Question regarding cosplay pics

[Captain Maltese]

I want to make a cosplay thread for the cosplayers here. I've been doing cosplay for more than 20 years so it's not a passing interest. As a craft it includes sewing, shaping, leatherwork, foamcraft, acting, some times welding, capturing not just the looks but the essence of a character. There should be plenty to discuss. I want to put it in the art/media/music subforum as it is definitely an artform. However, obviously, posting pics of ourselves in costumes is a big no-no. But according to the rules, neither can pics of the relevant characters and costumes be posted unless it is in the finders/seekers subforum where the handcraft and design art of making costumes isn't an obvious topic. Plus there's already a cosplay thread there dedicated to just admiring costume pics that I don't want to swamp or compete with. So how does this work out?

[Oniya]

Calling it something like 'Cosplay Discussion' should distinguish it enough to avoid 'competition.'

[Captain Maltese]

You are saying it should be placed in the finders and seekers category?

[Oniya]

The rules are in place to prevent people from coming to false conclusions about the original author of a work.  We have had some issues with that in the past.  Personally, I think you'd get more traffic and participation in a discussion thread if it was found in either On or Off Topic as people tend to expect either image-heavy threads (in F&S) or images of personal projects (the main A/M/M board).  If you intend to allow personal imagery, a member-side board would obviously be preferable.

[Captain Maltese]

While On or Off Topic sounds fair enough to me, I think my English skills are failing me today for which I apologize. What is a member-side board in this reference, and what does personal imagery mean? I do not expect anyone to be allowed to post pictures of themselves in costume other than in the member photos thread.

[Oniya]

While On or Off Topic sounds fair enough to me, I think my English skills are failing me today for which I apologize. What is a member-side board in this reference, and what does personal imagery mean? I do not expect anyone to be allowed to post pictures of themselves in costume other than in the member photos thread.

Member-side would be the part of the forum that only members can view.  Off-Topic is on the public side of the forum, and would allow non-members to read and participate.   Personal imagery would be pictures that might reveal personal details.  As an example, if I had an image that featured a particularly local convention, I would be less inclined to share it in a part of the forum that bots and guests could view.

[Captain Maltese]

Ah, I get you now.

This was trickier to decide than I expected. Cosplaying is very much a craft and an art. But if A/M/M is mainly a place to showcase rather than discuss then I'll happily go for On Topic. Thank you Oniya.