Frequently Asked Questions
v 6.2 -- June 2005 |
Changes Noted (MM) among hot codes Q1 What does "story code" mean? A1 Story codes are a group of symbols on the subject line of stories posted in alt.sex.stories.moderated, alt.sex.stories, and several closely-related newsgroups. They communicate to some of the readers some of the contents of the story. Generally, codes are intended to address the download decisions of many potential readers. Some warn of content that some readers want to avoid. Some advertise content that some readers want to download. Most codes do both.
A2 If you are new to coding, you should probably browse through it once. You should learn the codes used in the area in which you want to write (we call that your subgenre). For a new story, and especially for a new subgenre, you can check the section involved. Otherwise, check out the "changes" section at the top of each posting. You should know the codes for sex, age, and number in part 3.0 below. You should be aware of the hot codes in part 3.1. And you should know the codes of your own subgenre. You needn't necessarily know the code subtleties of other subgenres, except to know that you shouldn't use those codes for another purpose. In the FAQ, we often write a single code within its own set of parentheses. This is to signal that we are looking at codes; use only one set of parentheses on actual stories.
A3 Here they are broken down into categories. Some codes are repeated, with the same definition, in more than one category. |
INDEX 3.0: Sex, age, and number. 3.1: Hot codes. It is considered brutally rude to omit these codes if they apply. 3.2: Willingness or unwillingness. 3.3: Dominance, submission, bondage, pain and violence. 3.4: Relationships. 3.5: Activities. 3.6: Various kinks. 3.7: Other particulars. |
The CODES It is considered viciously rude to include the categories that I have marked with an asterisk (*) without warning of them in the story codes. See section 3.1. |
3.0: Sex, Age, and number of persons engaged in sexual activity. (Not only intercourse.) M An adult man (18 or older) m Boy - Teenager (13 - 17) b* Boy - Preteen (age 12 or younger) F An adult woman (18 or older) f Girl - Teenager (13 - 17) g* Girl - Preteen (age 12 or younger) Some examples of how these are used: MF Heterosexual adult sex mf Young heterosexual sex FF Homosexual adult female sex MM* Homosexual adult male sex ff Young lesbian sex mm* Homosexual, young male sex Mg* or mF Permutations of this are an adult having sex with a minor. + 2 or more of the same sex, that is M+F Several men having sex with the same woman MF+ Several women having sex with the same man M+F+ They all mix it up MF mf Two couples, not a foursome fsolo e.g. Masturbation by an adolescent girl. When these are not sufficient to distinguish who is doing what with whom, there is a discussion of connectors, ~, (or /) in The coding subtlety FAQ. Fembot A female robot, designed to give sexual pleasure. fembot A version of the same, designed to look like a teenaged girl. |
3.1: Hot codes. It is considered brutally rude to omit these codes if they apply: b Boy under 13 participates in sex bd Bondage and Discipline best Bestiality. Sex with an animal (see also zoo) blackmail Forcing sex through threat of exposure. cbt Cock & ball torture fist Fisting g Girl under 13 participates in sex inc Incest mc Mind control MM (or mm, etc.) Male homosexuality nc Non-consensual Sexual Activity nec [Necrophilia] Sex with a dead person ped [Pedophilia] Participants age 12 or below. Should use the proper sex and age codes instead, but those codes may not be omitted if one of the participants in sex is under the age of 13. rape rape reluc starts out as rape, but she loves it. sad [sadism] For "just" inflicting pain. Can be used with 'nc' or 'cons'. scat [Scatology] Fun with feces. sm Sadomasochism: pain which gives pleasure to both parties snuff Killing tort Torture. viol Violence, not always (sad). ws Water Sports zoo [Zoophilia] Caring and consensual sexual relationships between humans and animals. (See also best) And generally any level of sex-related violence. Of course, some of these terms include others. If you include (tort) and (snuff) then (sad) is redundant. However, we consider it fair to use (caution) in story codes to indicate that the story might squick some people, but telling why it might squick them might spoil the story for others. Generally, male homosexual activity squicks a fair number of men. Lesbian activity doesn't seem to bother very many people. However, some jurisdictions forbid the depiction of sexual activity which are illegal there. So casual FF activity should probably be labeled as well, even if it is not a major theme of your story. |
3.2: Willingness or unwillingness. blackmail* Forcing sex through threat of exposure. cons Only Consensual Sexual Activity (including possible non-intercourse sexual activity) is in the story. mc* Mind control. nc* Some non-consensual Sexual Activity (including possible non-intercourse sexual activity.) rape* Brutal non-consensual intercourse. reluc* Starts out as rape, but she loves it. rom [Romantic] Consensual Sexual Activity only. Based, at least in part, on the characters' love for one another. Just now, wisest to include (cons). For multiple nonconsensual codes, see Multiple |
3.3: Dominance, submission, bondage, pain and violence.
_dom Domination by member of sex/age "_"
e.g.
