Sexual Forum Legality
 

So I've been trying to research this in the great web of confusion that is the internet and I was wondering if anyone here can point me in a direction.

I run a website that has a sexually based Role Playing Forum. I've required all the people posting to be 21, all the characters to be 18 or older and not allowed incest, beastility or sex with minors in any of these fantasy stories...

At the same time, this is just part of the website and I don't want to get myself into trouble. The interactive nature of the forums worries me a little and so I'm trying to find info on what is currently allowed/not allowed by law...especially on forums...

Any thoughts out there about this, or links that might help?

Not sure about what is legal, as preaty much anything short of pedophlia goes, on the internet. My sugestion would be having nice big warnings and things saying "This site contains blah blah blah, if you click agree, you acknowledge you've read this and understand, etc" to cover your ass. That, and get mods that will keep everyone in line, so there would never be any reason for complaint, and if there is, you can say it was dealt with imidately.

Check out the thread The FBI versus Porn. Chances are, some of what is on your site can be considered "obscene". Same as this site. The legal definition of obscene is presently in flux. (I'm assuming you are in the US.) Pay special attention to the Red Rose case; that's text only.

Both 'Lolita', and 'I know why the caged bird sings' present an interesting challenge to obscenity standards.
And if we want to regulate depictions of sex, why isn't there this level of controversy over violence? I think it is significant that GTA didn't get into trouble until they put sex into the game. What does this say about us?
Personally, i suspect it has to do w/ what is easier for a society to deal with.
Excessive violence is dealt with through the use of violence. (Incarceration, execution, or w/e.)
Excessive sex (historicly) leads to excessive birth, which burdens the 'village' for the whole lifetime of the superfolous individual.

Sorry, that was a little off topic.
Anyway, i would think that being careful and atleast trying to weed out the kids is a step in the right direction. This thread in and of itself shows a degree of maturity in that you are willing to take responsibility for your site. Good luck!
I had also heard about a bill awhile ago that tried to get the Pr0n industry to adopt a XXX domain. (To help anti-spam sw block incoming pr0n spam.) Don't know how far it got, though.
That would be an EXCELLENT way to regulate access to pr0n, as windows comes w/ a content filter access function.

If this is a text-based forum, and you are in the U.S. you have virtually nothing to worry about. That is, unless people start making specific threats to real people.

just as long as its clear that its just fantasy i dont see how anyone could do anything about it.

Do they role a die, with a 1/3 chance of being flacid?

omg Found an new addition to my signature, nice one BAMF still laughing :thumbsup:

ooo an XXX domain is an interesting concept. It'd be rediculous to enforce, especially since .com's are international. I think the US would be overstepping their bounds there a little.

Anyhew, back to the point. As long as it is text-based and you're making a disclaimer page, I think you're set. Not that I am an expert on this sort of thing...