NSFW Userpics

[heightdynamics]

So, I'm not approved yet. I've been participating on the Forum Games and noticed a lot of userpics seem NSFW.

I'm no expert on backend stuff, but it seems like if I can see it, an underage member could see it.

Options:

Flag userpics as SFW or NSFW and turn off NSFW userpics for unapproved and underage users.

Allow users to turn on or turn off all userpics, and have userpics turned off by default for unapproved and underage users.

[Ariel]

You mean user avatars? The only NSFW content we allow is bare breasts and bare bottoms. Anything else is not allowed.

[RampantDesires]

You will also be able to turn off avatars and signatures in your account settings should you be approved.

[gaggedLouise]

I've seen occasional elements of bondage in some past avies - a taped-over mouth, restrained hands, a neck leash, etc - but those have always been drawn in a fairly stylized way, never photographs.

[ashesandcinder]

There are some highly sexualized (and not stylized either) avatars floating around. I agree with the OPs concern.

[heightdynamics]

You mean user avatars? The only NSFW content we allow is bare breasts and bare bottoms. Anything else is not allowed.

Well, then that is still literally NSFW, isn't it?

You will also be able to turn off avatars and signatures in your account settings should you be approved.

That's great, but perhaps the default should be 'off'? As for me personally, it's not that I find it objectionable, but I can't exactly check in from work with a lot of bare butts and breasts on screen. If you're not letting a user have full control yet (which I completely understand and is fine), then it behooves the site to err on the side of being too bland, doesn't it?

[gaggedLouise]

That's great, but perhaps the default should be 'off'? As for me personally, it's not that I find it objectionable, but I can't exactly check in from work with a lot of bare butts and breasts on screen. If you're not letting a user have full control yet (which I completely understand and is fine), then it behooves the site to err on the side of being too bland, doesn't it?

If you're logged on and approved and viewing the main page (showing the entire forum) it prominently says "bondage" and "extreme" in bold type at a few forum headings, which is hardly very discreet if there are co-workers nearby. :)

[King Serperior]

Honestly, when it comes to being on E where I risk someone else seeing it, I err on the side of caution and simply do not have E on a screen.  For me, I don't bother getting on when there's the risk of someone potentially seeing anything even close to NSFW.

I would never get on E at work in any case.  I'd be far too paranoid for one thing.  >_>

[The Dark Raven]

Honestly, when it comes to being on E where I risk someone else seeing it, I err on the side of caution and simply do not have E on a screen.  For me, I don't bother getting on when there's the risk of someone potentially seeing anything even close to NSFW.

I would never get on E at work in any case.  I'd be far too paranoid for one thing.  >_>

^This.

[Nachtmahr]

I would definitely suggest following the advice presented above. Apply the same rules to E as you would any other adult site. I wouldn't call E a porn-site by any means, but it is an explicitly adult community, largely focused on explicit erotic fiction. It's probably not the sort of site you should be visiting while at work regardless of naughty avatars, or in any other situation where your privacy might be compromised.

Not to mention the inherent risks of using a computer that's accessible to others to do so. This, of course, comes with the risk of someone hijacking your account, should you forget that you've left it open.

[Oniya]

It's probably not the sort of site you should be visiting while at work regardless of naughty avatars, or in any other situation where your privacy might be compromised.

If you have a competent IT department, your browser history is very likely to be on record somewhere.

[HockeyGod]

If you have a competent IT department, your browser history is very likely to be on record somewhere.

If you have a competent IT department, Elliquiy would be blocked.  C:)

[Naiah]

I kinda agree with OP. I always thought new members could not see our avatars until they were approved. Given how diligent we are about not letting in under 18's, it does surprise me that unapproved members can see the avvies, cause many are definitely NSFK (not safe for kids). On the other hand, I am european and less of a "prude" where I think boobs and bums are omg adult content. To me it is more the suggestiveness of them.

Maybe that is something to suggest to Vekseid? That they are by default off until you get approved?

