Improved tools for flagging avatar cards

Tymon · Joined: 28 Mar 2007 Posts: 1346 Location: USA - MI

There is one huge problem with this whole thing. The standards of IMVU's concept of adult materials and what is, or is not socially acceptable is not the same standards as those of society's concepts of social acceptability. For example, in IMVU simply REFERENCES to smoking and alcohol is considered AP. An example... On IMVU, a T-shirt with a beer can on it, would be considered AP, due to alcohol references. In real life however, a 13 year old could buy a shirt exactly like that with no problems. I know this, because my cousin bought a shirt that had a fellow holding up a beer can with the text 'Ready for the big game!' over it. On IMVU that would certainly NOT be befitting for a 13 year old to own. Real life however, is a huge difference. Likewise, people obviously can smoke or drink in public. On IMVU, technically that sort of thing is bannable. The funny thing is, the rules of IMVU thus are more restrictive than real life's rules... I'm sorry, but, if I went around saying I like to watch erotic films... people might think I'm weird, but it won't get me arrested. Yet, doing that exact same thing on IMVU could get you warnings, or even banned now? Ridiculous...
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Mikanojo · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 3112 Location: USA

@Tymon

i agree that IMVU standards ARE different.

In addition to what you already mentioned about smoking and references to alcohol, IMVU also openly allows for adult themes and content to operate in the AP district that are actually illegal in most states of USA and some illegal in most of the world.

It is an odd some times confusing mix or overly repressed content and overly permissive content and even worse, IMVU has only vaguely written rules regarding it all, and uneven enforcement of the rules, when and if some concerned virtual community member cries out about it.. because IMVU has no police and has made us all our brothers keepers instead with the report tools.

i would have thought that after being in the business of providing a virtual community for 7 years, that by now, IMVU would have at the very least CONSULTED with some people who actually know how to run a community? Who understand how a community works and what it needs to be healthy as a whole?

There is no reason NOT to have the AP red light district in IMVU.. but there is also absolutely no reason to be advertising for that red light district on our publicly viewable avatar cards.

Our adult interests are our own business, and none of us really have the right to be parading them publicly for the GA district and the young people there to see.

Public indecency is still an offense, here in IMVU and in realspace.
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MsTonks · Joined: 10 Sep 2010 Posts: 4 Location: USA - TX

I am a full paying member of the site....AP and VIP. I agree with many lets have the ability to make our avi cards AP. I dont like the fact that just anybody can see my pictures....that is a witchhunt put out there by IMVU. My pics were only visible through MY AP homepage. Yes I can set them to friends and no I didnt have any naked pics of my avi but still. Still boils down to a witch hunt going on right now. What I think is acceptable or unacceptable may not be so to the next person. I personally dont like BDSM but hey if that is your thing then go for it. If you want to be owned....again your biz not mine.

Funny you say you are here to protect kids.....how many kid avis are out there PLUS the ability to dress like a kid?????? Yea thats pretty sick. Oh....and the fact that people can hide their age now there's a brilliant idea ~rolls eyes~

Though we have AP there are still those out there that are simply here to make the rest of our lives completely and totally miserable. If one of my friends drop the F*bomb in my room and there is a stranger in there someone gets reported and their account disabled that is just not right. Again what I consider offensive is not what someone considers offensive and it seems that no questions asked I get my account disabled. I think STAFF of IMVU you need to look at the ones doing all the complaining and reporting. I have invested a lot in this site and not just cash. I have made true lasting friendships so that is where you have me over a barrel because I dont want to leave here and restart on another site that actually is concerned about their users. Stop catering to the haters and listen to the majority.

Sullen · Joined: 05 Apr 2009 Posts: 163 Location: Canada

WOW. I mean, I know there are more and more children running around on IMVU on a daily basis, but IMVU shouldn't be punishing us ADULTS who follow the original rules set in place because some kids' parents don't watch their online activities. I bought Access Pass so I could be an adult in a sea full of children. And now that kids are able to buy AP, that means WE are the ones to be punished? I say, for ANYONE to be able to buy AP, or hell, sign up with an adult age period, should have to have some sort of ID. Whether it be a driver's licence or a Social Security Number. IMVU wants things to be secure for kids, then make sure that kids can't buy AP. Plain and simple.

Another idea, why doesn't IMVU make it so AP users are completely obsolete to GA users? If they're GA, they can't click on our cards or view our homepages even if they're set to GA. This is just completely unfair to the AP community. After all, it's us ADULTS who are giving IMVU their money every day. The children here just use promo. But they're in top priority? Retarded.
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xKazie · Joined: 13 Jan 2010 Posts: 19 Location: Australia

Personally. I find this complete nonsense, I'm with Sullen on this one.

If IMVU wants to restrict things to GA recommendations then personally I have no issue putting in a few numbers to prove my age, Hell I have to send a fax of my ID to get "Age verified" badge why can't they have that on the sign up? - Sure it will take awhile to actually sign up but the experience will be worth it, Don't get me wrong I joined IMVU when I was 17 years old. Now 22 and been banned once before because of inappropriate flagging from people that disliked me is my guess as all I got was an automated message when I sent in several tickets, But that's not the point. My point is if IMVU wants this community to be GA-Rated then at least ask for some form of ID on signing up over the age of 18+ as I'm pretty sure a lot of people don't mind doing such a thing, If we seriously have to fax in evidence of us being over 18 for the Age Badge then why not do this? Seriously. It can't be 'that hard' to code a verification process into this site.

