1.1 Would you describe yourself as a reader or writer of fan or amateur fiction?
Yes
No
1.2 Which age range best describes you?
9 or under
10-12
13-15
16-17
18-21
22-25
26-35
36-45
46-55
56-65
66 and over
1.3 What is the age of majority (the age one becomes a legal adult and gains full legal rights, such as the right to vote) in your country/state?
Age:
Don't Know
Section 2 (To be completed by people who read and write amateur fiction)
Reading Fiction
2.1 Do you...
Just read it
Just write it
Read and write it
2.2 What age did you start reading and/or writing fan/amateur fiction?
9 or under
10-12
13-15
16-17
18-21
22-25
26-35
36-45
46-55
56-65
66 and over
2.3 From what sources do you read amateur fiction (select all applicable)?
My friend gives me his/her stuff to read
Zines
E-Zines
Mailing lists/Yahoo groups
Personal journals/blogs and journal communities
Writer's home pages
Fandom/Community Archive
Multifandom Archive
Fanfiction.net
Anywhere except Fanfiction.net
Wherever I can find it
2.4 Which of the following best expresses you feelings about paying to access amateur fiction online?
Yes, I would/do pay for it
Yes, I would pay to help support an archive or author I liked
Yes, I would pay if the money was to support website upkeep costs
Yes, I would pay if the money was to pay for age verification services
Yes, I would pay but only if it was original and not fan fiction
I would not want to be compelled to pay but I would give a voluntary donation towards upkeep of a web site
No, I would not pay any money to a site or author because it should be non-commercial
I would only pay if it was for an e-zine
Mailing Lists, Journals and Communities:
2.5 Which best describes the number of fiction related mailing lists, chat groups and journal communities that you subscribe to?
None
One group
2 or 3, all related to the same fandoms, interests or communities
2 or 3 altogether, but not all realted to the same fandom, interest or community
4 - 6, all related to the same fandom, interest or community
4 - 6 altogether, but not all realted to the same fandom, interest or community
7 - 10, all related to the same fandom, interest or community
7 - 10 altogether, but not all realted to the same fandom, interest or community
11 - 15, all related to the same fandom, interest or community
11 - 15 altogether, but not all realted to the same fandom, interest or community
16 - 20, all related to the same fandom, interest or community
16 - 20 altogether, but not all realted to the same fandom, interest or community
More than 20 and all related to the same fandom, interest or community
More than 20 altogether but not all realted to the same fandom, interest or community
2.6 Do you belong to mailing lists/journal communities within all the fandoms or fiction areas you are interested in?
Yes
Only the ones I write in
Only the ones I am most interested in
Only the ones where I have found groups I like
I don't belong to any
2.7 Have you met any of your fiction friends off line?
No, not interested in meeting up with any of them
No, meeting up with people you meet online is dangerous
No, none of them live near me
No but I have seen pictures
I knew some of them off-line anyway
We try to have meet up at conventions so I've met some of them
There are a bunch of us locally so we get together regularly, go to conventions etc
Yes, I have arranged to meet some I might not have met otherwise
2.8 Within the lists, journals, chat rooms and other community areas you subscribe to are there any people you are particularly friendly with
I just read and/or write stuff, I'm not really part of any 'community'
Not really, I just sort of lurk
There are one or two people on my lists that I'm friends with
There are 4-10 people I know very well and a few others I know quite well
There are 11-20 people I know very well and a few others I know quite well
There are 21-30 people I know very well and a few others I know quite well
There are more than 30 people I know very well and a others I know quite well
I have been there since the beginning - I know everyone
Adult Content
2.9 Do you read fiction that contains adult content?
Yes
Yes, but only het
Yes, but only slash
Yes, but only when the content is not of a sex-related nature
No - Don't want to
No - I am underage
Occasionally when the mood takes me or I see something that looks really good
I never pay attention to ratings
The works I read do not have ratings but I would count some of them as adult
Not intentionally but I have a few times by accident
2.10 Do you think the movie rating system adequately describes works of fiction?
Yes
Never really thought about it
It is okay but I sometimes find it hard to work out what rating applies to what
No
No, I think a better system would be:
2.11 Which of the following would you prefer to know as a means of helping you decide whether or not to read a piece of fiction (select all applicable)?
