Can we get some clarification here?

Yes, people have been banned, or at least suspended - the founders of the two groups no longer appear in search.

But the TOS is NOT Vague, and there has been No change to it, Only an Increase in ENFORCEMENT.
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Unlike Beebo, I'm rather young...

I'm afraid this post doesn't technically count as clarification since I'm more puzzled by it than enlightened.

Are you basing your claim of banning on the fact that that these groups leaders can't be found in Search or on personal contact with someone who said "I've been banned"?

The two are not equivalent since it's perfectly possible that someone who had their group name censored simply left SL in a huff. Leaving of your own free will because you're royally pissed off does not constitute banning. Neither does getting so angry about the name restrictions that you mouth of in an abusive manner to a Linden, thus getting yoursel banned for being a jerk.

So far, all I've heard are rumours and supposition about any action beyond residents being asked (or told) to change group names and advertising.

a three-letter word referring to a male bodily fluid

No change, perhaps.

Vague - I think so. I think many people will have different interpretations of Mature and PG (PG isnt actually definied but I assume its "not mature"

Interesting to note when these rating came about in the real world for movies - no one was really sure what PG meant either.


--------Okay this is what weve got--------------------------------------------------
Indecency
Second Life is an adult community, but Mature material is not necessarily appropriate in all areas (see Global Standards below). Content, communication, or behavior which involves intense language or expletives, nudity or sexual content, the depiction of sex or violence, or anything else broadly offensive must be contained within private land in areas rated Mature (M). Names of Residents, objects, places and groups are broadly viewable in Second Life directories and on the Second Life website, and must adhere to PG guidelines.

Global Standards, Local Ratings
All areas of Second Life, including the www.secondlife.com website and the Second Life Forums, adhere to the same Community Standards. Locations within Second Life are noted as Safe or Unsafe and rated Mature (M) or non-Mature (PG), and behavior must conform to the local ratings. Any unrated area of Second Life or the Second Life website should be considered non-Mature (PG).

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so by these criteria - In my opinion - Most escorts and Sex slaves are violating the CS by listing the fact they are escorts or sex slaves in their profile.

Being a sex slave and being owned is hardly a PG activity, for example. Its certainly not PG to tell people you are , for example "An unrestriceted Red silk, availble for sexual use to those of (some made up gor city)"

Now this may be - SO these people should get warnings as well. Since its not possible to have a Mature profile. Or even a Mature Tab on your profile.

It may be arguable that the use of the word "escort" in a profile or advertisement isn't in and of itself "broadly offensive". We are, in fact, all adults here, right? The word speaks for itself, without going into any detail of the services provided by the escort ("Sexual Content".

"PG" obviously is not an appropriate term to use, and neither is "Mature". Again, we are all adults, presumably, we are all "Mature", at least in the sense of being of adult age, and surely none of us require "Parental Guidance" prior to exposure to -any- content on the grid. We should dispense with these terms, and and define content areas as being either "General" or "Explicit".

I think we could all fairly easily agree, then, what sort of language or behavior is considered explicit, and eliminate entirely the debate about just how explicit we are allowed to be. If you place a classified ad containing explicit language, you check the "Explicit" box on the ad. The viewer is responsible for filtering that content from his/her search should they not wish to view it. Even better, searches default to having that filter on - if you are seeking explicit content, you select "include explicit" or whatever. If you are in a region/area classified as explicit, the current "Mature" rules set forth in the CS apply. If you are in a "general" area, you refrain from displaying content which contains explicit material, whether it be chat, objects, textures, behavior, what have you.

On the highest level, all content is still governed by the Terms of Service, which must be adhered to no matter where you are in Second Life.

I know I'm rambling, but does this make any sense?

sure it makes plenty of sense -

But it sounds to me like your saying <keep stuff PG where its supposed to be, but PG isnt really PG>

In other words Many of us know what all is probably allowed or not - but its never really spelled out.

In other words - vague.

I would think calling yourself an Escort is not PG - Neither would be calling yourself a sex slave.

If it is - then certainly sex rates are not PG , or for the sex slave allowed partners, etc.

This leaves me really thinking they either need to spell out whats allowed. Or make some way to include Mature content on a profile. Mature content that can be masked from those sensitive eyes.

Draw your own conclusions. I'd love to talk to the founder; the fact is, she can't be found. I hope it's just a suspension. Time will tell.

Meanwhile, you're startng your assumption as if it's a fact.

My own conclusion would have been that the leader was pissed off enough to leave, not that they were suspended or banned.

Neither of us has the facts, so for now there is no evidence that anyone has been banned over this issue.

Not just assumption. I've been here three years. Unless you're posting as an alt and have been here longer, you've been here a few months. LL did a similar thing in September to a group they deemed to promote griefing, except that all or nearly all group members were banned en masse without warning. So, there is precedent.

The fact that you had to describe the word rather than just use it shows you clearly know the boundary of what is allowed and what isn't.

Not just assumption. I've been here three years. Unless you're posting as an alt and have been here longer, you've been here a few months. LL did a similar thing in September to a group they deemed to promote griefing, except that all or nearly all group members were banned en masse without warning. So, there is precedent.

Lastly, I quote this:

" In other words Many of us know what all is probably allowed or not - but its never really spelled out. "

If we know, then why does it need to be spelled out? Help me understand this..

zk

Okay, the fact is that groups and residents have been banned for griefing.

The issue under discussion in this thread is whether or not residents have been banned for not properly marking content as Mature. And for that we have no facts.

I stand by my original statement.

Make you a deal. How many L$ do you want to bet that the founder(s) left in a huff, rather than were suspended or banned?

Obviously all of us have seen these TOS/CS comments for years. Do you really think all these people who are breaking them simply chose to ignore the rules becuase they knew they werent enforced?

This is not true. I run into people all the time who when I nicely point out nudity isnt allowed in profile picks say - "wow - thanks , I didnt know."

So if the systems not working - slapping people down is not the best way to correct it. Step up enforcement with clarification and alternatives and I think youll accomplish a lot more.

I agree with that. I don't want to see SL become a Whitebread Corporate Disneyland, at least not in totality. There has to be room for adult activity. Cooler heads have to prevail and sort this out. It is just as much a business decision as is courting Dell, GM or Toyota.