398 replies to this topic

[mhh]

If you are not sure if a comic you want to add is appropriate or not, you can ask here.
and/or
If you have seen a comic that you think is not appropriate, you can report it here.
 
Read the following before you request anything, please.

To quickly find out about appropriateness of your comic follow the steps below.
1)Please find the comic in question on Mangaupdates, since they are usually quite good with the genre tags.
2)Check the comics genres.
3)Determine if appropriate according to the following.

If the comic has the tags Adult, Borderline-Hentai or Hentai, chances are high, that it is not allowed here. Lolicon is a definite 'no-go'. (this may extend to comics targeted at an audience for Loli-comics.)
The tag Smut could possibly be problematic so it's orange but unless you have doubts about its appropriateness, you don't need to ask about it.

If you think something was unjustly labeled or you are still hesitant even if the none of the above applies feel free to ask here.

Inline edits with red(=not appropriate) or green(=appropriate) might be made.
 
The above mentioned is only to make it easier for you to determine appropriateness. The actual decisions are made based on this:

Spoiler

And as far as the restriction of what is too mature for Batoto? Perhaps I can clarify the restrictions a bit more.

Definitions

• Character.
  • ​Definition. "Character" shall be defined to mean any being in a comic that serves a role in the plot, whether sentient or not.
  • Construction. The definition of character shall be interpreted in a liberal, broad, and inclusive manner.
  • No limitation on humanity. Characters are not limited to humans. Vampires, elves, aliens, non-humans, and tentacles shall qualify as a character for the purposes of these guidelines.
• Genitalia.
  • ​Definition. "Genitalia" shall be defined to mean:
    • the human vagina or penis,
    • any analogous body part on a non-human,
    • any functionally equivalent sexual organ, and
    • any symbolically equivalent body part or object.
  • Construction. The definition of genitalia shall be interpreted in a liberal, broad, and inclusive manner.
• Children.
  • Definition. "Child," "children," and "minor" shall be defined to be any character that:
    • is stated to be 17 years old or younger or
    • appears to be 17 years old or younger.
  • Appearance of childhood. Whether a character "appears" to be a minor shall be interpreted in a liberal, broad, and inclusive manner. The following are examples of children for the purposes of these guidelines:
    • any character biologically at the age of 17 or younger, regardless of amount of time spent in stasis or the effects of time dilation,
    • any character that can shapeshift and chooses to take on a form appearing 17 years old or younger, and
    • any character appearing 17 years old or younger that ages slower than an average human, for example, vampires, immortals, and elves.
• Sexual intercourse.
  • Definition. "Sexual Intercourse" shall mean:
    • penetration of any part of the human body with a penis, including mouth, anus, or vagina, and
    • contact between a vagina and another vagina.
  • Effect of censorship. It shall not matter whether any part of the genitalia are censored.
• Sexual acts.
  • Definition. ​"Sexual acts," "sex scenes," "sexual conduct," "sexual content" shall mean any scene that:
    • involves the penetration of the anus or vagina with any object,
    • involves the contact of the genitalia with any other part of a character's body,
    • involves the contact of the breasts with any other part of a character's body,
    • involves BDSM,
    • involves bodily fluids in a sexually suggestive manner, or
    • is sexually suggestive in any other way.
  • Construction. The definition of sexual acts shall be interpreted in a liberal, broad, and inclusive manner.
  • Effect of censorship. It shall not matter whether any part of the genitalia are censored.
• Parents.
  • ​Definition. "Parents" shall mean:
    • any biological parent,
    • any adoptive parent,
    • any legal guardian in a mentorship role.
  • Construction. For the purposes of these guidelines, parents shall be assumed to be strict and conservative in moral, religious, and social outlook.

Guidelines

• Is genitalia shown (e.g., penis or vagina)?
• Are children being exploited?
• Are children involved in sexual conduct of any nature?
• Is there sexual intercourse?
• Are there explicit sex scenes (i.e., very little or nothing at all is left to the imagination)?
• Are there excessive sex scenes (i.e., every chapter has a sex scene, or most chapters focus on sexual acts)?
• Does the comic possess redeeming qualities beyond the sexual content (i.e., is it merely fapping material, or does it have an actual storyline and plot)?
• Does the sexual content enrich the storyline, or is it simply for pornographic purposes?
• Do you think that you would be grounded for life, and/or killed by your parents, if you were caught showing this to your 12 to 15-year-old sibling?

