Zero Angel
Auror
Gratuitous anything is bad writing. Bad sex scenes are usually bad because the writer has (for whatever reason) disengaged from the reality of what is happening. In real life, sex usually has consequences (especially when done for the first time, as so many literary sex scenes are). Two paths have been brought together (even if only temporarily) and this has to be dealt with - people change after they've 'done it' - and this has consequences for a story. If the writer is not properly dealing with the set up or the consequences, then I guarantee they are not really in the room with the characters when they write the sex scene.
Let me ask a question of those who've written sex scenes: REMOVED
Hi The Dark One. It seems as though you're being a little pointed here. I'd say that I don't know every book or story and don't know if gratuitous something might be good for it or not. I will agree it's hard to do gratuity appropriately depending on how you're defining gratuity and what you're trying to accomplish.
"Gratuitous" is defined as "uncalled for, lacking good reason" or "given for free", so if you mean that the sex did not have a good reason to include from the author's standpoint, then that's redundant with saying it's bad writing. If it was not done with good reason from the characters, then that depends on how it's done. If the sex was done free of charge on the other hand, then I don't see a problem with that. And lastly, if it appears uncalled for or lacking good reason from your perspective, then I also don't see a problem with that.
I also think the question you've asked is a loaded one or at least a leading one.
Finally, it doesn't have to have consequences and consequences don't have to be discussed even if it does have them. It all depends on what your story is about, what your story is trying to accomplish and other considerations that you take. If you're saying that you don't want to read stories where consequences are not discussed and sex isn't meaningful/life-changing, then I respect your opinion, but I also respect the writers that want to tell those stories.
It's possible I'm responding to what appeared to be a charged/judgemental post where there was no charge or judgement (likely even, I just woke up after 3 hours sleep ), and if so, I apologize.