Posted by Kim on June 10, 2015, 5:00pm
For the past several years, we've taken the stance of "we don't really care what you RP so long as everyone is safe, comfortable, and enjoying themselves -- and the RP is kept private or in properly tagged groups when appropriate." We've left it up to individual member judgement and preferences to choose the topics that they want to engage with.This has been a fascinating experiment, and most of the time it works surprisingly well! But from time to time we run into situations that raise legal questions for the site, make members needlessly uncomfortable, or are just plain confusing. So we're taking steps to clarify and simplify the situation.
In the next few weeks, we'll be opening up a new semi-public forum called "Looking For RP - Adults Only." As the name implies, this forum can only be accessed by members who are 18 or more years of age. Although you can post any kind of RP request in this new forum that you would in the all ages version of Looking For RP, we will require from here on out that all RP requests for plots that are going to include sexual themes will need to be posted on the Adults Only forum.
This allows us to better protect the site, make members of all ages who don't enjoy seeing requests for sexually-themed RPs more comfortable and feel safer, and helps to prevent dangerous situations for our membership.
If you're over 18 but you still never want to see RP requests with sexual themes, don't fear -- only adult members who have declared that they want to participate in this forum will see any trace of this forum. You'll have to check a box in your settings. It's opt-in. If you don't want to see it, do nothing.
Also this month, we will be updating the rules and forum guidelines to clarify our stances on some more controversial topics of RP. These aren't rule changes so much as clarifications for things that people frequently misread.
We try hard to stay out of your business -- but we can't if it's made our business by being posted on the public areas of the site. If we know that you're endangering yourself or others through the use of the site, we've gotta do something!
Frequently asked questions about the new "Looking For RP - Adults Only" forum
Are the rating guidelines different for the "Looking For RP - Adults Only" forum?
You should continue to think of the "Looking For RP - Adults Only" forum as being rated PG13-ish. Yes, you can mention "yaoi" or "erotica" or even the less flowery term "sex". But if you want to get in-depth and graphic about what you're looking for... sorry, but too bad!
The "Looking For RP - Adults Only" forum is being provided to help adults who feel safer not RPing with minors, for ANY reason, have that much more confidence that they are addressing other adults. This is especially important since many members choose to hide their age/birthday on their profile. But we are not seeking to create an X-rated red light district on a semi-public forum.
Is the new forum only for "adult" RP concepts?
No. You can post any kind of RP concept that you want there, if you prefer to RP only with adults for any reason. Just be aware that because only members who are 18+ who have opted-in to viewing the forum in their settings will see it, you may get fewer responses than if you posted in the all ages version of the Looking For RP forum.
Can people RP on the new forum?
No. The new "Looking For RP - Adults Only" forum is an OOC forum, exactly like the all ages "Looking for RP" forum. It exists to help you find players for the RP concept that you want to play. After you've collected your players for the concept, it's up to you where you want to play it. PMs? Group? Messengers? Email?
Will the moderators still be there?
Yes, absolutely! Moderators will patrol it just like any other forum. Members will not be allowed to flame one another, be disrespectful, or engage in other forms of harassment.
Mods will still ask you to keep your swearing to a minimum and not drop f-bombs. They'll ask you not to post raunchy pictures or be super graphic about fetishes in your posts. And if someone violates the rules, it will get cleaned up and have possible consequences just as it would on any other board.
How do you know that a member is 18+?
We can't guarantee that everyone in the 18+ forum is the age that they say they are. We can only guarantee that that's what they told us.
What will happen to adult themed RP requests that have already been posted in the all-ages Looking For RP forum?
For all such requests posted in the all-ages forum in the last two months, the moderators will be moving them into the adult only LFRP forum if the original poster was of age. If the OP wasn't of age, the topic will be deleted.
I'm an adult, and don't plan to visit this new forum. But I also don't want to see anything about it in my notifications or in sidebars!
You won't! Not unless you go into your settings and check the box indicating that you'd like to see it.
I'm a minor, where should I make these types of RP requests now?
Please don't. It's problematic for everyone involved.
When will this new forum be opening?
We're currently aiming to launch on June 20th.
Why are you posting about this now if it's not launched yet?
It's a big change, and I wanted to give everyone a heads up so they can start to wrap their brains around it, ask questions if they need to, or even offer suggestions and comments.
Comments
Oh, I like this update!
Yeeeees, excellent 
I don't currently have any serious plans regarding an adult verification feature. There's a lot of logistics and legal stuff that would need to be worked out.
I'm very excited to see this happening!! 
Is the idea of adding adult verification to put on top of this still being entertained?
Is the idea of adding adult verification to put on top of this still being entertained?
Lizard
June 10, 2015
9:33pm
Nice, exactly what I want- err, a friend of mine wanted!
Amazing update! Cant wait to see how the community is once it launches!
Tate
June 10, 2015
6:44pm
Ahhhh this makes me so happy. c:
This is actually really great news. My community has hundreds of members, but I haven't felt comfortable really advertising it on RPR because of the fact that it's 18+. We're in the crowd of "grown-ups only doesn't necessarily mean sexual themes... we just don't want to play with minors." Excited for this, glad for RPR's decision and response to an evolving community.
Kim's being fabulous, as always~
Kim's being fabulous, as always~
I am very excited for this change and I hope that some of the other adults will use it to make non-sexual requests as I will be (since I can't rp with minors) - even if they don't I'm still happy for people to have a safer space for this!
Oh this is great!
Mayim
June 10, 2015
5:54pm
Excellent.
There's nothing illegal about adults swearing in front of teens, and teens do a whole lot of swearing themselves. I see no real need to require that requests for RP that may contain some strong language go in the adult only section.
As for violence -- I'm not saying that you'll never be able to find an example of a RP that's so horrifically, graphically violent I wouldn't consider asking that the request be moved to the adult form. I'm just saying that most combat or horror based RPs aren't extreme enough to warrant that requirement. And, again, there's nothing illegal about adults and teens writing violent fiction together.
As for teens ignoring my request, of course they will. They're teens! The mods are still empowered to remove those requests.
As for violence -- I'm not saying that you'll never be able to find an example of a RP that's so horrifically, graphically violent I wouldn't consider asking that the request be moved to the adult form. I'm just saying that most combat or horror based RPs aren't extreme enough to warrant that requirement. And, again, there's nothing illegal about adults and teens writing violent fiction together.
As for teens ignoring my request, of course they will. They're teens! The mods are still empowered to remove those requests.
I am not a minor but I once was one and I'm quite sure that. replying to the question.
"I'm a minor, where should I make these types of RP requests now?"
(with)
Please don't. It's problematic for everyone involved.
will not work. that's like telling teenager not to drink the ones who are going to drink will any all those dose is make them better at lying and hiding. If I had kids that were going out likely to drink or possibility even have sexual relations, I would teach them how to be safe and reasonable about it, not just tell them not to do it and expect that to work.
I don't mean to be rude this is merely my humble option.
"I'm a minor, where should I make these types of RP requests now?"
(with)
Please don't. It's problematic for everyone involved.
will not work. that's like telling teenager not to drink the ones who are going to drink will any all those dose is make them better at lying and hiding. If I had kids that were going out likely to drink or possibility even have sexual relations, I would teach them how to be safe and reasonable about it, not just tell them not to do it and expect that to work.
I don't mean to be rude this is merely my humble option.
Hey if your moving sexual themes to the adult only forum then are you also going to move Rp with themes of violence and adult language to this adult forum as well? I ask because I hope we equally treat sexual themes with all other adult themes such as language and violence.
Positive changes!
InquisitorCat
June 11, 2015
1:25pm