I'm mostly-joking, but on further thought, it might actually help readers find the stuff they're into while being confident they won't suddenly come across a known squick on page 111.
(Of course, romance books could already do this, for all I know.)
An agent actually proposed this idea recently in the RWA magazine, and I had a heart attack. Part of marketing any book is a kind of bait and switch -- if you're going to put Five Heaving Bosoms on the cover to indicate lots of sex, you're automatically turning away readers who like a little less. Whereas if you're more vague with the cover, it's a crapshoot. And publishers always want to sell as many books to as many readers as possible. The opposite is also true -- to try and keep traditional Regencies afloat recently, Kensington was trying to make them look "bigger" and sexier, with more suggestive covers and much more suggestive cover copy. The books inside were the same -- no sex, just kissing -- but they were trying to attract readers of longer, sexier historicals.
That said, Harlequin and Silhouette have lines that are fairly clearly outlined in terms of sexual content, etc. In one line, the sex all happens behind a closed door, in another the sex is "on camera" but the book always ends in what I'll call "intent to marry," etc.
Part of marketing any book is a kind of bait and switch
Indeed. And once I've bought a book with 5 heaving bossoms and barely got a kiss on the cheek, I resolve to never buy a book from that author or that line again. When I was 14 Harlequins were perfect for me. By the time I was 17, I'd quit reading them. Don't show me a cover meant for a 47 year old and then give me a 14 year old YA book. I'm not interested.
A man spending $200 on one garment would, presumably, really pay attention to that garment, it being a considerable percentage of his yearly clothing budget.
I've known too many men that hew to the "fashion? what fashion?" stereotype (and, who knows -- more women might try it, if there weren't more of a perceived penalty for us) for me to agree with that presumption. Not to mention the ones who
do
pay attention and are just wrongheaded crackpots and end up looking like crap anyway (not a gender-skewed issue at all).
wrongheaded crackpots
There are many of these on this earth. Still and all, I would posit that a $200 anything deserves some attention and care. I spent weeks working myself up to buying my new computer, and have still not settled in my mind that the bike I am thinking about is The Perfect Bike that I shall love and cherish till the end of my days.
$5 t-shirt, I feel no remorse about dripping shmutz on it the first day I wear it. $200 Evening gown? I will employ a shmutz-avoidance field generator.
I would posit that a $200 anything deserves some attention and care
You can posit, but I don't think that your positing will affect the thousands of men that buy suits because they have to wear them to work, and really don't care how they look.
I worked with a guy that wore a bright purple (like, Prince would decline wearing it -- Barney bright) suit two or three times a week. Customers would ask me about it. I never worked out if he was one of those that didn't care, or if he did care, and this was what he really wanted to be wearing.
I don't know what's more egregious -- wearing a hideous purple suit, or wearing the obviously same suit 2-3 times a week. At least he needs a closetful in rainbow colors, you know?
(like, Prince would decline wearing it -- Barney bright)
Have to wonder if the guy was color blind. I had a teacher once who was and all blues and yellows looked the same to him, various shades of tan.
Have to wonder if the guy was color blind
Not the red/green sort. I remember discovering it for the network tech who was (I have no idea how he got past 30, with TWO COLOUR BLIND BROTHERS and never noticed), so I was hyper-aware in that job of who could read router lights and who couldn't.
I will employ a shmutz-avoidance field generator.
Have you got one of those that repels milk from tiny bottles used ton feet kittens? The stuff that dribbles all over my shirt?
It's only a ten-dollar GAP shirt, but I loves it, I do, and I wish no milk on it, and want your field generator.
