Why doesn't the Downs allow slash?

[E. Fester]

So romances have been entirely banned from the Downs? Ah. Good idea. Didn't know that. Feeling slightly stupid now

As a matter of fact, there have been some anti-gay comments in the review rooms in the past, from people who were very religious. And I understand why the Downs prefers to avoid making them uncomfortable. But it's likely that some of the visitors here are homo- or bisexual, and, speaking as one of that group, it irritated me when het romance was allowed and slash wasn't.

Some slash uses original characters (e.g. Frodo/Original Male Character), but there is very little of it. I don't think that romances are out of character, but only if they are not written in an out-of-character way. Oh, and I do know where the title 'slash' comes from

I tried looking for sblomie, but found nothing. It's not something I've heard of before. Oh well. Time for coffee ...

[Amanaduial the archer]

Ah, nooo, romance altogether isn't banned - crushes between RPG characters seem to crop up in nearly every game Just not too deep.

I was referring to this forum mainly, rather than the fanfiction board. But I certainly agree - anti-gay is not acceptable. But that isn't quite the same.

Enjoy your coffee

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

The restrictions about characters in The Shire apply in Rohan also: no magical or super-powered characters, no half-elven or half-dwarven or half-anything characters (who are rare in Tolkien and whose presence always fulfils a specific purpose in the story), no assassins or martial arts, no sexual flirtation, drunkenness or lewdness.

I had originally planned on just quoting about the sexual and lewdness rules observed in the RPG forums, but I posted the whole thing because all of it has to do with keeping things canon...and in many cases of fanfiction romances involving main characters, 'het' or slash, things are not canon and canon characters do not act canon. I think...I'm pretty sure...that fanfictions put on the Barrow-Downs used to be (before we started using the old forum, and I can't speak for that new development) read and reviewed for content, deciding whether or not they would be posted. I don't think they discriminate slash stories simply because they are slash, but because they are uncanon and did not follow the books. I'm sure uncanon 'het' stories would be given the same toss.

As a matter of fact, there have been some anti-gay comments in the review rooms in the past, from people who were very religious. And I understand why the Downs prefers to avoid making them uncomfortable. But it's likely that some of the visitors here are homo- or bisexual

I've never seen anyone on the 'Downs (at least in the forums?) making rude comments about other people's sexuality. I'm sure they'd be talked to just like anyone else who posts inappropriately here. There are deeply religious members on this forum, yes, and I don't think that the goal of the Barrow-Downs is to keep them comfortable. I don't think the goal of the Barrow-Downs is to keep homosexual or bisexual members uncomfortable, either. As Estelyn said, this is meant to be a family-friendly website where people can discuss and explore Tolkien's world.

-Aylwen

[Sharkû]

Those are the terms, take them or leave them.

[The Barrow-Wight]

The word gross in the phrase 'gross misrepresentation' means 'glaringly obvious' according to dictionary.com (and me, since that was my meaning). What is glaringly obvious is that E. Fenster is trolling for a conversation on sexuality, particularly homosexuality.

Why the Downs? I don't know. But the E. Fensters of the world always seem to drag through here eventually, looking for love in all the wrong places. As we've said (over and over again), making things true to J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth is our purpose here (with a few exceptions here and there). The good professor set a certain tone throughout his books, and we endeavor to keep that tone to the best of our abilities.

Though we no longer publish romances on the Downs, a Legolas romance, if well-written, would not be a misrepresentation at all, unless it was of a nature foreign to the books. There was not a speck of sexuality in the books, nor the faintest glimmer of same sex sensuality. Slash, which clearly focuses on these things, simply doesn't belong here.

As Sharkû said, that's just the way it is, take it our leave it.