Raising the standard

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   Rochelle Frankposted 14 years ago

   A lot of people have complained about the girlie photos and other questionable subjects. I think we can help the overall quality of HubPages by only selecting fans-- and giving thumbs up-- to the hubs that we find to be quality in content and writing. Tell others about these hubs and leave comments.
   
   The flip side is to not click or comment on others. I assume the administrators want to see flags so they can review questionable posts.
   
   Of course ,you may need to actually read a  questionable hub before you decide-- but some, even by title and photo, are obviously below the standards we would set for ourselves.
   
   Hope this doesn't sound prudish-- I think everything has its place, but the place may not be here.

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      guidebabaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I agree!
      
      

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      robie2posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I don't think you are  prudish and I agree with you. Some of these hubs are just pix but some are soooo suggestive they are kinda disgusting which is fine for an adult site--but sheeesh this is a family place. Lots of hubbers have kids--some hubbers are kids. I don't know what the answer is.

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         New Dayposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         This is exactly right.  I have children.  I don't want them wondering about the site at which mommy is publishing articles.  One of them is almost a teenager.  He could (if I let him) take one look at these "hubs" and see them for what they are.  I am most definitely not a prude.  But just as you won't find Playboy and Playgirl at your grocery store checkout aisle, nor should you find these lurid "come look at the SEX in this Hub" titled articles splashed prominently across the main pages here.  (especially ones with 2 females french kissing in the photo excerpt - to whom exactly is that appealing to?)

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   3. 92

      Rochelle Frankposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Full circle here--- for a thread that has gone all over the barnyard. I had no idea that starting a thread  expressing a rather benign viewpoint would have this effect. You may notice that I did not recommend that anyone be banned or blacklisted--  leave this to the moderators. ( You will notice that I only said " the place MAY not be here".)
      My  main point-- apparently not well expressed -- was that the whole site improves when we give POSITIVE notice and feedback to good content and postings.
      "Good" will mean different things to different people. I expressed my opinion of things I would rather-- or rather not-- see. Everyone can do that, either by expressing positive or negative opinions.
      Just my opinion. :-)

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         robie2posted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Totally agaree, Rochelle-- you are right on the money

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   Eric Graudinsposted 14 years ago

   Hi Rochelle,
   
   Many people agree with you, and the topic has been discussed a lot on the forums recently.
   
   I think Hub Pages management are looking at ways of separating hubs with mainly pictures, from hubs that are mainly text.
   This is a non trivial exercise, and won't happen real soon.
   Regards, Eric G.

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      thranaxposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Separation may not be good. If people are looking for only pictures mostly and see on the site a real hub, they might click it if they find it interesting. And vice-versa. It might (might) cut down on traffic to sites by doing this. Not all galleries are bad and there all allowed. I mean, think about it... there are real photographers that have good work out there. It might cut down on there traffic to and thats not fair is it? Everything has to have the same chance at being seen and not leaving out any one type of Hubber! What I do suggest is separate the photo galleries of just girls and stuff from the galleries of real images and stock images. Like under where the pictures topic comes up have one side for all the things with stock photos, nature photos, basically everything, but on that same page on the right have all the female and male galleries. The reason why it should be like this is the "eyecandy" model Hubs steal traffic and keep the real photographers works of art covered and undiscovered. Its just a suggestion and I think it would be a good idea.

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   Rochelle Frankposted 14 years ago

   Thanks Eric-- I am relatively new here-- especially to forums.
   I'm glad people are thinking about it.

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   crashcromwellposted 14 years ago

   I personally believe that the hubbers should decide what kind of hubs they want to present. They say that a picture says a thousand words, and sometimes that is true. One of my recent hubs - titled A Soldier's Prayer (http://hubpages.com/hub/A-Soldiers-Prayer) was mostly pictures, with some text. I'm a writer, first and foremost, but I'm also interested in presentation. I could not have conveyed with words the feelings that were inspired in me when I saw these pictures.

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5. 92

   Rochelle Frankposted 14 years ago

   Those are excewlent-- I don't mind picture essays, i'm hoping to do some myself. I was meaning pictures of "semi-nekkid " people. I'm not opposed to semi-nekkid in principle, just as a hub.

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   Mishaposted 14 years ago

   Write more hubs that you deem higher standard.

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      weblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with it.

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         IMHustleposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, keep the focus on you writing/publishing higher quality hubs.
         
         As a marketer, I've seen other marketers publish hubs that were what I consider low quality. I don't want to be cast in the same light as those guys/gals, so I make it a point to only create original content hubs that not only inform, but also add value to HubPages itself.
         
         As far as the girlie pictures and questionable subjects are concerned, who gets to decide what's "questionable"? Today it's girlie pics ... tomorrow it's Christianity, presidential politics or affiliate marketing .

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         amy janeposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Why of  course you do.You publish photo galleries with stolen photos.  Your minimal content is copy and pasted from wikipedia and other sources. You are violating copyright laws. You are violating hubpages rules.
         
         So of course you agree that we should all go back to minding our own business so that you may continue your thieving and vomiting your garbage all over the place.
         
         You are doing this all while using adsense on your pages which violates Google's adsense terms of use.
         
         
         Naughty, naughty gloved hand. Slap. Slap. Slap. It is only a matter of time.

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            weblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Yes, I do. But, Misha doesn't, I hope. It is not because of only I do. I don't need any publicity in forums. And, for your info - All my hubs are not mere photo galleries, I also have written hubs, text rich hubs that get poor traffic.

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               listenupposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               quote=weblog]

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7. 92

   Rochelle Frankposted 14 years ago

   Good suggestion! In fact -- "excewent" (apologies to Elmer Fudd).
   I'll try.

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   topstuffposted 14 years ago

   I suggest a name to collect all such hubs undre single name ''hubpages gallery''.And this gallery should have its place in topics.

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      Dorsiposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Good idea!

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   New Dayposted 14 years ago

   Two questions:  do the "authors" of the half-dressed women photo galleries actually write articles discussing anything of substance?  do the "authors" have the right to publish the photos, or are they violating copyright?
   
   These seem to be valid issues of concern.  Whether or not you believe naked women galleries are protected by freedom of expression.

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      Uninvited Writerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      That's been discussed quite a bit also

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    Mishaposted 14 years ago

    Why is this - the less time people been here, the more vocal in trying to change the place to fit their likes they are?
    
    Go find another place if you don't want your kids to see anything like that.

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       amy janeposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Misha, why do you want to drive away new hubbers in defense of the lowest quality hubs on hubpages?  I don't get it.

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          Zarm Nefilinposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          I do, it's called freedom of expression, rules are a two way door and Misha does not want censorship for very valid reasons.  I happen to agree with him, if you don't like those hubs (which I have not seen one of yet, even on the main page), then do not publish them and make sure your own are of the standard you want others to set.

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          Gloria Cookposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Frankly Amy Jane..I find your photo very sexy....so should you take it down to accomodate your own standards?    the point being that no one can define what is too sexy and what is not...aside from obvious nudity.  You people are all so close-minded and simple. I hope Hubpages does not actually listen to your evangelistic pretensions of self-righteousness.

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             amy janeposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             Frankly Gloria Cook...I don't know you...or why you feel the need to attack me personally by calling me simple, close-minded and evangelical. You don't know me, you did not read the entire thread (you quoted my very first comment), missed the point I personally was making and perhaps you have some issues of your own to deal with.
             
             RELAX!  This thread died a long time ago. You can continue to call me names if you like, but I don't see what you are hoping to accomplish.
             And I am really very sweet, as any of my friends here would be happy to tell you.