[MagicalPen]

I don't think an adult erotica site should make itself NSFW by default. For starters, you'd probably get fired if work caught you looking at a site like E. So probably best not to view at work.

I change my settings to not display avatars and only display signatures in the first post (of a person). This lets me view at work (I am the IT department at work) without any compromising images showing up. Just looks like any other website from a distance and no one has ever challenged me.

I don't think the forum as a whole should be 'punished' and 'restricted' unless they all go and change their settings over potential NSFW images showing up. Its much easier for individuals to tweak their settings while not detracting from the overall appearance and purpose of the  forums.

[RampantDesires]

These are entirely my personal opinions and should not be taken as a staff thing, but when people first come to E it is made very clear that it is an Adult site.  If you are not 18 there is the back button anyone underage who might be viewing the page has done so either knowingly lying about this, or because a current member or prospective member chose to view E in a public place or even worse leave their account unsecure.  I DO understand that it is an inconvenience to not be able to turn off avatars during approval and that it might hamper your ability to browse E in public, but generally speaking this process lasts no more than a few days and then you can choose to turn them off if you are approved.

Keeping the avatars visible to new members for me serves a very necessary function.  Wow, that avatar is a guy licking honey off another man's chest in a gif, but that person is also laid back and chatting about world politics and some trial and error baking experiments they've done in the last month.  E is BOTH of these things, well more than two things, a delightful mix of sexy, fun, serious, supportive, and awesome, and new members aren't allowed to see most of what happens behind the scenes.  The wide selection of avatars, many of which are safe for work, or naughtily artistic, and some yes quite risque although we are careful that they never show outright sex or genitalia (you could conceivably see all of this in an R movie) is like a soft introduction to what they might be seeing should they be approved. 

That's just my two bits, but it is an interesting discussion to say the least!

[Nico]

These are entirely my personal opinions and should not be taken as a staff thing, but when people first come to E it is made very clear that it is an Adult site.  If you are not 18 there is the back button anyone underage who might be viewing the page has done so either knowingly lying about this, or because a current member or prospective member chose to view E in a public place or even worse leave their account unsecure.  I DO understand that it is an inconvenience to not be able to turn off avatars during approval and that it might hamper your ability to browse E in public, but generally speaking this process lasts no more than a few days and then you can choose to turn them off if you are approved.

Keeping the avatars visible to new members for me serves a very necessary function.  Wow, that avatar is a guy licking honey off another man's chest in a gif, but that person is also laid back and chatting about world politics and some trial and error baking experiments they've done in the last month.  E is BOTH of these things, well more than two things, a delightful mix of sexy, fun, serious, supportive, and awesome, and new members aren't allowed to see most of what happens behind the scenes.  The wide selection of avatars, many of which are safe for work, or naughtily artistic, and some yes quite risque although we are careful that they never show outright sex or genitalia (you could conceivably see all of this in an R movie) is like a soft introduction to what they might be seeing should they be approved. 

That's just my two bits, but it is an interesting discussion to say the least!

This very much sums up my views on that matter.

[Ariamella]

I kinda get what the OP is saying.

Just making avatars un-viewable by non-members or members that aren't approved yet. I don't think that would punishing a whole forum at all considering it only affects you if you're either unapproved or not a member. Admittedly, some of the avatars on E look kind of explicit.

I also understand the frustration of not being able to turn it off by default when you register for the forum, just because some people do check it at work or university or whatever. You can argue that a person shouldn't be doing that anyway, but clearly there are people that have the means to do so. You can be working off your own laptop, or (like me) browsing or writing in class/library/cafe/student commons/etc.

I honestly don't think it's too much of a big deal anyway because you can turn it off once approved, but I think it would be a nice feature to have upon registration. Plus, another perspective similar to the OP's, since a lot of people are just intent on telling him/her that s/he shouldn't be looking at E at work.

