15 or 16+ for Mature Content

[GlaringFeline]

I don't know if it has to do with the law, but I was wondering if it could be possible for Mature Content to be reduced to a 15 or 16 age limit. Anything sexual has to be moved to explicit, so why is it 18+?

It's also troublesome since I draw nudity and gore and can't upload it because the site will only allow me to upload in the 13+ category. I stopped putting my art up on Tumblr, but I might have to start using it again since I can't upload my darker(and more sexual) stuff.

[Socks the Fox]

It's a legal thing.

[Vae]

US law, which Weasyl falls under, forbids the distribution of such materials to minors, which is anyone under 18.

[GlaringFeline]

Aaahhhh. I hate that law with a burning passion, but sites don't really have a choice in the matter. I guess I'll be using my Tumblr for my NSFW stuff until I'm 18.

[piñardilla]

[GlaringFeline]

[Levi]

Yep, it's a legal requirement that we can't show nudity to minors. Honestly, most of the reason Mature exists is to be essentially Moderate-plus-nudity. It keeps stuff that has to stay 18+ for legal reasons alone separate from actual porn without dragging the rest of the Moderate category behind the age wall along with it. As long as the content itself isn't really sexual, all you have to do is avoid drawing the bits.

The ratings in regards to nudity and sex aren't exactly a linear progression as a result. It's really more like this:

It's probably my lack of creativity getting in the way, but I am having a hard time thinking of something that fits under both the first row and last column. And to be honest, I think I'm happy not knowing for sure.


The law can be a nuisance, sometimes, but this is one of those instances where it's really not worth it to try to make exceptions or skirt the law. Consequences can be very unpleasant.

Since it's a sliding scale, there are a few things I can think of that could use a 15/16+ rating (mostly when it comes to violence and language, as regional laws leave precious little room for discussion when it comes to nudity), but as it wouldn't really solve the problem and would make the ratings system unnecessarily complicated, I don't know that it should be developed.

[Eduard]

It's probably my lack of creativity getting in the way, but I am having a hard time thinking of something that fits under both the first row and last column. And to be honest, I think I'm happy not knowing for sure.

H.R Giger's naked monsters.

Actually, any naked monster and other kinds of biological travesties with their genitalia displayed.