I’m sure everyone is starting to become aware of this glitch, but if you look at blogs on web/desktop, a lot of blogs have old posts that were at some point flagged and marked safe again stuck on the first page of their blogs, so that new content and reblogs are being sent to page 2 or even further back on some blogs.
This is a pretty terrible Tumblr glitch and I hope it becomes well known enough that Tumblr actually does something to fix it, because at this point it looks like blogs aren’t posting any new content if someone were to actually go to the blog and not view on the dashboard. So, I don’t know if anyone regularly checks my blog or the fan site blogs I help run, but just know that there is new content being posted, you just won’t see it on the first page right now.
UPDATE: If you edit the post and just hit ‘save’ (you don’t even have to change anything), it will go back to it’s rightful place your blog and free up your first page again. [x]
Note: There’s quite a bit to unpack from what was announced yesterday. It’s been mulling around in my mind and I decided I needed to write out my thoughts in order to get them out of my head.
Introduction
I don’t post or use Tumblr for hardcore pornographic material (neither posting nor consuming), but I have absolutely nothing against those who do. I have no right to dictate how another person chooses to live their life, as long as they are not infringing on laws or the rights of another. To each their own.
However, I do use Tumblr to produce, consume, and share Adult Content that is considered Erotica. For me, this was the only real use that I got from the site and the only thing that made it stand out from other poorly censored implementations (such as Instagram). Erotica is any artistic work that deals
substantively with subject matter that is erotically stimulating or
sexually arousing but is not pornographic.
The Announcement Itself
I’m going to briefly unpack the announcement itself and the wording used …
“A Better, more Positive Tumblr”
From the beginning, Tumblr has already Jumped the Shark; even the title of the announcement is a massive red flag. It makes use of the words ‘better’ and ‘positive’ to imply that the content they will be removing is a ‘bad’ and ‘negative’ thing.
The uncomfortable implication here is that all Adult Content is a negative thing. That both the naked human body and getting sexually aroused are bad things. That a world without sex, represented in any way, is a better place.
“Posts that contain adult content will no longer be allowed on Tumblr”
But I, myself, am an adult. I enjoy being an adult and doing adult things. I enjoy consuming adult content. I have a mind of my own and I am capable and responsible enough to understand that not all content will be to my liking.
“We recognize Tumblr is also a place to
speak freely about topics like art, sex positivity, your relationships,
your sexuality, and your personal journey. We want to make sure that we
continue to foster this type of diversity of expression in the
community, so our new policy strives to strike a balance.”
The only balance in a state of growing censorship is between those who have been censored and those who will be censored next.
You cannot use the terms “to speak freely”, “foster this type of diversity of expression“ in a post explaining why you need to censor certain people. You cannot foster expression by CENSORSHIP.
So, what you are saying is that Censorship is freedom of expression? I’ve heard this before … in fact, we all have:
“It is our continued, humble aspiration that Tumblr be a safe place
for creative expression, self-discovery, and a deep sense of community.”
There is so much hypocrisy in this statement that it makes my head spin.
First, there is nothing “humble” about a massive corporation censoring freedom of expression.
“Safe place” according to whom? Again, this is implying that sex, any thoughts of sex, nudity, erotica, artistic expressions outside of the bounds of Disney, are not safe. They are bad. They are wrongthink.
“Creative expression” … unless it’s the wrong type of creativity and expression.
“Self-discovery” … unless you are the wrong type of self.
“Deep sense of community” … for those who adhere to our definition of safe. If you do not adhere and conform, then we don’t want you or your expressions or your creativity in this community anymore.
You do not evolve and grow by censorship. Censorship is like whittling wood. The more you cut out, the less you have. Period.
It is not evolution to re-apply Puritanical standards to society after people have fought for centuries for the freedom of it.
“Our understanding of our
impact on our world becomes clearer, we have a responsibility to
consider that impact across different age groups, demographics, cultures, and mindsets.”
I will be honest. This is the most disturbing part of the announcement for me. Not the most upsetting, but the most disturbing: “demographics, cultures, and mindsets.”
I was not born onto this planet and given a creative mind and drive and heart in order to conform to all of the bigoted and close minded people who exist beside me. In fact, I am here to create and rock the bounds of their closed minds. I am here to create beautiful and compelling things in order to change and sway their closed view of the world.
