Condoms

*RomanceWriter*

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What's politically correct in erotica these days?
I mean it's erotic 'fiction' right and condoms just seem like a mood killer overall. I hate reading a great scene and then the dumb wrapper is pulled out. Plus we all know it doesn't feel as good, am I wrong?
So, when dealing with multiple partners should I have my guys wear condoms or can I do without?
Thanks
 

Alpha Echo

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Yeah, I can't remember one book I've read where they enter a sex scene and whip out condoms. I say don't worry about it. They don't bring out condoms in porn either. Why ruin the moment? It's fiction.
 

*RomanceWriter*

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Very good to hear ;)
I fly through romances, but rarely hear mention of a condom (of course most are paranormal).
I don't use them in my h/h paranormal romances, but was curious for my current menage.
 

Fran

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I had a compilation of erotic short stories that had an editor's note at the start along the lines of 'These stories are fiction. Always use a condom with a new partner' which I thought was pretty cool.
 

AuburnAssassin

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Seems like I read about them all the time in romance novels these days but I think in erotica they would probably earn a pass. Although, the last porno I saw, the guy was wearing a pink condom (with lots of close ups to confirm this) that he whipped off for the cum shot. You could still see it in his hand. LOL.

I sheathed my MC's in my romances because I thought it was the politically correct thing to do. Ha! I even added a little humor by having him act like a male burlesque performer rolling the damn thing on while she's pounding the mattress impatiently. LOL
 

StoryG27

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It's fiction, but it is supposed to be as believable and real as possible. Is your MC the type to be responsible enough to make sure a condom is worn if the situation calls for it? If so, then I'd say incorporate it. If not, then don't. I've read plenty of scenes that have the use of condoms in them and it's never killed the mood (unless the mood wasn't really hot to begin with. . .then you've got bigger problems then debating on using a condom or not).
 

firedrake

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What Storygirl said.

There are some scenes I've read where the writer has seamlessly introduced condoms without a hiccup. It's just a matter of good writing and making it work.
 

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In a comtemporary story with intelligent, responsible people I include condom use, even if it is only implied. I don't want people thinking my characters would risk their lifes for nookie. With female characters there is at least a breif aside implying that they know they have a functioning uterus. Nothing bugs me more than contemp romance with unprotected sex and then a "surprise" pregnancy.
 

Alpha Echo

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I had a compilation of erotic short stories that had an editor's note at the start along the lines of 'These stories are fiction. Always use a condom with a new partner' which I thought was pretty cool.

That is a cool idea. I like that.

Although, the last porno I saw, the guy was wearing a pink condom (with lots of close ups to confirm this) that he whipped off for the cum shot. You could still see it in his hand. LOL.

Really? That totally would take away the intended affect of porn for me. Not hot. My boyfriend HATES condoms. I mean, I have never heard a guy hate them more - and he's never worn one with me.

It's fiction, but it is supposed to be as believable and real as possible. Is your MC the type to be responsible enough to make sure a condom is worn if the situation calls for it? If so, then I'd say incorporate it. If not, then don't. I've read plenty of scenes that have the use of condoms in them and it's never killed the mood (unless the mood wasn't really hot to begin with. . .then you've got bigger problems then debating on using a condom or not).

Very good point.

I don't know if I'll ever write out a full sex scene, but we'll see. Good things to think about if I do.
 

*RomanceWriter*

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I'm a female and I hate condoms, so it can work both ways.

What really bugs me how many books have the characters sucking each other off to no end, but then slap on a condom for the deed. I mean wouldn't you already be infected by whatever disease they have?? I'm old, I don't know.
 

Alpha Echo

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I'm a female and I hate condoms, so it can work both ways.

What really bugs me how many books have the characters sucking each other off to no end, but then slap on a condom for the deed. I mean wouldn't you already be infected by whatever disease they have?? I'm old, I don't know.

Well yes, I'm female and hate them as well. Though to be honest, I haven't needed to use them very often.