Fandom
Pairing (if extant)
Mood (funny, happy, sad, scary etc)
Type (het, slash, gen etc)
Canon character focused or original character focused
Happy ending or not
Rating/Level of adult material in contents
Size/Length
Title
Author
Summary
Genre (drama, action/adventure, missing scene, horror etc)
Whether it contains major non-canonical elements (Alternate universe, out of character behaviour, alternate species characteristics etc)
Whether it contains major character death
Whether it contains minor character death
Whether it contains kink (unspecified)
Whether it contains kink (specified)
Whether it contains large scale violence
Whether it contains non-explicit sexual violence
Whether it contains explicit sexual violence
Whether it contains portrayals of alternative lifestyles
Whether it contains portrayals of hate groups
Whether it contains portrayals of sexual abuse
Whether it contains portrayals of psychological abuse
Whether it contains portrayals of physical abuse
Whether it contains portrayals of child abuse
Whether it contains portrayals of drug abuse
Whether it contains portrayals of recreational drug use
Whether it contains portrayals of non-explicit sexual situation involving underage characters (e.g. As in Romeo and Juliet)
Whether it contains portrayals of explicit sexual situation involving underage characters (e.g. As in Queer as Folk)
Whether it contains portrayals of illegal activities
Whether it contains blasphemous language
Whether it contains sexually derived profanity
If the bad guys win
The technical quality of the writing (Grammar, spelling etc)
The storytelling quality of the writing (Good plot, characters etc)
The visual accessibility of the text
The format the story is available in (HTML, PDF etc)
Other
2.12 Which of the following would you prefer NOT to know about the story before you read a piece of fiction (select all applicable)?
Fandom
Pairing (if extant)
Mood (funny, happy, sad, scary etc)
Type (het, slash, gen etc)
Canon character focused or original character focused
Happy ending or not
Rating/Level of adult material in contents
Size/Length
Title
Author
Summary
Genre (drama, action/adventure, missing scene, horror etc)
Whether it contains major non-canonical elements (Alternate universe, out of character behaviour, alternate species characteristics etc)
Whether it contains major character death
Whether it contains minor character death
Whether it contains kink (unspecified)
Whether it contains kink (specified)
Whether it contains large scale violence
Whether it contains non-explicit sexual violence
Whether it contains explicit sexual violence
Whether it contains portrayals of alternative lifestyles
Whether it contains portrayals of hate groups
Whether it contains portrayals of sexual abuse
Whether it contains portrayals of psychological abuse
Whether it contains portrayals of physical abuse
Whether it contains portrayals of child abuse
Whether it contains portrayals of drug abuse
Whether it contains portrayals of recreational drug use
Whether it contains portrayals of non-explicit sexual situation involving underage characters (e.g. As in Romeo and Juliet)
Whether it contains portrayals of explicit sexual situation involving underage characters (e.g. As in Queer as Folk)
Whether it contains portrayals of illegal activities
Whether it contains blasphemous language
Whether it contains sexually derived profanity
If the bad guys win
The technical quality of the writing (Grammar, spelling etc)
The storytelling quality of the writing (Good plot, characters etc)
The visual accessibility of the text
The format the story is available in (HTML, PDF etc)
Other
2.13 Which fandoms or what type of original amateur fiction do you read?
Section 2a (Younger readers only)
2a.1 What measures have you encountered to prevent you accessing adult material (select all applicable)?
Nothing
Warnings
Sites asking you to click a button/link to say you are an adult
Sites asking you to send an age statement
Sites asking you to create an account giving your date of birth
Sites asking for verifiable offline contact details
Sites asking for credit card details
ICRA/PICS labels or other type of metadata to allow filters installed on your computer to block pages
Other
2a.2 Of those methods that you have encountered how did you react to them?
Nothing
Have not encountered
Realised quickly and hit the back button
Realised and was horrified - I did not want to see/read that!
Realised and kept reading
Realised, loved it and went to find more
Why?
Warnings
Have not encountered
Heeded the warnings
Ignored the warnings
Was intrigued by the warning and more interested in reading it
Why?