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                SweetiePieposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                I agree with you Amy Jane.  I think some people come to forums in general and are bored, so they like to stir the pot.  I suggest all those who like to make personal attacks to stop and rethink your judgemental words.  Write your own hubs and focus on you, but do not bring your negative thoughts to this forum.

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             robie2posted 14 years agoin reply to this

             Get a grip, Gloria!  Personal attacks have no place in forum discussions. Amy is a respected member of the Hubpages community who contributes thoughtful original content--as evidenced by her hubscore.  Her photo is perfectly appropriate. She just happens to be drop dead gorgeous which I guess is what your problem is-- you're jealous
             
             Let's all try to keep civil tongues in our heads eh?

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    2. 81

       DonnaCSmithposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Maybe because we are surprised to see suggestive pics and articles. I feel like they are using it to get more hits. Sex sells.
       
       And, I am disappointed at your comment that we newbees should go find another site. I don't think that was very nice.
       
       I thought I'd read someplace that we were not suposed to post suggestive articles and images, so I am also surprised. I just don't bother to read them or accept friends who post them. But, it would be nice to get clarification on what is allowed or not.

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          Zarm Nefilinposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          I have yet to see one such example period,  Quite honestly I don't know what the hell everyone is so upset about.
          
          The only hub I see so far under the main hub pages hub list, (Hot/Best/Latest), that features nudity in the description picture, is the one posted by SirDent entitled "Evolution of Religion".
          
          lol?

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       Gaget Girlposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       As far as I'm concerned this is a place to share expertise and encourage or invite other people into new aspects of life and new and enriched ideas.
       
       It's not the place to show off the cruder part of life in a manner that in fact doesn't help anyone in any form.

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          weblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          

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          Mark Knowlesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          New aspects of life and new and enriched ideas? lol
          
          Like lipsticks that will shock you? lol
          
          Most women I know couldn't get a lipstick out of their purse in under three minutes
          
          I guess everyone's idea of what enriches life is different huh?

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          Mishaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          As far as I am concerned (and I believe most veterans are on the same page), this is the place to do many things, including all those that you mentioned - and this variety of things gives the place its beauty.

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    stephhicks68posted 14 years ago

    I have to agree.  I have been too quiet on this topic for a long time.  I thought we would want to encourage new people to join and stay.  This obviously is a serious concern of people.  And of me.  I now have to shield my laptop from my kids when I pull up the Hot Hub pages because of the photos and titles that are there.   I don't care if people want to publish their "sexy sari" sh*t, but there are plenty of other places on the Internet to do so.  This is not an adult site, at least that's what I was led to believe when I signed up.

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12. 69

    Bonnie Ramseyposted 14 years ago

    I feel that I must agree that this type of content is not something I would want my grand-children to see. While we don't have to read or view the hubs, we do have to see the pictures when we sign into HP and the featured hubs has them splattered all over it! I was lead to believe when I joined HP that this type of content was not allowed. That is why I joined and have stayed for as long as I have. Unfortunately, it is becoming more and more frequent.
    
    IMHustle, I would not have a problem with my children seeing political, christian or marketing photos but I wouldn't want soft porn shoved down their throats. There is a major difference between these! I feel that if this type of material is going to be allowed then it should be listed as such rather than people being mislead to believe that this is a family friendly site if it isn't.
    
    Anyone who can operate a computer has access to this site and the content therein. You don't even have to sign up for an account to view what is posted here, so how can you reasonably expect children not to be able to view such content? I have watched these topics for a while now and have pretty much waited to see if the situation would be handled but it hasn't. It only seems that more and more featured are popping up with inappropriate pictures. When you open up the HP featured and one of the first things you see is the thumbnail of a woman performing oral sex on a man, there is no doubt that things are going a bit too far! Thankfully, that hub has been removed! I don't know who (besides me) had reported it but I am grateful! I sincerely believe that there needs to be something done about the graphic photos that are not only being posted but listed in the featured hubs.
    
    Bonnie

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       IMHustleposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Bonnie,
       
       I'm concerned about children being safe online as well and I have a very simple solution: you have to set rules re: the types of sites/content they can view and your kids have to understand those rules as well as the consequences for crossing them. I have a 9 yr. old and a 13 yr. old. When I gave them internet access on my PC, my wife and I set boundaries for them. We know the sites they visit and we have no problems with them trying to view stuff they know we would object to.

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          Bonnie Ramseyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          IM,
          
          I appreciate your advice but I have been smart enough to do that. But that isn't the only way that this is being access by children. 1) We can't even sign in to HP with our children in the room because of these pics that show up on the front page! 2) Children are also being SENT to HP for educational information so it isn't a matter of the "setting rules" when this site and these hubs are suggested for such. My grand-daughter loves for Grammy to show her the hubs I have here, especially the one about her dollhouse, the pet duck and the Cherokee history hubs. However, I don't allow her to go to this site herself. I make sure that I am the one to pull those hubs up for her to avoid this type of material popping up.
          The bottom line is this: HP themselves, in the thread that was posted 11 months ago when the adult content was originally taken down sai that the adult authors were welcome to write content that was "siutable for all", which, would include young children. You may have to be 18 to be an author here but you don't have to be 18 to view it. Most "reputable" sites (if you want to put that label on them) that have adult content require some type of verification of age to try to avoid young children from gaining access to it. We are simply asking that HP enforce their own rules. Period.
          
          Bonnie

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    pfullerposted 14 years ago

    We live in a free society and sometimes that involves seeing and hearing things we do not agree with.
    
    May I suggest that only hubs with a minimum score be featured or allowed to have ads.

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       Bonnie Ramseyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I couldn't agree with you more. There are many things that we may not agree with. However, HP is promoted as a "family friendly" site and that is the target of this subject. When I joined (just 5 short months ago) there was very little of this type of content and what did pop up seemed to get gone rather quickly. Gradually, more and more of it has been allowed and now is showing up in the featured section. The hub score has nothing to do with what we are addressing. Even if the score is 100, if the content is inappropriate, especially the featured photo, it should not be seen on the featured hubs. This has nothing to do with what our opinions may or may not be as to quality or substandard hub. It has to do with pornographic type content that is not even supposed to be allowed at HP.

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          robie2posted 14 years agoin reply to this

          I agree Bonnie that there is more and more of this stuff lately and pfuller makes an interesting point.  I would not be happy if a porn shop or a topless bar opened up in my neighborhood and it feels like the same thing is happening in my virtual neighborhood.
          
          There has been a very interesting discussion going on with one of these guys in the comments section of one hub-- I read some of his hubs and they are sleazy believe me.  The comments that really interest me though, are those that point out that the girlie galleries pull down hubpages overall google pagerank and that affects us all. I don't know exactly how this works but go check out the discussion for youself:
          
          http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Use-of-Sex- … ent=351185

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          MrMarmaladeposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          I agree with your comments.
          I believe HP are allowing those hubs to keep  on going as they make more money. Their income is higher.

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             Maddie Ruudposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             Actually, photo galleries monetize pretty poorly compared to a lot of other types of content.

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    Bonnie Ramseyposted 14 years ago

    Robie,
    
    Yes, I have been following this hub as well. This is a topic I really think that many of the writers here on HP would like the admin to address. If things keep progressing the way they are at this point, HP will lose their appeal to new members and many of the great writers that they have here will find other sites to publish their work. I am still a newbie myself and I am not sure how long you have to be a member here or what "standard" you have to reach to have a voice in things of this nature. All I know is that the hubs have been seriously degrading (in the area of allowing soft porn) recently and one of the attractions that brought me here in the first place was the fact that I didn't have to be afraid to open the HP featured or almost any of the hubs on the Hot list in front of family members. Now, I rarely get on here if my grand-daughter is in the room because I never know what she may see on here.
    