If any combination of these questions are a concern in the comic, it is most likely not suitable for Batoto.

Of course, this is just a general outline of some questions you may want to ask yourself when uploading comics. The best bet is to use your common sense and think of the comic as a whole, not just the chapter you are currently uploading. After all, some comics start out vanilla and then take a dive for the perverse later on in the story.

 
Please be aware, that the word 'appropriate' as it is used here always refers to the content of a comic only. Even if the content is judged to be appropriate there may still be reasons why it can't be hosted on Batoto.
Those resons include

Spoiler

1)the respective scanlators don't allow us to host it
2) it's not valid scanlation work
3) we chose not to host it

 

Edited by mhh, 28 June 2014 - 02:21 PM.
Updated some lines.

[Cesc]

Check this.
(Mangaupdates)

And also, I would like if you check it again: Nana to Kaoru

Spoiler

• Is genitalia shown (e.g., penis or vagina) No
• Are children being exploited? No
• Are there explicit sex scenes (i.e., very little or nothing at all is left to the imagination)? No
• Are there excessive sex scenes (i.e., every chapter has a sex scene, or most chapters focus on sexual acts)? There isn't scenes of sex (and never will be)
• Do you think that you would be grounded for life, and or killed by your parents, if you were caught showing this to your 12 to 15-year-old sibling? mm... i don't think so...

[Trebor]

Bloody Mary, like most of the comics that are gonna be asked here, is borderline, but acceptable, because it has other redeeming content. While sex is a major theme, it is not the only theme of the comic.

Nana to Kaoru's denial from Batoto stands. Nana to Kaoru has been discussed extensively over the past day in other threads. The rationale for upholding the ban is, partly discussed here: http://www.batoto.ne...dpost__p__40909

I caution everyone here to not waste our time by asking questions they already know the answer to. For example, cesc removed two of the guideline questions. That is already evidence that you know that the comic is inappropriate.

Additionally, these are guideline questions. The severity of the violation of each factor and the combination of these factors that determine whether a comic is allowed or not.

Further questions about Nana to Kaoru will be removed for wasting time.

[Edit] I edited the guidelines to be more clear.

Edited by Trebor, 16 December 2011 - 03:33 AM.

[Cesc]

Bloody Mary, like most of the comics that are gonna be asked here, is borderline, but acceptable, because it has other redeeming content. While sex is a major theme, it is not the only theme of the comic.

Nana to Kaoru's denial from Batoto stands. Nana to Kaoru has been discussed extensively over the past day in other threads. The rationale for upholding the ban is, partly discussed here: http://www.batoto.ne...dpost__p__40909

Ok.

Trebor:

Spoiler

cesc removed two of the guideline questions. That is already evidence that you know that the comic is inappropriate.

Nop, I removed them because are redundant:

• Are there excessive sex scenes (i.e., every chapter has a sex scene, or most chapters focus on sexual acts)? There isn't scenes of sex (and never will be)

So, why would respond to questions about something that I already said that doesn't exist?

[Trebor]

Ok.

Trebor:

Spoiler

Nop, I removed them because are redundant:

So, why would respond to questions about something that I already said that doesn't exist?

Okay, fine. I clarified the guidelines up top, because I realized that many people are not interpreting the guidelines as broadly as we wanted.

