"Graphic violence"?

[Irrealist]

The Revised and Expanded Rules of Posting (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/announcement.php?f=13&a=1) of this forum list "graphic violence" as an "inappropriate topic".
I would like to get a better definition of that. In roleplaying, combat frequently occurs. Descriptions such as "you hit the ogre for 123 damage" are not what I want to give my players, so what is allowed? What about WHFRP (Warhammer fantasy roleplay)-style descriptions? I won't cite any examples, since that might already constitute an offense. AFAIK, violence is much more acceptable in the US than sexual explicitness or using swear words, but I'd like to get some advice before going overboard in my descriptions.

[bosssmiley]

It might help to think in terms of heroic fantasy conventions.

Even in instances where bloodless violence isn't the convention, the visceral nature of the harm being done isn't fetishised. Yes, there might be violence, blood and death, but the writhing and screaming as the poor maimed whatever tries to scoop its own guts back into its abdomen is not dwelt upon in a puerile manner.

Bloodless carnage (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BloodlessCarnage) and Clean Cuts (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CleanCut) - probably OK
Gorn (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Gorn) - probably way over the line

Sometimes we need to see the horrors inherent in violence for dramatic reasons (M*A*S*H, Saving Private Ryan, Schindler's List), other times we really, really don't. I'm sure you're sophisticated enough to judge roughly where the line falls on a PG-13 forum.

[Quincunx]

Don't enjoy the graphic violence, essentially--that's what 'not fetishizing it' means.

If you have a florid writing style with lots of detail, it's less unexpected when you give detailed descriptions of the horrors of war. If you still feel uncomfortable, just make sure to flag a moral lesson next to the battlefield, such as "this is not enjoyable" or "this is ineffective".

[Irrealist]

Bloodless carnage (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BloodlessCarnage) and Clean Cuts (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CleanCut) - probably OK
Gorn (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Gorn) - probably way over the line
Yes, that's pretty clear. The one extreme is fine, the other isn't. Thanks for the hint about PG-13 though. I looked up the PG-13 criteria (http://www.mpaa.org/FlmRat_Ratings.asp):

"There may be depictions of violence in a PG-13 movie, but generally not both realistic and extreme or persistent violence."

edit: Spoilering the description is explicitly mentioned as not helpful in the board rules: "Please note that, as specifically stated below, these topics remain off-limits even where they intersect with gaming or other activities discussed on these forums, and that putting an alert for “Adult” or “Mature” content on the thread does not allow circumvention of this rule."

[Dallas-Dakota]

Good point. But such should be accepted. As I am 14. Or do I just know to much bloody details?:smallconfused::smalltongue: