Should Hubpages have a seperate website for Adult/mature content?

1. 81

   A.A. Zavalaposted 11 years ago

   Should Hubpages have a seperate website for Adult/mature content?
   
   Many authors here have written poetry, short stories, or hubs with mature humor that have been flagged and unpublished.  I think HP should have another site where we can publish these hubs.  Thoughts?

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2. 85

   Hyphenbirdposted 11 years ago

   Perhaps there could be a topic section for this type of material. It could have a separate log in, and the user click an AGREE button that they are over 18 and understand there is mature content in this section.

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3. 60

   tirelesstravelerposted 11 years ago

   I wouldn't care for it.  There are way too many sites that kind of writing is welcome and far too few where it isn't. But that is just my thought

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4. 60

   Pollyannalanaposted 11 years ago

   It wasn't this type writing that brought most of us here and I think it would drive many away. I think Hubpages let writers go pretty far and I wouldn't care for it if it went any farther. Maybe there are sites like that online already. I wrote online for one place and right next to my stories would be filthy ones and people could come in and make any type remark. I quit that place pretty quick and I would here too if they do that.

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5. 81

   TToombs08posted 11 years ago

   That is a very interesting question, A.A. After seeing a number of hubbers banned for adult/mature content that wasn't any where near pornographic, I wonder if it isn't something that HubPages should consider. The writer's I refer to were very good and usually wrote good, quality hubs but decided to expand their horizons and were punished for it. Which, I consider a darn shame.

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   1. 81

      A.A. Zavalaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I had written a paper in college regarding mating rituals for an evolutionary psychology class that was banned here.  I think HP may be ban happy when certain terms or subjects hit the content filter.  Thanks!

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   2. 58

      Insane Mundaneposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yeah, it would be nice if there was a separate section for such things, but since this site has loads of advertisements, it isn't allowed.  Google AdSense, for example, is rather strict on their terms of service, etc.

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6. 91

   Pamela99posted 11 years ago

   I don't think that will happen, as Hubpages has worked hard to upgrade the quality of writing and we want Google to keep sending people our way. I think that would degrade Hubpages if I understand the direction they are trying to follow. There are many sites that allow mature humor.

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7. 73

   relacheposted 11 years ago

   In the very first year that HubPages existed, adult content was allowed and you could fine porn left, right and center,  but once they got venture capital funding, all that content was disallowed as part of the agreements to get the start-up funds.
   
   And as Google has tightened up their rules about what is adult, mature content has gotten squeezed out as well.
   
   In my opinion, I think it next to impossible that any of that will ever be brought back to the site.  It makes too much of the mainstream market uncomfortable and drives away many different facets of viewers/readers.

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      gmwilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Good point, relache!

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8. 73

   Rosana Modugnoposted 11 years ago

   I would be all for it simply because there are certain topics that you need to be explicit about, especially in regards to relationships or when talking about sex in general, for example.  There are many people out there with lots of questions who would benefit.  Personally, I have a ton of sexually explicit material I've written, poetry included, that I can't post here.  It's frustrating.  It limits my self expression.  I think if you can say it out loud, you should be able to write it.

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9. 90

   missa72542posted 11 years ago

   I think it would cause problems in areas. Perhaps maybe an entirely different site, still led by hubpages, but somewhere different than here.
   
   It's a very touchy subject, but I think that some people enjoy writing adult content, and are good at it too. Of course I could still see restrictions with it, but I dont think its something that HP would do.

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10. 89

    WryLiltposted 11 years ago

    Hubpages content is decided by their investors and their advertisers. Advertisers such as Adsense have strict rules on any adult or sensitive content. So Hubpages would have to get all new advertisers. And there are already heaps of adult sites out there.

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11. 96

    incomeguruposted 11 years ago

    To me, allowing adult/mature content is like risking being banned from Google adsense. However, one can still search for content sites getting that published.

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12. 79

    sweetzaraposted 11 years ago

    Although it makes sense to have a separate website for adult content, I believe the reason that you may not see one very soon is that google adsense policy states that content has to be 'family friendly.' For HP adprogram too, it may limit their advertiser base.

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13. 89

    Greensleeves Hubsposted 11 years ago

    I recently had advertisement content disabled by the automatic filter on a hub page I published. The reason? Frequent mention of the word 'rape'. The hub? It was a photographic essay about the agricultural crop  'canola' otherwise known as 'rape', 'oilseed rape' or 'rapeseed' !!! I did recently ask HubPages to remove the advert ban, which they promptly did, but I mention this just to highlight how automatic filters do not discriminate between the intentions of a hub, and its content.
    
    I do think pornographic content - content intended just to titilate or sensationalise - should be banned for the reason expressed by some of the other respondents to this question. In other words, traffic, funding and adverts from Google, Adsense etc. There's other sites people can visit for that kind of stuff.
    
