View Poll Results: Anonymous poll: How acceptable should erotica be on MerNetwork?

Voters
60. You may not vote on this poll
  • Most nudity prohibited (like Facebook)

    11 18.33%
  • Anything goes (like Reddit or Tumblr)

    11 18.33%
  • Strike a balance, closer to Facebook

    18 30.00%
  • Strike a balance, closer to Reddit

    10 16.67%
  • Some other approach not listed here

    4 6.67%
  • I'm unsure, conflicted, or undecided

    6 10.00%
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Thread: A thread for people to discuss MerNetwork's policy on erotica

  1. #1
    Administrator Pod of Cali malinghi's Avatar
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    A thread for people to discuss MerNetwork's policy on erotica

    I just closed the thread "(NSFW 18+) #Kerion and #LARKA fan club thread" because it violated the forum's rule against posting erotica. I made this thread so people could share questions and comments about this, and about MerNetwork's policy on erotica in general.

    Right now our policy is that we are pretty tolerant of exposing the human (or merfolk) body because we don't want to be a bunch of prudes, but at the same time we don't want MerNetwork to be the mermaid equivalent of /r/gonewild on reddit.
    Last edited by malinghi; 03-13-2016 at 01:22 PM.

  2. #2
    Well, I was one of the people participating in that thread and I would like to say this :

    If I made anyone here resentful, bad, any negative feeling possible because of my butt pictures whether in the "Keirion" thread or the "Body Goals" thread, I gueninely apologize. I never meant to make anyone feel bad about their own skin or feeling uncomfortable because of the erotica. I always reflect on my actions and if anyone had called me out for my exhibit behavior before, I would have been ready to listen and correct my attitude.

    I want everybody to view MerNetwork as a safe place and if erotica is a problem, then I'm willing to stop for the comfort of people here.

    Edit : I'm not gonna vote on the poll. It's not my place to do it.


  3. #3
    Ok well since I started the thread I should be able to have input.

    i agree that the pictures were taking it a bit too far lately. Before when it was just starting it was very mild but One of the members made a very valid comment here that there are kids that go through the forums as well, now that it's more frequent I think there does need to me some sort of rule in place so that it doesn't come off as "merotica".
    The SeaGlass Siren

  4. #4
    I'll also leave the voting up to the rest of you guys (I'm good for whatever is better for the community)
    The SeaGlass Siren

  5. #5
    Senior Member Undisclosed Pod
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    Here's the deal, I think there's a huge amount of mernetwork that is off topic and we need to reign it in a little bit. I have stopped forwarding people to mernetwork because stuff like this was the main thread people see. And it WASNT age restricted. So it shows up. I think nudity that has to do with mermaids actually, marked as NSFW, with an actual age restriction on the post is fine, but not just with this thread, with all of mernetwork, I think we need to reign in some of the off topic stuff.

    Mernetwork is a place for community and support yes, but I think thread are starting to dominate that have nothing to do with mermaids. Other forums have one section only for off topic stuff, and sometimes only one thread. And those are heavily monitored. I think all non topic areas should only be viewable by members only first of all, to protect viewers and members. Second of all if you want to make an 18+ thread I think you should let a mod know before hand so they can timely change the settings on their end so it's age restricted.

    I think some members really need to take a look at what they're posting on mernetwork, it is indexed by EVERY MAJOR SEARCH ENGINE ON THE WEB. Even members only posts seem to still come up with previews on google when I search. Many of you have your mernetwork account tied to either your personal FB or your personal email. Which makes it incredibly easy to tie anything you post directly to you. Clients, employers, family, friends, everyone can easily find that stuff. (why you think I don't use my company or mermaid name in my suername? Or link things in my signature anymore etc)

    I have seen things on mernetwork that make me really uncomfortable. members shouldn't be dolling out extensive medical, parenting, or other off topic advice. MY BIG WORRY IS MERNETWORK WILL END UP LIABLE if someone takes something from this website and gets hurt, in legal trouble, or is implicated in a crime. It has happened with reddit, other major forums, and even deviantART.

