Restricting lemon content

[blackrose]

In light of recent events, I've been trying to think of ways to restrict general access to higher rated material on this site. Please consider these options and let me know what you think.

I don't want to insinuate BI will not host the more adult content. We're not looking to get rid of it. But apparently, there are some younger visitors to this site that are getting here and are able to read it, and their parent(s) don't want this. I'm not saying I blame them...

But I don't need to add headaches such as these to my regular, every day routine.

So, other suggestions, please reply to this thread. And thank you for your cooperation.

[Mizaya]

I think that since the problem is with the user, not the material, the weight of the burden of keeping explicit content from the eyes of minors should be on the parents.

A forum specifically for lemons isn't conducive to reviewers nor is it fair to the writers of those lemons who will lose readers, not to mention the task you would face moving them all! As for the option of blocking the forums to nonregistered members, I think that would be a serious blow to getting new readers and writers in. If no one could check out what was on the site, I'm sure way fewer people would register.

Therefore, if finding that HTML code isn't too difficult, I think you should go for that. If a parent is concerned about what a child is seeing on the internet, they should monitor that themselves. It's not your responsibility to babysit for them.

I do, however, think that making this site blockable is a reasonable request of parents, if they are inclined to like censorship (no comment).

-Mizaya

[blackrose]

I think that since the problem is with the user, not the material, the weight of the burden of keeping explicit content from the eyes of minors should be on the parents.

There is a lot of validity to this pov. I happen to mostly agree with you, and I don't think the parent who contacted me DISAGREES with this statement. The parent is taking appropriate steps to prevent the user from accessing this website, at least while out of sight of his/her parents' eyes.

A forum specifically for lemons isn't conducive to reviewers nor is it fair to the writers of those lemons who will lose readers, not to mention the task you would face moving them all! As for the option of blocking the forums to nonregistered members, I think that would be a serious blow to getting new readers and writers in. If no one could check out what was on the site, I'm sure way fewer people would register.

Oh believe me, I'm more than well aware of the headache involved as far as my time, tasks, and energy involved. Restricting access to fanfiction forums to only registered users would be a pain in the rear. However, MOVING the lemon fics would be an even larger task. As a lemon writer myself, I can certainly sympathize and somewhat agree with the points you bring up.

In the long run, however, I'd rather face the task and lose a few readers if it means avoiding the dreaded "law suit". Not that this parent is threatening me, just that I see worse case scenarios and seek to be proactive to prevent them.

I'd rather lock the fanfic-only forums to registered users than put all the R/NC-17 fics in a lemon forum. However, the lemon forum does have merit. I don't like the idea of mixing the various animes into one forum, but on the other hand, those that just like/read lemons may be more apt to participate in such a forum even if they're not particularly fans of other pairings in general. And/or could substitute for some other, lesser known sites like Adultfanfiction.net amongst the het community.

I can see a few benefits of going that route which is why I suggested it. Because I wanted to know what others thought about it. I duly note your objections, see their validity, and will definitely consider them in making my final decision.

I have added some code to the indext page of the site that should theoretically make this site blockable by parental control software. I HOPE that's enough, but wanted to know other people's opinions.

I have discussed at length and defended this site's content to the parent. Most of us are far older than the user that was on this site, and though I don't think it'll scar anyone for life reading lemons at 13, that's why things are marked.

I KNOW it is possible to read labels and avoid things you don't feel comfortable reading. I do it all the time with GW yaoi fics, no offense to yaoi fans, but reading graphic yaoi does make me feel uncomfortable. So, when I see something labeled "lemon, yaoi" i know not to click on it. I don't see that that takes a lot of effort. Now, if the user WANTS to read it and their parents do not, well, I can't blame the parents when the user is so young. But I can't see taking down the content because one user can't be trusted by his/her parents.

I can sympathize. I can regret. I can add the code so that the parental control software can block the site, hopefully, but I don't know what else I can do or be expected to do.