And I think they would do that - oral and then condom - because who would wear a condom during oral? I don't know anyone. And then the woman would have to wear something if the guy ate her out to keep him from possibly contracting anything, and the whole idea of a female condom - I know they're out there but...ew... No oral with condoms.

But oral, IMO, is pretty necessary in real life, so it would be in erotica too.
 

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Oral/penetration is very differnet re: HIV, risk from oral is very low. Oh and also pregnancy if she is not on the pill.

Almost no one "likes" condoms (bar a few fetishists), but the alternatives are worse :/. I think the hero protecting the girl and considering her safety and peace of mind more that his pleasure is way sexy.

You don't need more than a few words or a slight pause in the actions to signal to readers who care about this sort of thing that safer sex was practiced. It can be mainly subtext.
 

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My last story was contemporary so I included condoms because my MC is a bit of a slut but definitely a careful and responsible slut. I didn't use them for the oral sex because I didn't want condom overkill, but because I like to go for realism even in my erotica, I did wonder if not including them was a mistake.
 
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What's politically correct in erotica these days?
Political correctness has no place in literature.
I mean it's erotic 'fiction' right and condoms just seem like a mood killer overall.
Social diseases and pregnancy are what I call mood killers.
I hate reading a great scene and then the dumb wrapper is pulled out. Plus we all know it doesn't feel as good, am I wrong?
Yes. I've never noticed any difference in the way sex feels with or without a condom.
So, when dealing with multiple partners should I have my guys wear condoms or can I do without?
Thanks
If I read a menage book where condoms aren't used I think oh FFS...what a risk to take...and read something else.

It's not about political correctness but the story has to be believable. How many people would take that risk these days?
 
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Very good to hear ;)
I fly through romances, but rarely hear mention of a condom (of course most are paranormal).
I don't use them in my h/h paranormal romances, but was curious for my current menage.
You need to read thethinker42's books then.
I'm a female and I hate condoms, so it can work both ways.

What really bugs me how many books have the characters sucking each other off to no end, but then slap on a condom for the deed. I mean wouldn't you already be infected by whatever disease they have?? I'm old, I don't know.
Blow jobs don't get you pregnant.

Despite those high school stories.
 

AuburnAssassin

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Political correctness has no place in literature.

I take PC in the literary context to mean how much attention do you bring to the act of using a condom? I mean everyone poops, but we don't normally talk about our MC's defecating (well most of us don't anyway, fetish writing excepted). It's just assumed that the MC's go the bathroom and do their bidness and though it's realistic, we don't want or need to read about it. Are we there with condoms? At what point will putting on the condom be pure infodump? When we get to that point, we're definitely past PC.

And I too have never really been able to tell the difference with or without.
 
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We know everyone poops. (Ugh, I hate that word ever since I read 'pooper' used in erotica. Yes, really). Not everyone uses a condom. And that's why we need to be specific as to which of our characters do or not.

Not really political correctness. Another of my 'pet hate phrases'. Do what's right for the characters.

Some of mine use condoms, others don't.

But the ones who do? I always mention it.
 

veinglory

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Personally I think heroines who have unsafe sex with promiscuous urban alpha males they have just met are mood killers--in terms of being in the mood to read their story. I don't like heroines who are complete idiots.
 

kuwisdelu

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What's a good way to realistically keep otherwise responsible characters from using a condom if certain plot points rely on it? "The condom broke" won't cut it.
 

Celia Cyanide

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What's a good way to realistically keep otherwise responsible characters from using a condom if certain plot points rely on it? "The condom broke" won't cut it.

In what ways do plot points rely on it? That would help me answer the question.

I like condoms. I agree that you should be true to what your characters would do. And I hate reading stories with mass ammounts of unprotected sex without the characters even THINKING about the consequences.
 

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Just to mention thethinker42 again, in her book, Between Brothers, the MCs use the condom in every single sex scene.

Everytime they have sex, they stop for a sec to get one, 2, 3 condoms. As much condoms as they need. It's so well written that you don't even notice it.

So yes, the condom is very important. Unless you want your characters have any type of disease.