Should writers who write dark themes be responsible for their readers?

The debate about whether writers who explore dark themes should be held responsible for how their readers interpret and react to their work is currently a hot topic in my community. This discussion has been ongoing for almost a week and has sparked a lot of conversation. Does writing dark themes or dark romance really affect the way readers think and act in real life? Some people have been vocal in calling out writers who tackle taboo or dark subjects, arguing that they should be more conscious of the potential influence their work may have on readers. Some people even think that writers who write about taboo subjects are romanticizing them and have a sick mentality. I find this viewpoint ridiculous because I believe we're responsible for what we consume. Also, writers always give a warning when writing a book. Are the warnings from the writers useless, like what those people claimed?

DrScissorhands

That is a very good point. Writers should in essence, consider the themes they're exploring. Usually when dealing with sensitive issues, there should be at least some empathy obvious in the writing. Although directly not responsible, they do have a compelling hold over their readers and should to an extent, be ethical in how they deal with this power. Readers on the other hand should be directly responsible for the material they subject themselves too. Warnings and sensitive material tags are there for a reason. They know their own fragility and susceptibility to certain content. Its a delicate balance.