[Orange Marmalade]

Yep this is why I had to turn off all Avatars, unfortunately. Even just browsing some OOC threads where things are tame and should be safe you can suddenly get a phone screen full of naked bodies, so better off just not using them.

[The Dark Raven]

And this is why I do not view E at work.  Solves all the problems.

[Nico]

And this is why I do not view E at work.  Solves all the problems.

Yes. This.

[Jag]

And this is why I do not view E at work.  Solves all the problems.

Bingo.

If I do view it from my phone while at work and on break/lunch, I understand that it's my own fault if someone sees something over my shoulder.

[lilhobbit37]

To everyone who is simplifying it to don't view it at work, there are many reasons an unapproved person may not want explicit avatars showing: they could have kids at home, who may not yet be of an age to view pictures which are explicit, where they may just be walking by a computer set in a location where they may view such things. Or they may not want roommates to see what kind of site they are on for reasons. Or maybe they have no internet at home and are logging into their laptop at a public wifi place and do not want others, and again, possibly children, to be able to see images which they should not be seeing.

I think it is a reasonable request to say that since many avatars on this side do have nudity, even if only partial, or just from the backside etc, that they be set to off for unapproved members since they do not have access to do so themselves.

[persephone325]

To everyone who is simplifying it to don't view it at work, there are many reasons an unapproved person may not want explicit avatars showing: they could have kids at home, who may not yet be of an age to view pictures which are explicit, where they may just be walking by a computer set in a location where they may view such things. Or they may not want roommates to see what kind of site they are on for reasons. Or maybe they have no internet at home and are logging into their laptop at a public wifi place and do not want others, and again, possibly children, to be able to see images which they should not be seeing.

I think it is a reasonable request to say that since many avatars on this side do have nudity, even if only partial, or just from the backside etc, that they be set to off for unapproved members since they do not have access to do so themselves.

I have to agree with this, as I've felt the same way.

I know the site is labelled as "Adult" and all, but it never made sense to me that unapproved members can't access the adult sections of the site yet, then why are they able to see the "adult" avatars?

[Lexandria]

I have to agree with this, as I've felt the same way.

I know the site is labelled as "Adult" and all, but it never made sense to me that unapproved members can't access the adult sections of the site yet, then why are they able to see the "adult" avatars?

The avatars are not permitted to contain sex acts or genitals because they are on the public side of the website. Anything that can be seen by an unapproved member is considered the public side of the site and cannot contain sex acts or genitals. "Adult content" by the definition that we use for images/avatars is that. A rear end, what would be seen were someone wearing a thong, is fine. This is the same laws used for bathing suits in many places with regards to genitals. Breasts are secondary sex characteristics, and not genitalia.

That said, this is a complicated issue that really cannot be boiled don to 'just don't interact with Elliquiy at work' ( <-- this part right here is my opinion). I just wanted to clear up the reasoning behind the rules for avatars and what can and cannot be exposed.

[persephone325]

I understand. It just...doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

But that's just me. *shrug* I'm weird. lol

[Summerlily]

I am glad to see this thread. I am relatively new to the site so do not consider this a weighty opinion but some of the pictures are indeed things I would not like to look at so much.

It was said earlier that they could be turned off. Would someone explain how to do this?

I would like to turn off the avatars, but I could not find the option.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Edit: I found it! See below.

Click on Profile > Account settings > Modify Profile on the left side click on Look and Layout > Fourth and fifth options down, check the boxes to remove avatars or signatures.

[Lexandria]

go to the [PROFILE] tab, and then on the list on the left hand side there's "Look and Layout". There's a tick-box in there that you can check that says 'don't show avatars'.

[RedPhoenix]

If you click on the "profile" link on the bar above the forums (or just click here https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?action=profile ) it will take you to your personal settings.

From there you will see on the left side of the page a bunch of options. Under "Modify Profile" you will a link called "Look and Layout" Click that.

About the first few options there is a series of checkboxes. The fourth one down is "Don't show users avatars" click on that and make sure it has a checkmark, then select "change profile" at the bottom of the page to update your settings.