Mdom Dominant adult male
Fdom Dominant adult female
bd* Bondage and Discipline
cbt* Cock & ball torture
fist* Fisting
humil Humiliation. Some of the sexual charge of the story
involves the humiliation of one of the characters.
mc* Mind control
rough Consensually rough sex, not always sm.
sad* [Sadism] For "just" inflicting pain. Can be used with
'nc' or 'cons'.
sm* Sadomasochism: pain which gives pleasure to both
parties
snuff* Killing
span [Spanking] Mild (sm)
tort* Torture. Severe non-consensual pain-giving
viol* Violence, not always (sad)
Generally, (snuff) applies to killing in which the description of the killing is supposed to add to the sexual charge; (viol) includes stories which are violent, even if the sex isn't. |
3.4: Relationships
cheat Married or committed people having sex outside of the
commitment, cheating on their partner, as distinct
from swinging.
inc* Incest
interr Interracial
rom [Romantic] Consensual Sexual Activity only. Based, at
least in part, on the characters' love for one
another.
wife Wife *watching* (participatory cuckoldry)
wl [Wedded Lust] Sex within the marital relationship.
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3.5: Activities
solo Masturbation by M, m, b, F, f or g; e.g. Msolo
anal Anal sex, not always genital penetration.
best* Bestiality. Sex with an animal (see also zoo)
enem Enemas
exhib Exhibitionism
fist* Fisting
inc* Incest
mc* Mind control
nec* [Necrophilia] Sex with a dead person
nosex There is no intercourse in the story. This is a preemptive
code in the sense that it overrides any implication of
intercourse by other codes used.
oral Oral-genital contact.
ped* [Pedophilia] Some participants age 12 or below.
piv [Penis in vagina.] "Straight" intercourse.
rim* Oral-anal contact.
scat* [Scatology] Fun with feces.
tg Transgendered (Transsexual)
vore Eating (literally) someone or something alive. Think Jonah.
voy Voyeurism
wife Wife *watching* (participatory cuckoldry)
ws* Water Sports (aka golden showers, that is: people who
like getting pissed on (as opposed to pissed off).
zoo* [Zoophilia] Caring and consensual relationships
between humans and animals. (See also best)
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3.6: Various kinks.
bi Bisexuality of one or more characters.
lac [Lactation] Playing with (human) milk.
preg [Pregnant] Sex with a pregnant woman or impregnation.
toys Vibrators or other adult toys
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3.7: Other particulars.
1st First time intercourse. You may also use m1st, F1st,
etc. Sometimes first time MM or FF intercourse for
someone who has already experienced MF.
Fembot A female robot, designed to give sexual pleasure.
fembot A version of the same, designed to look like a teenaged girl.
filk New lyrics for a familiar tune.
furry Anthropomorphized animals
hist Has a historical theme
humor Humor. Funny
interr Interracial
parody Imitation of a style or particular story with
the intent to amuse.
ScFi Science fiction setting. Please note spelling.
size Overdeveloped body-parts
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A4 Consult The FAQ on coding subtleties. which has less-often-used codes and comments on dealing with a case where new codes are really needed.
A5 Some readers search on these codes, by eye or by search engine. The ones who are looking for a story like yours will find yours. Of those who enjoy it, some will look for more of your stories. Your readership will be increased; one or two of them might even write you fan mail. Also, every pleased reader will have been "positively reinforced" for reading alt.sex.stories.* and for using the codes. You will have helped not only yourself, but the rest of the authors.
A6 The reader who is using the codes to look for precisely that sort of story will miss yours. The reader who downloads your story because he is looking for what you claimed it was will be displeased. Depending on his level of displeasure and his tolerance, his actions can range from junking that particular story to kill-filing you or even writing you a nasty letter or a comment in the group. Certainly, each such reader will have been "negatively reinforced," very slightly less likely to trust codes, to use codes, and to read alt.sex.stories.
Q7b What happens if I use precisely the codes in the FAQ, but those aren't the ones the reader considers appropriate for the story? A7 Pretty much the same thing as A6. Readers react according to their expectations. The FAQ follows usage, not usage following the FAQ, much less your opinions.
A8 Some readers won't touch an uncoded story. The readers who do download your story are likely not looking for that sort of story. Almost certainly, coding increases your readership -- how much depends on the subgenre and other particulars. More about this in The FAQ on coding subtleties.
A9 You should use the appropriate sex and age codes
in section 3.0, any hot codes from section 3.1, and the main
theme of the story. Beyond that, consult
A10 Rarely used codes and codes from specialized newsgroups and for (MM) or (interr) stories. The order of using codes. More on how much code is necessary.
A11 The story-codes for each story should all be enclosed in one set of ( parentheses ) after the story name. The codes should be separated by spaces, and no single code should include a space [e.g. (ScFi) not (sci fi); (Mdom} not {M dom)]. The codes for sex and age are run together when those persons are involved with each other [(MFF) not (M F F)]. These codes are run into the following codes when they are modifiers [(Fdom) (Msolo) (f1st)]. Usually, the codes for sex and age come first. It would be nice if you used these codes just as they are given, capitals and lower-case letters and all.
If you are not posting on ASSM, but are posting on ASS, then use: {ASS} Romeo and Juliet 1 {Shakespeare} (Mf viol 1st) [1/5] Much more on the entire subject line at:
A12
The list of all story codes by type of story.
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