Don’t deny it.You know it’s true!
Ya think?
(When did slash become socially acceptable? For that matter, when did it become softcore?)
And your point is?
Take a look at Beatrice Smalls-- nothing softcore about her romance novels.
Biggirl-- proud romance novel reader since 1970. Ifn you want proof, just check out my webpage.
I agree with Cher3. Slash is only “socially acceptable” within the social circles it’s popular in, and at least a portion of it sure as hell is way beyond “softcore”.
I wonder what the OP has to say about fem/fem slash, btw. 
Hey, that’s a misleading subject line! The article in the OP doesn’t even say anything about slash. It’s about a romance novel convention.
In re slash, ditto what cher3 said. Slash hasn’t even achieved mainstream recognition, much less acceptance.
As for romance novels, well, I don’t know how socially acceptable they are either. Sure, they aren’t kept behind the counter at the grocery store or anything, but not many women I know would want to be seen reading a romance novel in public. I doubt many people have a serious moral objection to romance novels the way they might with porn, but the stereotypes of their readers aren’t very flattering.
Take it a step further. Victorian novels are socially prestigious emotional porn.
There’s nothing about slash in that article.
And a portion of it is rated PG, at most. Just to dispell another stereotype, slash is also not always about happy endings and sweet, loving relationships. There’s plenty of ugly stuff out there. Only the most optimistic would think anything good could come of a Mulder/Krycek relationship, after all. I get the feeling this is different from romance novels.
Still, it was an interesting article.
Uhhh … here’s a possibly dumb question … what’s “slash”?
It is fan fiction that is focused on romantic and/or sexual relationships between two men or two women. If you want to know more, this is a good article.
It’s not a dumb question at all. 
“Romance novels and slash are just socially acceptable softcore porn for women.”
E-yeah.
And?
Which makes me wonder, what is socially unacceptable soft-core porn for women?
And why is it that het fic wasn’t mentioned? There’s nothing soft-core about my smut.
It means that women shouldn’t complain about men looking at Playboy ;). Now we got some dirt on 'em! 
What a startling revelation. Next you’ll be telling us that men prefer movies with explosions to those in which every character spends the whole movie wallowing in misery.
If you read the link in the OP, you have to wonder why astro and some of you others are still stereotyping romance novels so ignorantly. Hey, we’re supposed to fighting ignorance here.
That was a great article on the subject, and I’ve read plenty of them.
Softcore? If the OP thinks slash is softcore I wonder what would seem like hardcore.
More seriously, they shouldn’t complain about Playboy or other visual porn causing “unrealistic expectations” among men, because romance novels are essentially the same thing for women.
If looking at centerfolds can make a man expect to meet unachievable women with perfect bodies, then reading romance novels can make a woman expect to meet The One handsome and charming man who sweeps her off her feet, whispers sweet nothing at every opportunity, knows exactly what she’s thinking without being told, and has been searching for her his whole life.
This reminds me of something Andy Hallet (Lorne on Angel) said this weekend at the con. He was absolutely scandalized* by a fanfic a friend of his found. he would go into details, all he would say was that it involved Angel, Lorne, a shower, soap, and three fingers.
I can’t help but giggle. He was scandalized by that?! That’s like PG-13 stuff! I shudder to think of his reaction if he found NC-17 Angel/Lorne slash. (I’ve never read Angel/Lorne slash, however, I’m well enough acquainted with smutfic to know that there’s stuff out there that would make Andy turn green. Heh.)
Yeah, who added slash to the mix? it’s not mentioned in the article. And slash goes the whole range from muzzy romantic sickeningly cute to extreme hard core, with a divergence off into hilarious (sometimes unintentional).
Personally I think romance novels are indeed like soft porn, and I hate 'em both. Like Mr2001 says, they’re pernicious. And I think also very unsexy. Neither I (bisexual) nor my bloke (straight) want to bonk() barbie dolls.
() Or can I say the F word in this forum??
Thanks, Tanaki. I was just about to reply that Slash was the lead guitarist of Guns & Roses.
I’ve never seen anything like that in a PG-13 movie. Heck, I’m not sure you could describe that in a PG-13 movie.
And in fairness to the actor, some of the “scandal” was probably due to feeling that the story was in some way about him and not just a fictional character.