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Steam, Itch.io are pulling ‘porn’ games. Critics say it's a slippery slope

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Re: Steam, Itch.io are pulling ‘porn’ games. Critics say it's a slippery slope

#911

Post by yetihehe »

Grustaf wrote: post #908
nosignono wrote: post #205

This is absolutely a wedge to censor LGBTQ+ content. If you can separately argue that adult content should be blocked and LGBTQ+ themes are for adults, then you can block queer content online en masse. Visa and Mastercard have too much power, and are too willing to capitulate.

Is there any indication or reason why they would want to block LGBTQ+ content? Haven't both companies been very vocal supporters of LGBTQ+ in the past?

It's like those game companies, that support lgbt and donate to gay mental health foundations, but will block you when you mention some gay words in chat, because they are child friendly. I always found the hypocrisy funny. Then their auto-translate feature will routinely consistently swap pronouns to opposite.

Re: Steam, Itch.io are pulling ‘porn’ games. Critics say it's a slippery slope

#912

Post by mango7283 »

BlueTemplar wrote: post #855
mango7283 wrote: post #734

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I said this on the other thread, it's obvious they don't yet have the clout to go after big titles like GoT or GTA yet, and it would be a losing strategy for them to do so. Hence why they are going after battles they can win first.

They already suceeded in getting GTA5 banned in a bunch of stores.

Yeah, but not yet from Steam. Anyway the point is, people keep bringing up "why don't they go after GTA and GOT instead of fringe eroge" so, yeah, one - they have but it was a partial success at best - they aren't ready or able to make that leap YET.

Re: Steam, Itch.io are pulling ‘porn’ games. Critics say it's a slippery slope

#913

Post by DontchaKnowit »

linotype wrote: post #895
mixologist wrote: post #467

This actually took longer than I thought. It is really weird that for all my adult content I have to go to a dedicated adult store, yet for games I can find them on Steam and gog where kids shop for games. You don’t get porn movies on Netflix or Disney stream. You don’t get adult toys in your local grocery store. Why do we sell porn on Steam? Why haven’t game stores just spin off separate store front for porn content…

You can walk into any bookstore and buy a bible, which has plenty of disgusting content in it.

Absird comparison the bible is clearly not pornographic

Re: Steam, Itch.io are pulling ‘porn’ games. Critics say it's a slippery slope

#914

Post by winrid »

immibis wrote: post #848
winrid wrote: post #765

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It raises your dopamine tolerance - part of why people tend to get into more and more crazy types of porn to get the same fix (see randy in south park :) ). Also, since your dopamine tolerance is higher, you enjoy real life less, which is bad mkay

Yeah, but that's also true for video games, board games, social media (HN included), and yummy food. Pretty much everything anyone ever enjoys, actually. The difference is that some of them (like, I'm assuming, board games) are associated with other outcomes you want (real life socialization) I am writing this from the tail end of a 4-day techno music festival. I haven't taken any mind-altering substances, but I've e…

I'm not of the opinion it should be banned. Demonize it, yes. Also I think the repeated daily dopamine spikes, which are also much higher with porn, is much worse. It also probably has an adverse affect on young men that would normally better themselves to find a women.

Re: Steam, Itch.io are pulling ‘porn’ games. Critics say it's a slippery slope

#915

Post by jajuuka »

Grustaf wrote: post #908
nosignono wrote: post #205

This is absolutely a wedge to censor LGBTQ+ content. If you can separately argue that adult content should be blocked and LGBTQ+ themes are for adults, then you can block queer content online en masse. Visa and Mastercard have too much power, and are too willing to capitulate.

Is there any indication or reason why they would want to block LGBTQ+ content? Haven't both companies been very vocal supporters of LGBTQ+ in the past?

Companies are not moral entities. They will go whichever way the wind blows. Right now it's more profitable and avoid being singled out by the current US admin to not vocally support LGBT. We saw this during pride month this year where most major companies either pulled their support or were not vocal at all. We've seen plenty of companies drop "DEI" policies to curry favor with the admin as well.

