 'gen' to mean 'domanant fan pairing'?)

[matimate.livejournal.com]

I had no idea what Gen was I simply ran in to incorrectly labeled fics and they scared me a lot.

I am not picky in het or slash, but what irks me when there is homophobia on one hand and on the other hand there is too much promoting of homoerotica. Still there are archives where ppl could find their treats, but I think there should be rules, like no het or slash is allowed or bestiality or whatever turns people on LOL

[katikat.livejournal.com]

I don't care what people read or write or archive - as long as the authors label their fics properly. Tricking someone into reading something they wouldn't under other circumstances is a big no-no in my book. I think it's a common courtesy to point out both SLASH and HET because either of those might not be everybody's cup of tea.

[matimate.livejournal.com]

I agree with that. It is pain in the ass nowdays :(

[spikedluv]

That? Is one of my hugest pet peeves, and you can bet we take some flack over enforcing the Gen =/= Het rule at Numb3rs Awards.

[katikat.livejournal.com]

No wonder. I mean, I get that the het ship might not be the focus of the story but at least "implied het" would be enough of a warning.

[tavabean.livejournal.com]

Now that I think about your post, I am confusing myself!!
Somehow I think my bias against certain characters influences whether I think a story is het or gen.
For example, if a story started off with Teyla telling Kanaan to make sure Torren eats his tava soup for lunch and then goes on to 30,000 words of pure team adventure, I'd consider it gen and never give it a second thought.
On the other hand, if the fic started with Rodney giving Keller a peck on the cheek and saying, "love you" or somesuch I'd be annoyed enough that it would colour my reading of the entire fic.
And I'd consider it het.
Although I have read some very good fics with that pairing in the background, I want a warning ahead of time. I suppose so I can prepare myself.

I remain confused...

[katikat.livejournal.com]

I think we all view things through goggles tainted by our favorite pairing. I, for one, don't mind Teyla/Kanaan. I actually really liked the pairing, it was my favorite pairing in the show and I was pretty annoyed that they completely disregarded it and focused solely on Keller and her love adventures. I'm very allergic to McKeller. Like, I get hives just thinking of it.

But I get that there are people who think it's the best thing since sliced bread. Good for them. But I would still appreciate a warning. I mean, a lot of authors use the "implied het" label and it's enough. It shows that the het is not the focus of the story but it's still a part of it!

[tavabean.livejournal.com]

I think this is the best solution, put an "implied het" warning on it!
That would make things much clearer to me.
Thanks!

[dragonsinger.livejournal.com]

I completely understand. Gen is gen is gen. It's supposed to be the genre everyone can enjoy. Some people are so inconsiderate.

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Exactly. I mean, I understand that some genres are not everybody's cup of tea but proper labeling would be much appreciated *nods*

[disutansu.livejournal.com]

I have had problems with incorrectly labeled anything (fics and LOL doujinshis too WHAT). I'm just too serious with my pairings to have them all messed up with labels and such. X-X

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Hehe, I can just imagine your horror if someone paired up Inui or Kaidoh with a girl - or with anybody else, for that matter :P

[disutansu.livejournal.com]

It has happened more than once, sad to say... makes me want to throw something across the room. XD;; Or scream.

I mean if the cover of a certain doujinshi says "INUI X KAIDOH ONLYBOOK," I don't need Momo suddenly kissing Kaidoh and professing his love to him halfway through it. *nearly got a heart attack*