Click button to confirm you are an adult
Have not encountered
Went elsewhere
Clicked the button
Why?
Send an age statement to the archivist
Have not encountered
Went elsewhere
Sent in a false age statement
Why?
Sites asking for your date of birth
Have not encountered
Went elsewhere
Sent in a made up date of birth
Why?
Sites asking for verifiable offline contact details
Have not encountered
Went elsewhere
Made something up
Gave someone else's details
Gave someone else's details with their permission
Why?
Sites asking for credit card details
Have not encountered
Went elsewhere
Tried my debit card
Gave someone else's card details
Gave someone else's card details with their permission
Why?
2a.3 Of those methods that you have not encountered how do you think you would you react to them?
Nothing
Have encountered
Realise quickly and hit the back button
Realise and be horrified - I do not want to see that!
Realise and keep reading
Why?
Warnings
Have encountered
Heed the warnings
Ignore the warnings
Be intrigued by the warning and more interested in reading it
Why?
Click button to confirm you are an adult
Have encountered
Go elsewhere
Click the button
Why?
Send an age statement to the archivist
Have encountered
Go elsewhere
Send in a false age statement
Why?
Sites asking for your date of birth
Have encountered
Go elsewhere
Send in a made-up date of birth
Why?
Sites asking for verifiable offline contact details
Have encountered
Go elsewhere
Make something up
Give someone else's details
Ask a friend or parent's permission to use their details
Why?
Sites asking for credit card details
Have encountered
Go elsewhere
Try my debit card
Give someone else's card details
Ask a friend or parent's permission to give their card details
Why?
2a.4 If you said you have done, or would do, something other than leave when you encountered an age checking system that required action on your part, do you consider what you did, or would do, to be lying?
I always left the site
Yes
Yes, but you are expected to lie so no-one really cares
Yes, but it doesn't matter because it isn't illegal
Not really, it is all a joke anyway
Yes for some of the things, no for others
No
No because I had permission
Not sure
Why?
2a.5 Would you ask a friend to lie for you to help you access fiction with adult content?
Yes
Only if there was something specific I really wanted to read
No I don't read that sort of thing
No
2a.6 Would you lie for a friend to help them access fiction with adult content?
Yes
Only if they were doing the same for me
No
No and I would inform their parents about what they were trying to do
Section 3 (To be completed by people who write amateur fiction)
Writing Fiction
3.1 How do you share your work with others?
I don't let anyone else see it
I show it to a few of my friends or family
I publish in zines but not online
I publish in zines and then put it up online
I publish both in zines and online but which depends on the fandom or the type of story
I publish mostly online but I write stories for zines occasionally
I only publish online
3.2 If you share your stories with others online how are they archived?
They aren't archived
They aren't specifically archived except in the mailing list archives
Personal home page
Journal/Blog
Fandom/Community Archive
Multifandom Archive
Fanfiction.net
Anywhere that wants them except Fanfiction.net
Wherever asks for it
Other
3.3 Do you write fiction that contains adult content?
I don't write adult content
I might write the occasional 'R' rated story but not really
Yes
3.4 Did you write fiction that contained adult content when you were under the legal age of majority?
I didn't write fiction at all when I was a minor
I didn't write adult content when I was a minor
I wrote the occasional 'R' rated story when I was a minor but not really
I wrote adult content when I was a minor
I am legally a minor and I write adult content
3.5 If you have a personal home page or an archive which includes adult content which if any of the following does it include (select all applicable)?
No specific information about the content
Warnings
ICRA/PICS rating (or equivalent)
Click a button/link to say you are an adult
Age statement required for log in
Date of birth required for log in
Verifiable offline contact details required for log in
Credit card details required for log in
Not applicable - I don't have a page that includes adult content
3.6 If you do not include ICRA/PICS or equivalent tags on your site why not?
I don't know what they are
No one uses them so there is no point
I didn't understand how to implement them
I didn't feel they were relevant to fiction
I don't have anything objectionable so there is not point
It was too much effort
I keep meaning to I just haven't got around to it yet
My site is so small and get so little traffic it didn't seem necessary
3.7 Which of the following do you typically include information about with stories you have written (select all applicable)?
