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Celebrating Deviousness December 2012
Identify The Problem!
.How the mature content filter works
All members over the age of 18 can choose to enable or disable the mature content filter to suit their needs. All members with a registered date of birth under the age of 18 have the mature content filter locked on and can not disable it. All logged out visitors have the mature content filter enabled and can not disable it.
The mature content filter is split in to two types, strict and warning. The strict filter is completely voluntary and prevents any deviant with the mature content filter on from accessing the work. The general or warning filter is the standard mature content tag and will remove the image from immediate view when browsing and place an warning page on the deviation which the viewer may click through to see the image at their discretion.
Misconceptions
A mature content tag means I can submit porn and shock pictures!
This seems to be a fairly common misconception, especially with younger members submitting illustrated works. Even with a mature content tag the following FAQs apply:
FAQ #565: You prohibit the submission of 'pornographic imagery'; what do you consider this to be?
FAQ #251: You prohibit the submission of 'pornographic literature'; what do you consider this to be?
FAQ #305: Is posting 'Adult' oriented artwork alright if I censor it first?
FAQ #248: Are there restrictions on art using children or teenagers (fictional or otherwise)?
FAQ #7: What is the policy concerning photographs of corpses, cruelty or death?
These policies apply to ALL submissions, regardless of any sort of tag, artist statement or self censorship. If a CEA member determines that an artwork violates one of these policies then it will be subject to removal without warning.
If it shows X then it MUST be marked as strict
We get a lot of reports that a deviation shows some content that a user doesn't like and they think it should have a strict mature content tag. We won't ever place or demand that a strict mature content tag be placed on a deviation, no matter what the content. The strict setting is there only for the submitting deviants peace of mind.
This image shows a person in lingerie, that needs to be tagged!
When it comes to nudity the mature content tagging system is only required under for actual nudity, this means, if you can see the genitals, anus or nipples if the model is female then it should have a tag. This counts even if they are clothed but you can clearly see through the clothing.
This does not apply to deviations where the model is shown in lingerie or clothing that covers genitals or a fully nude model where genitals, are not displayed. If a models breasts aren't covered but the nipples are then that doesn't need a mature content tag. Body paint and items like nipple pasties may be enough to mean that a deviation doesn't need a tag.
deviantART staff are biased towards a specific gender
We do not give bias towards any gender or orientation. We do our best to apply our policies in an unbiased and objective manner. The CEA team is made up of 4 women and 3 men, we are very tolerant when it comes to nudity, gender and orientation. We don't remove an image because we don't like it and we don't allow images to remain because we do. We try to judge every deviation fairly and honestly according to our policies, if we're not sure then we discuss it as a team and err on the side of the deviant.
What should be marked as mature
As mentioned above, any deviation which clearly depicts visible genitals, female nipples or the anus should be tagged.
We also require that images depicting graphic violence or gore be tagged as mature. These should be actual or realistic depictions of significant injury, surgery, mutilation. or dismemberment. Any depictions of suicide should also be tagged.
It is worth noting that images depicting actual human death will be judged on a case by case basis. Images of actual death or injury that are found to be unnecessarily graphic (shock images) will be removed and may lead to further action being taken against your account. This includes unnecessarily graphic images of animal death or cruelty.
Images of a cartoonish or unrealistic nature or images of minor injuries do not necessarily require a mature content tag. This is the same for images showing blood where no injury is shown.
Ideologically sensitive material should also be tagged. What we mean here is the deliberate use of an offensive opinion or ideal aimed at at someone or something. This includes deviations which glorify, celebrate or promote offensive ideologies. Exceptions may be made for satire or parody but will be judge case by case.
Just because something is associated with an offensive ideology or belief does not mean that it's that it should be tagged or removed.
We do not require a mature content tag based on language used in a deviation, this tag is completely voluntarily and will not be imposed by a deviantART staff member.
In all cases where there is doubt over a reported image, we will discuss it as a team and we may choose to give the benefit of doubt to the artist. deviantART as a website aims to encourage artistic expression and freedom within our policies and so we will not remove or tag an image unless our policy requires it.
Sorry if this has been a little long, but hopefully this will give you a better understanding of our mature content system.
If my questions could be answered, it would be much appreciated.
Thank you for making this
You need professional help. Seek out mental health help.
I'm not in favor of censorship in most cases, but there are boundaries of good taste. I understand that's a subjective argument but when I first log in and I've got a picture of some guy holding his dick (and nothing else), I don't want to see that shit. I shouldn't have to put up my adult content filter just because I don't want to see pics of dicks. Male nude doesn't bother me, but I fail to see what pics of just genitals accomplishes in terms of art. Anything? And yes, I'd be saying the same of pics of just a vagina. There's no need for such things.
So I ask, what purpose does something like this serve? Is that kind of filth a benefit to a free society? I don't think so. When you break it all down, freedom exists when everyone agrees to play by the same set of rules. Is that then truly freedom? No. What is true freedom? Anarchy; when anyone can do whatever they want to whoever they want and whenever they want. Problem with anarchy is that many people's idea of personal freedom comes at the expense of someone else and then not everyone is free and the idea breaks down.
The point I make is that I believe there has to be a line, agreed on by the people, that shouldn't be crossed. There are simply things labelled "art" that provide no positive benefit upon it's consumption. The art snobs would say those things "provoke discussion" or "push boundaries" to which I reply... for what? Where is the benefit in pushing boundaries, especially the boundaries of good taste? I personally don't see the need or use for such things.
I understand some will disagree on the basis that freedom of expression (artistic expression included) must be allowed across the board from the good to the bad. Again, I'm not so sure that's in society's best interest. We've pushed societal boundaries very far in that last 40 years and I'm not sure we're better off or happier for it as a whole.
just my opinion.