    However, it should be possible to publish articles which are serious whether they be artistic (would the great artists from history like Rubens and Michelangelo have been banned from exhibiting their work on HubPages?), or social community related (discussions on sex crimes, sexual problems etc) or science related (articles about reproductive processes etc).
    
    Whether all such hubs are liable to be caught by the filters or whether they may be published subject to review by Hubpages staff, I am not sure.
    
    I hope it is possible to overcome the restrictive filters to allow sensible, serious hubs to be published on any subject, though I have no problems with the banning of pornography from the site.

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14. 88

    Cardisaposted 11 years ago

    Google Blogger allows for mature content by you stating that it is. You can't put ads on those blogs.
    
    I have had my work flagged here, more than once, for being too mature. However, Hubpages is all about making money and their ad partners are not in favor of mature content. One of my hubs that was flagged was about being violated by my fiance. There are no ads on that hub.
    
    People with mature content should consider writing for a site that promote such work or publishing their own eBooks. I don't think HP would want to venture there and I would feel weird, after my experiences here, to use HP platform for that.

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15. 67

    Amy Bechererposted 11 years ago

    Since mature content is seen everywhere today from public displays of affection to prime time television, and freedom of speech is part of constitutional right, I believe writer's should be able to freely express themselves.  Books are published without censorship, with "Shades of Grey" being on the bestseller's list (despite a writer's review I recently read stating the writing was very amateur). Since we all have diverse opinions on everything, and one man's "tame" is another's "porn", with hubpages being a writer's publishing site, I think there should be a place for mature content.  Separate is preferable to banished.

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16. 54

    gautams1posted 11 years ago

    No interest for adult content and not a good business to be in. I do not think HubPages should have any adult content or website for this type of content.

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    1. 61

       ElspethChagallposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Who said so? Just because you're not into it doesn't make it any less valid than anything else. There are plenty of erotica writers out there that are published. Sex sells, honey! ;-)

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17. 79

    Diana Leeposted 11 years ago

    I'm sure there are already websites which will publish adult content if that's the author's ambition. Even if Hubpages were to have a second site for such content I wouldn't think it would be wise to ruin one's good name to let the public know they are linked to it in any way, shape or form. They value their reputation and it could scar what they already have established. I'm glad they don't have adult content here.

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18. 81

    WillStarrposted 11 years ago

    Unfortunately, if mature content was allowed, HubPages would soon be a porn site.

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19. 81

    A.A. Zavalaposted 11 years ago

    Thank you for the insightful comments.  I'm not interested in writing hubs about porn.  However, the filters on the site sometimes flags hubs for content that isn't pornographic but may be for mature audiences.  I wonder, if the Songs of Solomon were posted in a hub, would it get flagged?
    Sannel Larson was banned for her sensual poetry, and she has found an outlet for her work.  However, she left HP because of her experience.  Rawlrus was also a poet that pushed boundries with some of his mature poetry, and he was forced to leave. 
    I have multiple facets, and may explore the adult genre off site.  I understand the image HP is trying to cultivate, and can respect the tight rules on content.  I think if HP had a moderation team that would answer emails in  timely manner and respond to authors request for details on what they should change for banned work, it would make authors less likely to leave.

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    1. 80

       kallini2010posted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I agree with you, Augustine, I find the restrictions being too restrictive...

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20. 70

    postsposted 11 years ago

    The major revenue source of hubpages is google Adsense and porn and adult content is against their TOS ,so the probability of having such site is low if they are planning long term relation with Adsense.

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21. 58

    AlexandraMorrisposted 11 years ago

    No! there are other sites for that content that i believe are called porn sites(sarcasm)-just kidding. For your problem though with them banning you from putting your report on here has to do with the policy on adult content. Even though it was a school paper your going to have to filter what you put on here. Its sad this site doesn't give second chances but neither does Google ad-sense(one of the affiliate sites). Make sure you read the guidelines first, and i'm pretty sure there are other writing sites that offer an adult content section. So i would search for one that's your best bet to write the stuff you like.

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22. 93

    mikejhcaposted 11 years ago

    My first thought is that they need advertisers.  They would need to place adult ads to go with the mature content and before they did that they would need to find some good ones.  It is not like they could use adsense and they may not be able to use amazon either.  They might not want to be associated with porn and I am sure they have enough work with this site.
    
    It would not bother me if they made a site for mature content as long as it did not hurt this site.

