[Amanaduial the archer]

What you're insinuating, E.Fester, is that the Downs is discriminating against gays? That isn't right - certainly I don't think there have ever actually been any comments about it in either direction. But some people don't feel comfortable with it, still - whether old fashioned or very religious, some people just don't find it an easy subject, and to be popular and fair, a forum has to avoid making any group of people feel uncomfortable.

Slash is usually obscene - you say what about slash that isn't too graphic, but the fact is that most slash is graphic: look up 'sblomie' in google, you'll see what I mean (IMPORTANT: if anyone has no filter on their computer and does not want to see anything disturbing, I highly recommend they do not do this. It's not pretty). This is the main part of why people actually find it enjoyable. That is not allowed on the Downs for the same reason that any too-graphic 'het' relationships, as you put it, are not allowed. Just look in the RPG forum.

Secondly, as has been said, it is out of character - even if it was not graphic. Legolas romances are out of character in just the same way - and so they are not allowed either! That is the point! Anything that severely alters the way a character behaves is not allowed on any Barrowdowns formal RPG (including the three Inns), whether relationships of any sort are included or not. Having Frodo and Sam together is not allowed in the same way that having Arwen and Frodo together is not, or in the same way that killing off Frodo in Cirith Ungol is not allowed, or having Merry suddenly turn into a vampire bat - it is simply not cannon.

The title 'slash' refers to the slash between the two character names - 'Frodo/Sam' (mainly it is male), or even e.g. 'Arwen/Galadriel'. The point is that is uses named characters - and makes them act, therefore, in a way that is out of sync with Tolkien (or whatever the origin of character may be). They are not merely gay relationships, not technically - slash could just as easily refer to 'Arwen/Merry', theoretically - this would be a heterosexual relationship, no? But it is still out of character and therefore not suitable!

So are we 'discriminating' against slash, or any sort of non-cannon behaviour? No, it is merely upholding the world of Tolkien and acting around it rather than smashing straight through it in an unnecessary and out of character fashion.