If a group this small can get Visa/Mastercard to hand out ultimatums, then it's not that far of a jump for the same group or another who is against LGBT to recontextualize LGBT as something sexual or something targeting children. We've already seen this rhetoric from the current admin.

Re: Steam, Itch.io are pulling ‘porn’ games. Critics say it's a slippery slope

#916

Post by linotype »

DontchaKnowit wrote: post #913
linotype wrote: post #895

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can walk into any bookstore and buy a bible, which has plenty of disgusting content in it.

Absird comparison the bible is clearly not pornographic

Ahem:

https://ffrf.org/other-2/x-rated/

Re: Steam, Itch.io are pulling ‘porn’ games. Critics say it's a slippery slope

#917

Post by johnnyanmac »

ndriscoll wrote: post #307
johnnyanmac wrote: post #245

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'll take the hard stance on this. I don't see how Sex is anymore harmful, addicting, or dangerous as any other number of socialties. Including Alcohol, fast food, gambling, and simply getting to into any given hobby (be it video games or playing guitar). A habit I've noticed is that a person vulnerable to being addicted to X is more prone to fall back on Y, Z, etc. even when X is fixed. So I only see "this hurts cer…

Alcohol and gambling are commonly restricted if not outright banned in various localities though, and most people would consider those and fast food to be harmful. So you seem to be agreeing with GP that while you may not think it should be banned, you find it comparable to things that are widely recognized as "generally not good for people".

>So you seem to be agreeing with GP that while you may not think it should be banned, you find it comparable to things that are widely recognized as "generally not good for people".

That's up for debate on what's "good for people". But I don't mind proper, formal laws from lawmakers restricting access of that's the will of that region. I will note that trying to restrict porn in the US has traditionally been difficult die to the first amendment.

My main point was: credit card is not a lawmaker. It should be as dumb a pipe as my ISP.

Re: Steam, Itch.io are pulling ‘porn’ games. Critics say it's a slippery slope

#918

Post by johnnyanmac »

MSFT_Edging wrote: post #426
johnnyanmac wrote: post #281

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But the LLM gave you a detailed answer on another sex question. I'm a bit confused why that example was used.

Intercourse vs sexuality. Not the same thing.

So the comparison was useless then?

Re: Steam, Itch.io are pulling ‘porn’ games. Critics say it's a slippery slope

#919

Post by johnnyanmac »

Cthulhu_ wrote: post #414
johnnyanmac wrote: post #281

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But the LLM gave you a detailed answer on another sex question. I'm a bit confused why that example was used.

Not entirely; the one question was sex and interpersonal relationships, the other was medical / scientific.

So the comparison was indeed of two unlike things, but trying to be displayed as such.

Re: Steam, Itch.io are pulling ‘porn’ games. Critics say it's a slippery slope

#920

Post by johnnyanmac »

kelseyfrog wrote: post #640
johnnyanmac wrote: post #547

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's what I was essentially asking. I'd want to start with small actions that feel realistic. I know it's not gonna just pop up overnight, so more reason to break it down. If none of us know, then the next alternative is "can we point to any existing organizations to throw support at"? Or at the very least, an adjacent organization who can tell us steps to take?

It's something anyone can teach themselves. The basic sequence is simple: Set up a Discord. Market it to attract a handful of early adopters. Run a book club using Organizing for Social Change[1] or Beautiful Trouble[2]. Along the way, you build shared language and alignment. People start to get a feel for tactics: collective letter campaigns, pressure targeting, framing, etc. By the time you wrap the first book, you…

>The only real cost is showing up (again and again and again).

If people could show up once on thr right day, we woildnt be in such a situation. Persistence is key, but I think we can both recognize how flaky modern society is.

These are good steps, but this is definitely something that should have started in 2019/2020, not 2025. I just hope it's not too late.

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