    Also, many of us have been able to get listed in the search engines fairly quickly here at HP so the point about losing standing with Google is very valid. While I don't use HP to make money from my hubs, I do get a lot of traffic to my business site from my profile page so I would also like to keep our standing in the search engines. I guess time will tell how this will turn out!
    
    Bonnie

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       robie2posted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Bonnie-- I'm even newer than you--5 months-- and I've only written 21 hubs. I swing no weight around here, I promise.
       
       I think Hubpages admin is in a tight spot with this--how do you  decide what is porn and what isn't? The Venus de Milo is nude but not porn--but the hubs that are offensive are not just hot girls in bikinis--they really do border on the obscene, as you know.
       
       I don't really care what people want to read or write--but I do care when it affects me.  The google pagerank thing is concerning

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          stephhicks68posted 14 years agoin reply to this

          The PageRank thing concerns me too, because HubPages WILL get penalized by Google for allowing the smut on its pages.  Obviously, word has gotten around that it is a free-for-all here because the HotHubs - each and every page of them, feature at least 2-4 sexy galleries.  3 months ago, you would not have seen this.  Where will we be in another month?  Well, I may not be here anymore.  I think that is sad.  I don't like working in my kitchen any more because my kids walk by and see the stuff.  I don't want to forward my articles to my friends and family any more because they will wonder why I have associated myself with a site like HubPages that allows this crap.  I don't care if these people want to publish their stolen content and boobie shots, just not here.  There are no filters to stop any child from coming here and seeing the suggestive soft porn photos and even worse the "come s*ck me" comments that the authors approve and Google then sees as part of the page.  I am thoroughly disgusted.

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             embitcaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             All other concerns aside, there are plenty of actual porn sites with decent pagerank. The Hun has a PR4 and Youporn has a PR5. I could go on and on.
             
             I doubt very much HP would lose anything in the way of pagerank and adult content was never the thing that hurt Squidoo when Google slapped them -- it was mostly spammers using Squidoo as doorway pages. In fact, Squidoo still has adult content.

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    pfullerposted 14 years ago

    Correct me if I am wrong, because I have no idea, but isn't a hub score a reflection of what the community thinks of that hub.
    
    Regardless, I agree with many of you above.  I have no problem with pictures of beautiful women but as a subject of a HubPage I find them in poor taste.  They are resorting to the lowest form of marketing to make money.
    
    But how do we distinguish between a hub that features the story of someone, with pics, from one that's sole purpose is just to tantalize and has no real content.
    
    You and I can quickly form an opinion about the quality and purpose of a hub and vote accordingly.  But that involves us to actually look at the hub rather than ignoring it.
    
    So in the end that requires HubPages to decide if they want to ban such hubs.

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       Bonnie Ramseyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Hub score is determined by many different things, one of which is traffic. However, just because there is a lot of traffic and the score rises doesn't necessarily mean that the community (HP community) are in support of the hub. For one, these visitors can be from anywhere. Also, the visits could be from people opposing the hub as well and leaving negative coments about it. Therefore, the score of a hub may be a bit misleading on some hubs as to it being the reflection of the community. The majority of the visits I receive are NOT from the HP community. I suppose that the only way to weed these out will be for a human to view them to assure that the content is not in the "adult" catagory. This will take participation of the members by flagging these so in some cases, we may have to actually view the contents. It's sad but true, unfortunately. Until these hubs are well monitored, they will continue to multiply like rabbits.
       
       Bonnie

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       robie2posted 14 years agoin reply to this

       It's not the pix of beautiful women--celeb galleries and even hubs that are all poems or pictures are fine with me. It's the ones which show two women tongue kissing, or a woman measuring a penis with lots of comments about penis size or a whole sexual fantasy complete with very sleazy pix about a boss being seduced by his secretary. No actual boob and crotch photos--but very close--- you get the idea. I only checked out the hubs of one of these guys-- he has written over 90 so far-- and I bet he has more than one account here. Are you getting the picture now???

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    In The Doghouseposted 14 years ago

    steph,
    I totally agree with the observations you have made, I have made similar ones myself.  I have not sent my Hubs to any of my associates to read anymore for fear of what the HOT HUB page might suggest.  It is really a matter of deceptive tagging.  I have been with an associate who happened to go to the Hot Hub page and question me about the Porn on the sight.  I tried to explain the rules about "soft porn galleries" that are exercised at Hubpages, and make excuses for their presence as "they are not really as sexy as they profess... simply a ploy to gain readers etc."  My associate asked,"What kind of comments do these galleries get in their comment section?"  That is when I realized that "soft porn" is simply another word for porn, especially when the author of the Hubs allow the comments that you have pointed out, to remain.  This is eventually going to sneak up on Hubpages and our credibility as a respectable site may be in danger.

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       Dorsiposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I've seen some of the comments and some of them are really crude. I don't like it-  they say some nasty things- so I am avoiding those sites but even just seeing them on the front pages now- I know the things that are being said in them, Yuk.

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       MrMarmaladeposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I agree with you both and as I have just made the 1st page with Google, I believe we do not need those hubs or hubbers.
       There are some who believe any publicity is good publicity. Very narrow sighted. I have tended to be short sighted and know who they are so I do not bother to look. I have seen over 4,000 naked bodies. (All dead) It is the touch of nylon that makes the difference.
       Maybe we have to be more strident to 'HPM'.

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    gamergirlposted 14 years ago

    Actually, when I signed up there were sexy picture galleries of popular celebrities.  It used to be crazyhorsesghost who posted them.
    
    Now it's folks like weblog, who don't understand what Hubpages is for.. who don't understand what the community is trying to build, who don't understand that the word sexy indicates sexual appeal, which is an adult concept.
    
    However, the more attention we bring, through our forum posts, through hubs, through comments, to the sexual appeal and barely sexual content being posted on Hubpages, the more attention it will receive.
    
    Of course, people are going to defend their hubs.  It'd be the same if you call out internet marketers about their hubs, you would get blasted and flamed. (I point to my latest hub as an example.)
    
    So, I'd say perhaps it's time for the complaints to be moved a bit higher, eh?  Off the forums, not for censorship purposes but because the many conversations about this only stoke the fire of improper content's popularity.

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    solarshinglesposted 14 years ago

    I've been flagging these soft porn photo gallery hubs for some time with absolutely no results. These sleazy photos and texts are still on the best Google Page Ranked pages of HubPages.com!
    I've been more thoroughly analyzing 'Google Squidoo punishment', last year. The very same destiny is awaiting any web site, which is not concerned about its own content. Sometimes Google works a bit slower, but when it comes, the lower Page Rank and other preferences could be withdrawn overnight.
    I strongly believe, the policy of this, otherwise very quality content web site, is going to change, considering publishing non-copyrighted soft porn photo galleries and also tolerating blatant content stealing from other authority web sites.

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    In The Doghouseposted 14 years ago

    Solarshingles,
    I too have tried to work within the boundaries that have been set in the Hubpages terms by expressing my concern with these "soft porn galleries" by flagging and adding my reasoning.  There are several reasons that these should be unpublished, but one of the main ones is deceptive tagging.  I am so disgusted by the "kissing tongues" being my "Featured Topic" favorite for the last week, moving from the topic of "Children" only to be seen at this very moment in the category of "Family."  This Hub has nothing whatsoever to do with children or family!  That is deceptive tagging... I thought by picking topics like "children" and "family" I would not have to endure this type of Hub on my personal page, but have been greatly disappointed.

