It is not correct that this sort of message only appears at the beginning of fics that you have “thoroughly vetted.” One can make it so that this request does not pop up at any time.
And no, this is not consenting to anything specific. “Adult” could mean a sex scene. Or it could mean bestiality and csa written to be titilating. And you can search for or find a few fics without entering one million tags and ratings.
People are not required to tag fics accurately. I have also been told that reading a fic (I browsed it) was my fault because it was clearly tagged. Well, it wasn’t. It had a lot of tags. But it left out some key points.
You can report fics in *extreme and rare cases,* and those fics may then be slapped with a “chose not to use content warnings” tag. That’s it. That means nothing, and gives the illusion of tagging or a warning without actually giving any information. People DO use it for a wide variety of reasons.
So this example of “consent” is very much used by many abusers as a form of plausible deniability. Well, you consented to This, so you can’t complain about That! Because it was included in This! It’s your own fault for agreeing to This!
AO3 has never been an adult space for adults. It explicitly invites children onto the site and takes NO precautions to protect them. Having one vague checkmark that anyone can click, encouraging those UNDER THIRTEEN to have their guardian or parent log them in, and then creating a site that ACTIVELY endorses pedophilia and rape as “things I don’t agree with but will defend to the death!” (which are also written by many a founder and president of AO3) creates an environment that not only puts children and, well, anyone in harm’s way, but also removes autonomy and the ability to control what one sees in any meaningful way.
And why on earth isn’t it the ADULTS’ responsibility to protect children, who everyone knows will get on a site even when there are far more safeguards than AO3 has (just as everyone knows that sex offenders will go on a site, even when they are DISCOURAGED, unlike the welcoming AO3)? Why are adults saying that children should be *protecting themselves* when their attempts to protect themselves are being met with derision, insistence on personal responsibility, and dismissal of their experiences because they are too “young.” This all contributes to a culture of victim-blaming and simultaneously expecting children to take care of themselves (which children SHOULD NOT have to do, and which is very fucking hard for children to do, legally or otherwise) and to submit themselves to the whims of adults, even if it pains them.
Many people criticizing people like the OP ARE referring to pedophilia and rape. Because THAT is one of the main criticisms of these online spaces. And adults who make posts like the OP, saying “this is CONSENT” (it’s not), and then mock underage kids for not understanding “adult” content? DO tend to be predatory. Because why on earth are adults that upset about a “movement” by CHILDREN. Again, kids do NOT have the kind of power adults do. And if they’re so immature and dumb--why sink to their level?
(This is far from the only post like this. OP also reblogged stuff from someone who said they block MAPs and that the discourse gave them panic attacks and that minors shouldn’t interact etc., but actually CREATED a MAP group and said they loved MAP content and were a pedophile ally.)
Yes, a MAP, I assume, who deleted their blog. This argument makes no sense. Because people can be homophobic and fetishize gay couples. Who are adults. Writing graphic sex between underage characters or an underage and adult character meant to titillate (this can be very clear--comments will sometimes go on about how “hot” it all is) IS normalizing csa and affecting very real people (as is ALL fanfiction). It is also *public*, which is not necessary if this is really all just to cope, even though that goes against all sorts of advice re recovery from a whole lot of things. Insisting on making it public is either advocating to show it to children or to other pedophiles.
This person’s entire site is devoted to promoting “shipping”, dismissing any accusations of abuse or harm (including being severely triggered or groomed by sex offenders) as “just” shipping.
Note: these Tumblrs? Are all promoting “shipping.” It’s in their titles--except grumpy old fandmom and olderthannetflic, which both reference their age. At least one says that she “loves to meet people in person!” in her description or whatever.
So this is a pattern, it is promoting pedophilia and abuse, and it uses the good will of other people to do so.