Fandom
Pairing (if extant)
Mood (funny, happy, sad, scary etc)
Type (het, slash, gen etc)
Canon character focused or original character focused
Happy ending or not
Rating/Level of adult material in contents
Size/Length
Title
Author
Summary
The format the story is available it (HTML, PDF etc)
Genre (drama, action/adventure, missing scene, horror etc)
Whether it contains major non-canonical elements (Alternate universe, out of character behaviour, alternate species characteristics etc)
Whether it contains major character death
Whether it contains minor character death
Whether it contains kink (unspecified)
Whether it contains kink (specified)
Whether it contains large scale violence
Whether it contains non-explicit sexual violence
Whether it contains explicit sexual violence
Whether it contains portrayals of alternative lifestyles
Whether it contains portrayals of hate groups
Whether it contains portrayals of sexual abuse
Whether it contains portrayals of psychological abuse
Whether it contains portrayals of physical abuse
Whether it contains portrayals of child abuse
Whether it contains portrayals of drug abuse
Whether it contains portrayals of recreational drug use
Whether it contains portrayals of non-explicit sexual situation involving underage characters (e.g. As in Romeo and Juliet)
Whether it contains portrayals of explicit sexual situation involving underage characters (e.g. As in Queer as Folk)
Whether it contains portrayals of illegal activities
Whether it contains blasphemous language
Whether it contains sexually derived profanity
If the bad guys win
Other
3.8 How long do you typically spend adding additional category information about the story?
A few seconds
Less than a minute
A few minutes
five minutes
five-ten minutes
More than ten minutes
I don't - they don't need to know anything but my name, the title
Some one else does that for me
Not very long each time but I have to do it differently when I post to different places
Not very long I just paste in my standard information
3.9 If it took slightly longer to add additional data but more readers were able to find your work as a result would you be willing to take that extra time?
Not really, I just don't have time
If it took less than a minute
If it didn't take more than a few minutes
If it didn't take more then five minutes
If it didn't take more than ten minutes
If I only needed to spend that time the once and the information could be used for all the places I posted the story
3.10 Which fandoms or what type of original amateur fiction do you write?
Section 4 (To be completed by people who do NOT regularly read amateur fiction)
The view from outside the community
4.1 Have you ever read any on-line amateur fiction?
No
No but my child/sibling/parent/spouse/friend does
Only officially licensed publications
I tried some but I didn't like it
Maybe once or twice
Yes
4.2 How did you hear about fan and/or amateur fiction?
Friend
Parent
Child
News/Article
School/University assignment
Stumbled across it accidentally
Other (enter below)
4.3 If you stumbled across some online would you read it?
Yes
Not after the first time
No
4.4 If you stumbled across some online that warned of containing adult contents or carried a high "movie rating" would you read it?
Yes
Depends who or what it was about
Not after the first time
No
No and I would complain (or seriously consider complaining) because that sort of thing should not be allowed
4.5 If you stumbled across some that warned of containing adult "slash" contents or carried a high "movie rating" would you read it?
Yes
Depends who or what it was about
I don't know what that means so I would avoid it
I don't know what that means so I would try it
Not after the first time
No
No and I would complain (or seriously consider complaining) because that sort of thing should not be allowed
Section 5 (To be completed by everybody)
'Adult' fiction
5.1 Do you consider 'R' rated stories to be 'adult'?
Yes - anything over PG-13 is 'adult'
It depends on why it has been rated 'R'
No - only NC-17 stories are 'adult'
Isn't the some form of X classification that should apply to that sort of thing?
I don't understand the American Movie Rating Scheme
The question is irrelevant because the ICRA/PICS system should be used instead
Not sure
5.2 Do you think "Het" and "Slash" fiction should be treated differently from each other with regard to the way it is created and made available online?
Yes
No
Not if they are the same rating
I don't understand the terms
Not sure
Yes, but
No, but
5.3 Do you think adult and non-adult fiction should be treated differently with regard to the way it is created and made available online?
Yes
No
Only concerning the precautions that need to be taken about access
Not sure
Isn't that the same as the previous question?
