Changes to the site, No-Nudity rule removed now

[Ms Dynomite]

(following up on the previous thread)

We'd like to return to the site's original rules regarding nudity (nudity in the context of art, naturalism, or health; not porn) while still safely working with Ning's TOUs to avoid problems.

After much investigation here are the 2 steps we feel would allow us to achieve that goal, both of which are being put in place now these changes are now in place. Once these are in place we'll update the site rules on nudity to allow members to post as before site rules have been updated to allow members to post as before. Yay!
edit to update: If you had images deleted that contained nudity in the form of naturalist, artistic, or health you may repost those images. If you were warned that your images contained porn do NOT repost those images. If you have any doubts as to whether your image is porn, please contact me for assistance before posting.

1) add an 18+ splash page to the site
Since NIng equates nudity with adult content, in order to allow members to post artistic, naturalistic, or health-related nudity on this site we need to have that 18+ splash page added. If we don't request this ourselves Ning can add it at any time, without notice or warning.

2) upgrade the site to premium service: no ads
This is the key part of the plan. To summarize the need for this: Ning uses Google Adsense, which prohibits ads from being displayed on any site with "pornography, adult, or mature content." Any time Ning determines the site to have adult content (nudity), it has to remove the Google Adsense ads or Ning will be in violation of Google's TOUs. And when they remove those Google ads Ning replaces them with nothing but porn -- what caused this current problem in the first place.

Upgrading to the premium service removes the Google ads entirely, eliminating the porn-ad problem. More yay!

FYI: There will be an additional thread giving specifics on our decision process and the Ning policies that are at the core of the past weeks' problem. Please check back here for the link, coming soon. You can now view that thread with more details on this issue here

*a special note*

The upgrade to premium ad-free service costs $240 a year. The members of the group Hopeful Spontaneous Monster have VERY GENEROUSLY offered to cover the full cost of that premium upgrade. They are largely responsible for allowing members an option to return to the posting freedom allowed under the previous site rules. Hopeful Spontaneous Monster, and in particularly Papared are a huge part of the solution and deserve your thanks for this generous offer.

[MA]

Hey whatever works and a big thank you to everyone. Let's not bite the hand that feeds us, K?

Good work and much thanks!
MA

[Ms Dynomite]

Just Kat,
We're not doing anything new, just reverting to the original rules. Those weren't problematic for anyone, except the occasional individual who violated the rules by posting porn. The site operated for nearly a year with the prior rules on nudity, without complaints. :)

There's no massive change and no reason to be concerned. :) We're just going back to the way the site was before the past 2 weeks of problems with Ning. That's the same environment members agreed to when they joined and what we've been hoping we could do since the start of the problem. Anyone who doesn't want nudity of any kind likely wouldn't have joined, since nudity has always been allowed on this site (prior to Ning's crackdown equating nudity with adult content), just not porn. :)

We're also not doing anything dicey in terms of Ning. We're following their guidelines exactly to allow us to return to the original intent and posting freedom of the site. :) The splash page and the premium no-ad service were both specifically stated by Ning as a solution.

When I get some time I'll post a supplement with more info that may help you understand it more clearly. :) I just wanted to get out the notice as soon as possible to let members know it's nearly resolved.

[Ms Dynomite]

Just Kat: I'm just worried about them showing up on the front page since there are some people on here who dont want any type of nudity

Kat, I explained this in detail in the other thread. I think you're confused on the issue here. It's NOT that we've had a slew of people who don't want any nudity. In regards to this site Ning defined "adult content" as "nudity". I was directly informed by Ning that in the site's previous condition I had to remove ALL nudity to avoid violating Ning's TOUs. Once we added the splash page and removed ads we were then able to post nudity WITHIN Ning's TOUs. The reports that were made to Ning were for images that were PORN, not nudity.

I recommend going back and reading the previous announcements which explain the issue clearly and in detail. :)

[Chrysanthe]

Well now there just seems to be a heap of radioactivity and fallout to clean up...

[Papared]

It has been a very rough time for everyone, but I think it can be done. I have left as admin, but support the decisions that the admins have come up with. We posted the money to get rid of the ads because the ads were a big problem for some of the folks in our group, and are glad to see them gone for good. HSM has covered the first year of this, and we hope that other groups will come forward in the future.

[Ms Dynomite]

Chrysanthe : Well now there just seems to be a heap of radioactivity and fallout to clean up...

not really. we're right back to the way the site has always operated prior to the NIng issue, we're right back to the same rules members have always agreed to -- with a few minor updates.

members now have the inconvenience of reposting some artistic images that had to be deleted by Ning's orders. and for just 2 weeks they couldn't post new images with nudity. I have apologize for that inconvenience in the past and apologize again for that now.

However, I'd like members to keep in mind that those are very minor inconveniences. particularly when members consider this is a FREE SITE RUN BY VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE JUST SPENT THE PAST 2 WEEKS UNDER MASSIVE STRESS AND PRESSURE TO KEEP THE SITE OPERATIONAL FOR 1000 STRANGERS. (well free for nearly all members, the HSM paid for the service).

Anyone who feels this was somehow an infringement is encouraged to actually read the previous announcements, which clearly explain we had to TEMPORARILY remove nudity to avoid having the site FURTHER restricted or even SHUT DOWN. If some members feel this little 2 weeks issue was some dramatic personal slight, I apologize and again encourage them to go read the announcements to actually learn about the actual facts of the issue.

I'd also like to reiterate that no site can be all things to all people. And every single site is going to have the occasional problem. If having a minor inconvenience for 2 weeks while a VOLUNTEER STAFF busted their asses to find a solution is somehow intolerable for some individuals, then perhaps those individuals would be better suited on another site. I hope all members remain to enjoy this site, but we cannot cater to everyone's whim especially those with unrealistic demands.

that's not directly specifically at you, Chrysanthe. I'm just addressing the general topic for others.

[Chrysanthe]

"Chrysanthe : Well now there just seems to be a heap of radioactivity and fallout to clean up...

not really. we're right back to the way the site has always operated prior to the NIng issue, we're right back to the same rules members have always agreed to -- with a few minor updates."

When I wrote that, there appeared to be some unfortunate personal politics conflicts floating around as a result of the past couple weeks of frustrations and confusions and half informations. For those who have no idea I am not going into it and, for those who know, I hope we can all act as a community now. I like this place and would hate to see it fall into the same games as I saw over on Tribe.

[musicgirl]

((((Chrysanthe)))

I knew what you meant :)

[Atom Bomb]

Can we put in a pay-pal to donate, so we can keep the site Ad free, so everyone can do their part in the shape and size that they can personally afford? Maybe set up a "help support our site group" where we could put the pay-pal box so it does not look like we are begging on every screen, and also (maybe) use that group to post thanks to those that donate?

Just some thought, off the top of my head...

A BOMB

[Ms Dynomite]

Atom Bomb: Can we put in a pay-pal to donate, so we can keep the site Ad free, so everyone can do their part in the shape and size that they can personally afford?

that's a great idea. I'll mention it to those who provided the payment. :)

[DEANNA MORE]

PAY-PAL...?

Excellent idea and so, easy ...!!!
I use my pay-pal , all the time, when it's available for internet transactions.

[Atom Bomb]

Will being an 18+ banner site take us off the site listing? I came on board while the ads were up and the banner and I could not fine this site. I linked in from another tribe based network and then joined. So, will others be able to find us or will we just vanish off the face of ning's list due to our adult status?