Ugg...do I really gotta keep making this topic?

[Navron]

Sit back and enjoy another round of Navy Brony's pseudo white-knightism.

Anyway, stumbled across the new story called Triple X on EqD, which apparently seems to cater more towards a, "American Pie," level of humor, with references to stuff like porn shops, gentlecolt's clubs, etc. So of course the comments explode into a 300+ reply shitstorm.

One comment kind of caught my attention though, and it's a reoccurring one I see many times in defense of saucy images, borderline clop-fics, mature discussions, etc.

Pardon me if this sounds rude (it probably will), but I have to call bullshit on the whole "What will the masses think?" perspective for multiple reasons.

I don't exactly know what kind of statement this is, but it isn't backed by fact.

Here on the other hand, are some facts that some of you may find interesting:

~2 weeks ago: When showing one of my squadron's pilots some of the parodies I had saved on my computer.
Pilot: Ah, so this is the show you were talking about.
Me: Yup
Pilot: I think the only time I've seen those characters outside of what you've shown me are the ones people post porn of on a gaming forum I visit.

~3 months ago: A serious discussion with who I originally thought was a hater:
Commentator: I wouldn't mind it if people didn't post pony porn all over the CoD forums.
Me: Aren't those forum's moderated?
Commentator: Only certain parts of it. A lot of r34 stuff gets posted, and a lot of times they post it outside of their own threads and derail other threads.

Once again, I'm not against the r34 crowd, nor the furry crowd, etc. I'm against the crowd that likes to boast about it, and takes a, "this is internetz, deal with it," approach.

What's this got to do with the story posted? Or saucy images?

Well, let's try and analyze things from a more logical perspective. The show has amazing animation when it comes to facial expressions, and body language. For that reason, a lot of screen caps easily end up in the, "bedroom eyes," sort of category. It could simply be that both my pilot, and the random commentator on YouTube think that what they saw are fan-drawn images of seduction, when it's really just a screen cap from the show. For those unfamiliar with the show who haven't watched an episode, this is at least a plausible scenario.

The issue comes when those people unfamiliar or curious about it visit EqD, because it's the main hub for bronies, is it not?

If they visit EqD with the mindset that bronies are just some sort of awkward fetish, and the first thing they see on the main hub is a saucy image, or fan-fic talking about mature sexuality, a conclusion is drawn, and not one drawn in our favor.

So, in reference to the above quote, that there is no, "What will the masses think?" argument. I will have to say false.

I've shown at least 10 or more of my coworkers EqD when it comes to introducing them to the show and the fandom.

Thankfully none of those times an uncensored saucy pic or mature fanfic description have been on the front page.

What can we do about it?

Pretty much nothing.

This isn't a call to action post, or trying to set the world right sort of thing.

This is just simply a post to remind a few that in the eyes of somebody not in a fandom, what they see on their own forums, or EqD, is the fandom.

There are plenty of sites with suggestive and/or r34 artwork for those inclined, and there are dedicated websites for clopfics and mature fanfiction. The main hub that myself and many other people show people new to the fandom or curious about it? Probably not the best place.

[CommandSpry]

I don't get why r34 should be less contraversial than normal porn. Why don't you wonder why Youtube doesn't allow porn? Because it's not a site intended for that, and it's innapropriate. Seriously, think about it, would you like youtube more or less if they suddenly said pornographic material is allowed? I bet at least 30% of the site would become porn, or even more. You know, you just chillin, watching an episode of pokemon and then on the related videos there's all r34 of pokemon..because MLP is not the only show to have r34 you know, and maybe this example will help you understand why it isn't good. Youtube is also a site visited by children, MLP is a show for children, so feel free to draw your simmilarities right there.

People need to understand that r34 is porn, and all things associated with normal porn being shown on non-pornographic sites should and will apply to r34.

[bartekko]

r34 is an euphemism, and it causes pony porn to be viewed a little less as "porn"

[ChromaticChaosPony]

I often go on websites like Youtube and EQD. If those sites had R34 or regular porn (I see no difference between the two in terms of content), that would be like taking a shit with the door open. (No problem when the door is closed, but a lot of people get their childhood ruined if the door is left open).

[Navron]

Well, if you compare it to another big fan website (say for Star Wars), but with humans:

R34 = Porn
Saucy = Not porn, but suggestive.

Most official websites and their forums don't allow any type of pornography, and some don't even allow threads about swimsuit models and such.