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       SweetiePieposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I did not even read the kissing tongue one because I could just imagine where that was going.  I was surprised as I was commenting on hubs at work yesterday and that image popped up.  Actually if I am at work I know there are certain hubs I can comment on and not comment on because of the images.  I think people like you and the ones who have commented are writing many quality hubs and it is heartening to know this.

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    gamergirlposted 14 years ago

    PSST weblog
    
    Did you know that 95% of your Hubs published right now are considered adult content and technically would need protection from the access and viewing of minors?
    
    Putting my work hat on again for ya, looking at the content of all of your blogs (at the expense of showing a few more pageviews for you) I made a very short list of the Hubs you've written which are not adult content.  You wrote hubs on the following subjects which did not feature provocative, sexy, adult pictures:
    
    tattoos
    abstract art
    banana milkshakes
    atmospheric icing
    politely ending a phone call
    cats
    earth day
    forex
    
    You had three hubs whose titles were questionable, but when I looked at them I found:
    
    Your hub on gynecology features pictures you copied from a porn paysite.
    Your date rape hub, while thankfully a serious effort on first glance, shows an advertisement for a movie featuring a rape scene, which I think is tacky given the topic at hand.
    Your Google secrets hub is both duplicate content, and suggestive.  By the way, when you copy and pasted it, you should've remembered to copy the WHOLE thing - you missed the fifth secret.
    
    So, no.. you're not posting "mere" photo galleries darlin'.  You're posting adult content.
    
    Given that hubbers like Inspirepub fully allow their children to write on their Hubpages accounts, and that Hubs are available to be read by any internet surfer who comes by (a privilege and honor that I hope "hubbers" like you don't get taken away from us) I think you're doing Hubpages wrong.

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       weblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Thank you. I will take this serious, though you don't sound like advising me. I take it from you. I will try to come out of it. But, still I think I have to post photo galleries. Probably, I will remove all the copied content in my hubs, only the text part. I think that's all I can do for now.

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    In The Doghouseposted 14 years ago

    Unfortunately this has become a personal issue for Weblog, although I do not attempt to defend him in the least mind you, he is not the only one in violation of this issue.  I believe there are several others who would also fall into the category that Gamergirl has so beautifully pointed out.  This is not a personal issue, it is a public issue for any who are in violation.

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       weblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Yes, I'm aware of it. I felt like I was personally attacked, but I was also a reason for it. And, I'm working on it to rectify, though I'm not sure about what would be the reaction of other people who post similar hubs.

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    gamergirlposted 14 years ago

    I'm not trying to be mean, in fact if I didn't think it was a serious issue I wouldn't be trying to give you sound advice, darlin'.  I do think you can do much better, as can anyone else who has posted "sexy galleries."

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       weblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Yes, Thanks again. I'm already working on it. I just deleted 2 hubs that I felt odd myself. I will be considering even more on other hubs too.

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       robie2posted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Good for you gamergirl. I am so impressed by your tact and expertise here..... kudos to  you<curtsey>

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    solarshinglesposted 14 years ago

    Embitica, have you really posted this comment? I simply cannot believe it! How could you possibly releted HubPages.com to porn sites?
    
    HubPages.com is NOT a porn web site!
    
    I copied this comment from this hub:
    http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Use-of-Sex-on-Hub-Pages
    
    Embitica, whatever you say, Google Page Rank (PR) is still the most important measure of the quality of any web page (URL) in the entire Internet. Full stop.
    
    Embitica, do you really want to know how much organic traffic from search engines HubPages.com would have got at a much Lower Page Rank and Other Preferences Lost, considering Google? 0 or almost 0. And if one 'accidentally deserves' Google supplemental list/directory (Google prison), than the traffic form Google search drops to flat 0.
    
    By the words of Bill Gates of Microsoft Google already serves 75% of all searches in the world (in UK more than 85%).
    
    You are pointing to plenty of Porn Sites with PR5. Yes, that is correct. They are porn sites, which have relevancy of porn sites and Google rewards them in accordance with that.
    
    HubPages.com is NOT a porn site and Google does not tolerate mixing of strictly educational and generally entertaining content with soft porn photo galleries. There is also 'non-copyrighted photo content' and 'stolen - copied text' from authority web sites.

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    Mark Knowlesposted 14 years ago

    Hubpages is not a porn site and they get rid of any porn pretty darn quickly as far as I can tell.
    
    I am rather disappointed at the amount of people recently who have a public opinion on the quality of other people's hubs, often with what I consider to be substandard hubs of their own.
    
    Personally, I would ban all pro-religion (especially American Christian), warmongering, rap music and political hubs, all fat-free recipes and people unable to understand the basic rules of English grammar before I started worrying about the semi-clothed men and women hubs.
    
    But - that's just me, and I would never think of saying so publicly.
    
    Oh, wait..................

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       stephhicks68posted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Sorry Charlotte, but I have to respectfully disagree.  I was done with this discussion several hours ago, but to me, the above comment of Mark's is not lightening the mood in the least.
       
       1.  HubPages has done nothing to take the disturbing thumbnail images down that are now all over the HotHubs pages.  Many of us have been flagging them for days now.
       2. I don't know who on this thread Mark believes to have substandard hubs, but I certainly hope it is not me, In the Doghouse, you, Amy Jane, Solar Shingles, or others.  To me, that did nothing but fan the flames.
       3. The next observation shows nothing but a misunderstanding of what we have been saying, which I think In the Doghouse was trying to clear up in her post.
       
       I would like to put this down for now and hope that HubPages staff responds quickly and appropriately tomorrow morning.

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    Bonnie Ramseyposted 14 years ago

    Huh?????? What does this have to do with the price of beans in China? lol

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    Mark Knowlesposted 14 years ago

    Actually, the more I think about it, the more I realize just how offended I am by these people.
    
    Fat-free recipes?
    
    What are they thinking? Good grief! Don't you people realize just how ridiculous that sounds? Fat-free! That is where the taste comes from. The fat.
    
    If we want to raise the standard at hubpages, these need to go first. Top of my list. No question.
    
    Get rid of the fat-free recipes.
    
    Heathens!

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       casparposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Mmm...full English Breakfast - that's tasty food porn.

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          Mark Knowlesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Now we're talking. Hmmmmmmmm
          
          

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             Shirley Andersonposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             Careful, you'll get flagged!  Racey photo, not much text.
             
             Mark, is that really you?

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             pkmcrposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             Mark
             
             I found myself nodding as I read your posts.  Now where are the hubs on how to prepare a Full English Breakfast and a Full Scottish Breakfast?
             
             Take care
             
             Paul

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       gamergirlposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I meant this post, Steph.

