If it's too much of a tear jerker, does it have to be M rated?

[kyupol]

I have a bunch of short story ideas that made me tear up... and I'm known to be de sensitized and have had my fair share of trauma in this life. Takes a lot to make me cry.

They don't have any depictions of s3x or violence I can assure you. Far tamer than any of my current and previous works. In my opinion at least... but more tear jerking than anything I've put out... you might have to have some tissue ready.

My saddest scene according to reader feedback:

Does such a work need to be tagged M?

[AmysGames]

N...no...?

Mature ratings are reserved for very specific things. Being sad is for everyone.

[DiegoPalacios]

In the Lion king, Mufasa's death is one of the most heartbreakingly sad moments.
that's for all ages (or at least most ages, maybe too intense for toddlers and little kids)

[Ordinaryaverageguy]

Well, I certainly hope tear-jerkers don't get binned as "M" because there's often some of that in my writing.