But ultimately, I take these kinds of responsibilities to heart. So I want to fix it to the best of my ability w/o compromising the content of the site or restricting the writers here. I want to be able to post my lemons here, too. Esp. because I can't at FFN. I'm not ashamed of what I've written nor do I think it particularly UN-suitable for 13 year olds. I don't know that EVERY 13 year old is capable of handling it, which is why I label the fic(s) I write that are intended for older audiences.

I always thought this was enough...

[Melville's Best Friend]

Firstly, I don't think that you'd lose many people, Rosey, if you placed a block. This is, in my opinion, the best 1xR (in English ^_^) fic site, and people will share that fact. You know how that works: One person tells two people, who each tell two people...You get it. And if people really WANT to read, they'll register. Don't get me wrong, a blow will be suffered, but I don't think it's as drastic as it might seem. And you can post that info on the main page...Rules and regs. That's standard anyway, right?


I totally agree with Mizaya that you should not have to babysit them, and, Rose, you've gotten this far along without a parent on your back, so technically, you're doing something right. *hugs*


As for how to aid, I don't know. Kids will still get on and read, and you might have the situation repeat itself.

All the precautions in the world aren't going to prevent someone from doing what they want to do. However, if the parent can control what the kid can or can't see, then go for that. So...I guess the HTML thing. And writers should clearly label their lemons.

I'm guilty of not rating them when I type a subject, and I'll take responsibility in that.

For the record, you're a wonderful site owner, and a good person, because you are taking this to the heart. In my opinion, I think it's perfect the way it is, and the upkeep is fabo. Concern is caused when people break rules that they know are established, and that will never be your fault.

*many many many hugs*

~MBF

[cherryflavored1R]

I think that all of these are valid points for the "mature" html, but this hurts many people who don't have home computers. Many people I know have to visit public libraries or other public places to get online; heck, I spent a whole year before I got my computer in the back room of a library reading fanfic (ahh... memories).

The point of this is that many public computers have filters or other forms of parental control. I know that the school system here has about the dumbest filter I've ever seen, and blocks pretty much everything. Miraculously, BI escapes that filter (for now) because it's not a "free page". But I'll never be able to use the school computers again if the site is labelled "mature".

Many people here visit BI at school or otherwise, and it would become impossible if the site was blocked. I hate to say it, but I think that locking the fanfiction forums so only registered users could post is the best idea.

And lastly, my sympathy to you, Rose, for ever having to deal with a parent...

-Cherry

[blackrose]

Just really quick, cuz I'm still at work. My interactions with the parent have been fairly reasonable. She's not pointing fingers at me or accusing me of corrupting her daughter.

I kinda feel like some of that was implied in her first message, but after I emailed a response, she was very courteous in reply to me. It's just the fact that I feel ultra responsible for things that I'm probably taking it too hard.

But I did want to clear up the fact that the parent who contacted me is NOT being a troll or whatever. She has some legitimate concerns. I can recognize that. My job is to protect you all, this site, and myself as much as I can. It does worry me when older men are striking up sexual conversations with minors on my site. I think that's a valid concern.

I don't think the lemon content is the problem in this case. But I'm not entirely sure what IS the problem.

Cherry, please let me know if the new rating is picked up by your internet filter at school. If this is the case then I'll remove it.

Thanks.

[Adaon]

I think I should point out that the way the filters work, rather then blocking out a domain (bi.com) it blocks a subdirectory (/phpBB) so the main site can remain open while the forum itself is subject to the filter. Although it can be applied to the main site as well.

[melrose_stormhaven]

Personally, I think it's the parents responsibility to prevent their child from accessing a 'mature' website. gah. I keep on repeating the word 'babysitter' here. The Internet is not a babysitter! It can't watch your kids for you! That's a parent's job.

Well, it is a nice thing that parents are concerned about their children. I'm glad there are parents like that.

I don't think anyone could have imagined what happened or that it could happen. When I read about it, I was very surprised.

[Nightambre]

My preference is to mark it HTML code wise as mature. That means, you've done your part to keep minors from viewing the content, the rest is up to the parent. If the parent isn't being responsible and keeping tabs on what their child is doing, that's no fault of your own.

[Kari]

Hmm maybe if you let them sign in you can ask for their birthyear. So that you can deny access to a lemon forum.
*shrugs* Just an idea.