Ratings Guidelines is confusing and frustrating.

[Bravo]

One of the only problems I have with Weasyl is the descriptions for the Ratings Guidelines.

Is there any chance that these can be re-written or rephrased so that there isn't so much self-referential and erroneous text? Like, have an actual person write it as if they were explaining it instead of this semi-legal innocuous mumbo jumbo with references to the other sections which also then reference other sections?

Trying to figure out which section to post art in correctly is nerve-wracking and honestly after a certain point I either give up and just tag stuff as Explicit to err in the side of caution or don't upload it to Weasyl because it's so frustrating.

[Socks the Fox]

Here's how I've always seen it:

General: Squeaky-clean stuff. Cartoon/Barbie-doll nudity at most for characters that it makes sense for (i.e. donald duck or bugs bunny)
Moderate: Suggestive things that aren't actually nudity or "obvious," or things with strong language. Sexy poses in underwear type stuff, or words that you wouldn't say in an elementary classroom.
Mature: Nudity that is detailed (drawn nipples or genitals) but not actually sex. Michelangelo's David type stuff. Also includes pokies or bulges.
Explicit: Sex, or obviously sex-related. Clothed or otherwise.

[Noxid]

well the guidelines have to be somewhat specific otherwise people will say "oh, well that wasn't mentioned" or "what about this", it's hard to nail down specifically in a way that people can both understand and that doesn't leave room for people to interpret in a way that wasn't intended.

I'm not a mod so don't take this with any authority but here's my "super generalized breakdown of the rating levels"

General: suitable for the general public, saturday-morning-cartoon stuff
Moderate (13+): can contain some spicy stuff, but NO "private parts" (nipples, genitals, sheath, whatever) and avoid excessive profanity or violence/gore.
Mature (18+): Basically anything goes, except sexual stuff and bodily fluids. No boners, no squirting, no sex toys, no milking, no scat, etc.
Explicit (18+): The final catch-all. As long as it's not outright illegal, you can probably put something here.

[piñardilla]

The quick breakdown as far as sexual content goes: Clean stuff is General. Sexy stuff without nudity or actual sex is Moderate. Nudity with bare nipples or bits requires at least Mature. Explicit is the porn category.

Violence, profanity and drug use breakdown: none/some/lots goes into General/Moderate/Mature.

[dischimera]

Eh. Of the five websites I use it's the only ratings system that makes sense.
I really wish they all had the 13+ moderate rating.

[Uluri]

._. I always thought that the ratings were pretty straight forward. Like movie ratings.

G for general Audience for General Rating. suitable for all audiences.
PG-13 for Moderate (May contain materiel not suited for a Younger Audience)
R for Mature (Nudity, Excessive blood or gore, Harsh Language or harsh themes)
NC-17 for Explicit. This is some Adult Rated stuff

I think the Rating Page page explains pretty well of what isn't allowed in each category.

[Socks the Fox]

And yet for some reason I still have to report the occasional penis or nipple >.>

[Tiamat]

Its really not that confusing at all.