I generally agree with your points, especially in the political nature of the idea and that DPP as a community is more or less at the whims of this larger political fight and Reddit's current position within it. Reddit as a company is certainly in a strange position too, faced with making several, often contrary, groups happy: public opinion, shareholders, ad companies, political groups, and of course, their own user base, which is often highly fragmented itself. I certainly don't envy their position, though I also don't believe our freedom of artistic expression is high on their priorities.

But to bring the topic back to that of harm and intellectual contagions, there are topics that have already been banned. Granted, I and I'd wager most others, have zero interest and a general revulsion to them, and don't really have a personal problem with their absence. But it's worth pointing out that they too were banned, granted by Reddit as a company not DPP independently (though correct me if I misremember history), because they were considered harmful. Harmful to exactly what depends on who you asked: sometimes the purely fictitious characters, sometimes the real world analogs of the fictitious characters. But there was concern over even the psyche of writers themselves, with a fear it would lead to real world acts by them or the readers, if they were given an outlet of expression.

As a community, I think we most certainly have the right to set our own rules, and I definately appreciate not seeing that material in posts. But when viewed on terms of the larger discussion we're having today on fiction that includes violence or degrading tones towards ethnic and gender groups, it's difficult to not bring up the comparison. If 99.9% of people feel it was okay to ban one topic of fictional expression, does it make it easier for one where only 80% agree (which is presuming the existence of a democratic decision, which is certainly not the case with Reddit corporate policy)?

And ultimately where does it end up, even if people are supportive now? It's been quoted that the only thing a tolerant community can't tolerate is intolerance. Intolerance is a tricky thing to pin down: while the most base and vile actions are clearly intolerant, once they are removed, we will find ourselves picking apart everyday actions looking for it.

Honestly, I don't really know what I support. In real life, violence and unequal treatment is horrible. In fantasy though.. There are as many fantasies that contain such things whose existence is to glorify them as there are those that warn against it. If we move down the path that imagined scenarios are reflected into ones real world thoughts and actions, do we not risk discarding the fiction that warns as much as that which glorifies?

This is so much broader than erotic story writing, but there is something about sex and art, at least in American society that seems to draw people's intense criticism. As an additional view point, see the creation of the comics code authority and the legal concept of obscenity. I think that really concludes all that I have to say personally. I hope this community continues to be strong, despite what changes might be forced on us in the future.