jaynaylor
patreon
Subjective Patreon "Policy" on "Japanese Style" Characters
🕑 Added 2020-03-13 23:43:09 +0000 UTCWord is flying around from some creators about a new and entirely subjective policy being enforced, primarily targeting Anime style artists for giving their characters neotanous features, like big eyes and big heads. Some artists have already had their accounts forced to remove any depiction of a character that could be interpreted as possibly under 18, based on looks alone. Any character with a thin build, or large eyes could conceivably be targeted by this subjective policy, regardless of how many stories you've written about them being adults.
I've not seen the specific art that Patreon came down on when this was brought up. Was it exceptionally chibi? I don't know. But it does mean they could interpret a style as against their ever morphing policies.
In the past several years I've been pulling my style toward more ordinary proportions. I used to draw heads much larger than they would normally be on people, as a way of style, in my older work. I try not to anymore. But it does mean some characters who are specifically short and thin, like Beth or Penelope, could be subject to scrutiny, despite being written as adults who lead adult lives in stories. The subjective nature of this is what is the most aggravating. Sissy's in her forties and has a curvy body, but if I draw her eyes too big, according to the Orwellian-esque named Trust & Safety Committee... the pic has to go?
Things like this make Patreon an unstable place to do any kind of creative adult work. When wondering why this would now be a thing when it was fine for all the years Patreon has been around, it makes me wonder if they're not cleaning the site of anything subjectively "iffy" as a prelude to selling the company. This possibility instills further instability, which can't be mollified by any of the CEO's tear-filled assurances about supporting creators.
Here is the article I was linked to that outlined what happened with the anime style creators whose work was brought up:
So, what to do? I'm not leaving my adult-only Patreon account unless I have no choice, so don't worry, for now. But be aware this is happening. I will be posting another announcement after this with links to my Subscribestar page and my SFW Patreon account, and basically going over any contingency plans if this becomes an issue here.
Thank you all!
Comments
Christhian Mora
Looks like is time to migrate to another platforms.
Joshua Chometa
A little bit of bullshit to round out my otherwise pleasant day.
James
I'm not sure if I understand the basis for that critique. For comics that only release a page at a time, periodic developments in the plot and characters are a key aspect of compelling the reader to follow along. Maybe they should just wait and see?
Jay Naylor
It's not just Patreon policies, but the fact that I do about six pages per month means readers will also make presumptions that will linger until the "reveal" later. I'd have to write it in a way that has less impact. I've been criticized violently in the past by people who think I'm going in a direction I'm not.
James
My vote is to not let Patreon's policies shape your artwork but I am understanding if that makes more sense for practical reasons. I'm sure they would hate to lose a successful creator like you that pulls up their aggregate metrics so much.
Jay Naylor
I have a hypnosis plot rattling around in my mind that I've been debating. Editing it to tone it down, or just not doing it all together, because of these issues.
James
Getting pretty sick of Patreon cracking down on completely legal content. I remember a few months ago when Meesh had to remove some silly "mind-control" drawings because of something arbitrary that Patreon decided all on their own. It's not like adult furry artists are being featured on Patreon's front page anyway. Rest assured Jay I will follow where you go if you have no choice but to leave.
Jay Naylor
Thanks!
Ascender
Reading up on the EARN IT Act, that is some pretty draconian Soviet-type shit. Of course it comes from Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal, so what should we expect.
Toadwish
IDK, I think you do a really good job at drawing petite characters that are still very obviously adults. A lot of people fail in that regard so keep up the good work!
Jenna Twerk - NSFW
Just wanted to say keep up the great work!
Jay Naylor
I only have nine there, because everyone's over here. I don't think they would "shut down" this page any day now, but they could single out pieces or characters they'd want me to take down, which would compromise my page here. They could also sell Patreon to another tech company which could impose even more strident restrictions.
x524
Damn, you have only 9 subscribers on Subscribestar? You will lose money if you move there, although I think it is necessary. Patreon could shut down your page any day now.
minoan
It's 100% Patreon trying to check boxes for their eventual sale to one of the big tech firms; if that's not in the works that is what they're trying. It's exactly what happened to Tumblr. I think eventually a lot of folks will migrate to SubscribeStar or another similar service.
SC Dunning
This is insane. So, if someone were to want to draw me-I, who am twenty-eight, far over the age of legal adulthood, but has big "moo cow" eyes, is short and has a very slim build, and just happens to LOOK younger than my age because of it-they couldn't? What kind of crap is that? If it comes to it, I'll absolutely follow you on another platform.
pokediginut
Patreon has been doing some weird shit lately, I hope it donโt go down sinking like Tumblr
leave2gether
this is insane. What's next? Furries, because "we can't identify their age"?
Jay Naylor
Thank you!
Imaging and Photography by Anonsailor
I totally agree, adult depictions on line have been hurt by other laws working to reduce trafficking and exploitation. I have a 500px account, a year ago i had to spend 20-30 minutes looking at my followed photographers new content, now due to TOS changes and new laws, it takes less than a minute. Most of my followed photographers have either stopped posting or have moved to a new photo sharing service (for the time being....)
DKN
This is also a preventative measure to avoid damage if the similarly orwellian "EARN IT" act that is trying to pass through congress is put into action, whereby a company can be shut down by the government for hosting any communication deemed "inappropriate" under the guise of protecting minors from being exploited. Telling tech companies like Patreon that 1st amendment rights have to be "earned" by their platform is going to lead to every hosting site dialing back everything out of fear of scrutiny. A million problems in the world and a little drawn nudity is *not* one of them, but it will be hurt the hardest by companies stupid overreaching response to a stupidly overreaching bill put forth by asshats stupidly overreaching for control over online narratives that serve their political interests. None of this is going to prevent, reduce, or even inconvenience any child exploitation, just put creatives into tougher financial positions to make a living.
Jay Naylor
I have a subscribestar account that I link in the post following this one.
Kalava
Well then.
Dezrath
Like Micah Nightwolf said Patreon had gone the way of YouTube ala subjective censorship. If you go somewhere else let us know, I'll sub up there instead. You've been my favorite yiff artist for going on 8 years now.
Kimar Uriba
Yeah thought just the same. It's just crazy how stupid those companies get, when they are so far ahead of competition for so long.
Vanessa Grim
Please keep us informed
Craig from Omaha
"yiffy" โ "iffy" โ
Micah Nightwolf
Yeah, Patreon has gone the way of YouTube. They're all about as dependable as an ex spouse.
Mr. Powell
If you are indeed forced off Patreon for your adult content only, do you have another platform where we can both support you and receive comic updates?