    For instance there are specific laws in place in the US for protecting minors from viewing porn and adult content. Mernetwork doesnt seem to enforce that currently, and we can be held liable if a parent whose under 18 kids uses this website finds out and decides to press charges. This is why websites have mature content filters. (side bar, is there a script or something we can install that would create a mature content filter? then members could flag their own thread or even just individual posts so they so not show up to underagers, or anyone who has their mature content filter on when viewing from work or something etc)

    This isn't meant to make anyone feel bad, mernetwork has been really lax, so how can you know rules if they aren't clearly defined? But Nate I do disagree with putting it to a vote. you own the darn website and if you and Iona decide it's not OK, that is your prerogative and choice. Not everything has to be put to a community vote. Our community is constantly changing. And just voting on here can be skewed pretty darn easily. Just make a decision and stick with it. I think a big issue with mernetwork rules is that they aren't clear enough and there seems to be too much input. Not *every single thing* on here has to be a democracy. There's a TOS for a reason. People understand when they join up at the end of the day you and Iona have discretion and will use it when you see fit.

    I'd really like to see a spring cleanup of the forum. Maybe merging some boards, archiving some off topic threads, and generally making sure mermaid content is what's coming up first. Cuz right now I don't send people to mernetwork. They have to dig to find anything, people get mad at newbs, and there's a lot of content that's off topic that they have to get through first. Some people use mernetwork like FB. Some individual users post 90% off topic. I think it's making mernetwork redundant.


    In terms of this specific thread? It started funny but I felt it got out of hand quickly. It was the most popular thread for weeks and anyone could see it. It indexed on google. At what point should something NOT be on a MERMAID forum is my question? You can join a fetish forum. You can join a parenting forum. You can join a tv show forum. I think talking about these things here and there is one thing, but we really need to question: at what point is something so off topic it SHOULDNT be on a MERMAID forum??
    Last edited by AniaR; 03-13-2016 at 02:15 PM.

  6. #6
    Administrator Pod of Cali malinghi's Avatar
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    If I made anyone here resentful, bad, any negative feeling possible because of my butt pictures whether in the "Keirion" thread or the "Body Goals" thread, I gueninely apologize. I never meant to make anyone feel bad about their own skin or feeling uncomfortable because of the erotica. I always reflect on my actions and if anyone had called me out for my exhibit behavior before, I would have been ready to listen and correct my attitude.
    I just want to repeat that no one is in trouble, The rules are often enforced inconsistently, and no one meant to make anyone uncomfortable. It's okay.


    But Nate I do disagree with putting it to a vote. you own the darn website and if you and Iona decide it's not OK, that is your prerogative and choice. Not everything has to be put to a community vote.


    To clarify, the poll isn't intended to be a democratic referendum and the results won't change our policy. I just made the poll to learn more about the attitudes of everyone here. We don't plan to change the policy toward erotica.

    Also, Raina, I agree that a lot of stuff on here is increasingly off topic. Those are good points.

  7. #7
    @Raina.

    Everything you just said makes perfect sense and I agree with you. I made up my mind and decided to stop sharing NSFW pictures. It DID start funny and I admit it escalated quickly. I should have thought twice before even suggesting a butt competition with the other mermen

    As far as I'm concerned, I'm okay with the thread being deleted.

    Quote Originally Posted by AniaR View Post
    In terms of this specific thread? It started funny but I felt it got out of hand quickly. It was the most popular thread for weeks and anyone could see it. It indexed on google. At what point should something NOT be on a MERMAID forum is my question? You can join a fetish forum. You can join a parenting forum. You can join a tv show forum. I think talking about these things here and there is one thing, but we really need to question: at what point is something so off topic it SHOULDNT be on a MERMAID forum??


  8. #8
    Senior Member Undisclosed Pod
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    It's cool Arion I am not judging anyone. I put my own funny photos in the thread! I think we all just gotta be a bit more mindful is all.

  9. #9
    Agreed with arion.
    The SeaGlass Siren

  10. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by Merman Arion View Post
    @Raina.

    Everything you just said makes perfect sense and I agree with you. I made up my mind and decided to stop sharing NSFW pictures. It DID start funny and I admit it escalated quickly. I should have thought twice before even suggesting a butt competition with the other mermen

    As far as I'm concerned, I'm okay with the thread being deleted.
    To be fair though we were kinda egging you guys on for the butt competition so you're not to blame
    The SeaGlass Siren

  11. #11
    Senior Member Undisclosed Pod PearlieMae's Avatar
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    I kinda thought this was going to go off the rails eventually, and while it's all great fun and we're all giggling like middle-schoolers, I agree that this needed to be reigned in.

    I also agree that there are way too many off-topic threads that probably need to be shut down as well. Parenting, TV shows, online gaming, that sort of thing...I appreciate that there is a broad base of interest, and sometimes we want to share things that are fun/important/etc. with like-minded friends, I do think subjects should have an ongoing connection to being 'MER-related'.