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    hassamposted 14 years ago

    I know that a lot of people have previously stated a lot of things on the topic. But its really an annoying thing when you are here to write some useful informative stuff and have these seminude pages beside your hubs. I dont know why the hubpage team is not doing any thing. Is it that they thing that these hubbers are not violating their TOS?. But on the other hand hubpages calls it self informative, how on earth a website loaded with seminude pages be called informative from some one elses prespective . There are alot of young age people who might visit hubpages to find some useful stuff,just like wikipedia,ehow and other such websites I thought a few months back that hubpages was of similar standard, but I think my thinking has changed now. I feel ahsamed that I am here on websites that is not exchanging knowledge rather allowing stupid piece of junk. I would further feel ashamed if my family comes to know that I am spending sleepless night for few cents here on a semiporn site, where you see such awfull stuff right on the main page. I think we are the earners for this website we should ask the  team to relieve us from our misery, I request the senior hubbers to also ask the hubpages team to do something about it or if the cant atleast seperate our hubs from these photo galleries.I am really sad as I literally got addicted to this  website but the drammatic changes that have taken place have put me I feel myself uneasy here now.I don want to offend anybody but I think none of the quality revenue sharing webites would have such crap on there main page......plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz do some thing hubpageteam.

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    Bonnie Ramseyposted 14 years ago

    The question here is not a matter of anything being judged as substandard but a matter of being inappropriate. There are many small children that have access to this stuff and HP has set the TOS for no adult content, yet these hubs are clearly and undeniably just that. We are simply asking that if they want to allow this type of content to seperate it from easy access. Gamergirl made the suggestion on that here http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/5743#post59854
    
    It seems to me that there should be some way of implimenting something of this nature to keep HP the family friendly site that I thought I had joined 6 months ago. I may be a newbie compared to some but many excellent writers here feel the same, be they newbie or seasoned hubbers.
    
    Bonnie

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       casparposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I agree with you totally Bonnie
       
       But Mark, phwoooarrr!! love the sexy pic!

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    Mark Knowlesposted 14 years ago

    With a nice pint of beer......
    
    That's all the text I need for this one. A picture paints a thousand words
    
    Or three thousand calories

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    SweetiePieposted 14 years ago

    It tastes much better than a fat free lean cuisine microwave dinner .

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       Mark Knowlesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I am all in favor of banning fat-free recipes from hubpages. That would really raise the standard.

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    gamergirlposted 14 years ago

    Mark,
    
    Remind me again never to make you criticize my hubs.   You're downright mean!
    
    Don't give us heathens a bad name by equating us with fat-free recipes!

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    In The Doghouseposted 14 years ago

    If I may bring the topic back on course, at least fat-food recipes are tagged accordingly so that you will not have to be bothered by them if you don’t choose them as a featured topic favorite.  Deceptive tagging is an issue that should be addressed.
    
    We all understand sex sells.
    So instead of fighting it, why not join it...or turn our head and ignore it?
    How long do you think Hubpages would be credible in Googles eyes if everyone started jumping on the sex/money bandwagon and started deceptively tagging all their hubs with those types of tags.
    
    After all, if that is how you get traffic why not?  Sexy Legos, Sexy Pioneers, Sexy Real Estate, Sexy Job Opportunities, Sexy Restaurants, Sexy Recipes, Sexy pets, Sexy Games...etc.  After all if that is what gets you featured on the PR 5 Hot Hub page... we can all benefit from this type of marketing right? 
    
    The next thing you know, SEX, SEXY, HOT, WOMEN, BOOBS, and any other profitable tag will be the main search word associated with Hubpages.  Is this the type of community we want?
    
    I don’t believe that it is.  Paul Edmonson commented in one of Chucks recent Hubs, “The point of a good Hub is to educate.”  Is this the kind of education he was talking about?
    
    This is not just a question of taste.  Although I find these soft porn photo galleries as distasteful as Mark does “American Christianity”, it is that Google will punish HubPages for combining educational (i.e., in Paul's word's quality hubs) with soft porn pages that, to top it off, are deceptively tagged!
    
    As a matter of note fat-free recipes are not borderline adult content that feature photos that we do not wish children to see, or that if children were to come to HubPages those pages do not need to be filtered.  They are simply a matter of discriminating taste.

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    gamergirlposted 14 years ago

    In the Doghouse,
    
    I think Mark was trying to lighten the mood over what is quickly becoming a repetitious and tense situation.

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    Uninvited Writerposted 14 years ago

    I tell you. I leave town for about 40 hours and all sorts of drama erupts

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    Eric Graudinsposted 14 years ago

    As I said at the start of this thread, this topic has been done to death recently in other threads, largely by the same people who are writing in this one.
    So I'm not sure if this is an issue for the "silent majority" of Hub Page users who have not expressed an opinion either way, or whether we are just a bunch of troublemakers trying to wag the HubPages dog.
    
    To their credit, HubPages listen, respond, and act on the feedback from their users.
    
    It's entirely up to Hub Pages management what is done about the matter of text hubs vs. graphics hubs, and any related copyright, classification, and other issues.
    I'd guess that the sexy type graphics galleries generate a significant amount of income, which subsidises these forums and other types of hubs that consume resources but generate little income.
    
    It's their business - it's up to them how to run it. If the HubPages criteria for publishing is anything that meets the Google Adsense TOS, then people here have nothing to complain about. And HubPages will probably need to step up their monitoring of illegal use of images.
    
    Likewise, it's up to everyone posting here whether they want to publish their work in this type of "neighbourhood" where girlie pics, medical advice, beautiful stories, soft porn, family hints, and hundreds of other topics are mixed together.
    
    People in other threads have argued that it works for Playboy - so they don't see a problem with it for Hubpages.
    
    I see that point. But an equally valid point is that if you bought Readers Digest, you wouldn't expect to see it half full of soft porn.
    
    Originally I thought Hub Pages would be like Readers Digest.
    I was wrong, and now see it's more like Playboy.
    
    This was highlighted to me by the response of a couple of my clients, whom I recently referred to HubPages as a place to publish their excellent articles. They said that they "didn't really want to be associated with a site like that".
    
    After having another look at the range of hot, best, and new hubs on offer lately, I tend to agree with them. And will not be publishing as much here as I had intended. (Or perhaps no more at all).
    My time would certainly be better spent  on a small business related site, but I enjoy communicating with many of the people here.
    
    As I've said before, I think it would be a good idea if mainly graphic hubs could be separated in some way from mainly text hubs. The two are very different means of communication. 
    As is video - and that's why YouTube doesn't have text, or image based content.

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    amy janeposted 14 years ago

    Eric, I think that the response from your clients says it all, for me really.  If I showed up today and had a look at a few of the "hot" pages, I would not want to be associated with this site either. 
    The front page photo galleries take away all credibility.
    
    At this point, I would not even tell someone to check out hubpages.  Instead, I offer to email a link to my hubs. It may be easy to find me here, but I would not want a friend or potential client to have a good look around.
    
    The situation has gotten consistently worse over the past two months. If it continues like this, my time here is limited.

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    Zsuzsy Beeposted 14 years ago

    I agree with Eric's and Amy's comments and would like to add this...
    
    I joined Hubpages about 8 or so months ago...what I fell in love with at that time was that there was knowledge, reading material of top quality and interest with very little sex this and sex that just absolute great stuff. Unfortunately over the past two-three months the hubs have changed and (I counted) of the first 12 pages on Hot Hubs 36 were about sexy chicks here and there hot cleavege hot boobs sexy this sexy that and more. That is 25% +, with other words a quater of the hubs are crap or of no interest to me...
    As can be noted my participation here has dwindeled some and I'm really saddened by that as this has been my home away from home.
    I hope, really hope that the hubpages team can find a way that will please all.
    kindest regards Zsuzsy

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    Bonnie Ramseyposted 14 years ago

    I fully agree! I have not been as active lately, either. If this keeps going, my time is also limited. I am sure that there are family friendly article sites out there where I would not have to deal with this kind of smut shoved down my throat, much less, such easy access to children! If this had been here when I first found HP, I would not have joined. I fully believed it was a family friendly community when I joined and, at that time, I loved it. It sure didn't take long for things to drastically change!
    
