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?

SomeMichGuy · M

Yes, I think that a note / notice from the author about especially dark themes might be a great thing.

It is done all the time on--e.g.‐‐literotica, though not only for extreme/dark themes, but this brief prefatory note can be a very good flag, if one wishes to avoid specific situations.

Having said that, perhaps the note should be hidden unless the reader actively selects it. If you are reading for the purpose of being surprised, challenged, having your mind stretched or "blown"--perhaps you don't want a foreshadowing of any kind to take away some of the surprise, shock value, etc.