And that should do it. :)

E: Ninja'd by Lexa! :D

[Oniya]

If you have AdBlock, you can even block individual avatars by right-clicking them and selecting 'Block Image'.

[Vandren]

To everyone who is simplifying it to don't view it at work,

It's not simplifying.  They're responding to heightdynamics (reply #6) who stated, "but I can't exactly check in from work with a lot of bare butts and breasts on screen."

[greenandgold]

I'm well aware that my opinion doesn't mean much, but I'm giving it anyway. And I'm siding with the other users that say, "Stay off E when you're in public or at work. And if you're at home and worried about your kids seeing NSFW stuff, stay off the stinkin site until said kids go to bed." It's really not that difficult.

[Mellific]

I'm well aware that my opinion doesn't mean much, but I'm giving it anyway. And I'm siding with the other users that say, "Stay off E when you're in public or at work. And if you're at home and worried about your kids seeing NSFW stuff, stay off the stinkin site until said kids go to bed." It's really not that difficult.

^ Yep.

Any time a person is viewing something NSFW in public, or at home and in front of children, they need to take their surroundings into account. If there is a risk of someone seeing something that you don't want them to see due to its adult content, then you should adjust accordingly. Maybe don't check the XXX rated content or the NSFW threads until you are sure you're completely alone. Or, maybe hide it in the background until you're sure that others won't be able to peer over your shoulder.

I think it was Jag that said they understand when they are checking E on their phone, it's their responsibility to make sure no one is peering over a shoulder. I think it's all of our responsibility to censor certain content when in public or around children. Therefore, if someone does see something inappropriate on one of our devices, it is considered our fault. If ever I am in public and checking through E, I typically zoom the page in so that only text is seen. Usually I won't bother reading it in public unless it's a post I intend to reply to, for that very reason.

[Nachtmahr]

Yep this is why I had to turn off all Avatars, unfortunately. Even just browsing some OOC threads where things are tame and should be safe you can suddenly get a phone screen full of naked bodies, so better off just not using them.

Again I just can't help but think about the disclaimer before you reach the site, which clearly states that it's an adult site and everything. So I wouldn't really say that you could expect any one area to be entirely SFW. By agreeing to that content warning, you do (in my opinion, of course) kind of sign off on the fact that you may encounter something that's not safe for public viewing or work.

The best and only answer to this really seems to be to either do as you've done and turn them all off, in case it really bothers you, or simply not accessing E outside of the comfort of your home. And I'll also stick to my guns on the fact that the worst offenders among the avatars on this site aren't really any different from the sort of NSFW-content that might pop up anywhere on Twitter or Facebook.

You would essentially be putting yourself at the same amount of risk of public embarrassment as you would by watching an episode of Game of Thrones or Spartacus while in public or at work. The simple answer to that is, in case you think anyone around you might find the sexual content in those shows inappropriate, not to view them around other people. So if you're in a place where you'd either feel embarrassed or get in trouble for watching Game of Thrones, you probably just shouldn't be accessing Elliquiy.

I do try to see the issue from the other perspective, but it really just strikes me as a non-issue no matter how you look at it.

As for the fact that unapproved members can see avatars with breasts or butts in them - Well, again, this is largely to expected given the kind of site that this is, and it's nothing that they wouldn't encounter on daytime television. The rule to exclude genitalia and such does a fine job of keeping things pretty clean in my opinion.

[Iniquitous]

I am sorry, I have to say that it is each person's own responsibilities to make sure that what they are looking at online is not inappropriate for their location.  There are plenty of warnings about this site being for adults, so it should not come as a surprise to see avatars that show breasts, or butt cheeks, or collars/leashes, avatars bound/gagged.  Part of being an adult is being able to determine if the place you are in is suitable for viewing an adult site.  If you cannot determine if where you are is suitable, then perhaps you should not be on here.

