tubewhore: Adult Concepts?

Tubewhore (

tubewhore) wrote,
@ 2007-12-06 13:37:00

Adult Concepts?

Hmmm...I'v e changed the settings of this journal to be 'no adult content' as for some reason it was on 'adult concepts'. Things is, I'm not sure exactly what that means in lj-land.  In my mind the idea of limiting 'adult' merely to topics of a sexual is narrow thinking, but I suspect that's what LJ-land believes, so I guess no boobie-shots then...

I have written here about difficult experiences in my life; and some of those things I would consider to be 'adult concepts'; not simply because they aren't fit for children's ears, but because kids wouldn't have an interest or emotional understanding for the most part, and I'm not about to put together the Janet and John Deal With Dometic Violence Picture Book.

I don't like these changes. I can certainly understand why parents wouldn't want their kids stumbling across certain things out on the web, but that's means they should be supervising their kids surfing, not me. It's not my job to parent anyone's else's children. And I certainly have no intention of censoring myself in what I write. Thing is am I am adult, so I think and conceptualise as an adult, and I take that to mean more than just thinking about sex.

I know some of you reading this do have children, and from what I gather are responsible, sensible parents - the kind we need more of. Interested to hear what people think on this topic...

(Post a new comment)

	artnouveauho 2007-12-06 02:18 pm UTC (link)
	It was probably on "adult concepts" because this journal has the word "whore" in the title. Now I am hesitant about typing any more, lest I let slip some piece of information unfit for delicate underage ears. (Actually, all I want to do is yell rude words, but I'll spare you that!) (Reply to this)

ladyaelfwynn
2007-12-06 02:24 pm UTC (link)

I'm not happy with LJ's recent changes either. I've put my journal to adult content (18+) because it's a medium I use to communicate with many far flung friends, as such I tend to discuss a variety of topics, fairly frankly.

I opted for the upper limit for three reasons. The first is that I talk about a wide variety of issues on my journal including things like sexual harassment, medical issues, parenthood, marriage, politics, etc. Many of which lead me to curse like sailor. ;-p

I also talk plainly about the same topics. I try not to use crude or vulgar language but especially here in the States, where there is a bizarre mix of prudery and vulgarity, Internet filters block the appropriate medical terms for body parts (like breast and penis) because they are also heavily used by porn sites. Thus people get bent out of shape by any use of the terms, even appropriate ones.

The second stems from how LJ handled this past summer's debacle. A conservative (read whacked ;-p) Christian group calling themselves Warriors for Innocence complained to Six Apart (LJ's parent company) about numerous journals and communities (many of which contained Harry Potter fan fiction, of a graphic, sexual nature) that resulted in journal suspensions and deletions. During the whole sordid mess LJ completely failed at communications. They didn't answer questions, contradicted themselves, and just generally made a mess of things.

Because LJ's descriptions of what constitutes "abuse" and their past record, I'd rather mark my journal as adult content, so as not to get in trouble.

The third is that I'm in the process of writing a romance story, with graphic depictions of various adult activities and really don't want people younger than 16 reading it. Since the options were either 14+ or 18+, I opted for the upper limit.

Most of what I talk about is no worse than what you'd see on cable TV but I'd rather slap a warning label on my journal than be hassled by the LJ Man.

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spangle_kitten
2007-12-06 02:46 pm UTC (link)

The second stems from how LJ handled this past summer's debacle. A conservative (read whacked ;-p) Christian group calling themselves Warriors for Innocence complained to Six Apart

I didn't realise that, the changes came as a surprise and I wouldn't have realised unless someone on my f-list had posted about it, and loads of people on mine had no idea until I posted about it.

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ladyaelfwynn
2007-12-06 04:40 pm UTC (link)

It was messy and frustrating and had lots of people up and leaving LJ for safer pastures. That it happened over a holiday weekend, here in the States made it worse.

A detailed account of what happened is at liz_marcs. Scroll to the bottom of the page to read it chronologically.

It made a lot of people twitchy because the Powers that Be went after fictional activity (fictional characters having fictional sex) rather than real activity (comms that promoted religiously based child abuse). Another take, from an anti-conservative Christian point of view can be found at

dark_christian

It really damaged my trust of LJ but enough of my far flung friends are here and I don't want to lose contact again that I'm willing to bend.

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spangle_kitten
2007-12-06 05:03 pm UTC (link)

That looks such a total mess and clearly LJ trying to avoid being sued. I wonder how/if the new owners will change anything...

the Powers that Be went after fictional activity (fictional characters having fictional sex) rather than real activity (comms that promoted religiously based child abuse

That's because ritual abuse of children in the name of religion, or indeed rape, blackmail and ritual suicides never happens. It's all a plot by lefties and athiests to make Christians look bad. Fiction involving gay sex is clearly far more damaging to the nation's youth!

(in case that tone didn't translate, I was being deeply sardonic, as I think Right wing Christians are some of the most dangerous people there are)

It really damaged my trust of LJ but enough of my far flung friends are here and I don't want to lose contact again that I'm willing to bend.

Me too. It's my primary source of contact with people since I moved across the country from my friends and have a complete inability to use the phone, as well as being great for keeping up with people I barely ever see. I really hate the format of Myspace or Facebook and really like the LJ format and as MS and FB are just as monitered by loonies I think I'll stick with the lesser of the evils...

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ladyaelfwynn
2007-12-06 08:03 pm UTC (link)

I second the thoughts on conservative Christians.

We've had enough discussion about Christian wackos at the supper table, in front of our daughter, that she worries that some of her school mates are Christian. ;-p (I'm a pagan, hubby's agnosticish, and we're raising her to figure out what she wants to be when she feels old enough to make that decision. We don't put down any religion, just certain incredibly whacked, interpretations of it.)