If Tumblr strives to become a platform that will placate ONLY the tiniest, most pathetic sliver of the venn diagram where all cultures overlap, then all it will be in the end is Thomas the Train gifs and pictures of salads.
“We spent considerable time weighing the pros and cons of expression in the community that includes adult content.”
Translation: We really don’t give a shit what the community thinks. We’ve done the statistical analysis of the content that we will purge and we have found it acceptable from a monetary standpoint in order to get back onto the Appstore.
“In
doing so, it became clear that without this content we have the
opportunity to create a place where more people feel comfortable
expressing themselves.”
“more people feel comfortable
expressing themselves” … We want to make more people comfortable with expressing themselves by prohibiting certain people from expressing themselves. Waaaat?
“Bottom line: There are no shortage of sites
on the internet that feature adult content. We will leave it to them
and focus our efforts on creating the most welcoming environment
possible for our community.”
And here it is. This is the part that upset me the very, very, very most.
“There are no shortage of sites
on the internet that feature adult content.”
99.99% of the ‘adult content’ on the internet is entirely dominated by the male gaze. There is absolutely a shortage of safe spaces for women to openly create, draw, express, and share their sexual content. While porn for women does exist, its not all the same and this statement, frankly, is one of the most blatantly misogynistic things that I have ever heard.
As I’ve said before … I come here for the female-oriented erotica, not the male pornography. And I’m not alone in this sentiment, actually …
Reading over their post, there no doubt that written erotica will be next. There is nothing in their statement that implies the censorship will stop here and it won’t. They seek to make everything “more inclusive” which means that other things must go.
If they seek to make the platform more accommodating to the most basic expressions, then written erotica must be next. They are in the process of completely vilifying sex (consensual, adult sex), adult content, nudity, art, fan art, … wrongthink.
According to their new ToS, they are even banning scenes of “performed” sex by actors that broadcasted on live television. Even drawing such scenes will be banned.
If they wish to make the platform open and accommodating to children, then also expect that your language will be policed next. No more cursing. No more expressions that are considered as “bad” or “negative”.
So, what happens next?
1. Put your sensual fan art on Archive of Our Own. Put it there right now. This is why they exist, the entire purpose of their creation, was to archive artistic fan creations (even of a sensual nature) so that they wouldn’t be purged from the world.
2. Rebel. Actually take a stand. Grow a backbone. Stop using Tumblr. I’m not just saying for just one day. I’m saying entirely. If you don’t think you need to, read the poem above again.
3. Read1984. Open your eyes. Stop saying censorship is right and good as long as it’s something you think should be censored. (I’m not talking about illegal things here …) That’s not how civil life works. Is it not better to know who the scoundrels are, instead of forcing them to hide? No matter who you are, what you believe, or what you say, it is offensive to someone alive somewhere.
4. Think.
What will I do next?
I’m actually quite torn about this. I am a senior software web architect. I build these systems for a living and I’m actually quite good at it. I’m a full stack engineer with experience in front-end, back-end, and database development, so I’m toying with possibly putting something together to address this.
I know that pillowfort.io is working something already, but I’ve read their censorship policy and, after experiencing a fair amount of fandom bullying this year, I don’t want to join another community that can silence me just because I might disagree with them at some point.
I also don’t want to run a porn site, but something that would be inclusive and accepting to erotica: drawn, written, painted, shared, in addition to all other aspects of fandom. Something that is inclusive and accepting to fandom as a whole (in all of its lovely and quirkiness).
This post was mostly to get things off my chest and express my frustration. If you have experience with building a social media platform and think we can put our heads together for something better, shoot me a message.
After all … this was how Ao3 started, wasn’t it?
“I was not born onto this planet and given a creative mind and drive and heart in order to conform to all of the bigoted and close minded people who exist beside me. In fact, I am here to create and rock the bounds of their closed minds. I am here to create beautiful and compelling things in order to change and sway their closed view of the world.
If Tumblr strives to become a platform that will placate ONLY the tiniest, most pathetic sliver of the venn diagram where all cultures overlap, then all it will be in the end is Thomas the Train gifs and pictures of salads.“
Thanks my friend, I am rebloging this on my Marvel sideblog because I have over 3000 followers and I think every one of you needs a pinch of your wisdom rn.
letitrainathousandflames 