Guide to this blog

The Blogroll is now in three parts. The main part is arranged according to the date the blog was last updated with the most recent first. Many blogs use the BDSMLR platform which does not include date information; they are in a separate Blogroll arranged alphabetically but I check from time to time and remove any that have been permanently closed. The final part is a list of interesting Twitter feeds - again in alphabetical order.

Wednesday, 25 February 2015

Another nail in the coffin

Dear Blogger User,

We're writing to tell you about an upcoming change to the Blogger Content Policy that may affect your account.

In the coming weeks, we'll no longer allow blogs that contain sexually explicit or graphic nude images or video. We'll still allow nudity presented in artistic, educational, documentary or scientific contexts, or  where there are other substantial benefits to the public from not taking  
action on the content.

The new policy will take effect on 23 March 2015. After this policy comes into force, Google will restrict access to any blog identified as being in violation of our revised policy. No content will be deleted, but only blog authors and those with whom they have expressly shared the blog will be  
able to see the content that we've made private.

On the face of it, that's the end of this blog.  I could find another platform but I've tried others without much positive feeling.  Of course I often post without using any images or videos but that would severely restrict my output and probably result in even fewer visitors.  Alternatively I could invite people to ask me to share the blog with them but Part of the beauty of this medium is giving people the opportunity to lurk if they're not confident about making themselves know at all.    Right now I haven't made a final decision but I'm leaning towards just giving up.  Sad really.

7 comments:

Targetarear said...

Bloody Thought Police at it again.

Hope you decide to stay with us James. Yours is one of my favourite blogs.

Targetarear.

James Stephenson said...

Actually I don't have much of an issue with Google on this one - they are a company providing a free service and if they don't want to be associated with my type of blog then that's their choice. It's very different with government's trying to legislate us out of existence. If anyone can suggest an erotic-friendly blog service that it would be easy to transfer to then I'd be happy to have suggestions.

Anonymous said...

It would indeed be a sad day. I do enjoy coming to your blog.
Old Tom

Targetarear said...

Point taken James, but something tells me it's the hardening attitudes of governments that are pressurising Google and others to do this.

As for other hosts, I've seen spanking blogs on WordPress and Tumblr, but don't know if they're free. Perhaps they're worth a try. I don't blog myself, I'm a lurker, so I don't know if they are.

Google have suggested sharing your blog, which could be another solution, but again I don't know quite what that means.

As I said, I do hope you'll be able to continue. Good Luck.

Targetarear.

James Stephenson said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
James Stephenson said...

Update from blogger:-

Hello everyone,

This week, we announced a change to Blogger’s porn policy. We’ve had a ton of feedback, in particular about the introduction of a retroactive change (some people have had accounts for 10+ years), but also about the negative impact on individuals who post sexually explicit content to express their identities. So rather than implement this change, we’ve decided to step up enforcement around our existing policy prohibiting commercial porn.

Blog owners should continue to mark any blogs containing sexually explicit content as “adult” so that they can be placed behind an “adult content” warning page.

Bloggers whose content is consistent with this and other policies do not need to make any changes to their blogs.

Thank you for your continued feedback.

The Blogger Team

Anonymous said...

Read that this morning on Yahoo and was delighted. The best news I 've had all week. Can't say welcome back because you hadn't actually gone but you know what I mean.
Old Tom