Also The reason I find this really stupid is the fact I've literally watched my friends list diminished by people getting disabled/banned for having Adult Content in there interest. In fact, These certain people are probably the only actual people I can connect with on a mature level with the same interest as I have. Now how exactly am I suppose to find a few new friends that are into things I like hm? Again, Complete nonsense on IMVU's part.
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Mikanojo · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 3112 Location: USA

Just to answer your question before i go today,

We have access to AP public rooms and also AP groups that we can search with key words to help us find others who share our AP interests.

And we can always set our home pages as AP only and write about our AP interests there, in every section EXCEPT the publicly viewable Interests section.. which does seem a bit silly, but since they are public, it needs to be that way.

What i think is truly sad and so unnecessary, is that some people are so immature and irresponsible with adult content and themes that they would get their accounts suspended or even banned simply because they just HAD to put that content on public view on their avatar card???
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i have NO interest in any unhealthy alternative to an actual lifestyle.

xKazie · Joined: 13 Jan 2010 Posts: 19 Location: Australia

Fluxify · Joined: 12 Aug 2009 Posts: 40 Location: USA

this is a complete and utter outrage. I feel like I'm being babysat. I'm 34 years old and shouldn't have to censor myself when I'm a paying customer. This is not good business. But much like everything else, we will be expected to swallow this too along with all the other ridiculous TOS restrictions. Instead of imvu policing the underage people on this Godforsaken thing that are illegally breaking their TOS, they punish the verified paying adults. Great job! /sarcasm

DylanTalyessin · Joined: 26 Mar 2007 Posts: 1920 Location: United Kingdom

MrsGeorgec · Joined: 03 Apr 2010 Posts: 2 Location: USA

I personally like the idea but thats becasue I am tormented by (mod edit - name removed, please do not name names) and have reported him over and over and he still breathes on IMVU now he goes after my friends so I just ask them to flag him becasue nothing is being done ........ have to hide in my rooms because he haunts me no matter where I go................. so if this would help rid him of IMVU i am thrilled

Mikanojo · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 3112 Location: USA

@MissyCarole

ooh gomen.. please remove the name of that person, just call them 'some one'. IMVU forums do not allow people to be accused like that. o_0
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HolocaustAngel · Joined: 23 Apr 2009 Posts: 63 Location: United Kingdom

I am in agreement with those who say we could easily solve this problem by seperating AP or making AP things capable of being blocked from GA sight.

f we were able to set our Avatar cards to AP only - just like we do our rooms and our homepages everyone would go home happy. The AP users would get the freedoms of access and use of Adult content like they paid for and GA and underage members would not even be able to see content that would be considered inappropriate for them to see. Its WIN/WIN.

In the case of a child having AP somehow- IMVU would be legally covered because they have taken the steps to make AP content on the Avatar cards unavailable to those without AP, and therefore would be at no fault.

Everybodys happy- the GA members get their clean site, the AP members get their adult content and freedom of expression, and IMVU is legally covered from liability.

And as mika is concerned with people being responsible - the above is a very responisble adult decision on the part of everyone.

I have also created a post on the user voice forums for people to vote up this concept if they feel the need to take actual action on this:

linkage here----> http://imvu.uservoice.com/forums/124703-customer-feedback/suggestions/2613926-be-able-to-set-avi-card-to-ap-just-like-our-rooms-
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Mikanojo · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 3112 Location: USA

@ HolocaustAngel

i think that some people are missing the point of the avatar cards entirely.

The avatar card is an extension of our default avatar picture, which by IMVU TOS was always required to be GA, as it appears on every home page we visit in their visitors list, including the home pages of those who do not have the AP.

The avatar card is intended to be public, intended to allow us to have some basic information about us there for others to see if we wish.. and offering quick links to others to write to us or view our home page or visit our shops if we are developers..

To make it AP is removing the entire point of the avatar card.

Yes, i agree that if we could simply separate the GA from AP entirely then many of these issues would immediately be resolved.

Until that day ever comes if ever, there is no reason not to ask adults to please act responsible with the adult themes and content they put on public display with their avatar cards, is there?

Is it really about censoring some one's 'right' to be pornographic and lascivious in public? Are those rights that we have?

NO, they are not.

Thank you to every adult who is considerate and responsible.

And for those who are not.. well IMVU gave us these tools just for that purpose.. i guess we needed them.

And to those adults who feel they are being treated unfairly, imagine what the response from the pubic would be, if you were to walk around in public in lingerie, or naked..

imagine what the public response would be if you were walking around carrying a sign advertising your illicit adult interests..

Would those results be censorship or simply protecting the public from public indecency?

This is IMVU, and what content we can have and where we can have it is not decided by me, or by you.. or by popular vote..

It is decided by IMVU. We agreed to that when we joined.
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i have NO interest in any unhealthy alternative to an actual lifestyle.

AnakaTarren · Joined: 16 Mar 2006 Posts: 4544 Location: USA

Recent flagging system/procedure changes have created a safety problem where self-professed minors with adult accounts and sexual ageplayers are no longer being suspended or disabled when flagged with the new tools.

Minor/adult age discrepancies and sexual ageplayers are probably the two of the most dangerous Terms of Service (TOS) violations on site in the opinion of most parents.

IMVU had my public thread on this issue relocated to the AP forum, claiming the discussion of those two TOS safety topics is of an adult nature (a decision I strongly disagree with). However, if safety of minors is a concern to you, please feel free to join that discussion here:
http://www.imvu.com/catalog/modules.php?op=modload&name=phpbb2&file=viewtopic.php&t=414668
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