Snurgla: We are thinking in different contexts. As I see it, both rape and murder represent an expresion of the utmost distain for the victim, either making them suffer through the total debasement of their being, or simply robbing them of that life altogether. Either way they are hateful acts in the extreme, and more to the point... acts that will always raise bile in a spectators throat. After all, thats what a horror story is supposed to do.

Blake: c'mon, you can't honestly be trying to differentiate between a book, and a text file. Thats like trying to say a phone conversation is not the same as speaking over a walkie talkie, different medium, but still words. In my eyes, the internet is one big book.. only it starts with google and ends with a file extention. But thats not your point, as much as I dislike censorship, I have no qualm with providing 18+ only security measures; if it means that the internet can continue to provide for adult tatses im all for it.

"Having large aspects of topics not directly retaining to sex and murder, but to with a fluid blend of other aspects. Leading to the understanding(in however that comes) and fluid life of the person commiting those acts. It probably has a balance of sorts, leading you deeper into his life but without blantently making it out to be just rape and murder. I could be wrong, but i don't see how it could be so popular, and withstand any assaults from the governemnts if it didnt."

You should read it, its unlike anything else out there. But.. the story actually goes to extreeme lengths to illustrate Patrick Batemans (lead character) shallowness. He spends whole chapters depicting his after shower routine, others on his opinion of Huey Lewis and the news. Then others still on how the tortures and dismemembers prostitutes. Its a sociopath thing.

Alex: How much further can the written word be pushed..? thats a good one, we could very well be getting close in terms of shock value... thankfully horror stories aren't much more than fluff in the greater scheme of things... there are thousands of years worth of thoughts to wade through. The day the writen word loses its power, is the day I give up and live in the mountains. I like my mindless TV and Xbox... but if i dont get my 2hr a day with a book in my hand, i feel robbed. Now, if I spent 2hrs a day reading stories of child-rape every day, I would be bored of it in a week. But, to find a nugget once in a while, or to take an hour or so every week to add to my own story, I find both cathartic, and exciting.. remember when you were a kid and used to sneak a beer out at 2am in the morning. Its like that; not exactly illegal, but its a rush none the less.