Any plans for hetero stories in Mature section?

[TheBlankScroll]

If you make it, they will come.

so to speak...

[Kaylim]

The section will be for premium stories.

So, we'll be making more distinctions between the Mature Filter that any creator can utilize and the Mature Section, which will have its own set of content policy guidelines.

Hmmm so the Mature section is more for erotica and the Mature filter is more for...what it currently is for, like suggestive situations and explicit language? I'm confused. I wish they had chosen a more distinctive name. So these stories in the Mature content tab aren't like the stories that have the Mature filter? They're more mature? I'm trying to figure out how this impacts currently mature-flagged work. I'm concerned that after already being hit by the Apple ban, now new readers looking for mature content will be led straight to the premium-only stories thanks to that nice new shiny Mature button up on top, and won't find their way to the mature-flagged content.

As Tapas is sort-of-kind-of like a publisher, it makes sense that this new Mature premium content would be carefully regulated. I totally understand that, but for mature content creators, this is always such a difficult hurdle, because if you don't fit into whatever narrow brand of "okay" mature content they have is, you're out of luck.

If you're a writer of mature content then I highly recommend publishing on smashwords, whose policy regarding mature content is very liberal compared to most sites.

[AceRagz]

This is a valid concern but as of now it doesn't look like it will be addressed as the focus seems to be on porn comics.

[Maps]

That was my concern too. I don’t want readers to think that the premium works in the Mature section are the ONLY mature works on Tapas web...

Also, maybe they can eventually make the mature section similar to how Lezhin’s Popular section is set up, where you can actually choose which genre tab you are looking for. So, you’d be able to click on things like “BL, GL, Mature (hetero), Horror, Fantasy, Action” etc.
And the main page of the Mature section can promote different series from different genres and not just BLs?

[joannekwan]

Hmmm so the Mature section is more for erotica and the Mature filter is more for...what it currently is for, like suggestive situations and explicit language? I'm confused. I wish they had chosen a more distinctive name. So these stories in the Mature content tab aren't like the stories that have the Mature filter? They're more mature?

Basically as how I see it. Obviously people can freely publish censored erotica with a story on the site. But the new section is specifically for erotica that is kept behind a paywall which Tapas has officially vetted through reaching out to the creators or through the future submission process.

And yeah, I also hope that future readers don't think this section is the only place to find 'mature' content on Tap.

[sadghost]

Op: "Any plans for hetero stories in mature section?"

Tapas: "he...th..he..? hetero? what's that, is that a new word for BL?"

[Jenny-Toons]

-stands in the background, praying no one takes this thread as a sign to either complain about BL or take this as complaining about BL. Just...not again-

But in all seriousness, I think it'd be a bit silly for them to just have the Mature section host only BL. Only because there is a big Mature audience on Tapas like wants BL, GL, and Hetero works alike, and that's just speaking for erotica. But as far as things go right now, I'm chill with the need for submissions. Of course, that might be it harder for people who don't want to go premium, myself included, but again -- would rather there be requirements than just letting everyone most their mature works and then sifting through all that, you know?

[Maps]

Lol I love BL more than many things but I am with you here.
Also, I’m not sure I want to go premium either.

[Karmillina]

Hopefully? I mean, BL is good an all but everyone does it XD If everything available in the mature section is BL... well, that will get boring fast for everyone else.

[JRHoch]

They should just call it erotica! Since that's what it is and porn, well they could call it porn!

[nostalgicroxas]

If it were hardcore porn they'd likely have issues with the hosts of their website/app. Most dot-com hosts require you not to have any content that is sexual to arouse on your site, without paying more, and then gating it with walls to stop at the minimum 13 year olds. Some gates I've seen require credit cards to "prove" you're an adult. Not saying any one of these is why it's premium, but likely it's part of a reason.

As for the main topic itself, I have no new opinion past what I've said before: numbers game, blah blah, stats, traffic, likely more to come, blah blah, be patient.

[HGohwell]

I totally agree the distinction between Mature filter and Mature section is a bit blurred. My understanding of it was that it would be the difference between mature and explicit like in writing you have sex scenes where you know sex is going on and its not fade to black but its not graphically described vs seeing every detail described fully. That but comics. But yeah, call it Erotica section or something to make the difference clear that it's about sex or something like that.

I'm super in 2 minds about BL it being primarily BL: on the one hand it's a business and its what's in demand, on the other it just being BL or primarily BL starts leaning into the all BL is explicitly sexual (which is still a surprisingly common misconception) and wandering close to those complains about making sexuality a fetish, especially when it's the only sexuality, and that BL somehow is more mature than other romance/erotica. I'm sure that's not what's going on, but it is always something to watch other for implication of, whether intentional or not.

I also have issues about how everything is split out into its own things. BL can only be BL, GL is only GL and het is only het. But that's a mostly separate issue.

[sadghost]

Erotica is when is all artsy and pretend there's a deep meaning. Porn is the fun stuff.

Yeah, this "mature" is only about the sex/romance part. It would be like the Deadpool movie, but without the violence, dark humor or language and only focus on the relationship stuff.

[AceRagz]

lol erotica used to be those dirty little books grannies bought at the grocery store. Now everyone tries to label their porn as...erotica. It softens the real intent. Let's face it though it's still used to get people off therefore it is porn. They want to call it erotica to make it sound less dirty XD. Nooooo we don't have a porn site! We have an....erotica site!

[CodeMonkeyArts]

But ANYWAY, once it's sorted out, I would def be interested in pitching an erotic novel.

Same! ...In fact I should probably start compiling some ideas XD

[vothnthorvaldson]

I'm ok that erotica is a badly defined term that has been used in many ways, including just trying to pass porn as artsy.

But it's still necessary to have a word: I suppose you'll be ok (tell me if you're not) that a work with lots of sexual content can also have a strong artistic purpose; and than when one think 'porn' they don't think of art. We have to have a word to describe that.
What else than 'erotica' would you suggest?

[AceRagz]

Any work can have a strong artistic value to it.I'm just going to be honest if any work has a lot of sexual content and it has the specific intent to entice a certain reaction then it's porn. Nothing wrong with that either.

[vothnthorvaldson]

No, nothing wrong with porn, but I see something a bit wrong (in my opinion) in considering that in term of classification, sexual content HAS to be prioritized over artistic content. For most people, porn means sex, not art. Classifying a work as porn when it has a clear artistic vision, it's considering the artistic vision is completely secondary. For me, it's a bit of a remainder of prejudice, at the contrary. Putting all sexual content in one category so we don't have to deal with it in the rest of the content. I'm not too happy with this kind of method.

[AceRagz]

I think people are too uptight about sex. So much so that they try to label sexual content under other names so that it is more acceptable as a whole,

[vothnthorvaldson]

Yeah, we see the same problem (people are too uptight about sex, and 'uptight' is a very nice way to put it), but we have opposite feelings about the consequences on classifications. Curious.