Well Ruby, I have to say, I agree with Lex -- for the most part -- when it comes to the written word and this site. Your comments about the various tests used by the supreme court were known to me.

But the underage thing is pure hypocracy. You cannot convince me that stories that don't include those oh so young children (you know, the 17 year olds which also count as kids?) but do include things like snuff, torture, scat will pass those tests. Those stories are pure porn and not protected. And you'll be convicted just as fast for posting them.

See, the trouble is, no matter what you personally think (the general 'you', not you personally), the 'community standards' have changed because the community has changed. The 'community' is now world wide, not just in the US. But while we export democracy and religious tolerance abroad it is starting to fade in the US.

And, not for nothing, but Lex is a contributer for the site. So *was* I. But I had my stuff pulled from ALL the sites that I use to contribute to. Sure, there was underage stuff in them. But not in all of them, but I pulled every one, because I didn't feel any of them would pass those tests. And I'm willing to bet that very, very few of the stories on this site would, young charactors or no, would pass them either.

My bottom line was this: I write for my enjoyment, and for my readers (and oh yes, I had many of them, so don't even go there) enjoyment. The relationship between the site and me was benificial to both of us. I got to write, readers to to read, the site got readers. But if the site, and the readers, are not going to stand up for me (and I know they wouldn't -- hell just read the "It's okay to censor your kink as long as you leave mine alone" posts), if they're going to censor *some* posts, but not *all* posts, then why should I post here?

The answer is, I won't. And please spare me the 'good riddence' line. I know that my writing was pretty good because people have paid me, on occasion, to write. Not enough to live on, but it's nice to know that some folks liked it enough to want me to write for them.

If I see that the site and the readership is standing by the writers, then I might start posting again. Remember, no writers, no readers. But for now, it's off to usenet.

xTi