Granted, EqD is not an official website, which is where all the issues come in, because in regards to the fanbase, EqD is pretty much the #1 closest thing to an official website for MLP fans.

Yet despite being the most visible website for the community, the admins don't seem to have any issue with, "This is close to a clop fic, but it isn't, so here ya go." Or they forget to provide a link for a saucy image, and what not.

As said in my original post, the main issue is the drama that these simple derps or instances of not caring cause.

[Freewave]

Agree with navybrony. Saucy isn't porn but it's also something I didn't think was openly allowed on EqD or openly communicated by a site that spotlights our community. While I'm all for rule 34 when someone wants to seek out porn it needs to be not openly posted in paces that aren't porn sites. Saucy is a slippery slope and so i'd expect that on a tumblr but porn i don't and i don't expect to see either on Eqd. There are forums, chan's, and even tumblr's that specialize on that stuff and people can go THERE for their fix. I'm subscibed to a few brony musicians that i didn't THINK were nsfw sites so i don't expect to see porn just dumped there like its shouldn't offend somebody (which does happen quite often). Sites are either SFW or they aren't so I hope people understand that distinction of not just flashing PORN out in the open.

I hope EqD can revise their standards but as people have said we can't do a whole lot about what happens on that site except threads like these and HOPE they might hear us.

[Ed Viper]

I hope EqD can revise their standards but as people have said we can't do a whole lot about what happens on that site except threads like these and HOPE they might hear us.

Is Seth really that hard to talk to? Or is he simply so inundated with email that he would blow something like that off?

I wonder if anyone's actually tried to talk to the mods at EqD and see if we can't push them into making sure the site is more SFW.

[Freewave]

I hope EqD can revise their standards but as people have said we can't do a whole lot about what happens on that site except threads like these and HOPE they might hear us.

Is Seth really that hard to talk to? Or is he simply so inundated with email that he would blow something like that off?

I wonder if anyone's actually tried to talk to the mods at EqD and see if we can't push them into making sure the site is more SFW.

sounds certainly more pro-active. any volunteers or people on good terms with any of those guys?

[bartekko]

I think eqd prelisteners might have a chance to talk to seth about it

[Navron]

Might want to give this a read: http://www.reddit.com/r/mylittlepony/co ... ve_amount/

Submitted only a month ago.

Basically, you've got a site run by a bunch of people who don't seem to grasp the concept that whatever they post, say, link, do, etc. could have enormous repercussions.

There's no quality control on drawfriends. Saucy images are repeatedly forgotten to be placed under a spoiler link, such as this recent one:


*Certainly one that would be fun to explain to friends and coworkers when showing them the talent in fan art.*

Saucy images pretty much get a, "We put a spoiler when we remember, but when we forget, no big deal."

But it becomes a big deal, as evidenced in any comments section for a drawfriend that derped a spoiler link.

What EqD needs is a PR rep. Somebody in charge of assuring spoiler links are consistent, reliable news is posted, and anything that might create drama (ex. Derpy) is limited to official posts only, and doesn't fan the flames.

The bloggers can keep their website, and everyone's happy, except the bloggers don't want to do that, because they want to keep the freedom to post whatever they want to post, despite posting things that could incite drama, or fuel drama that's already started.

It's a rather childish situation, and one that definitely doesn't garnish any respect from me.

[LunchBagMusic]

Okay guys, rational thinking hat time (and TL;DR time too):

Equestria Daily is a free product that is managed by a person (or people). Seth (or the other ponies there) does not have to conform to any of your expectations/opinions regarding the content that is posted there.

It's his blog. Not yours.

WITH THAT ALL SAID
EqD has become the main source of everything pony. All types of fans are going to end up there, many checking in on a regular basis (look at that hit counter... that thing isn't a gif). There will be fans there that clop on a regular basis who visit there. There will be fans who consider anything other than post-marital intercourse with a person of the opposite gender is a sin that will land you in hell visiting there.

The team there can't escape that fact. It's all around them in the form of pageviews and content submitted.

As a result, they've become the unofficial face of the fandom. BUT as there is nothing official about this fandom due to the unique-ness of the product and audience, we might as well consider EqD the de facto official face of the brony community (I believe that this has already been established, just covering bases).


RULE 34 AND THE PROBLEMS IT POSES
Let's look back at Navy Brony's link.

These people argue that, because Seth runs Equestria After Dark (EAD) he should not run EqD and remove all links/ties between EqD and EAD (and all R34 hosting sites), including those in the PonyChats.

