Why do we even bother with mature content warnings?

Don't be alarmed by the strange title - I'm absolutely pro mature content warnings. But I am strictly against those who don't adhere to them. If you're not old enough to read such content don't read it, that's what the whole thing is all about.

I decided to write this down, because I've recently posted a story on a site that doesn't have a very good mature content policy. When someone attempts to read a chapter (story) rated R or NC-17 a nice warning box pops up and all you have to do to access the mature content is click on the OK button claiming you're over 18 years old.

But what if you're not?

Apparently they don't care.

Nice.

So why am I worrying? It's not my site, not my rules. I wrote the darn thing, posted it with a clear mature content warning... From now on it's the site administrator's job to look out for youngsters who think are old enough to read… or even better, understand the plot and all its subtle nuances.

Okay, so go ahead and read it. But please, please, don't leave feedback for Pete's sake (commenting is for subscribers only). Because if you haven't figured it out, when you leave a comment, it's pretty clear who wrote it and everyone can access your profile and see exactly how old you are and that you have absolutely no business reading chapters or stories with mature content.

And now I finally get to the point. The story I wrote is edgy and filled to the top with angst, pretty explicit sex and extremely crude language, and the rating is an adequate NC-17. A recent chapter was a lengthy (2k words) bedroom scene. Two people letting go, forgetting the everyday worries, stress, and disillusionment for one steamy night.

What bothered me was a 16-year-old (at least two years below the age limit) leaving a comment as to how evident the difference between having sex and making love was, that sex without love was disgusting, that the two seemed wild animals...

Hmm. And here I thought nowadays teenagers were a lot more open-minded and educated in the sex department.

Call me nuts, call me easy if you want, but I never thought I had to be in love with a guy to have a one-night stand or summer fling.

Isn't sex mostly about scratching an itch, blow out some steam? Love sure doesn't hurt in the matter, but since when is it an essential factor?

If teenagers think they're old enough to read such things, I'd expect them to be mature enough to also understand what they're reading about. Not everything is black and white, there's a great, and extremely interesting, area of different hues of gray in between.

And the post end where it began: why do we even bother with mature content warnings if they don't pay attention?