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23. 61

    ElspethChagallposted 10 years ago

    Being an adult blogger for many years now I would have to say: no, an adult oriented HP site will never happen. I wrote a hub that didn't have any explicit language in it, I only mentioned the word 'porn' and it was yanked. I have since deleted all my hubs here and I plan on taking them else where. I will not write here and it's a shame because within the very short time I've been here, I've met some awesome people. They censor like crazy here. I don't think it's right, but HP is a business and if adult content is not within their business model, even if it's a separate site all together, they still won't have it. However, that's not going to stop me from creating and hosting my own adult content site. I'll find out how it's done, who wants to partner up with me and hopefully I'll make it happen. Anyone who wants to write with me, can do so and make their own income. Ah, it's just a pipe dream right now, but it would be cool.
    The problem is with Google's AdSense: because they don't allow the use of the service on adult sites, if HP were to make an adult/mature content site, it wouldn't generate the revenue that they do here.
    One thing about Google Blogger from my many years experience with the platform. I write for the gay adult industry primarily. Over the last few years I've seen many gay bloggers yanked. Not because they were infringing on anyone's else's copyrights but just because. Google says they don't censor, but they do there as well. I had my own account temporarily locked. It's since been restored but whose to say it won't happen again. A friend of mine had his account suspended any number of times and each time he was able to get it back...luckily. But still there are many blogs that have not been reinstated. It's a real shame. 
    The other thing is that there are NOT many sites that allow adult content. Short of creating your own blog and trying to gain revenue from that, the ones I've researched as alt's for HP are too mainstream and don't allow adult content. Sadly there are far more of those sites than there are ones that do allow adult content. Those that do allow adult content: there's only 3! (Sensual Writer, Thumblogger, Blogger)  There's considerably more sites out there that don't!
    Best bet: you're better off getting your own blog and putting all your adult content there. It certainly won't be welcome here. Then again I have seen a ton of questionable, violent content here and that seems to skate..hmmm, what's wrong w/ this pic?

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24. 60

    Linkwellposted 3 years ago

    There should absolutely be a section about that on here. As human beings of consenting age, we all have thoughts and feelings within the "carnal" realm, and to deny that is foolish.
    
    It its entirely healthy to express this aspect of ourselves and embrace it  - for both creators/writers  and readers (of appropriate age). That is healthy. That is paying attention to our own needs without getting into self-judgement.
    
    Trying to will them away, repress them, or turn that into something that's somehow "dirty" or "unethical" or "beneath us" is EXTREMELY UNNHEALTHY - for our psychological health, our self-image, and our social development.
    
    Taking a "high brow" stance  on issues as a way of avoiding dealing with a part of yourself that you judge (and trying to ensure nobody else gets to if you don't) is the epitome of manufactured misery.
    
    This is what I'm getting out of the contributors who object to the concept - it's not about the adult content - it's about them.
    
    The concept that it would "drive a lot of people away" is absolutely preposterous - it would be a clearly labeled section, segregated from all traditional content. It's not like a reader would be innocently perusing an entirely inocuous article on medicare reform and run the risk of having a penis fly out at them - it would be a very well labeled and separate section. There would be no reason for anyone who doesn't want to be exposed to this type of content to encounter it, and if they DID encounter it, it woud be entirely of their own doing, purposefully and willfully.
    
    If anything, I believe it would liven it up quite a bit and further increase the popularity of HubPages, as well as bring with it a diversity and fresh perspective that has been somewhat lacking here. Keeps things from getting stale.
    
    Just my honest opinion.

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       Marisa Writesposted 3 years agoin reply to this

       HubPages is not being highbrow.  HubPages has never rejected adult content on the grounds that "it would drive people away".   
       
       HubPages relies on Adsense for its income.  Adsense does not allow adult content and will not hesitate to penalise anyone who breaks that rule.
       
       I know of two other article-writing sites like HubPages, who lost their Adsense account due to adult content. One managed to get the decision reversed. The other one went broke.
       
       Yes, the Adsense rules are prudish, outdated and illogical. However, HubPages is a business and needs advertising to make money, so it has to abide by those rules if it wishes to survive.  Simples.

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25. 91

    NateB11posted 3 years ago

    Great thread, glad somebody bumped it. Interesting perspective from the old days and there are a lot of old time successful Hubbers that piped in on the subject, which made this a bit of a blast from the past.

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26. 61

    paradigmsearchposted 3 years ago

    I considered posting the links, but decided to defer. I'll just say that Maven has been busy as relates to this thread.

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       Marisa Writesposted 3 years agoin reply to this

       Why not post a broken link?  Your post doesn't mean much without one.
       
       HubPages is only part of Maven.   I'm sure there are sections of Maven which don't use Adsense and can therefore have adult content.

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27. 91

    Jodahposted 3 years ago

    Yes, an interesting thread to revisit. Adult content on HubPages.. hmmm.. well, you are supposed to be 18 to join it, however I understand how strict AdSense rules are.
    
    I have had a few hubs/articles denied advertising on them. One was a poem with the word "pussy" in the title as in "The Owl and the Pussy Cat Went Into Space." An email to have it reviewed by a human reversed that but it still has a warning that if I make any changes to it ads will be disabled again.
    
    Another was an article about Australian slang terms and phrases, and well that was just too difficult to worry about so I left it be with no advertising to this day lol.

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