    Believe me, I'm not offended by anything that's been posted, I quite enjoy the male form! But like I mentioned somewhere before, if the shoe were on the other fin, mermen egging on mermaids to show specific body parts, etc.. the outrage here would be tremendous, and we don't need to perpetuate double standards.

    It was fun while it lasted, but it's time to get back to merbusiness.

    As for the poll, I did vote unsure/undecided.

    PS: Guys, thanks for all the reefcake!

  12. #12
    Pretty much nothing offends me so I'm fine with any nudity being posted here; at the end of the day it is me and me alone who is responsible for what I view or read on the internet or anywhere else.
    However, since you asked for feedback here, there IS a liability concern when under 18 year olds can view this material. I moderated a forum where nudity was allowed and had a "Yes, I am 18" box to check before accessing the site. I consulted with an attorney for specific language that protected the site from potential liability. While I know everyone who checks that box may not actually be 18, it does protect the site from liability for any content seen.
    On the other hand, I'm not too keen on the idea that this mer-forum give the impression it is only for the 18+ crowd; there are lots of younger mers and they should be encouraged!
    My two cents.

  13. #13
    Senior Member Pod of Oceania Mer-Crazy's Avatar
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    Whilst I chose not to participate in the thread I'd like to throw in, whilst I will admit having to see butt plug tails every time I used tappatalk made me a little uncomfortable it never bothered me enough to affect me. HOWEVER! This forum is still aimed at something a lot of children have interest in, meaning they are likely to visit/ try and make an account so it is very likely some of our members are still minors, some of them very early teens. So I'm going to have to say I'm against this particular kind of flaunting nudity, where it's just butt picks and adult content for the sake of it. I don't want us to become facebook, where side boob will get you banned for a day, but I think it does need to be reined in, like a lot.

    Also, I totally agree that things should be a lot more mermaid-focused. I know I'm guilty of some off-topic posting every once in a while, though who isn't honestly? But when an individuals activity, or the majority of new posts on the site are off-topic then it doesn't feel so much like a mermaid forum anymore.
    Last edited by Mer-Crazy; 03-13-2016 at 05:28 PM.

  14. #14
    As one of the members here under 18 (turning 17 in a month), I initially didn't click on the thread at all. I browsed it halfheartedly a few times, but I'm at the point where "No-one under 18" doesn't really register in my brain anymore as being inappropriate or above my head--I acknowledge and completely understand that legally, I totally apply, but it's easy to completely dismiss that sort of thing. Most of my friends in my real life now are much older than I am, so even when presented in that manner, I kinda forget it, lol.

    However, I do think that MerNetwork should protect yourselves legally with that sort of thing--age-gating any sexual content would be all right by me. Based on my brief glances into that thread, none of it really pertained to the sort of age-gate content I WOULD miss, which I really haven't seen lately anyway. Artistic imagery is really all I can think of, for things I would still like to be able to access?

    I feel that Raina has really raised good points--indexing on Google is honestly the most annoying/scary part of posting on forums online. It's really easy to be okay with someone coming to this website and searching HERE to find something you've said, but for it to come up in any old Google search is what could be really pinning.

    I don't know if I've really added anything, but I wanted to add something to the subject, lol.

  15. #15
    Senior Member Pod of Oceania Mermaid Jaffa's Avatar
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    Goodbye merman butts. I'll miss you.

    I'm going to sulk in the corner now...
    Last edited by Mermaid Jaffa; 03-13-2016 at 07:52 PM.
    Formerly known as ireneho

  16. #16
    Senior Member Pod of Cali Ashe's Avatar
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    So here was my situation. After I inherited FaeNetwork, I excitedly told my parents about it. Shortly afterwards, I was told that I could no longer have the website or make costumes, because the believed that cosplay and anything related was purely a fetish and I would end up getting in serious trouble within the community. Apparently my mother looked up 'cosplay fetish' and no shit every search result was about fetishes. She didn't even bother to simply look up 'cosplay'. Obviously I pleaded against that and said that they could look all through my cosplay sites including FaeNetwork and MerNetwork, but I forgot that this was the NSFW thread's prime time. I thought I would be done for and that was the last the mer community would ever see of me.

    I don't know how, but somehow my parents didn't find the NSFW thread. But just imagine if they did? I don't want my passions to be labeled as a fetish and I really don't need anything to prove those labels.

    Honestly, the thread din't bother me at all. I'll admit I had to peep a few times and have myself a couple of laughs. I'm a total Kerion shipper and my mer friends and would text each other whenever there was something juicy between the two.