[Purple Library Guy]

Shouldn't "Wolf Guy" be pulled? It has numerous scenes of incredibly graphic rape, imprisonment and rape, gang rape, rape/murder, homosexual rape to death (the villain literally sodomizes a guy until he dies) . . . this stuff is shown explicitly and sometimes goes on for many pages. In the later chapters, rape and violent sexual degradation of women becomes in effect a major theme of the manga. Never mind 18+ ratings, much of this stuff simply wouldn't be legal to show in theatres at all; it's nastier than many flat-out hentai manga. Many people would find it disturbing and repellent. I am to some extent one of them.
I can understand why "Nana to Kaoru" is out. But if N to K violates the advertisers' standards, they'd be downright horrified if they got an eyefull of some of the stuff in "Wolf Guy". I believe "Wolf Guy" has been mentioned before in discussions of the rating issue, and administrators have commented that if they get a complaint they'll look at it. This, then, would be a complaint--I really think "Wolf Guy" has no place on a site using the guidelines Batoto is working with.

[Loki]

• Does the comic possess redeeming qualities beyond the sexual content (i.e., is it merely fapping material, or does it have an actual storyline and plot)?
• Does the sexual content enrich the storyline, or is it simply for pornographic purposes?

two of the most important points that should be noted when discussing what is to be banned and what not

Edited by Trebor, 17 December 2011 - 10:39 PM.

[mhh]

Shouldn't "Wolf Guy" be pulled? It has numerous scenes of incredibly graphic rape, imprisonment and rape, gang rape, rape/murder, homosexual rape to death (the villain literally sodomizes a guy until he dies) . . . this stuff is shown explicitly and sometimes goes on for many pages. In the later chapters, rape and violent sexual degradation of women becomes in effect a major theme of the manga. Never mind 18+ ratings, much of this stuff simply wouldn't be legal to show in theatres at all; it's nastier than many flat-out hentai manga. Many people would find it disturbing and repellent. I am to some extent one of them.
I can understand why "Nana to Kaoru" is out. But if N to K violates the advertisers' standards, they'd be downright horrified if they got an eyefull of some of the stuff in "Wolf Guy". I believe "Wolf Guy" has been mentioned before in discussions of the rating issue, and administrators have commented that if they get a complaint they'll look at it. This, then, would be a complaint--I really think "Wolf Guy" has no place on a site using the guidelines Batoto is working with.

I don't really read that so I will look at it in detail when I find the time. Thanks for reporting.

[Purple Library Guy]

Those two aren't the only criteria. You can't use the comic's redeeming qualities to trump any and all content. Fact is, both Nana to Kaoru and Wolf Guy should be out given Batoto's situation.
When it comes to those just those two criteria, both manga would make the cut perfectly well. I'm not saying Wolf Guy has no plot, characterization, artistic merit or anything like that. There's a lot of room for argument on the question of the sexual content serving a function in it--IMO, there are sections of Wolf Guy where the sexual content actually gets in the way of the story. But I'll concede it nonetheless--you could certainly make an argument, for instance, that the repeated showing of the ongoing rape, degradation etc. of the imprisoned female lead served an artistic purpose. I wouldn't really buy it, I think a lot of the stuff in there is just gratuitous, but you could make a plausible argument for it.
Nana to Kaoru does equally well on those questions. On the first criterion, certainly it possesses redeeming qualities--it has excellent characterization which departs significantly from manga stereotypes, and tells an unconventional but compelling and touching love story. It is quite well plotted, has good pacing and some good character-driven humour. On the second, it qualifies very well--although this also gets into the reasons why Batoto has to lock it. The thing is that the manga explores connections between the characters' emotions and their experience of exploring SM together, the interplay between public, social expectations and private self, issues of trust, desire, self-image, acceptance. None of it would work without the bondage sessions.
But that means that bondage is integral to the manga, which for the advertisers is clearly a no-no. So it's out; it doesn't matter how good it is, that isn't the point. I absolutely understand the site managers' reasoning here.

But while the sexual themes in Nana to Kaoru are much more integral to the story, the sexual content in Wolf Guy is much more graphic, shocking, degrading etc. etc. I mean, if you took the original broad "movie rating" guidelines, N to K has some marginally 18+ scenes, but Wolf Guy is considerably more extreme than movies which barely made it into theatres at all such as Caligula (yes, I've seen it). IMO, like Nana to Kaoru, it doesn't matter how good it is, Batoto in its current configuration is not a place it should be.

Incidentally, I've read both--I haven't read Wolf Guy right up to the present, but I followed it for dozens of chapters.