I fail to see this reasoning. Someone who is browsing EqD might go to Seth's blogger profile to find out who he is, and they might see his AfterDark blog. Common sense would dictate that unless you want R34, you wouldn't go there (If you weren't aware as to what "AfterDark" meant, you'd find out the hard way. That is unfortunate, but sometimes it is impossible to avoid that side of the Internet entirely. I for one accidentally looked up the tag "My Little Pony" on tumblr once...)

Likewise, if you follow the PonyChats link, you can see that the #EquestriaAfterDark channel is listed with: "Only for mature audience!" as a clear warning.

The only people who are going to take something that is hidden behind the wall of warnings we see here as a serious and accurate representation of the brony fandom are the kind of people who watch Fox News.

Of course, there is the chance that the target audience (young children) could stumble across EqD and blindly fumble around until they eventually end up at a R34 image or site. At this point in time it is safe to say that EqD has done all that is reasonable to prevent this from happening (see warnings above) and the responsibility now rests on the browsing individual or the supervising adult.

If my point there is unclear, look at it this way:

A newsagent stocks a child oriented magazine near the front counter, as well as a pornographic magazine which is stocked at the back of the store in a labelled section. A wandering child ends up at the back and opens one of the pornographic magazines (I know those are sealed, the child likes to rip open stuff). Is it the newsagent's fault that the child was exposed to those images?

THE BOTTOM LINE <--lol get it? its underlined.
Just because Seth runs a R34 site does not mean he's going to allow EqD to become NSFW.

NSFW Pictures do slip through, and the optimist in me believes that this is more out of a lack of time to complete tasks properly than a disregard for the audience.

We can't control what links appear on a page. We can control what ones we click on.

-----
The PR rep is a good idea, NavyBrony. You tend to have good ideas, so you can stay.

Actually it's a really good idea. Someone get on that.

[Captain Ironhelm]

I generally point to the show itself when referring people.

I avoided the show for about 8 months because I did not know it was actually a show, thought it was some internet meme people used for any purpose they chose.

[bartekko]

It's even funnier, if you keep in mind that about one year ago, sethisto really hated everything pony porn-related.

[CommandSpry]

> Equestria Daily is a free product that is managed by a person (or people). Seth (or the other ponies there) does not have to conform to any of your expectations/opinions regarding the content that is posted there.

Doesn't Sethisto get paid by the site in big amounts, so much so that he quit his job? If so, then it's his full time job, and then he has to conform certain expectations/opinions if it's his job, and because EqD has grown to be the first representative of this culture.

I dunno, I might just be misinformed but, with the ads on his site and almost 200 milion views, he's bound to make a lot of money every week.

[Freewave]

Like people said it's his site but he reaps what he sows, anything we do as people or as a group has repercussions. If people get fed up about r34, or about reject submissions w/ replies, or other complaints, it's ultimately something that effects their perception as well as ours. They should be concerned about public relations of their site and bronies but ultimately they are likely doing a good enough job to not sweat the small stuff. If no one's complaining, leaving, or threatening to pull ads then it may be a moot point. This currently is just an MLR conversation so if you want to change that dynamic and get changes you need to talk to Seth or any of the people that constitute his team.

I had no idea Seth ran equestriaafterdark. Again that's a seperate site, he treats it as such, so I don't see the problem there. People are allowed to have r34 sites when they're treated as such.

[Ed Viper]

TL;DR

Although I did read it, and you put forth a lot of good points.

I still feel that since EqD is more or less an online representative of the brony community, there should be some sort of PR control in place to ensure it is presentable to the public and not just bronies.

[Peak Freak]

I had no idea Seth ran equestriaafterdark. Again that's a seperate site, he treats it as such, so I don't see the problem there. People are allowed to have r34 sites when they're treated as such.

He once RAN a site called "equestria-afterdark", but he stopped posting there a long time ago, when another site "equestriaafterdark" (see the difference?) appeared. This site is runned by someone called "Alexstrazsa"... and Seth linked to it in his own After Dark blog (actually the last post he made there)..,
Of course, it might be, that this is a pseudonym of Seth, but chances for that are very small, because both sites existed some times next to each other.

[LunchBagMusic]

@Command Spry I didn't stop to think about that.

That would make a lot of sense as it appears to be the only thing he does with his time.

I reckon my points still stand though. He is in no way under the control of Hasbro or the fandom, though he does have a de facto responsibility towards them.