    I'm just worried about how much trouble content like this can get people in trouble, and whether or not it can get the site in trouble. MerNetwork seems to have a bad rep at the moment as it is. I don't think threads like this should be public, only for the safety of the forum. Is there a way you can make threads visible to members only? Or keep them from being indexed by google at all?
    Last edited by Ashe; 03-13-2016 at 08:58 PM.
    she believed she could, so she did
    formerly known as Kalani



  17. #17
    I know that on several other forums I'm a member on, there is a section of the forum for more mature topics. This section is not visible to anyone who has not been given permission to view it. (Generally, over 18 members that have accrued a certain number of posts, 10 or so, can ask permission to get a 'full access' on their account to see the mature section.)

    I have no idea if this is something that can be done here, (coding or otherwise), but I thought I'd make the suggestion. It might be a good idea to try out

  18. #18
    Senior Member Pod of The South Keiris's Avatar
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    Jaffa, that's hilarious! Kalani, I had no idea you were such a Keirion shipper! I'm very flattered. Raina said it was the most popular thread for WEEKS! Really???!! I had no idea! I'd just like to say as the other half of Keirion, I enjoyed the thread and found it rather amusing for a lot of reasons.

    Thank you to all of the shippers, posters, and my fellow mermen for sharing their quite memorable...ass-ets It was fun.

    And to the other half of Keirion,

  19. #19
    Senior Member Euro Pod Echidna's Avatar
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    First off, I never looked into the thread in question, so I don't know how bad it was xD

    But imo, nudity could be handled thus:

    is it mermaid related nudity? (i.e, topless in a tail)?
    Then it should be good.
    Just mark the thread 18+ and put a logged in restriction on it.

    Is it not mer-related? (i.e., naked behinds not covered in a tail)
    then no.

    This is not my initial stance- I would allow ALL topless mermaid pictures and put a restriction only on the rest-, but I've seen what comes up on Google if I put in my name and it's truly frightening lol, especially if it's read out of context.
    If someone who has no clue googles mernames and ends up on the forum, they could come to the conclusion we're all a bunch of freaks and fetishists.
    Now imagine that someone is a future employer.

    It's unfortunate, it's wrong, but it could happen, so I'm all for the necessary restrictions.

  20. #20
    Just clarifying, the thread in question was originally in another forum section, and I hadn't been paying attention to it. It was only after people brought up the images coming up in tapatalk feed and how to turn those off, and wanting to block that thread, that I went in and looked. Saw it had some content that wasn't appropriate to minors, moved it to the gender and sexuality section. Which I thought was age locked, but upon further investigation found out it wasn't. So I hunted down a mod that can lock down forum sections by age. Sadly I can not find one that age locks for specific threads, just whole sections. So the Gender & Sexuality section was locked as a whole, since there are other 18+ age type threads on there. So how it works now, is that you have to be a member (registered and verified), and over 18 to see and access that section or it's threads. If you aren't you don't even see that that forum section exists at all. I'm not sure how this works with google, I'm assuming it wouldn't have access since it's restricted? Hard to tell though.

    But even with being age locked, the big question for me was: were the photos meant to be erotic in nature- if so then that was a violation of the rules.
    Our policy on allowing some nudity was meant to be a way for people to post artistic mermaid artwork and photoshoots- specifically topless mermaids (in a tail). After all, if it's not erotic in nature, Nate and I both agreed back when we made the forum that it would be okay to post those kinds of images as long as it was noted that they were NSFW.

    Also, the other question was for me, did the thread and it's contents have anything to do with mermaids? The answer is no, so does it really need to be on a mermaid forum? I love you guys, and I'm really glad you feel open and safe here, but we aren't reddit, ya know? We want to try and keep things on topic here And I couldn't keep it in the "just talk" section (I think where it was before, where non-related mermaid threads go) becuase of the age-sensitive nature of the content. So if I have to move a non-mer related thread to a mer-related section just so it will be properly age restricted, does it need to be on here in the first place? So that was my train of thought.

    That being said this has opened my eyes to some more improvements we could make to the forum, if possible. We're not coders, I depend on the University of Google, as I call it, to help me make small mods to the site. Mostly, if there isn't a pre-made mod someone else made, for something I need, I can't do it. Other mods cost money (like a hundred or more dollars) which we don't have the budget for.


    We just all need to be more mindful, and I will definitely do that I can to improve the site with the feedback from you all!

    Wingéd Mermaid Iona

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