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Some thoughts on the current NSFW controvesy

A topic by DioShiba created Jul 24, 2025 Views: 2,847 Replies: 20

Viewing posts 1 to 12

DioShiba119 days ago(+10)

So.... I realize I haven't been active as of late. Obviously there is a free speech issue after the fact you have Collective Shout trying to get involved with a US based company.

Putting aside the hypocrisy of Collective Shout I did have some thoughts on this I did feel that I want to raise.

Look I don't really know what people expected from Leafo and the Staff. I'm not going to make it a secret that I've had issues with how things were handled by Itch.Io in the past regarding to their community but given my experiences I don't feel they have the best track record at handling problems that come up and it feels either too soft and/or corporate compared to other communities I've been on.

I get that ultimately, Itch is a private enterprise, not the government. I actually agree with the gooners, content creators and all these other people actually taking an issue with this because it does feel like a stab to the back to the people who engage with said content and not actually do more to stand up to this nonsense.

However since from what I have noticed in the past few days concerning this controversy it's made news in other communities so the impact of the decisions that led to Itch's and Steam's decisions haven't gone un-noticed. I did hear that the S.401 - Fair Access to Banking Act could potentially put a dent into financial providers ability in telling people and companies what they can and can't do with their money so I do think that should be raised into the discussion.

Anyhow, I was hoping this could be raised into potential discussion regarding the ongoing discourse. IDK if I'll be making a full return to Itch at the moment but for what it's worth if this point somehow gets people thinking on what they could suggest to Itch then by all means, go for it otherwise I don't think there are a whole lot of outcomes that will be good for some parties without Itch facing drastic changes.

Boobanaut119 days ago(+11)

Honestly it's insane how much problems a bunch of Twitter Karens, who have 0 real life problems, nothing to do and not been able to separate reality from fiction, can create for other people by simply whining. In any way if Itch doesn't find other payment processors, their censorship greed will just get stronger. Itch gave them an inch by banning No Mercy, a very controversial in topics, but legal game, and now they about to get their arms cut off. I'm very sorry for Itch, but in these dark twitter times they must act in the interest of their community and consumers. People who try to censor will never stop while it works. I hope Itch get their legal consultation about banks trying to enforce their censorship, and if it doesn't work at least try to find other means for customers to pay for totally legal things.

DioShiba119 days ago (1 edit) (+5)

Honestly given that Mel Tankard Reist and Collective Shout have defended Cuties on Netflix, yet seem to be projecting themselves onto content creators who are making adult games with fictional characters speak volumes that these aren't just run of the mill Karens complaining on twitter.

Far as I am concerned it is a radicalized group claiming to be feminists when it isn't even about feminism.

I didn't want to touch on this point in my initial post because I felt it would have detracted from the main point I was trying to make and I'm willing to bet some other users already pointed that hypocrisy out, but in this case now that you brought it up I do think it's fair to bring that point up and honestly, it also targets LGBTQ+ content creators who know who their audiences are.

Johan Nilsson119 days ago(+4)

To me, this whole operation to target Itch and its payment processors isn’t really about NSFW stuff, at least not primarily. It’s about targeting LGTBQ+ people and making it more difficult for them to make money and share a community. But they pretend it’s about “protecting children”, so fewer people will object to what they are doing. It’s typical for people who hate sexual minorities to use the excuse of protecting children. Then if someone argues against them, they can always reply with indignation and feigned disgust. “What monster are you who want to allow innocent children to be harmed?” It’s impossible to argue against that, at that point.

DioShiba118 days ago (1 edit) (+2)

My thoughts are nuanced on this.

I feel when it comes to those who are in the LGBTQ+ spectrum of minorities I do feel that, if they are devs/contentcreators/artists then they would have enough sense to know who their target audiences are. I do see where we're being targeted in that regard because if our target audiences are adults, then why should we be the ones to be taking the brunt of censorship because of so-called activist groups who probably are not responsible themselves.

I do agree that given that context the whole "protect kids" thing is just an excuse because if anyone really has to be held accountable for that, then it's on the parents. But given how some people are too damn stupid for their own good and don't hold themselves accountable this is one of those situations that happen. Collective Shout is not the first to try and cause the problem if anyone remembers Jack Thompson.

Granted there's a certain age where anything related to sexuality should be talked about by the parent. Personally, I feel that shouldn't happen until a kid is 16 and can handle learning those topics, or at least whatever the age of consent laws are in specific states or countries.

