So completely off the wall question for the three or four of you that peruse these parts.

How far, as a reader, are you willing to go with a main character?

Is there any physical act, or questionable moral, that would stop you cold when reading a story?

I know alot of it depends on character, and if these actions fit into the scope of the story. such has been proven to me with Vegas Sun, yet I'm still curious if there is ever a point when all bets are off.

Perhaps child rape or rape simply. And I won't be able to bear child murder/killings too.

and then, there're some ...horrible things you find on nifty like drinking piss. Beurk! Please don't do that! Please!!!

Ieshwar

P.S I'm sure more than 3 or 4 will be reading this.

Child abuse and rape are turn offs, but if the topic is treated right I can still read them. If they are too graphic, I get turned off. If I think the author thinks they are titillating, I get turned off.

I think a single act is generally unlikely to turn me off. It would be the whole tone of the story that is more likely to do that. The act will occur in a context and that is the saving grace, or the final straw. Vegas Sun, for example, had a context where events made sense, but equally the nastier events weren't dwelled on. The nastier events were inside a story context where they made sense, but were also in a generally hopeful setting.

Overall, I prefer upbeat stories, so negative events have to be in the right context for me to keep reading. As a case in point, I don't generally read horror stories, either.

As a reader, hrmmm...

First, for me, there is a whole heap of difference between what I'll accept from an antagonist rather than a protagonist. One needs to sympathize (IMHO) with the protagonist, so they can't do as many bad things as might be acceptable for an antagonist.

So, I'll assume you mean a mean a protagonist by main character (becuase antagonists are often main characters too). That said, I don't feel that a character has to be clearly one or the other.

Assuming you mean the protagonist (or one of), some things do stop me cold. Sexual assault by that character would sure be one. Murder without good reason would be another. I'm not at all adverse to having a main character have a few bad traits, but it very much depends on context. For example, is there remorse when they do something bad?

Now, there are some things that would put me off a story becuase I feel it's just gross, (such as what Ieshwar mentioned). Another thing that would put me off a story is if there really isn't much happening aside from normal relationship/character. However, that last one is more than likly just a personal preference of mine so I'd be inclined to disregard it.

Like Graeme, I usually don't read horror, BUT, I'm not adverse to it. It would depend on the story.

I think my main point here is it would depend on the overall context of the story.

Hrrmm. I'm trying to figure out how to word this...

I cant figure it out just yet, but the other day the idea for a scene struck me. While the scene does not go into detail, matter of fact it compleatly glosses over the end, and focuses instead on the means. I'm hopefully using the secene to develop anoth layer of complexity onto a character.

So I guess a better question would be is permiscuity as a bandaide a put off?

Do you mean promiscuity? If it is in character, it's not a turn off. If it seems out of character, then you need to justify it somehow. As I said before, a single scene is unlikely to turn me off a story -- though it can happen.

Hrmmmm... Promiscuity as a band-aid? If by that you mean promiscuity due to issues the character is dealing with, then I can certainly see that. On the other hand, if they are presenting themselves as being committed to a significant other (to that significant other) then I'd take a dimmer view.

The best example I can think of is LiS 13 (the 3-way). Jacob, at first, came across (to me) a bit negative for doing that, BUT, you covered it very well, and as a result it was character building rather than a long-term negative IMHO. Also, IMHO, characters, like people, have flaws, so some bad things are to be expected, ESPECIALLY in a character dealing with issues.

But, back the your question, a band-aid implies temporary, so as long as there is a reason given at some point, it wouldn't put me off. Also, I'd be far less likly to be put off one of your stories, just based on prior ones. This is becuase the prior ones were so good.

Of course, I won't mind.

There's so much of it in the real world so why not here?

Go ahead, dude!

Take care,
Ieshwar

Too much sex!!! Explicit, that is...

It just ruins the whole taste of the story if the only thing the protagonists do is hump each other when they are alone!!!