Tay

nvm. Long live Nay.

The theme had a bug in it which has since been updated by the theme developer. Nay and I did a lot of customizing the old theme, so it's taking a bit to try and configure the update.

@GMs/BMs -- The dark theme has received an update and I think it fixes the problem. If you get a chance and want to do science, you can test it out with the (Dark) Temp theme. Let me know how it goes.

What broke?

Hey everybody, We've got a new chat app on the forums. Please be excited for E3 check it out and let me know what you think. http://forums.fuwanovel.net/chat/ (Or click on the "Chat" menu link) Stuff you should know: To turn notification sounds off, simply click the yellow bell icon (right-hand side) It will only work on the IP.Mobile theme if you have your phone run the page in desktop mode In the right-hand side "# Online Chat Users" box, you can click somebody's name and start a private chat with them (one-on-one chat) Currently admins, GMs, BMs and FuwaChat mods have moderation powers The new chat doesn't have the same WYSIWYG text editing/BBCode features (like spoilers). We'll try and figure out if it's possible to add them in, but for now we'll simply have to live in chaos. If you're having a PM discussion with somebody and they get kicked, you'll have to repeatedly start new conversations but the old text *will* come back. My suggestion: both of you simply exit/re-enter the chat and pick up where you left off If you want, we can remove the rules page, but until the people demand the change and storm the gates, it stays up Here are the current settings options for your reference: http://imgur.com/CCiKCF8

"Deer madame or sirs, I would like to give you the opportunity to take a chance to consider a business proposal for my venture capitol company to purchase your website Forums Fuwanovel. We are international company headquartered in Chicago, IL and would love to have a chance to possibly discuss on Skype with you a merger or acquisition." Shared this one a year ago, but it just doesn't get old...

How's this project doing? Anything you need?

Welcome -- and sorry that it was such a pain in the neck to sign up : S!

There are four pages of carefully detailed explanations about this change and how it was specifically planned in a way to give goodies but not punish non-backers or give them a poorer experience, waiting for you in the community board. Should clear things up for you. : P

Looks like the thread was closed to let people cool down. @Sanah -- You very likely do know more about these laws than I do, that's why I consulted a lawyer. I do respect you, Sanah, and I understand why you'd want more information. As I said in the OP, there were two purposes for this change: 1) I was advised to make this change to protect the site and its EU staff, and 2) this issue is like a hydra, and it's sucked hundreds of hours away which could have been much better spent working on the site and/or tools. Those two facts, compounded, catalyzed the decision. I'm not interested in making a moral point with this policy, just as I'm not willing to risk the site for this issue. Hope that helps.

While your post was definitely a catalyst for what ultimately became this new policy, these rules weren't made as a reaction to it, just FYI for the sake of full transparency : P. Your post made me realize that the situation had changed and we needed to re-consider it. Also: the staff was having a big discussion about it. That helped. RE: The post -- The issue was inflammatory language and the game was a porn game. Both of those are in there. If you want to talk about the post, that's a discussion to bring up with the mods via PM.

Loli/Shota rule: It's teh same as normal porn rules (no sex acts, genitals, etc.) plus: If an image is focused on, accentuates, or exaggerates a character's nipples, vulva, or penis (with or without clothing) or positions them sensually (body position, wet panties, erection, nearly naked, etc.)

@Steve, @Solidbatman -- Alright guys, give it a rest. These are repeats of earlier, more fiery and spectacular wars. This thread is getting derailed. -------- It's pretty difficult to see if people's questions have been answered. Who's still confused about what?

"I can't define porn, but I know it when I see it." - Justice Potter Stewart This is why we moved to the more open moderation system. You know what's really awesome? Common sense. If it looks like a loli, talks like a loli, acts like a loli -- chances are good it's a loli, and if it's sexualized per the above rules, a mod will take it down.

RE: "Ban everything!" Guys, the world is full of hypocrisy. I see murder or graphic violence all the time in hospitals. If you've witnessed it, you know how profoundly messed up it is. Yet for some reason, Western culture is fine with it in entertainment. The same goes for many other social constructs. Life is hypocrisy, and all change in life is ironic to some degree or another. The sexualization of children, for various reasons, is considered wrong by most governments. Child porn, pedophilia, and molestation -- whether real or simulated -- is illegal. Not only is it illegal, it's actively pursued and prosecuted. You may disagree with this move or hate that it had to take place, but the fact is that I have to make the hard decisions to protect the site so that it's here tomorrow, next week, and in five years. Why this issue and not another? Because it came up for the first time since the move and I realized that we're more vulnerable now than in the past. Period.

