Posted

Jun 9th 2006

Okay guys, so the mods of this site - a bunch of people who volunteer with no compensation whatsoever to help keep this site running as smoothly as possible - have come under attack recently. Why have they come under attack? Because people are not reading the TOS before they post their art and wage their little holy wars.

As most of you are probably aware, the TOS, or "Terms of Service", lay out the compromises that you must make in order to make use of this free service, and set up your own highly-customisable and completely free-of-cost gallery on our servers. The rules aren't THAT restrictive, and the restrictions that are in place are there because a great majority of the users of this site are not at an age that the US government - the government of the country in which the servers that house Sheezyart reside - has decided is old enough to look at sexually explicit material, or excessive swearing. It is not our job, as the 'governing body' of this website to argue with national laws. This is point number one.

Point number two is that even if you didn't READ the TOS when you signed up for the site, by the sheer action of you creating an account on this website, you agreed to these TOS. Even if you didn't read them. Ignorance is not a shield, and allegations of unfairness against those who uphold the TOS is not a sword. The entire reason you are allowed to use this website is because you agreed to the TOS, whether you read them or not.

Point number three is that the TOS will NOT be changed because you came to the rude awakening of point #2. The rules that we set forward are the rules set forth, once again, by the US government, and we are not at liberty to change them, no matter how many protests you wage. It is simply not in our power. Websites such as deviantart and other communities have similar rules, although they may enforce them with varying severity. What I mean by this is that, for as small of a cast as this website has, we let very little slip through the cracks. We do not ignore reports of TOS violation. When we see something wrong, we stop it.

This is not to say that we catch everything. We are not omniscent, and we cannot see everything that happens. However, this DOES mean that we do not turn a blind eye to what we see just to be popular or well-liked. We are not here to be popular and well-liked. We are here to uphold a set of rules and standards, and make this website safe for EVERYONE, not just a few people or groups.

That's all. Please consider these facts before launching any campaigns against the staff of sheezyart. If you have a grievance, we welcome them, and we will evaluate them with a neutral eye... however, if you come ranting, raving, and acting like a four-year-old... well, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

Have a nice night.