Edited by Trebor, 17 December 2011 - 10:39 PM.

[Trebor]

This will not turn into another contentious thread.

This thread should contain two things:

1. questions
2. answers.

I'm removing the extraneous, argumentative, content from Loki and Purple Library Guy's posts.

PLG: Thank you for reporting and writing a well-thought out response. We (staff) need more time to deliberate this. Please wait for a response.

[Grumpy]

Wolf Guy has been removed.

Thank you for reporting.

[soranokira]

http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=56796 (Shinshi na Meets Girl)
I found this absolutely amusing and not really explicit, though there is some 'nudity' (completely blanked out/undrawn scenes however). It is however tagged with Lolicon in mangaupdates, so I'm wondering if it's fine to upload it.

[mhh]

http://www.mangaupda...s.html?id=56796 (Shinshi na Meets Girl)
I found this absolutely amusing and not really explicit, though there is some 'nudity' (completely blanked out/undrawn scenes however). It is however tagged with Lolicon in mangaupdates, so I'm wondering if it's fine to upload it.

I've read part of it right now, I agree it's not very explicit, however even docile loli is loli. Since we decided to be strict about it it's not allowed.
If any of the other moderators have a different opinion feel free to contact me.

[FunnyBunnyLogic]

FunnyBunnyLogic, Posted 16 November 2011 - 04:31 AM (from now outdated thread)
During my quick glance through Bloody Mary, I was treated to several female full-frontal shots, numerous intimate scenes, including a rather provocative piercing of Mary's labia... and this is the content from chapters one and two. Considering the graphic nature of the series, I would guess that it is only going to get worse and perhaps even pornographic from here onwards. However, my review may be biased or unfair, so I would suggest that one of the other moderators reviews the series and provides their own opinion.

Bloody Mary, like most of the comics that are gonna be asked here, is borderline, but acceptable, because it has other redeeming content. While sex is a major theme, it is not the only theme of the comic.

I realize that the males on staff may disagree with me, as I will assume Trebor may, seeing as he as already applied his stamp of approval for Bloody Mary, but I knew based on chapters one and two that this series had a very short life on Batoto . . . we've finally gotten to chapter three and the sexual content has become much more graphic, starting with six pages devoted not only to Mary screwing the life out of one guy, but her attempted rape by another demon. Then later in the same chapter (!) Mary screws the life out of another poor sap . . . and yes I realize that the scenes are less graphic than some other series, but to be honest, I think that Velvet Kiss is far less raunchy than this series, heck it's about as bad as Wolf Guy. And it's ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE. So on that note, I'm locking the series and chapters.

Spoiler

• Is genitalia shown (e.g., penis or vagina)? Yes, it's deeply shadowed but still visible.
• Are children being exploited? Not so far . . . but we cannot see the future.
• Are there explicit sex scenes (i.e., very little or nothing at all is left to the imagination)? Yes, there are graphic sex scenes in the series starting in chapter one, but in chapter three they are much more graphic.
• Are there excessive sex scenes (i.e., every chapter has a sex scene, or most chapters focus on sexual acts)? Again, yes, there are excessive sexual scenes, and in chapter three there is a rape scene.
• Does the comic possess redeeming qualities beyond the sexual content (i.e., is it merely fapping material, or does it have an actual storyline and plot)? Although her dilemma of holding down her turf in Shibuya or attempting to make friends with demons and the focus of her human crush are compelling, they do not come anywhere near close enough to overcome the graphic nature of this comic.
• Does the sexual content enrich the storyline, or is it simply for pornographic purposes? Considering that the comic is about a succubus who feeds on the souls of her partners after they climax . . . Velvet Kiss has a tamer premise.
• Do you think that you would be grounded for life, and or killed by your parents, if you were caught showing this to your 12 to 15-year-old sibling? I'm pretty sure this is a yes as well . . . unless Barney Stinson is the parent in question . . . .

