Comment on TOS Spotlight: Harassment

  1. mrsmildmay Sat 14 Jun 2025 08:01PM UTC

    i’m sorry this is a very serious topic and i totally understand why it’s needed but “no incest lovers allowed I will stomp you all to death with my hooves” is SENDING ME 😭 it’s just so specific like wtf 💔

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    1. MariTheMayonnaiseJar Sat 14 Jun 2025 08:28PM UTC

      I cannot be contained

      Ur not wrong they are VERY specific
      It’s not funny tho this is not a good thing at all

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      1. AO3_Policy_and_Abuse (Official) Sun 15 Jun 2025 09:40PM UTC

        a stylized AO3 cat

        Any examples provided are made up and do not refer to any specific user or work. We used hypothetical situations or selected commonly used phrases, so any resemblance to specific content is purely coincidental.

        Last Edited Sun 15 Jun 2025 09:45PM UTC

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    3. CursesFromTheAbstract91 Sat 14 Jun 2025 08:34PM UTC

      Same here, that got me good, same for the toes line, of all body parts I would not pick toes as the first to go(not that I think about this all the time or anything) although not being able to walk properly definitely is a major disadvantage, or so I have heard, I can’t confirm that since thankfully, I have all my toes and working order, so take that as something I’m 80% sure is true.

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      1. exceptionallyunfortunate Sat 14 Jun 2025 09:08PM UTC

        Aiba from AI: The Somnium Files. She is in hamster form, staring downwards while pinned to a wall with a tack.

        Unfortunately, harassers use absurd language/scenarios on purpose, so they can claim they're just being silly or that the threat is impossible and therefore shouldn't be punishable. It's like when "pee your pants" became a popular substitute for "kill yourself." People who correctly understood the intent would be mocked or dismissed for pointing it out, under the logic that incontinence isn't a serious threat.

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        1. CursesFromTheAbstract91 Sat 14 Jun 2025 10:35PM UTC

          Ah, that makes way too much sense to be fake, which is sad.

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          1. AO3_Policy_and_Abuse (Official) Sun 15 Jun 2025 09:42PM UTC

            a stylized AO3 cat

            Any examples provided are made up and do not refer to any specific user or work. We used hypothetical situations or selected commonly used phrases, so any resemblance to specific content is purely coincidental.

            Last Edited Sun 15 Jun 2025 09:46PM UTC

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        3. MysteriousMihai Sat 14 Jun 2025 11:59PM UTC

          There's that narrow grey zone that makes some instances really difficult to judge on - how to tell for absolute certainty that someone's actually being silly or genuinely violating the rules.

          Like, you could be mocking a good friend based on some take you both rather disagree on, but don't seriously don't get into a scrap about, that shines through in a particular chapter of their work you're commenting, e.g. "lol, you made X and Y kiss for real! Just go pee your pants! :D" Your friend might recognize this as a joke, but some random third person reading this comment won't, of course, be aware that you know each other well and might report it for harassment. PAC can't know about this, either, and even if you might use a smiley or two or add "/jk", it may still be assumed that you're trying to disguise an act of harassment as a joke.

          It might not harm to make people aware of being careful what kind of jokes they put into the comments even if they deem themselves safe, lest they get into unnecessary trouble.

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        4. pillowpincess Sun 15 Jun 2025 03:43PM UTC

          fujocore

          “Pee your pants” was never a substitute for “kill yourself” they usually say “keep yourself safe” as a substitute.

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          1. exceptionallyunfortunate Sun 15 Jun 2025 05:25PM UTC

            Aiba from AI: The Somnium Files. She is in hamster form, staring downwards while pinned to a wall with a tack.

            Presumably we're in different internet spheres, because "pee your pants" was notoriously used like this on tumblr around 2017.

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            1. pillowpincess Sun 15 Jun 2025 05:29PM UTC

              fujocore

              i thought we were talking about modern not random millennials in 2012

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              1. robkelk Sat 21 Jun 2025 03:53PM UTC

                Having posted fanfic to Usenet back in the 1990s, I consider 2012 to be modern.

                Which just goes to show that people's definitions don't always match... and that shows why AO3 needs to define harassment.

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            3. MalcontentCatboy Sun 15 Jun 2025 05:46PM UTC

              Good example of why I haven't been to Tumblr since they deleted the porn.

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              1. LordiTheRailgun Sun 15 Jun 2025 06:13PM UTC

                Don't worry, the bots have stepped up to the challenge!

                Kinda joking with this one but shortly before I deleted my Tumblr, I was bombarded with porn bots. It was a bit much. Have no idea if they got it under control, though.

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                1. KaishaKat Sun 15 Jun 2025 06:40PM UTC

                  Not really :/ there truly is an unheard-of amount of bots on tumblr. But they have brought back nsfw content posted by actual people though! Users can use a "mature content" label to post nudity now.

