There is a storm brewing in the blog world, with controversy revolving around 9rules decision to [...]

To network or not to network

In light of the “9rules purge” out blogs problem I thought I’d write an articl [...]

As for the decision regarding multiple content networks, the reasons are mainly two-fold. One, we cannot control what other networks choose to do or say, and if a member is part of a content network that takes actions that may harm our reputation, we’re automatically associated with their actions even though we played no part in them. We’ve received email complaints regarding the actions of content networks that we were secondarily affiliated with, and this new policy ensures that we can control the image of the Network and our members properly. Secondly, if a content network is competing with (or plans to compete with) 9rules, then we feel as though a member should choose one network to be a part of. We don’t want a situation to arise where a member is privy to the internal goings-on of 9rules via our private member forum, and then is able to communicate those actions to a competing weblog network. I hope you can agree with us on that one

So Kyle, overall we’re just trying to make the Network better for our members, and to do that we feel that some new policies needed to be laid out. I understand how someone not affiliated with 9rules could be confused as to why this weblog post was made, but hopefully this explanation helps a bit

Good move on the aduly content “censorship” thing. That I will agree with you on for now.

“One content Network please.”

There is apsolutely no *valid* reason for doing that. I don’t like this move very much.

And just so there is no mistake, I think that children should be protected from pornography.

Ultimately 9rules did what they felt was best for their brand. I disagree with their methods in some cases, but it was their choice since it is their network.

This will be all I say further on the subject. I just wanted to make it clear that what 9rules did isn’t censorship. I only brought up the censorship stuff when someone claimed that only the government can censor which isn’t true.

I can dig the whole rules thing. It’s not about censorship, its about brand identity.

The whole censorship complaint is crap, and is akin to getting mad at every retailer for not carrying porno mags. Why not just get mad at every website out there that doesn’t link to an adult site? That seems reasonable doesnt it?

“…Porn being offensive is a cultural thing…”

It’s also a legal matter if not handled properly and carefully. I cannot believe no one is getting that.

Look at this, and see if you understand it enough to feel 100% certain you should put explicit material on your blog or network –

Electronic Frontier Foundation: Bloggers FAQ – Adult Material

While I can’t get 100% behind the way they handled this situation, I can completely support there reasoning as to why.

All this censorship talk is nonsense.

Porn being offensive is a cultural thing. We can agree or not (I don’t) but I fully agree on 9rules removing porn or porn related content from the network. It has nothing to do with censorship. It’s a business decision. It’s a fact that a proportion of people gets all worked up when they see porn. We cannot change that no matter how much we believe ‘everything should go’. Since 9rules is a business it’s important to take care of what the customers (readers in this case) deem important. And so the porn was removed. I wonder why this kind of stuff is so hard to understand for people.

If you _knew_ me you’d realize that the notion of me taking _anything_ my government says seriously is laughable at best. This is more than a philisophical argument. It’s truth. No one except a strong man like government can _force_ you not to write whatever you want to. You always have the option of writing elsewhere. Thus. You’re. Not. Censored.