Yes, but
No, but
5.4 Do you think fiction written by children should be treated differently, with regard to the way it is created and made available online, to that written by adults ?
Yes
No
Not sure
Adults write fiction?
Children write fiction?
Yes, but
No, but
5.5 Which of the follow best expresses you level of concern about persons under the legal age of majority accessing adult fiction?
I am concerned
I am not concerned
It depends on why the story got the adult rating. Some of it I am not concerned about a minor seeing but some of it definitely isn't appropriate.
If they can't understand and react appropriately to warnings then they shouldn't be allowed on the Internet unsupervised - I'm more concerned about the parents that let them.
I'm not concerned about them reading it but I am concerned about them getting me or someone else in trouble because they have got caught.
They wouldn't be interested in it anyway, as long as the warning are there so they don't find it accidentally it should be fine.
I think some steps should be taken to avoid younger children coming across it accidentally but I think it is probably a positive way for mid/late teenagers for explore adult issues
I am concerned about young children getting hold of it but I think most teenagers aren't going to read anything they don't know already
I am concerned it is a bad influence. Teenagers especially don't always know what is best for them but think they do.
I am concerned about anyone accessing at all, child or adult, and that someone is actually creating this stuff.
I am under the legal age of majority and I don't want you to take my adult fiction away from me
I am under the legal age of majority and I worry about what my friends are reading
I am under the legal age of majority and I don't see what the fuss is about.
5.6 Do you think teens should be allowed to decide whether they wish to access fiction with adult content?
No, everyone under the legal age of majority should be treated in the same way.
Teenagers over the legal age of consent in their country/state should be allowed to make their own choices about what they read
Teenagers over the legal age of consent in their country/state should have greater freedom about what they read but some material should still be restricted
Parents should be able to decide when their children can make their own decisions about what they read
People over 12 should be allowed to make their own decisions about what they read
People over 12 should have greater freedom about what they can read but some material should still be restricted
People over 13 should be allowed to make their own decisions about what they read
People over 13 should have greater freedom about what they can read but some material should still be restricted
People over 14 should be allowed to make their own decisions about what they read
People over 14 should have greater freedom about what they can read but some material should still be restricted
People over 15 should be allowed to make their own decisions about what they read
People over 15 should have greater freedom about what they can read but some material should still be restricted
People over 16 should be allowed to make their own decisions about what they read
People over 16 should have greater freedom about what they can read but some material should still be restricted
People over 17 should be allowed to make their own decisions about what they read
People over 17 should have greater freedom about what they can read but some material should still be restricted
5.7 Would you lie about someone else's age to help them access fiction with adult content?
No
No and I would inform their parents about the request
Only if it was someone I knew and knew they could handle it
Only if they had really restrictive parents
Yes, if someone asked me to
Yes, I'd offer to do it for anyone who wanted
5.8 If you have your own computer or can install software on a shared computer do you use filtering or other web site blocking software on your computer?
I do not own a computer nor am I able to install software on a shared computer.
I do not have any such software installed
Filtering software
Whitelist-only blockers
Blacklist blockers
The is something installed on it but I am not sure what
5.9 What personal information do you think it is reasonable for a web site containing no adult content to ask for before allowing access?
None
A pen or user name
A pen or user name and a valid e-mail address
Real name and valid e-mail
Real name, verifiable offline contact details and valid e-mail address
Credit card details
None for readers but a pen name and a valid contact e-mail address for archived authors
None for readers but a pen name, real name and valid e-mail address for archived authors
None for readers but a pen name, real name, verifiable contact details and valid e-mail address for archived authors
None for readers but a pen name and credit card details for archived authors
5.10 What personal information do you think it is reasonable for a web site containing adult content to ask for before allowing access?
