Ning sites closing

[petersjc (imported)]

Ning.com, a site that allows people to establish social networking groups, has announced that all of its adult-oriented networks will be shut down on 31 December 2008. One of the most important of these social networks, at least from the perspective of EA folks, is called Male Genital Modifications http://bodymodificationsgalore.ning.com. It is both a gathering place for people interested in all kinds of genital mods (including, of course, castration and penectomy) and a repository, unlike any other that I have seen, of photos and videos related to the topic of the group. One of my favorite videos there is the one, probably familiar to many people here, produced by a hospital in Milan, showing the removal of a cancerous penis, with a urethral re-routing.

I have not communicated with the group creator, about whether he is searching for another place to move the group. Because the site so heavily depends on Ning's proprietary software, there will probably be no way to do a bulk transfer of user accounts and things that the users have uploaded (and, for privacy reasons, that would probably not be desirable). Inevitably, much will be lost.

I have started this thread here for two reasons. First, this development is of interest to the eunuch community. My second reason is that I am hoping people will have ideas about another site where the content would be welcome. It seems possible that the Recon folks might be persuaded to add another category, Genital Mods, but Recon does not support videos, as far as I know, and all anatomically explicit photographs must be placed into areas accessible only to premium subscribers, which would seriously limit access to them.

With one exception, the Eunuch Archive limits its sexually explicit content to text. I am sure there are very good reasons for this, probably some of the same ones that motivated Ning to eliminate graphic content from its sites. The exception is the EA Personals area: I think I have seen genitalia in avatars there.

I am seriously bummed out about this. Does anyone have any ideas about how to prevent the disappearance of this irreplaceable collection of photos, videos, and discussions?

peter

[Paolo]

With one exception, the Eunuch Archive limits its sexually explicit content to text. I am sure there are very good reasons for this, probably some of the same ones that motivated Ning to eliminate graphic content from its sites. The exception is the EA Personals area: I think I have seen genitalia in avatars there.

I am seriously bummed out about this. Does anyone have any ideas about how to prevent the disappearance of this irreplaceable collection of photos, videos, and discussions?

peter

The main problems are:

1. Finding a host who WILL host it, and all that obscenity crap the fanatics keep stirring up shit over.

2. Paying the bandwidth bill. That's why WE don't do images/movies. Cost.

I wish this guy luck in moving his site.

If he wants to preserve it, it's gonna cost him.

There's no free lunch, you know...sad to say.

[gunpowdercub (imported)]

Since I lost my highspeed internet service at about the same time I heard about ning groups, this also saddens me a lot. Remember though that our friends in all governments are watching. They would never do anything to hurt us, and they want us all to be docile heterosexual childproducing citizens who should never, ever, change the bodies their god gives us.

It takes a lot of legal balls to stand up to the bullies, whether they are ninggroup lawyers who talk about liability or obscenity or the government's lawyers and our elected officials. And it takes a lot of cash.

All it took to start closing yahoo groups before big purges was one person denied entry. So if a group originator specified that his group was for, say, gay leathermen into cigars, if a woman was denied entry, or a straight male, and that person complained to Yahell about it, the group was gone in a flash.

I belonged to one group whose moderator was so paranoid that he started dictating to the membership the contents of their posts. For instance if he posted a photo of an attractive man, and someone said "wow, he's hot" that was ok but if someone said "wow, i'd like to suck his dick" the moderator would remove the post and throw the poster out of the group. Needless to say, I left.

There are few sexually oriented sites left on the internet that are both uncensored and noncommercial.

That's why as a financially challenged member here I am deeply grateful for all the work put into this site. We are not totally uncensored here, for matters of safety, privacy, and health. I can live with those restrictions.

I don't know if queernet.org would take the chance at hosting a bodymod group, and there are bandwidth restrictions there already that would preclude videos, but one might ask.

gpc

[Losethem (imported)]

Nothing like letting the moderators of the site deal with it before the users themselves try to hijack the site with their own appeals for help.

Give us a chance guys! We just found out about this ourselves. Yesterday.

It may look like nothing is being done, but we're trying to come up with a solution.

--LT

[jeffinic (imported)]

I was a member of the ning.com Male Genital Modifications group for less than 36 hours when I was suddenly (with no warning or explanation) banned from the group. When I repeatedly inquired as to why I had been banned, I received no reply. Anyone else have a similar experience? I can't honestly think of any reason why I should have been banned...I joined the group, filled out my profile, posted a couple of pictures of myself, joined a couple of groups, interacted with a few people. Nothing inappropriate or out-of-the-ordinary.

[IbPervert (imported)]

The net is similar to the old west in nature. In the early days anyone could do anything because there was little in the way of law enforcement. However, as more people became involved the demand to clean things up grows bigger, and the "family values" people have a bigger voice so they get there way. Before long it will become harder and harder to have anything that is not kid friendly. Or to put it another way....

As long as people can get away with the notion of "what about the children" us deviant perverts do not stand a chance.

[BossTamsin (imported)]

As long as people can get away with the notion of "what about the children" us deviant perverts do not stand a chance.

Personally, I've always felt that notion is the biggest load of bullshit I've ever heard.

If YOU are so concerned about what YOUR kids might be exposed to on the net, on TV, on CDs, on whatever, then get YOUR ass off that fucking couch and PARENT!

It's not my job to raise your kid, to shield them from anything harmful they might be exposed to, and it's not anyone else's job either. It's your job. They're your kids, it's your responsibility. That's part of what being a parent is. Set rules on what they can watch, and when. Set rules for what sites they can visit, and set up filters/nanny programs to prevent them from roaming freely. Sure, some kids will manage to disable them, but that's where parenting comes in. Keep an eye on your kids when they're watching TV, on the net, or whatever. Monitor what they do, where they go. Don't just sit them down in front of the screen and let that be their babysitter because you're too busy.

[calmeilles (imported)]

I have not communicated with the group creator, about whether he is searching for another place to move the group. Because the site so heavily depends on Ning's proprietary software, there will probably be no way to do a bulk transfer of user accounts and things that the users have uploaded (and, for privacy reasons, that would probably not be desirable). Inevitably, much will be lost.

The owner of http://guyzingear.ning.com/ is in talks with the CEO of Ning.com and getting their assistance in devising a data export to his new hosting service. As this is done once there should be little in the way of it being done for other sites.

[mrt (imported)]

I had a relative who simple threw out the TV set. Which btw my father did when I was just a tot when he declared it "The IDIOT BOX" and which it has always been called since btw....

[sailorboy (imported)]

After reading what sduych 2000's said, I contacted burdizzocastration.com and tried to apply. I answered all of the questions, but it still popped up with "No referral" by members when I pressed "enter" to finish the application process. I did this FIVE TIMES!!!!!

I was not referred to the site, as such, but thought I might have something to contribute and something to learn, but couldn't get around the "Referral" question. I tried to find ways to e-mail the moderator, but was unsuccessful. I hope others have more success than I did?

Sailorboy