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                  1. LordiTheRailgun Tue 17 Jun 2025 09:08AM UTC

                    Oh sweet. Commence the thirst posting wars! Still won't make me come back to Tumblr but I'll cheer you on.

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          3. hello_ree Sat 21 Jun 2025 12:43AM UTC

            OSC spotted

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            1. pillowpincess Sat 21 Jun 2025 03:05AM UTC

              fujocore

              You again?

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              1. hello_ree Mon 23 Jun 2025 12:55AM UTC

                yes. i am object fan

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                1. pillowpincess Mon 23 Jun 2025 06:39PM UTC

                  fujocore

                  No this is like the second time I saw you on these.

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                  1. hello_ree Tue 24 Jun 2025 01:19AM UTC

                    osc moment

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    5. LordiTheRailgun Sat 14 Jun 2025 08:35PM UTC

      Ack same! I feel bad for laughing considering the subject but there has to be lore with that line.

      You know the feeling you get when you encounter something so spacy that your immideate reaction is laughing? Yeah...

      Last Edited Sat 14 Jun 2025 08:37PM UTC

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      1. AO3_Policy_and_Abuse (Official) Sun 15 Jun 2025 10:17PM UTC

        a stylized AO3 cat

        Any examples provided are made up and do not refer to any specific user or work. We used hypothetical situations or selected commonly used phrases, so any resemblance to specific content is purely coincidental.

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    7. Rune_Vanyarin Sat 14 Jun 2025 08:37PM UTC

      Yeah! They picked some good examples there. These are realistic, definitely the kinds of things they'd take seriously in a report, but also absurd enough that no one reading this article is likely to be deeply upset by.

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    8. Kaanbaltla Sat 14 Jun 2025 08:48PM UTC

      LOL Same!

      Gotta be honest, I have the feeling that those really specific and particular examples were taken from actual fanfics because if not... then whoever wrote that or proposed the examples really knows how those kind of people talk on the Internet HAHAHAHAHA

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      1. Rune_Vanyarin Sat 14 Jun 2025 09:26PM UTC

        I mean, they're volunteer moderators on AO3, they're really in the trenches re internet culture.

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        1. hello_ree Sat 21 Jun 2025 12:44AM UTC

          yo platypus PFP do u like pnf?

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      3. MariTheMayonnaiseJar Sun 15 Jun 2025 01:18PM UTC

        I cannot be contained

        Yeah how do you come up with those kinda threats? Were they taken from actual comments that got reported? And imma assume most volunteers on ao3 are gen z. They did make me laugh tho and then I felt terrible for laughing at them cuz this is not a good thing it’s a serious matter.

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        1. Rune_Vanyarin Sun 15 Jun 2025 05:05PM UTC

          I think it's OK to laugh. This is a serious topic, but they chose those funny examples on purpose, most likely to make us laugh and keep the post from being too depressing to read through.

          (I'd also guess most the PAC volunteers are Millenial or Gen X, but I don't actually know)

          Last Edited Sun 15 Jun 2025 05:05PM UTC

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          1. MariTheMayonnaiseJar Sun 15 Jun 2025 05:26PM UTC

            I cannot be contained

            I think Ur right. Not everything has to be sad and serious!

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        3. Kereudio Sun 15 Jun 2025 05:31PM UTC

          I have definitely seen the "[group] i will stomp you to death with my hooves" tag a LOT, I think they probably chose representative examples that also weren't too disturbing.

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      5. AO3_Policy_and_Abuse (Official) Sun 15 Jun 2025 09:43PM UTC

        a stylized AO3 cat

        Any examples provided are made up and do not refer to any specific user or work. We used hypothetical situations or selected commonly used phrases, so any resemblance to specific content is purely coincidental.

        Last Edited Sun 15 Jun 2025 09:46PM UTC

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    10. Lioxly Sat 14 Jun 2025 09:03PM UTC

      and 'u first' to 'kys' got a good laugh out of me

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    11. SweetAlphaChild Sat 14 Jun 2025 09:19PM UTC

      Same lol I imagine they wanted to convey that even cartoonish/slapstick violence threats like "I'll crush you with my acme 5 ton giant hammer" or "I'll drop an anvil on you" will still count as harassment despite the goofy tone

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    12. Thecargif Sun 15 Jun 2025 04:57AM UTC

      I love the quote examples they’re so funny 😂

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    13. loserwithagelpen Mon 16 Jun 2025 11:54AM UTC

      An image of Franziska von Karma from Ace Attorney, surrounded by random images. These include (but aren't limited to) the lesbian, genderfluid, and queer pride flags, as well as some Splatoon characters, and an "Objection!" message from Ace Attorney.

      it was soso specific lmfao

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