THW has noticed, over the life of this site (two and a half years, now!), that stories which attract ‘down’ votes follow a pattern.
There aren’t that many ‘down’ votes, thankfully, but THW considers these as important - more important, in fact, than ‘up’ votes.
Why?
Because while THW knows that the stories on this site are transgressive and raw, this is not from any wish to shock or upset people. These stories are for readers who want to read the material they find here - readers for whom the writing does what they want it to.
A ‘down’ vote is a sign that a reader has been upset; they have expected a certain kind of content, and been displeased by something unexpected. This is a Bad Thing. People’s boundaries around sexual transgression are often highly sensitive - and that’s a Good Thing - ethics matter very much in this domain.
So from today there will be a new category of stories on this site - the ‘Cruelties’ category - named that way so that people can quickly decide whether they want to go there or not. It’s not entirely a matter of the ‘harshness’ rating of a story - from the pattern observed, it seems to be more to do with whether the story has a more cold, cruel or sadistic character than is usual.
The regular stories will remain accessible from the front page of the site, but readers who want to see the new category will have to use the ‘Cruelties’ menu item. Tags from these stories will not be mixed in with the tags of the regular stories (they have been, during the last 2 weeks of a trial period of this approach, but that has ended now).
Some stories you have been able to find in the main list may be moved in the near future! No stories have been moved as yet, but THW will be reviewing all stories over the next few weeks. If you’d rather a certain story were moved, tell me!
Let me know what you think about this new approach in the comments, please!
It works for me; I’m enjoying your work, but can understand that not everyone likes the ‘darkest’ stories. Some I like, others less so, but that’s normal.
Thanks. Good to know.
WOW!!!! This is HIGHY PROFFSIONAL AND COOL!!! THW is currently and actively reviewing OR will be constantly reviewing all created and written content. It shows a Sensitivity to ALL current and future readers!!! SO NOW, We as Readers have to be MORE ACTIVE AND VOCAL on this site!!!! IF You find something Disturbing, let THW KNOW!!! (I personally did NOT like the Knife Play = Thus the Warning on THAT Story)
Thanks for this great response.
That's it exactly - sensitivity to all readers.
So, for instance, if you wanted THW to review the story with the knife-play, you could make a quick comment there (which can be anonymous, of course), and the idea of moving it into the Cruelty section will be considered.
At the very least, there would be a reasoned explanation of why it didn't get moved, which you could respond to.
And, of course, that story will now be reviewed!
How do you access the cruelties section?
Use the menu item at top right of the page.
Sorry, could have made it more explicit.
I think all your stories are amazing and hit the raw part of me (the victim caugh) that no one else has ever touched or understood before. Where ever you put them they are amazing.