    Bonnie

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    Rochelle Frankposted 14 years ago

    Well... I am a little surprised that my initial post stirred such a hornet's nest.  . . . and as one of those troublesome newcomers, I did not know that this has been an ongoing  point of contention. I never suggested that the sites  in question should be banned, (though I wouldn't mind if they were).
    
    My only thought was to encourage people to give serious informative articles, as well as creative thought-provoking articles your best attention with feedback and approval -- so that other things may be drowned out.  Perhaps that was simplistic and optimistic.  (--there you go-- two words that could describe me).
    
    So, as Emporer Claudius said "Let all the poisons leech out".
    
    Either the cream or the scum will rise to the top.
    
    
    PS.  I DID like Mark's  lighthearted take-- though the breakfast he posted was a bit heavy for my taste.

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    Shirley Andersonposted 14 years ago

    I musta been living in a cave the past few weeks.  I've never seen any of these sites, and only heard about them in the forums of late.  Haven't hunted for them either as I get the gist of things from everyone's comments.
    
    Guess I should check out the 'Hubs' page more, I'm missing things by sticking with my account page, Hubtivity and the forums.

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       Rochelle Frankposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       No-- not missing all that much. Some people know how to mind their own business. Kudos.

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          Bonnie Ramseyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Ok, now I am totally confused, Rochelle. You were the one who started this particular thread and now this comment? Since when is it not the members' business what type of reputation the site has and what it can do to our own reputation when we send family, friends and business associates to this site? Maybe I am just too tired and I missed something somewhere.

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          Shirley Andersonposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Thanks, Rochelle.

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       thranaxposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Well there not hard to find =o

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    SweetiePieposted 14 years ago

    The only thing I would like to add is if each of us continues to write hubs we are not embarassed about then we have nothing to be ashamed of in being associated with Hubpages.  I would not let a few unsavory people keep you from publishing here.  However, that is just my opinion and I will continue to write and publish when I can:).

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    Rochelle Frankposted 14 years ago

    Well ,yes ,I did start, or restart it-- somewhat to my regret, but like everyone else I was only expressing a personal opinion and not trying to tell anyone what to do, only making suggestions for consideration--
    I'm not condemning anyone's opinion. They all have value.
    
    Re- read the original.
    .......and my last one.

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       SweetiePieposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       You have every right to do that and I did think you were not condemning anyone's opinion.  I was just letting people earlier on the thread who said they might not post at Hubpages anymore know that I do not think they should let the risque posts drive them away.  I think if people leave then they are giving up, and we should continue and post hubs we hope others can enjoy.  That was all I was saying.

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          Rochelle Frankposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Yes, I know...   was really.. replying to Bonnie--- ( I should have used the quote/reply thingy) but you are so quick on the draw that I let you slip in between.
          At this point I don't disagree with anyone-- opps- yes, it's time to sleep.
          Cheers!

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             SweetiePieposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             I am sorry then.  I should have realized you were responding to Bonnie.

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       Bonnie Ramseyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Rochelle,
       
       I apologize if I misunderstood your post. It was late and there was a lot going on!
       
       Bonnie

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    Mark Knowlesposted 14 years ago

    All -
    
    I was trying to do two things - lighten things up and point out the obvious issue with what you are complaining about.
    
    Rochelle - my reference to substandard hubs was a reference to another thread similar to this one where some one was complaining that their "serious" writing was being overshadowed by these "hot chicks in their underwear" hubs.
    
    Doghouse -
    
    You are free to write a hub that claims that the world was created in 6 days 6,000 years ago and that a magical person called Jesus came to earth to save us from ourselves. You are free to call this "factual information," and to tag this "education," if you wish to do so.
    
    I was merely pointing out that one man's "factual information," is another man's religious zealotry.
    
    I am not impressed by these hot chick hubs any more than anyone else and consistently make fun of the people who produce them when they come on to the forum bragging about how much traffic they get lol Big deal.
    
    But - I would prefer to keep my children away from fat-free recipes and the idea that they need to accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior more than I would from the fact that women have breasts and men find them attractive.
    
    It does bother me that people are here on the forum trying to have these hot chick hubs banned or moved to another section of the hubpages.
    
    And I am merely pointing out that I and many others have a list of other things that "should" be banned. Here is a quick list of things I do not want my child to "learn," on hubpages:
    
    That you can run your car on water
    That you can make money day trading forex
    That you can cure cancer by drinking a magical supplement
    That a God created the world in 6 days
    That you should bake a fat-free Lasagne
    
    All of these are much more detrimental than seeing a photo of a woman in a swimsuit.
    
    As far as I am concerned.
    
    Make sense?
    
    Let's get rid of the fat-free recipes first.

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    amy janeposted 14 years ago

    Mark, as a recent convert to the church of vegan, your breakfast suggestion is truly revolting. I will pray for you, that you will see the "lite."   
    
    Clogged arteries aside, I would hope that you could see the logical side of this argument.
    These are my issues:
    
    1. Stolen photos - some from paid porn sites as Charlotte pointed out - that do cross the line in to the realm of adult content.  This violates HP's rules.
    2. Stolen content- text, copy and pasted from various sites. Again, against the rules.
    3. If anyone would take a close look at the adsense TOS, it is clear that putting ads on stolen, copyright protected content breaks their rules. This places HP's favor with google at risk. That impacts all of us.
    4. Tagging. I have flagged, flagged, flagged for deceptive tagging. These galleries are often tagged "family," or other such nonsense, as well as tags that are not in english. 
    
    
    This was not a witch hunt, from my point of view.  It is about the rules. They need to be enforced.
    
    On a personal level, of course I don't like being featured side by side with this stuff.  The other day while browsing the hubs tagged family, my daughter came over to chat with me. "Mommy, why are those two girls touching tongues?"  She saw a thumbnail pic. I don't allow her to browse hubpages on her own. There are many lovely sites for young writers. I even wrote a hub about it.

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    Mark Knowlesposted 14 years ago

    amy jane,
    
    One of the things I suggested when this was first bought up some weeks ago was that one genuine problem with these hubs was the fact that many of the photos do not belong to the hubber.
    
    Hubpages cannot do anything about that without a complaint from the photographer.
    
    I suggested people contact the photographer and told him/her that their work was being used in this fashion.
    
    Has anyone done so? No. That would mean doing something about the problem other than asking for a blanket ban.
    
    Also, do you think the stolen copyright of photos applies exclusively to these hubs?
    
    I very much doubt that is the case.
    
    Are you going to go through all the hubs of 250,000 hubbers  and make sure they own the copyright?
    
    Do you seriously expect hubpages to?
    
    I agree with the deceptive tags. I flag them for the same reason.
    
    I have no problem with flagging and removing hubs that break hubpages' TOS. None. We have a  system in place to do that and I would like to bet that I have flagged and seen removed more hubs than you have
    
    I do not want porn here either.
    
    But it is a witch hunt. This is about the tenth thread all about the same thing in the last few weeks. OK, the OP didn't bother looking through the forum to discover this has been discussed already, but still.
    
    You do not want to see photos of girls kissing because although your daughter is old enough to use a computer, and go on the internet, you do not think she is old enough to know about lesbians yet. If I use a photo I myself have taken of two girls kissing , will that be OK?
    
    The point I was trying to make is that there are any number of subjects that we could consider to be unacceptable, and I could use the argument that is being used here to justify the removal of many of those hubs.
    
    Do you see me seriously suggesting they be removed?
    