My avatars always follow the rules of the site and I shouldn't be forced to further monitor my avatars because some feel like they should be able to purview the site in unacceptable locations.

Just my two cents.

[Caitlin]

^ Yep.

Any time a person is viewing something NSFW in public, or at home and in front of children, they need to take their surroundings into account. If there is a risk of someone seeing something that you don't want them to see due to its adult content, then you should adjust accordingly. Maybe don't check the XXX rated content or the NSFW threads until you are sure you're completely alone. Or, maybe hide it in the background until you're sure that others won't be able to peer over your shoulder.

It's never save to view NSFW content in a work environment.

Even if colleagues can't directly see what you're viewing, all your network traffic still goes through the company network and as such it can be directly traced back to your computer. I won't go into the technical details, but any computer department can easily view what you're seeing. In some cases this could even cost you your job, so for that reason alone it's just not worth it. On top of that, it's probably smart in general not to use the boss' time for private pleasures. It's generally better to wait until you're at home for those. :-)

[lilhobbit37]

Keep in mind, that as members, we all have the option to turn this off. So everyone saying just don't do this, then why do we have the option at all?

All the op is asking is that the default be off rather than on, so that unapproved members who do not have the option are given the default of none rather than all. This does not seem like a huge request in any way.

[persephone325]

Keep in mind, that as members, we all have the option to turn this off. So everyone saying just don't do this, then why do we have the option at all?

All the op is asking is that the default be off rather than on, so that unapproved members who do not have the option are given the default of none rather than all. This does not seem like a huge request in any way.

That's what I was getting at. I also don't think that anyone was trying to say that us members can't have more racy avatars. If the default is "Off", then that doesn't matter, and we don't need to "monitor" our avatars. Not that we really do anyway.

I just feel like it's the more courteous option for our applicants. *shrug*

[Gypsy]

I would, personally, rather simply have unapproved members have the option to turn avatars off rather than making the default 'off'.

[persephone325]

I would, personally, rather simply have unapproved members have the option to turn avatars off rather than making the default 'off'.

Oh yeah! That works too!

[Nico]

I would, personally, rather simply have unapproved members have the option to turn avatars off rather than making the default 'off'.

Agreed.

Always better to leave the choice to the individual. :-)

However, I am in complete agreement about using Elliquiy from work or other public places. This is the responsibility of the user and entirely their decision. Putting the blame on a forum just doesn't fly. If someone surfs to places that might be NSFW, the individual has to take the responsibility for it being suitable for their current environment. Plain and simple.

[RedRose]

I think an option is best. I like avatars, and find that often I learn about the personality of a writer from them - sometimes it's misleading. Some of them though can be gross or disturbing, and not necessarily the most sexual ones...

[Oniya]

Some of them though can be gross or disturbing, and not necessarily the most sexual ones...

This is where I use Ad-Block.  A long time ago, on another site, I wrote with someone who was a great writer, but their avatar involved a perfectly non-sexual thing that bothered me a lot.  Right-click, block image, refresh - and peace was resumed.

[Karma]

I would, personally, rather simply have unapproved members have the option to turn avatars off rather than making the default 'off'.

This is a pretty elegant solution I would say.

[Peripherie]

This is where I use Ad-Block.  A long time ago, on another site, I wrote with someone who was a great writer, but their avatar involved a perfectly non-sexual thing that bothered me a lot.  Right-click, block image, refresh - and peace was resumed.

+1 to Ad-Block. Someone else might have already suggested this (or it might already be somewhere) - but as there isn't an option for unapproved members to turn avatars off (and with the new software in the works, might not be a change we see added soon) staff/mentors could add a note to one of the "intro to E" threads the applicants have that they could use something browser add-on like Ad-Block to turn off avatars if they want.

That would also put the responsibility for making personal decisions about when/where/how they view E back on the applicants. I agree with others who have stated that is the individual's role to police their own viewing habits so as not to see something inappropriate at work/around family.