None
A pen or user name
A pen or user name and a valid e-mail address
Real name and valid e-mail
Real name, verifiable offline contact details and valid e-mail address
Credit card details
None for readers but a pen name and a valid contact e-mail address for archived authors
None for readers but a pen name, real name and valid e-mail address for archived authors
None for readers but a pen name, real name, verifiable contact details and valid e-mail address for archived authors
None for readers but a pen name and credit card details for archived authors
Section 6 (To be completed by everyone)
Computers and the Internet
6.1 How would you rate your technical ability with computers?
I don't use them at all
I surf the web and get my e-mail but that is about it
I am comfortable using computers and software
I can create web pages and/or personalise my journal if I don't have to deal with the underlying code to much
I can code HTML by hand but I don't know how to write scripts or to program
I can create dynamic web content and am happy coding
I program for fun
I program professionally
I am a guru
6.2 What operating system(s) do you use when you read and/or browse for fiction in electronic format (select all applicable)?
Windows
MacOS
Linux
Unix
Solaris
Whatever my handheld runs
Other (enter below)
I'm not sure what my operating system is
None - don't read the stuff
None - I only read the paper version
6.3 What browser do you primarily use to browse for, read or download fiction online?
IE 3.x
IE 4.x
IE 5.x
IE 6.x
IE (various versions or don't know version)
WebTV
Netscape 3.x
Netscape 4.x
Netscape 6.x
Netscape 7.x
Netscape (various versions or don't know version)
Opera
Mozilla
Firefox
Lynx
I don't know the type of browser
I don't read fiction online
Other (enter below)
6.4 Do you use that browser from personal choice?
I use it because I like it
It is better than the alternatives
It was the default one that came with the computer
I can't stand it, I just haven't got around to looking at or installing anything else
I mostly use public computers so I have to use whatever is installed
I am disabled and am restricted to that browser
6.5 Would you consider changing to another browser?
Never
If it had better features
I'd give another browser a chance if it was recommended
I can't because it isn't my computer
I can't because I need features that only this browser has
I don't know how
Sure
6.6 Are you the sole user/owner of the computer you primarily use to access fan or amateur fiction?
Yes
I have to share it but I have my own secure profile which only I log in to
No, I have to share it with my family
No, I have to let my children use it
No, I have to let my parents use it
No, I have to share it with other children
No, I have to share it but only with other adults
I don't have access to my own computer, I have to use a public one
Section 7 (To be completed by everyone)
Applications and Access
7.1 What steps would you consider reasonable for a web site containing adult fiction to take to prevent minors accessing content that might be inappropriate (select all applicable)?
None - let them read it if they want to
Warnings - inform the potential reader what the story contains. After that it is up to them if the read it or not.
Confirmation button - the potential reader has to click on a button/link to confirm the material is appropriate for them
Age statement - the potential reader should have to send the writer/archivist a statement to say they are of age to receive a password and log in
Date of birth - the potential reader should have to enter personal details such as date of birth to receive a password and log in
Electoral Register - the potential reader should enter personal details that can be confirmed against the electoral register to receive a password and log in
Credit Card - the potential reader should have to enter credit card details to prove they are of age to receive a password and log in
ICRA/PICS labels - the site has metadata labels describing it's content so that readers using either the free or commercial filters that support this standard can choose to block the site
Other
7.2 If an application was created that made it easier to find the type of stories that you liked and blocked the type of stories you didn't, would you use it?
Yes, that would be really useful
Yes if it helped me control what my children read
No, no point
Don't read, don't care
Don't read but if it keeps it away from me then that's a good thing
7.3 Which of the following best reflects your opinions on paying to use such a service?
I would not use it if I had to pay for it
I would pay to use it
Maybe if I could test it and thought it was worth what was being charged
Yes but only if it was a one off payment and not subscription
7.4 Would you have any concerns about using such an application?
Nope, sounds good
Sounds good but I have a few concerns:
Sounds like a bad idea because:
7.5 If the application included an age verification system which of the following best reflects any change in opinion you might have about the application?
That would be great if I didn't have to have different accounts at all the different archive - it would make me use it
I would pay for that
I'd use it if I could turn it on or off
I'd use it whether it did or not
I wouldn't use it anyway
I wouldn't use it - it might stop me getting to the stories I want to read
I wouldn't use it, but it would make me feel better about children using it
I wouldn't use it - it sounds like censorship. No one has the right to decide what someone can or can't see except that person
The isn't a need for something like that so it is just extra hassle
Who cares, it wouldn't work anyway