    I am genuinely distressed at the fact that some people consider a fat-free Lasagna recipe to be worth cooking.
    
    I am ashamed that some of my hubs come up in a search and are featured next to hubs promoting Mormonism as a way of life.
    
    Do you see me asking to have them removed?
    
    And I don't see you complaining about articles that have stolen or copyrighted images in -
    
    I see you complaining about hubs that have photos of semi-clothed women in.
    
    These sort of hubs have been on hubpages for as long as I have been a member. You too.
    
    They were here when you joined. Why did you join knowing full well that your work would be published alongside these hubs?
    
    I hope you can see the logical side of my argument also.

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       LdsNana-AskMormonposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Mark -
       
       You have made only a very few logical points, mixed with some very sarcastic and ridiculous comparisons.  These, in true Mark Knowles form.....    Nobody is going to take you very seriously with such week analogies.
       
       Lets talk about the little BAIT you set out here.  You and I, have already been through "how" you feel about organized religion, right?  In particular, you seem to have some funny issues with Mormonism?  Mark, are you an ex-Mormon?  In many ways, you behave like one:-)
       
       Personally, I have been writing here now, for going on six months, and you know very well that whether you agree, like or hate religion - what I do here is credible.  I personally believe that I am an asset to Hubpages, as one who writes relevant and unique content.  The content that I publish here is also rewarded by Google, in the form of some nice page ranks.  Adsense has rewarded me as well for my work here.
       
       I do not scream about Mormonism, nor do I run around here spamming anyone through email to come join my church.  I simply write about Mormonism and my life.  That which I do here is informative and educational for those who want to know more about the Mormon Church.  I am confident, that I am and will continue to be a good source of relevant, unique and credible information about the Mormon Church on the Internet.
       
       Mark, I add credibility so much more for you, whether people are "religious" or not - because of the credible subject of which I do write.  I had hoped, that from "our" beginning encounters here on Hubpages, that although we do not agree on or about the topic of God and religion, that perhaps you had developed a small amount of respect for what I do here and how I do it.  I was silly enough to think, that you and I had developed an understanding and even a bit of a friendship.
       
       So, I am going to assume that you are once again, using the "Mormonism" and the religion thing as bait, in this discussion.  Surely Mark, you would not put a persons personal religion and the value or sacredness that religion holds for many people - on the same level playing field as pornography, adult content, etc...  as being equally as offensive and distressing?
       
       You could not possibly be inferring that you find "religion" as offensive to you as a credible writer, as is the adult content, such as the soft-porn photo galleries that are now so prevalent on Hubpages?  That you have singled out Mormonism, is of course, quite interesting to me personally? 
       
       The subjects of both "religion" and "politics" are two of the most relevant and credible topics of which people today, are interested in knowing more about.  Both are very passionate subjects to most people.  Always have been...  and, it is because they are intelligent subjects of discussion, which  lend to many opinions and feelings.  It is because they affect our families, our children and the environment of our everyday lives.  We are passionate about these subjects, because these two things, the politics and religion of individuals - ultimately determine the quality of all our lives.
       
       Pornography and it's purposes have nothing to do with quality.  Children should be protected from being exposed to pornography in any form, by all responsible adults.  Pornography or any thing that looks like such, should not be on a website with no protections for our children.  Responsible Internet companies, will lose credibility fast if they do not protect children first, before the mighty dollar!  Adult content is offensive to a majority of people and passionately so, who are interested in more intelligent information.
       
       Hubpages is being used by the pornography and adult industries to promote and expose pornography to younger and younger children, and actually - particularly WOMEN! 
       
       Fact:  The Pornography Industry has a current plan underway to infiltrate more women's sites at this time... IF they can begin to get women, mothers - into becoming desensitized by pornography through the use of "soft-porn", then these women will slowly allow exposure to their children.  The facts about pornography addiction are stunning.  This addiction ruins individuals and families.  Addiction  to pornography  is epidemic already!  People must understand, that this "plan" is real.  These people do not care about your family, your children and your relationships and happiness whatsoever. 
       
       They are consciously moving into places that will allow infiltration - for the sole purpose of exposing women and ultimately our children to pornography. 
       
       Fact:  Addiction to pornography can actually result in only ONE exposure!  This is a fact.  There is not anything more addicting to the human mind than pornography!  To take this lightly is to enable the Pornography Industry to continue their plan to grow their business at the risk of our children and families!
       
       If anyone doubts what I am saying here, this is all factual and easy to obtain information about the recent conferences which have been held by the Pornography and Adult Industries.  They have actually hired companies to help them know best -- how to infiltrate websites just like Hubpages.com
       
       I have ranted enough.  I apologize only for the ranting, but certainly not for sharing my feelings regarding this issue.  Like many of you, I too have children, a family - and people that I care deeply about .  You must understand what is happening -- on purpose.  Hubpages needs to hold the line, or it will continue to digress here.
       
       Once again, I stand with other credible writers here on Hubpages, who desire to have a place to publish quality content that is a "benefit" to people.  Even that which will strengthen many in different ways...... 
       
       I proudly stand with the many also, who desire deeply and passionately to protect our children from these slimy snakes.  These guys really do want YOU to become addicted to their smut.  Addiction that ruins individual lives, families and ultimately our society.  This is a long-term successful business plan for these creeps.
       
       This is not about religion.  This is about what we all care most deeply about, and that - is the happiness and healthy well-being of one another.  Pornography is the worst exposure possible, for the potential destruction of an individual life. 
       
       The more education we receive to expose the intents of this Industry, the stronger all of us will most likely feel, to protect Hubpages from this planned onslaught by this well-planned out movement online.
       
       If you take the casual approach to just let anyone write and publish here, whatever they feel - and that you will just keep writing your credible material and move on...   as if this will not and cannot affect you...  just remember the old, but very true cliche' that "no man is an island", or a single Hub.
       
       Just know, that what you do and where you do it, is under a very planned attack of take-over... by some very cunning people.  This is not a joke or over-dramatization of any kind.
       
       Mark - why am I ranting at the comparison that you made here?  I hope that it is NOW obvious my friend, and that perhaps you just were not taking it serious enough.  I really hope you will reconsider your position and join with those of us, who want to protect Hubpages, as a credible, intelligent and informational resource on the Internet, from these efforts to make it otherwise.  Or perhaps join us at another place online, to build such a place for true quality content online.  You are a good writer Mark.
       
       Kathryn

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          gamergirlposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Kathryn,
          
          Some of the things you've stated are completely out of whack.  I work in the adult industry, so please allow me to set you straight here and now.
          
          You said:
          
          
          
          Did you know that porn companies, whether they are distributors, producers, casting agencies, affiliates, photographers, directors, or anyone in between, follow just as many laws as anyone else? Did you know that in something so simple as losing a copy of a pornographic film's model release forms (which are papers stating that the model willingly got naked and filmed in the movie) the entire movie would have to be pulled from shelves, websites, promotions and everything until the paperwork could be obtained again?  That companies who do not keep proper 2257 documents can be fined PER OCCURRANCE?  These are legal documents which state that A.) The people in these films did not get raped and were consenting to actions in a legal fashion.  B.) That the actors people see in porn films are at least 18 years of age at the time of filming.
          
          Now, with the structures in place for adult entertainment companies, what in the world makes you think that we (and I say we, as I sit here at work, at my desk, with my XBIZ magazine on my desk and waiting for time to clock back in) would be so unscrupulous as to target children, when it is the members of the adult entertainment industry who work the hardest to ensure that no children are featured in, see, or are used in marketing our products?  Having kept a good eye on things here (partly for business and partly for my own desire to know everything I can about the site I love) I can tell you, the problem with softcore on Hubpages is not due to faceless corporations whom are plotting the demise of your decency even now.
          