I'm far more willing to trust an atheist than someone who calls themselves Christian. (Around here, "Christian" tends to be synonymous with Christian fundamentalist. If you are of a specific Christian denomination, one uses the denomination like Methodist, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Catholic, etc. I'm fine with most of the mainstream denominations, as they are pretty respectful of others beliefs, in comparison. Tell me you are Baptist, Pentacostal (they are the ones that believe in snake handling and speaking in tongues), or Assemblies of God and I'll walk quickly and quietly away from, making warding off gestures. **shudders**)

Lj put me back in contact with friends who'd moved out west and made me new friends up north, as well as lets me keep in easy contact with lots of relatives. I'm willing to put up with it for the time being.

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	primitivepeople 2007-12-06 03:43 pm UTC (link)
	Good ideas, although did you know you can set a default, and then mark individual entries differently? Mine is set on the no adult concepts level, but you can set each entry to a higher level if you want. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	ladyaelfwynn 2007-12-06 04:41 pm UTC (link)
	Thanks! I didn't know that you could set the level for different posts. I'll see if I can figure it out. Sometimes, though, I can be a bit tech challenged. ;-P (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	primitivepeople 2007-12-06 06:15 pm UTC (link)
	Bottom right, along with other posting options - it says "default" unless you change it to something else. Thus you might want to make the general level your default, and rate appropriate entries higher (which is what I propose doing). (Reply to this)(Parent)

spangle_kitten
2007-12-06 02:41 pm UTC (link)

Mine's pretty much all friends only, and I filter the more delicate subjects so I've left mine as "no adult content" to avoid friends who have not sellected the "no not collapse adult content" setting for thier f-list getting all my entries as cut tags warning that the content may not be suitable for thier innocent eyes.

I still have utterly no idea what an "adult concept" is. I presume it means sexual themes as that's the usual meaning, but "concept" is a strange word to use in the situation. I guess that could also stretch to criminal activity, drug use or violence, and anyone looking for those "concepts" in my lj will be sorely dissapointed (unless I'm talking about a case ;)

As said above, I expect the reason your's was auto filtered was because of the "whore" part of the name.

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	jamesb 2007-12-06 02:57 pm UTC (link)
	adult concepts eh, so we get to pay full price then. is there a priv discount with that, I wonder... Maybe Radio 4 will have an 'adult concepts' rider before the Westminster report, or maybe it should be 'zoo full of looneys' write what you want! It is up to parents to parent! J (Reply to this)

primitivepeople
2007-12-06 03:41 pm UTC (link)

I think it's been an act of arse-covering on the part of LJ, and fair play to them, it's probably a good idea. It's just a way of ensuring that you can be free to write what you like, should you so wish.

I think it's an attempt by LJ to avoid the strikethrough thing again, which is fair enough, but of course it's been interpreted as Yet Another Nail In LJ's Coffin, Oh Noez, etc., and I think it's why Six Apart have decided to dump LJ like a hot brick.

Personally, I'm not worried. In an ideal world, everyone would take responsibility for their own actions, and I hope this blows over quickly.

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primitivepeople
2007-12-06 03:51 pm UTC (link)

You might all find this useful

It clarifies quite a lot. If you're a logged-in user over 18, it won't affect your experience at all. However, people can still flag your entries as containing adult content, which I think is open to abuse, despite the safeguards.

It's better than nothing, I think, although "adult concepts" is rather open to interpretation. What about swearing? I swear a lot, but some of the more puritanical people out there might take offence.

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matgb
2007-12-06 04:59 pm UTC (link)

I think the basic idea for it was sound—some users were wanting to be able to post adult themed stuff publicly but not have complaints about kids, but the implementation is a bit poor, especially defaulting to incorrect settings or not being told you've been flagged.

They really need to have defined 'adult concepts' a bit more clearly and stated it means sexually orientated, but that would be clarity, and we can't expect that.

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	deerfold 2007-12-06 04:02 pm UTC (link)
	I suppose you'll just have to keep showing us pics of you in lovely outfits and a succession of tube stations. We'll cope. (Reply to this)

torrain
2007-12-06 08:46 pm UTC (link)

Hrm.

I find it annoying.

And I think it'd've gone over better if they'd told people about it beforehand and explained it was strictly a liability issue, rather than announced it at-or-after the fact, sketchily documented it, and come across with a "For the chillllldren!" vibe.

And every time I hear the phrase "adult content", I think of Marna's LJ Bio. It runs, if I may quote:

This journal has adult content.

In fact, as I am an adult, I hope it is entirely adult content.

By which I mean silliness, compassion, inquiry, sense AND sensibility, discussion, honest creative work done to the best of my ability and oh, yes, sex, love, passion and sometimes war, death, pain and valour.

It is therefore suitable for adults and people who aspire to become adults, and both sorts of people are welcome here.

The small minority who fit neither category may wish to go elsewhere.

It's a very sensible take, and I think remembering it so frequently and inadvertently has helped me keep my calm when I'm clicking through cuts and promising I really am over 14. Again. And again.

(Reply to this)

	velvetdahlia 2007-12-09 10:05 am UTC (link)
	I've ranted at length in my journal last week on these changes and LJ's imposed assumptions about parenting and even childhood. (Reply to this)

	deerfold 2007-12-21 09:55 am UTC (link)
	Amazing the difference between countries - here Baptists are probably one of the least dogmatic strains. (My mum, who was divorced, is now married to a Baptist minister) (Reply to this)

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