[mhh]

I realize that the males on staff may disagree with me, as I will assume Trebor may, seeing as he as already applied his stamp of approval for Bloody Mary, but I knew based on chapters one and two that this series had a very short life on Batoto . . . we've finally gotten to chapter three and the sexual content has become much more graphic, starting with six pages devoted not only to Mary screwing the life out of one guy, but her attempted rape by another demon. Then later in the same chapter (!) Mary screws the life out of another poor sap . . . and yes I realize that the scenes are less graphic than some other series, but to be honest, I think that Velvet Kiss is far less raunchy than this series, heck it's about as bad as Wolf Guy. And it's ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE. So on that note, I'm locking the series and chapters.

Spoiler

• Is genitalia shown (e.g., penis or vagina)? Yes, it's deeply shadowed but still visible.
• Are children being exploited? Not so far . . . but we cannot see the future.
• Are there explicit sex scenes (i.e., very little or nothing at all is left to the imagination)? Yes, there are graphic sex scenes in the series starting in chapter one, but in chapter three they are much more graphic.
• Are there excessive sex scenes (i.e., every chapter has a sex scene, or most chapters focus on sexual acts)? Again, yes, there are excessive sexual scenes, and in chapter three there is a rape scene.
• Does the comic possess redeeming qualities beyond the sexual content (i.e., is it merely fapping material, or does it have an actual storyline and plot)? Although her dilemma of holding down her turf in Shibuya or attempting to make friends with demons and the focus of her human crush are compelling, they do not come anywhere near close enough to overcome the graphic nature of this comic.
• Does the sexual content enrich the storyline, or is it simply for pornographic purposes? Considering that the comic is about a succubus who feeds on the souls of her partners after they climax . . . Velvet Kiss has a tamer premise.
• Do you think that you would be grounded for life, and or killed by your parents, if you were caught showing this to your 12 to 15-year-old sibling? I'm pretty sure this is a yes as well . . . unless Barney Stinson is the parent in question . . . .

Normally, our decisions stand and we don't plan to revoke decisions made by other staff members, but since FunnyBunnyLogic as one of our staff members firmly disagrees with the decision, we will be reevaluating Bloody Mary.

Sorry for any confusion and inconvenience caused.

[FunnyBunnyLogic]

The staff has evaluated Bloody Mary, and we have come to the decision that it has crossed the lines of appropriate content on Batoto. Although, we would prefer to stand by all of our decisions when it comes to comic hosting, we are not able to see the future of the series . . . so what we think is acceptable in the first few chapters may become inappropriate in later chapters because of the progression of the story. This unfortunately causes issues, and at times causes disagreements between staff; however, we can work together to obtain a unified decision.

More on this decision from Grumpy:

From private discussion between Grumpy, Trebor, and myself, on 30 December 2011:
I believe the stand on a comic can change especially because we cannot foresee the future. When they rate a movie, the producer knows the standards and the raters know the entire story. But, we have neither, and thus comes a changing decision later. And at the same time, I don't think we should pretend we're able to see the future either.

Per advertiser standards, I'm sure it's gone past the advertiser standards. But we have to remember, in an R rated movie, there ARE sex scenes, movies like Saw gets an R rating, and it somehow magically passes. True there are controversy as to how some raters may have been "persuaded" and I feel that MPAA rating system is a bit of a hypocrite... but that's another topic.

Edited by Grumpy, 31 December 2011 - 06:42 AM.
Removed irrelevant part where I was just talking to Treb.

[Grumpy]

Domina no Do!
Locked for loli/adult content.

[p3pe]

Is Shigurui allowed here? It's tagged adult on MU, and while it has gore & nudity, IMO it doesn't as extreme as MPD psycho/ichi the killer.

[mhh]

Shounen yo Taishi o Dake! locked. Will be reviewed once there is another chapter.

Edit: I have unlocked it again and will wait for a new chapter because locking on what is likely to come isn't quite fair.

[mhh]

Is Shigurui allowed here? It's tagged adult on MU, and while it has gore & nudity, IMO it doesn't as extreme as MPD psycho/ichi the killer.

I looked through a couple of random chapters and didn't see much that I was particularly concerned about. The violence displayed only seems to be there to advance the story.

The series is rather long I might have overlooked some things but consider it allowed, p3pe.