          Fact:  Women buy nearly as much pornography as men do.
          
          Next point:
          
          
          
          
          You couldn't be further from the truth, actually.  There is a large market for pornography and pornographic material amongst all people, no matter their gender, but it is absolutely not an "infiltration."  Every website has the choice what kind of content they display, period end of story.  If I, as an employee for an adult entertainment network, called up WomensHealth.com and asked to place a link to our products on their pages, or commented on a women's health blog with pornography, do you honestly think it would work? NO.  Not unless these webmasters had a policy of only allowing people 18+ to view or register to their site, and not unless they incorporated the proper policies for handling adult material. 
          
          Your accusation that the adult industry has some sort of cohesive plan for assimilating mainstream websites and resources into the fold of porn content is absurd.  In fact, it is also far, far, FAR from the truth.  There is a HUGE difference between a woman's magazine posting scandalous ways to give better oral sex (with full detail and possibly pictures) and that same magazine posting a top ten list of ways to make your partner more attracted to you.
          
          Furthermore, the vast majority of people who work in this industry are normal people like anyone else, with feelings, families and dreams.  They just happen not to be flipping burgers, filing papers, or stocking grocery shelves.  I've been in this industry for a little over six months now, and have met some amazing people - and while not every single person who works in this industry is the kind of person you'd take to a religious function, you can guarantee that 99% of us DO CARE.  We care, because if we did not we would not have a business.  The adult industry relies on following rules and structures while appealing to something which billions of people enjoy in a consensual and sensual environment.
          
          Next:
          
          
          
          Addiction to candy can result from one exposure.  Addiction to love can result from one exposure.  Addictions to money, fame, happiness, attention, nearly anything can result in addiction after one exposure.  There is nothing more addicting to the human mind than:
          
          Life.
          
          Whether it is the will or wish to live it to the extreme, to live it modestly, whatever you may want to do, LIFE itself is the top addiction for human beings.  Porn ranks pretty low on the list of addictions, religion, fame, wealth, and drugs top the list above pornography.
          
          THE ADULT ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY IS NOT A BOOGEYMAN WAITING TO TAKE YOUR FAMILY AND RIP IT APART AND CORRUPT YOUR CHILDREN.
          
          I apologize for the all caps, but it had to be said.
          
          
          
          Again, Kathryn, though you are passionate about wholesome causes and the like, you are wholly wrong.  There is no conspiracy against Hubpages to see it's content turned into a porn heaven.  Hubpages terms of service do not allow for it, and that is something the industry respects.  It is not the fault of the industry if certain individuals cannot restrain themselves from posting inappropriate content.

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    stephhicks68posted 14 years ago

    Mark,
    
    These porn-like hubs have exploded in number in the past couple of months.  Go to the HotHubs pages and look at their numbers compared to other educational hubs.  Look at the ads that Google is now placing on the HotHub pages (lonely sexy housewives? hot, hot videos?)  Wow, I guess Google knows HubPages's audience now.
    
    We are saying a number of things:
    
    1.  We don't want our work placed side-by-side with this type of adult content that does not belong here, and really was not here in this quantity - AT ALL - when I joined, when Amy joined, when Zsuzsu Bee joined and many other.
    
    2.  I respect the idea of those that want to ignore the sites in the hopes that they will go away, but there are two fundamental problems with this approch.  It is not happening folks.  And more importantly, if you hope to have a reputation at all, and make money in the long term, HubPages will not be the place because there is a danger of Google punishing the combo of soft porn and educational content on a site that says that it does not allow adult content.  Period.
    
    3.  This has nothing to do with personal taste.  If it was that easy, I would just ignore those annoying hubs that have nothing to do with my interests, just as you do.  But I can't stand stand having to feel like I have to work in a separate room now (not in the kitchen with my family) because of the pornographic thumbnail images that are displayed on HotHubs these days.
    
    4.  You can continue your rant about religion and food all you want, but those topics do not threaten our ranking with Google.  If I am to publish, have fun and make money, then something has to be done here at HubPages. I am not going to put my head in the sand and wish it away.

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       dabblingmumposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I could not agree more. Has anything been done yet?  I  notice that this was started some five weeks ago and I just joined two weeks ago and still see a lot of Hot hubs that are questionable.

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          Mark Knowlesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Just drop a list of all the hubs you think are questionable to team@hubpages.com and I am sure they will delete them for you.
          
          They must have arrived pretty soon after you joined though?
          
          Or were they here before you decided to write 107 hubs in 2 weeks?
          
          In which case that begs the question.......
          
          Although I an still waiting for to discover what porn-like means
          
          Is that chicken-like, which is what beef tastes like. Exactly the same only different?

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    Mark Knowlesposted 14 years ago

    steph -
    
    OK, I will go to the hot hubs page and see what comes up. These are the hubs I see on the "Hot hubs" page:
    
    http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Pursuit-of- … hty-Dollar
    
    http://hubpages.com/hub/Wow-Dude--I-Am- … eople-With
    
    http://hubpages.com/hub/What-Hubpages-is-NOT
    
    http://hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Make-100 … ge-authors
    
    http://hubpages.com/hub/How-You-Could-M … om-AdSense
    
    http://hubpages.com/hub/Ways-To-Apologize
    
    http://hubpages.com/hub/Dreams-Whats-It-All-About
    
    http://hubpages.com/hub/On-the-water-wi … ay-tribute
    
    http://hubpages.com/hub/Quotes-about-Fathers
    
    http://hubpages.com/hub/Mobster-Lord-Interviews
    
    .
    
    Here are some of my hubs that rank well in google for a variety of search terms:
    
    http://hubpages.com/hub/Suzuki-GSXR-600-2008
    http://hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Buy-a-Pr … oreclosure
    http://hubpages.com/hub/2008-Motorcycle-Guide
    http://hubpages.com/hub/Yamaha-YZF-R1-2008
    http://hubpages.com/hub/Five-Best-iPhon … h-headsets
    
    None of which are affected by having photos of women with very few clothes on on the site.
    
    You think google doesn't rank religion lowly? Or poor quality recipes?
    
    You are missing the point completely.
    
    I do not think you understand google's algorithm well enough to have the opinion you just expressed because all I see as ads on the hot hubs page is "Hair removal cream."
    
    This stuff was here when you joined. It must have been because it was when I joined.
    
    Please place a link here to adult content as described by google and I will go and flag them for breaking hubpages TOS and do my best to get them removed.
    
    Say five hubs that feature in the hot hubs section?
    
    This is the most pornographic image I can find in the hot hubs section:
    
    
    
    

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    SirDentposted 14 years ago

    Well, I suppose my opinion is as good as anyone elses. I believe we should let the Hubpages Moderators take care of things. That is their job. It is our job to flag content that we feel doesn't meet the standards or break the TOS.
    
    Mark, you could at least have put a link to the article with that porn pic you showed on your last post here. 

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    Mark Knowlesposted 14 years ago

    Sorry SirDent:
    
    
    The Evolution of Religion
    
    Cain slaying Abel:
    
    
    
    

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       SirDentposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Thanks, Mark. 

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    Uninvited Writerposted 14 years ago

    I have bookmarked my account page in HubPages so the first thing I see are my own articles. I only see the questionable ones when I check out what is in Hubitivity and the most recent hubs published.

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