On the other hand, I can understand where if something NSFW shows up on social media when you aren't intentionally looking for it can be bothersome, but if that's really the issue anyways, then why the hell are parents allowing their kids to even be on the internet anyways? Especially when shit like Elsagate happened on Youtube its things like that are what makes me question whether or not kids should even have access to smart phones or tablets to begin with if the porn was really that big of an issue.

To keep my stance simple I don't think kids should be allowed on the internet personally. And while I have had other experiences on the internet over the years that led to this stance I would also be one to recognize that this is something I could only really enforce as a parent.

Johan Nilsson118 days ago(+2)

Thanks for your thoughtful response! I agree with you regarding the issues related to kids being on the internet. However, there’s two sides of that coin, as well. I’m thinking about for example people like me who were born disabled. When I was a kid, internet gave me the freedom and exploration I couldn’t have in the physical world. I could also express myself more freely when I wasn’t bound by my limited ability to talk and write (with a pen).

It’s easy to only look at the harmful effects on kids, such as unattainable body ideals on social media, or hate speech flourishing on Twitter and elsewhere. I think a lot of people disregard the beneficial effects the internet has had on people. The ability to find a community of like-minded people, for example. My disability is extremely rare, and I’ve only found others like me thanks to internet.

With that said, I think most people can agree on that young kids shouldn’t have access to NSFW content. But as you say, that’s mostly the responsibility of parents to decide on how to raise their kids.

G'lek119 days ago(+16)

I think Itch.io needs to adjust their description after all this.

Specifically I think they should consider removing the word “open” from before the word “marketplace”, at least based on my understanding of the definition of an “open marketplace” being one that has minimal restrictions placed on who can sell content and the nature of the content that can be sold.

Red3Tango119 days ago

The way I always considered it:

Open marketplace for game creators. That doesn't require payment up-front and a grueling approval-phase, where if you get denied there is no possibility for appeal, even with changes (yes I'm looking at you Steam). All this, if you follow our guidelines and policies... be real, its 2025 and you need to accept a ToS and cookies to unlock your front-door. I have never considered Itch to be a completely "open" marketplace that just blanketly allows any form of content no matter what.

DioShiba119 days ago(+2)

This is the type of thing that makes people convinced that the mission of what a company does cares more about profits than the mission they claim to be about.

While I'm not directing this statement as an attack on Itch.Io in specific it's kind of hard not to get that vibe when given the lack of clarity after a panic move is made and then conversations like this and a bunch of users who get angry begin to make posts venting about the decision.

Madasa_Seccom119 days ago(+13)

Do you guys remember when Itch was an open market for indie games?

Patrick Charlton-O'Shea119 days ago(+5)

Pepperidge Farm remembers

Bokune119 days ago(+6)

This was once a haven for creativity and freedom of expression now it's a den of wolves and vipers.

AbueloMelee119 days ago(+8)

this is some library of Alexandria type shit

Indie-Wall119 days ago(+12)

Being able to list NSFW content is what gives itch.io an edge over Steam, where Steam otherwise utterly dominates almost every indie games marketplace.

Without that, what would set itch apart is DRM-free content, where they have to compete with GOG. All that's left then is a low barrier for entry, which let's be honest, is a benefit offset by tons of spam content.

The itch.io management will have to take great care of a nuanced approach to not have this site be driven into obscurity.

Do they care enough to accomplish this?

DioShiba119 days ago(+2)

That actually raises an interesting point....

If NSFW content goes then how does spam content get filtered at that point?

Indie-Wall119 days ago

I would expect the usual philosophy of letting the users deal with it.

Hatlesspy119 days ago(+3)

All i can say is "GO FUCK YOURSELF ITCH.IO AND COLLECTIVE SHOUT

Indie-Wall119 days ago(+1)

I'd like to take this opportunity to mention that our site, Indie Wall, allows listing of adult content.

Users must be logged in to view it and have it checked as a category they want to see. Good idea, right?

Bobe-wan119 days ago(+5)

Fuck that shit. Fuck this censorship. Fuck collective shout. We need to stand up to these fucking assholes!

I'm sick of this shit, ubisoft taking over? haha fuck this. fuck these assholes. None should support these useless cunts. Lets make games free.

joshv25118 days ago

I know these petitions don't go far, but surely at least we can make our point with what Collectiveshout is doing.

And yes, I speak Spanish; I'm sorry the petition is in my native language.

https://chng.it/mrhc8pKnMy

DioShiba118 days ago

I'm gonna leave this here in case anyone wants to join in on protesting to Mastercard, Visa and Paypal about this whole situation.

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