To me in fic it's usually less a question of non-con vs. not non-con. It seems to me that it usually is more a question of the degree of non-con that people are willing to cope with. In real life there is no distinction between rape and non-con. Non-con is rape. End of story.
But in fiction I often get the impression that non-con vs. rape might reflect the degree of violence used. With rape meaning straight out violent mean spirited rape with a straight forward unwilling and in pain victim. And non-con covering less violent versions too like under the influence of drugs, coercion, fondling and seducing somebody who is tied up and imprisoned.
All of these might be rape/non-con, but it can still a difference to the reader. They might be willing to read a non-con situation, but not if it is brutal and violent or not when a character they like is portrayed as manipulative, brutal or villaineous. (personally? I would like an additional "dark" label for any fic that has normally good character behaving evil)
I would collectively file sex pollens, sex or die or slave fic into the non-con corner. But precisely because they already are one can see it as redundant to label it non-con in addition to their already existing label. if it says slave fix or sex pollen fic it already gives the reader an idea what to expect and they can decide whether this degree of impaired judgement is something they are comfortable with.
Take slave fic. If it was labeled slave fic and otherwise suggested that it's gonna contain sex (and sex before the slave is freed), my guess would be that it contains only happy fluffy sex that the slave enjoys. The fact that the slave enjoys it doesn't change that it's a non-con situation because even though he wants to give consent he can't. Just like a 3 or 8 or 13 year old can't give consent. If a slave fic was labeled non-con in addition to slave fic I would assume that sex takes place where it is obvious that the slave isn't really comfortable with it but that it's not really violent. And if it was labeled slavefic and rape I would assume that there is straight forward rape with violence and injuries and what not.
Drunk!fic is the same to me. I don't mind drunk!fic. I emotionally don't consider it very non-con-y. The drunk!fic label suggest to me that it's likely gonna be a light hearted fic with alcohol and sex in it. If I was the kind of person who has issues with alcohol during sex I might want to steer clear of it, but other than that write away. I have to admit that I find it more bothersome if one person is clearly sober while the other is clearly drunk. And whether the person who is drunk is lucid enough to be the aggressor and believable as the aggressor. And whether or not the non-drunk person was counting on the other's drunkenness or just stumbled into it by accident. (which actually brings me to an interesting canon example, but this is getting too long for one reply)
I'm actually stumped about what would constitute a real dub-con. Maybe a fic where the POV character doesn't know and the reader isn't sure either. When it's intentionally left open.
And there is sort of the bodice ripper example or the moral no stories, which is a category I rather like. I have always had a soft spot for hero/villain pairings. Where I can buy a situation where the hero is attracted to the villain and wants to have sex with him but can't bring himself to yes because it would shatter their whole moral foundation. And trhe villain is all "I know you want me, I know you can't say it, therefore I'm taking you without you saying yes, taking the responsibility away from you". In real life now that is a dub-con that would never fly and be straight up non-con. Because only bad things has come out of men running around they think they know that women mean yes when they say no. Or that they know that a woman wants better than she herself or contrary to what she is saying. But in fic? What is it? Non-con? Probably. But it's one that if well written always leaves me stumped.
But yes, generally I tend to fall fast on the side of non-con. Either impaired judgement (either through outside force or though substances) takes place or it doesn't.
degrees of non-con
But in fiction I often get the impression that non-con vs. rape might reflect the degree of violence used. With rape meaning straight out violent mean spirited rape with a straight forward unwilling and in pain victim. And non-con covering less violent versions too like under the influence of drugs, coercion, fondling and seducing somebody who is tied up and imprisoned.
All of these might be rape/non-con, but it can still a difference to the reader. They might be willing to read a non-con situation, but not if it is brutal and violent or not when a character they like is portrayed as manipulative, brutal or villaineous. (personally? I would like an additional "dark" label for any fic that has normally good character behaving evil)
I would collectively file sex pollens, sex or die or slave fic into the non-con corner. But precisely because they already are one can see it as redundant to label it non-con in addition to their already existing label. if it says slave fix or sex pollen fic it already gives the reader an idea what to expect and they can decide whether this degree of impaired judgement is something they are comfortable with.
Take slave fic. If it was labeled slave fic and otherwise suggested that it's gonna contain sex (and sex before the slave is freed), my guess would be that it contains only happy fluffy sex that the slave enjoys. The fact that the slave enjoys it doesn't change that it's a non-con situation because even though he wants to give consent he can't. Just like a 3 or 8 or 13 year old can't give consent. If a slave fic was labeled non-con in addition to slave fic I would assume that sex takes place where it is obvious that the slave isn't really comfortable with it but that it's not really violent. And if it was labeled slavefic and rape I would assume that there is straight forward rape with violence and injuries and what not.
Drunk!fic is the same to me. I don't mind drunk!fic. I emotionally don't consider it very non-con-y. The drunk!fic label suggest to me that it's likely gonna be a light hearted fic with alcohol and sex in it. If I was the kind of person who has issues with alcohol during sex I might want to steer clear of it, but other than that write away. I have to admit that I find it more bothersome if one person is clearly sober while the other is clearly drunk. And whether the person who is drunk is lucid enough to be the aggressor and believable as the aggressor. And whether or not the non-drunk person was counting on the other's drunkenness or just stumbled into it by accident. (which actually brings me to an interesting canon example, but this is getting too long for one reply)
I'm actually stumped about what would constitute a real dub-con. Maybe a fic where the POV character doesn't know and the reader isn't sure either. When it's intentionally left open.
And there is sort of the bodice ripper example or the moral no stories, which is a category I rather like. I have always had a soft spot for hero/villain pairings. Where I can buy a situation where the hero is attracted to the villain and wants to have sex with him but can't bring himself to yes because it would shatter their whole moral foundation. And trhe villain is all "I know you want me, I know you can't say it, therefore I'm taking you without you saying yes, taking the responsibility away from you". In real life now that is a dub-con that would never fly and be straight up non-con. Because only bad things has come out of men running around they think they know that women mean yes when they say no. Or that they know that a woman wants better than she herself or contrary to what she is saying. But in fic? What is it? Non-con? Probably. But it's one that if well written always leaves me stumped.
But yes, generally I tend to fall fast on the side of non-con. Either impaired judgement (either through outside force or though substances) takes place or it doesn't.