Rules update: Adult-Only Content/PG-13/Offensive Material

[Sedgistan]

Some time ago, we advised that we would look to review and update our rules and guidance around offensive material and the "PG-13" standard we use. This is the first stage of that, with the replacement of the old and sparse "Offensive Material" rule with a new "Adult-Only Content" rule.

Old rule:

Offensive Material: As mentioned previously, we use the US movie rating "PG-13" standard. Mild swearing may be tolerated, mild sexuality may be hinted, but explicit or excessive versions of either or both will result in moderation intervention. Additional information is available here regarding specifically prohibited topics.

New rule:

Adult-Only Content: content that is suitable only for adults is prohibited from being posted to the site. This includes both text and images anywhere across the site, including the forums, RMB posts, dispatches, and telegrams. We use the US movie rating "PG-13" as a standard to judge what content fits within this rule. Key components are:

• Violence - depictions of violence are permitted, particularly in text, but that which is extreme, persistent or gory is not acceptable.
• Language - mild swearing is tolerated, but extreme or excessive amounts is not allowed. Note that swearing directed at other site users or groups is likely to cross over into Flaming or Trolling.
• Sex - mild sexuality may be hinted at, but explicit content is prohibited, as well as all forms of erotic roleplaying and cybering.
• Nudity - depictions of a sexual/erotic intent or nature are not permitted, whether in text or images.
• Substances - the PG-13 standard typically prohibits depiction of drug use. While we do not do so, please bear in mind our policy on promotion of Illegal Activities.

Please note that nation names and custom fields (e.g. motto, animal, currency) are held to a higher standard. Please see also the Banned Topics section for further relevant information.

This sees the rule's name change to reflect more precisely what is prohibited - content deemed suitable only for adults - and sets out more detail of the different areas it covers, and how we apply the PG-13 standard to the site.

This will be followed up in due course by more extensive guidance on how this applies to roleplaying on the site - Santheres is leading that project, but is a lengthier task that will take some more time to complete.

[Juristonia]

Language - mild swearing is tolerated, but extreme or excessive amounts is not allowed.

Welp, that's me coitused.

Bad addition, to be honest.

[Picairn]

Very nice, a clearer clarification of the rules. I have only one question at the moment, by "cybering" you mean "cybersexing", yes?

[Sedgistan]

Language - mild swearing is tolerated, but extreme or excessive amounts is not allowed.

Welp, that's me coitused.

Bad addition, to be honest.

You can still say "fucked". We're not prohibiting particular words as part of this. Edit: Note that this is recycling of existing text that was in the rules, just in different places.

Very nice, a clearer clarification of the rules. I have only one question at the moment, by "cybering" you mean "cybersexing", yes?

My understanding is the two words are interchangeable.

[Indo States]

when this would be implemented?

[Stratonesia]

Thanks a lot, mods!

And yes, it was me who suggested the update on the region RMB. Or at least, talked about it once.

[Sedgistan]

when this would be implemented?

It has been, as of the announcement being made.

And yes, it was me who suggested the update on the region RMB. Or at least, talked about it once.

It has been under discussion since May 2023, so it was not the result of your RMB posts. We have an official venue for suggesting changes to rules and Moderation practices, which is to post a Discussion thread in the Moderation forum. You should not tag or telegram Moderators with rules suggestions - those kinds of messages are liable to be ignored.

[Picairn]

Thanks a lot, mods!

And yes, it was me who suggested the update on the region RMB. Or at least, talked about it once.

(Image)

No offense, but it was the RP and NSG communities who spurred the mods to make an update to the PG-13 rule, following the Kraven incident in summer 2023.

[Stratonesia]

Thanks a lot, mods!

And yes, it was me who suggested the update on the region RMB. Or at least, talked about it once.

(Image)

No offense, but it was the RP and NSG communities who spurred the mods to make an update to the PG-13 rule, following the Kraven incident in summer 2023.

What happened?

[Stalin as a DEAT]

Wow mods! This is B to the A to the S-E-D! BAAAAAAASED!

[Castille de Italia]

You guys totally fed the old rule into Chat GPT and told it to give you a bullet-point list elaborating on the rule, didn’t you?

[Dimetrodon Empire]

Thanks for changing this to make the rule more detailed.

[Sarzonia]

My read on this is providing specific examples of what constitutes PG-13 for this forum. On that basis, this seems helpful.

That said, will prior posts be scrutinised by this standard or is this merely codifying specifics for a previously vague standard?

[The Ice States]

Certainly good to have this clarity, thank you.

[Katganistan]

Language - mild swearing is tolerated, but extreme or excessive amounts is not allowed.

Welp, that's me coitused.

Bad addition, to be honest.

Not an addition -- that part's been the same for years.

[Holy Marsh]

I am interested in seeing what Santheres is working on. Thank you for the additional clarifications.

[The Aosta Valley]

You guys totally fed the old rule into Chat GPT and told it to give you a bullet-point list elaborating on the rule, didn’t you?

That'd be funny.