Why doesn't the Downs allow slash?

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

The restrictions about characters in The Shire apply in Rohan also: no magical or super-powered characters, no half-elven or half-dwarven or half-anything characters (who are rare in Tolkien and whose presence always fulfils a specific purpose in the story), no assassins or martial arts, no sexual flirtation, drunkenness or lewdness.

I had originally planned on just quoting about the sexual and lewdness rules observed in the RPG forums, but I posted the whole thing because all of it has to do with keeping things canon...and in many cases of fanfiction romances involving main characters, 'het' or slash, things are not canon and canon characters do not act canon. I think...I'm pretty sure...that fanfictions put on the Barrow-Downs used to be (before we started using the old forum, and I can't speak for that new development) read and reviewed for content, deciding whether or not they would be posted. I don't think they discriminate slash stories simply because they are slash, but because they are uncanon and did not follow the books. I'm sure uncanon 'het' stories would be given the same toss.

As a matter of fact, there have been some anti-gay comments in the review rooms in the past, from people who were very religious. And I understand why the Downs prefers to avoid making them uncomfortable. But it's likely that some of the visitors here are homo- or bisexual

I've never seen anyone on the 'Downs (at least in the forums?) making rude comments about other people's sexuality. I'm sure they'd be talked to just like anyone else who posts inappropriately here. There are deeply religious members on this forum, yes, and I don't think that the goal of the Barrow-Downs is to keep them comfortable. I don't think the goal of the Barrow-Downs is to keep homosexual or bisexual members uncomfortable, either. As Estelyn said, this is meant to be a family-friendly website where people can discuss and explore Tolkien's world.

-Aylwen