Enforce Rule 19 for advertisements (and properly enforce Rule 17)

[Kappaurel]

I think we're reaching the point that requires intervention.

 

We have "strict rules" that are supposed to protect minors from exposure to sexual roleplay, however, our /ads section looks like Pornhub. 

 

• Step into a world of elegance and mystery with Escortname a stunning escort...
• Barely-legal female escort for hire
• Twink looking for the company of ebony males (I think this one was a prank, but it could very much be real)

 

We need to be coherent, we need to be consistent, and we need to make sense. One in every 3 or 4 ads I see on any random night are escorts, and this is a double rule violation:

 

1. Rule 19, although some are flat "escort for hire", some others are too explicit. The only adequate way to approach this is to remove escort /ads overall.

 

2. Rule 17 - Offering illegal services through /ads. Rule 17 states that offering illegal services through /ads is forbidden. Prostitution is forbidden, and even if it says "escorts", that's like when in SAMP people posted "Come get medicine from Dr. Ugs!". 

 

Moreover, Rule 17 literally offers a clear example:

Quote

Examples of breaking the rule:

• making an advertisement to purchase firearms;
• advertising the sale of knives or lock picks when the person selling does not have a licensed business to do so;
• advertising the selling of marijuana;
• making an advertisement looking for a date or along the lines of "a fun time";
• making an ad about looking for an eagle from the desert, implying you're looking for a Desert Eagle;
• advertising the search of a hitman to take someone out.

 

 

The rules are already in place, but they are not being enforced. Why?

 

Edited July 20 by Kappaurel

[Akio]

i kinda have to agree they are becoming far too common, it's becoming ridiculous. 

Edited July 20 by Akio

[Martyn]

Get this filth off my screen already.

[Jennie]

They should have their own category and hidden from anyone who doesn't want to see them by default.

 

 

[ScarletRose]

+1

"Escort" is just a fancy word for "expensive prostitute". They're pretty much the exact same thing.

Funnily enough, in real life, this same exact thing happens. Where prostitutes would advertise their services as escort services in order to get around prostitution laws. Now on GTAW, prostitute characters are calling themselves "escorts" to get around server rules.

Those escort ads absolutely should fall under rule 19, either ban them completely or add some kind of NSFW section to the ads menu to separate them.

 

[radreaper100]

why dont cops just crack down its an 18+ game lol

[Astra]

It's way too common, you will see several ads like this within the hour and it's just a bit tiring sometimes.

 

A separate section for these kinds of ads would be a nice addition to the server so players can choose to see it if they wish to

[mj2002]

I used to report these ads and they would get removed. However, in recent months, certain admins started to trash these reports because they were considered to be legitimate ads that were supposed to be used as a flimsy cover for illegal services,  and that enforcement should be done ICly. This seems to go for escorts and lockpicks, but not for guns and drugs. 

 

I can somewhat understand where this is coming from, if these would actually be investigated.  As far as I can tell, this isn't happening at a rate that worries characters making these ads, if at all. That's unfortunate.

 

I'll offer an alternative perspective for the rule 19 issue. The first post and replies here seem to suggest that you're all convinced that these things are considered sexual roleplay that's somewhat visible to all characters including minors, but I would counter that they aren't. These ads all hint and titilize, as you would expect, but when it comes to the  enforcement of rule 19, generally what happens in the server is that explicit sexual acts in public,  nudity related to sexual activity in public, and direct or indirect sexual advances aimed towards minors characters (anywhere)  are being punished. 

 

But this other side is very close. Strippers can stand outside their strip club in their stripper outfits, street hookers can walk the streets, minor characters regularly hit on adult characters, adult services and websites are offered in IC sections of the forums, fb sees numerous thirst trap images posted daily/hourly. 

 

All of these issues are available and ICly visible to minor characters every single day, just like these suggestive ads are. Real life is not any different in this extent. 

 

If you really wish to change this situation, then you should make a rule suggestion about rule 19 itself, and not just one way in which this is presented publicly and ignoring all the others. What are you really achieving then?

 

If you wish to separate these ads from the rest, then  you all means.  I suggested more ad categories already, but unfortunately it wasn't picked up on.

 

 

 

This suggestion by itself just feels a tiny bit like an exercise in moral superiority when knowing full well that it doesn't really resolve anything related to protecting minors other than removing low quality ads. I'd say, enforce the law ICly instead, but also recognize that this happens irl all the time. The only reason that we see it so blatantly is because we cannot replicate the vast amounts of different ad spaces that real life has.

 

 

[Swagg]

Well, considering the fact prostitution is illegal and by definition "Any person(s) who encourages or persuades a person to engage in sexual activity for monetary gain, whether it be the prostitute or the customer.", Rule 17 should be applied to this, considering they're discreetly advertising such activity that is a crime. However, I don't think R19 can fit very much for a change of rules in this circumstance, as most advertisements aren't extremely graphic or noticeable, but generally speaking these advertisements are perpetuating an illegal scheme regardless, and Rule 17 should be the bout of change.

[tragic]

I agree +1