Rule 7 loli/shota clarification

[finndem]

Just looking for clarification on this, since board policy seems to have shifted over the last couple of years: what, exactly, is the line for portraying young characters in sexual situations? Rule 7 says prepubescent, but, having some experience with moderation, I'm guessing that many of the moderators here would see a young character with barely-there breasts (or a small-but-able-to-become-hard penis, for boys/futanaris) and say it was breaking the rules. But we also now have plenty of games/videos where there are characters clearly meant to be younger than adults, so the old adage of "could be 18 if you squint" doesn't apply. So... what are the reasonable guidelines?

Also, before a dozen people jump in to say "don't do loli/shota if you're planning to do Steam/Patreon!" I know. We all know. If someone somehow doesn't know and sees this thread, then this is the warning for them.

 

[c3p0]

And for the topic:

So, ask the staff members as they are the one who decided that on a case to case basic for the cases that needs them - As if you have a toddler getting a sex scene then it is crystal clear against this rule, but if you have a very young looking adult or something similar, then ask them.

Also, before a dozen people jump in to say "don't do loli/shota if you're planning to do Steam/Patreon!" I know. We all know. If someone somehow doesn't know and sees this thread, then this is the warning for them.

And Subscribestar too as it also against their ToS.

 

[finndem]

Not what this post is about. I'm not claiming anything about the correctness/incorrectness of Rule 7; I just want to know where the line actually is. And it's better to know before I (or anyone else interested in these kinds of stories) put effort into writing a story and designing characters. If the answer is "the character needs to look at least 14-15, with noticeable physical development," then that's fine; if the answer is "same as the previous, but you also have to pretend that they're potentially 18"... I'll be annoyed, because I think that just leads to infantilizing women, but I'll still play ball.

Good point about Subscribestar, though--until recently, they were pretty lenient on content, but I know a few artists who have been running into issues lately. People have been temporarily bypassing the issue by hosting anything loli/shota offsite, but the writing is on the wall.

 

[c3p0]

Not what this post is about.

I know, it wasn't really your point. For that reason it is only in small.
Only two things I can say is, if its oblivious look like a (young) child, then it is a no go. If its look like older teenager (that is at least in puberty), then it is mostly good. Also, as written, this is solved per case, an in accordance with rule 7 some artistic forms are looked on more favourables than others (eg. real or photorealistic will have much less liberty than cartoonish).
But I repeat myself: If you want a "clear" answer to that question, ask the staff. For simple two reasons all "we" can say doesn't really matter, cause it is their decision and it is written in the rule to do so.

And last but not least: Use your common sense. If you need to ask, then, at least, the character will be in the case to case area of the rule. You won't asked if you're 38 year old mother character, whose look like a 25 year old - cause who are we trying to delude here. You ask for the 18 year old daughter of her, that might or might not look old enough to be on this site.
You also don't ask for the first grader either, cause you already know that answer too - as we all do.

So, you ask for the ones, who are exactly in the "As this involves some discretion, if you are unsure ask a Staff Member" part of the rule.

 

[finndem]

Use your common sense.

This is where my problem is--I have a fair amount of experience that says that when it comes to porn, common sense is in no way common. What one person thinks is obviously against a rule (not just this rule--any rule trying to govern this topic), another will think passes it easily. For example:

If its look like older teenager (that is at least in puberty), then it is mostly good

The two halves of this are contradictory. Barring a medical condition, an older teenager (17,18,19) should have already completed puberty. A younger teenager (12,13) is generally already in puberty (and thus not prepubescent), while a middle teenager (14,15,16) is usually finishing it up, if not already having done so. By the text of rule 7, pretty much any teenager should be allowable, but I think it's fair to say that none of us would be particularly surprised if a game featuring a 13-year-old girl with small breasts and only some hair on her vagina got hit with a violation of Rule 7.

eg. real or photorealistic will have much less liberty than cartoonish

This is helpful. My plan was to use Daz 8 models and assets, but it might be worth switching over to more cartoony models, assuming I can find usable assets for them.

As for asking the staff... that was kind of why I made this thread. I'm assuming that staff also look at these forums; is that not the case?

 

[c3p0]

As for asking the staff... that was kind of why I made this thread. I'm assuming that staff also look at these forums; is that not the case?

You either ask them directly via pinging them, sending them ad DM or open a ticket and ask them. The first two are not reliable as a user can disable this option. Making a thread and hoping some of the staff members will see them is just playing lottery (I say they may be 10 at best, probably less).
So, open a ticket and ask them directly.

 

[Nadekai]