Yes. All of these points only apply to lolis/shotas. RE: Your other points -- As I tried to point out, this isn't a moral move, it's a site security issue since we cannot control the content people will post. If you're doing something on the site and you have common sense and can pull it off appropriately (read: tastefully), then it's absolutely a common sense/case by case thing. But, more specifically, this post and its rules is about the forums, not the other parts of the site. Hope that helps.

@Steve -- It's like we only talk when something crazy goes down here on Fuwa, or something interesting happens in your book project : P. I addressed your points in the OP and genuinely meant them. That said, I truly do appreciate that you took the time to share your thoughts.

As I told you on skype: Your capacity for evil continues to surprise me ; P‏

Yeah, that was probably poorly worded. Essentially: avoid tasteless jokes, etc. As far as I know, we don't have any plans to hunt down every instance of "loli", for example... At least for everyone else. You've now been targeted, Swedish Viking Lord.

the tl;dr is: leave pedophilia, talking about a character's sexuality/sensuality if they're underage, and porn/sex-sim games, off Fuwa. It's not the right place for those discussions.

Pedophilia is an extremely complicated and sensitive real-life issue, and presents a significant challenge to visual novel communities who want to promote thoughtful discussion but are faced with strict laws on one hand and deplorable internet rhetoric/insensitivity on the other. Many of you are aware of how far back and how divisive this issue has been. To protect the site from legal action and to resolve this issue once and for all, we have chosen to amend the site rules as follows. We're trying to strike a delicate balance here -- acknowledging this is part of the VN medium, and sensitive discussions of these topics are important. The new policy: Fuwanovel is not the place to discuss the nuances of pedophilia – in real life or in entertainment. Because they are a part of the traditional VN heritage of Japanese games, we acknowledge that mature, focused discussions of “loli” characters and routes within a visual novel are valid, and we will allow them within the Visual Novel discussion boards, but beyond those confines, Fuwanovel is just not the place for this topic. We have also clarified our rules for posted or linked images of "lolis" on the boards, which can be read below: Brass Tacks: If you want to discuss a “loli” character or route in a visual novel, you can do so in the VN boards with the caveat that crude, inflammatory, provocative or aggressive posts will be grounds for a topic’s deletion, without warning Outside the realm of Visual Novels, Fuwanovel is simply not the place to discuss this complicated issue, and we ask you to avoid casual references to-, or discussions about-, pedophilia and the sexuality/sensuality of underage people or characters. This includes avoiding discussion or mention of porn- or sex-simulation games featuring underage or underage-appearing characters to the forums. Rules for images, avatars, and signatures: Do not post sexual pictures of underage characters. If an image is focused on, accentuates, or exaggerates a character's nipples, vulva, or penis or positions them sensually (body position, wet panties, nearly naked, etc.), you should not post it and it will be taken down. Attitudes of the staff vary significantly on this issue, but this policy is presented – purposefully – without moral commentary. This is a tricky issue which presents real risks for the stability of the site, and ensuring the community’s longevity simply has to come first. TL;DR: Leave pedophilia, talking about a character's sexuality/sensuality if they're underage, and porn/sex-sim games, off of Fuwa. It's not the right place for those types of discussions. Optional Tay Commentary:

Silly Zaka, talking about nonsense. Erm. Anyway. Back to FuwaHistory...

@Zaka: Ideologies aside, there's no way to contact Aaeru and get her permission to post it on the blog. I don't mind it being public (it actually -- and possibly unintentionally -- references the discussions she and I had about changing Fuwa's direction), but posting it on the new blog after all that's happened and without her express permission would be in very, very poor taste. EDIT: If you really want it to be public, I'd prefer you copy/paste it here or a forums blog. That said, I (personal opinion now) still don't feel good about having it posted without her permission. (My real reply to this topic will come later. Lots of memories and lots of smiles so far : D )