FETISHWEEK: The Google Blogger Pornocalypse

[info_box]FETISHWEEK covers the best BDSM News and most interesting fetish links of the last week. I am actively accepting news, press releases, personality profiles, and review items for both FETISHWEEK and The Fetish Show. I am particularly interested in topics related to BDSM/kink/fetish, but also alternative art/photography/modeling, sex, burlesque, fashion, relationships, events and more. I can get your story out to a much wider audience in a way that is positive and respectful. Contact me now: dirk@dirkhooper.com [/info_box]

I’ve changed the format of FETISHWEEK this time around, to cover the top stories in more depth and hopefully give you plenty of places to follow-up if you’re interested. As always, I welcome your shares and any comments that you want to make below.

Dream hard,
– Dirk Hooper
March 1, 2015

The Google/Blogger Pornocalypse

The Scoop:

Google has a history of antagonism towards adult content, and this week users of Google’s Blogger site got this message:

“Starting March 23, 2015, you won’t be able to publicly share images and video that are sexually explicit or show graphic nudity on Blogger.

If your existing blog does have sexually explicit or graphic nude images or video, your blog will be made private after March 23, 2015. No content will be deleted, but private content can only be seen by the owner or admins of the blog and the people who the owner has shared the blog with.”

After a deluge of “feedback” from users, three days later, Google/Blogger reversed their decision to ban explicit content and fell back on what it refers to as “our existing policy prohibiting commercial porn.”

Why This Matters:

I personally follow dozens of BDSM/fetish/kink blogs that publish through Blogger and every one of them were threatened by the decision to ban explicit content. Some of those people have already moved their content to other places.

Ultimately, this is the path most big internet companies are taking. Google is certainly not alone in trying to ban adult content. I wish I could point you towards another platform that respects your right to publish adult content, but at this time, there isn’t any. Every major platform is moving in this direction or already has an outright ban on adult content.

The only long-term solution to publishing the content you wish, without interference, is to buy your own URL, find a compatible hosting service and set up your own website. Even if the hosting service changes their rules, you can pack up and move your site easily to another server.

Violet Blue did an article on this subject here. http://www.tinynibbles.com/blogarchives/2015/02/google-wants-you-to-stop-using-blogger-heres-how-to-leave.html

I do this sort of thing all the time for clients at Sexy Networking as well.

Links:

http://business.avn.com/articles/technology/Speech-on-Blogger-Will-Henceforth-Exist-at-Google-s-Discretion-589567.html

http://business.avn.com/articles/technology/Google-Reverses-Blogger-Porn-Ban-Following-Ton-of-Feedback-589734.html

http://www.zdnet.com/article/timeline-googles-role-in-global-sex-censorship/

http://www.erosblog.com/2015/02/27/google-existing-policy-prohibiting-commercial-porn/

Students at All-Women’s College Create BDSM Club

The Scoop:

Massachusetts all-women college Holyoke is hosting a BDSM club that welcomes any student from the Five College Consortium.

Why This Matters:

I wish there was a BDSM club when I went to college! Holyoke is just the latest in a series of colleges that have a BDSM club. This one is unique because it’s an all-woman college. I think a college campus is the perfect place for a BDSM club, but I can imagine the parents of these students don’t agree.

I’m always on the lookout for BDSM stories by mainstream press and this was from a CBS affiliate in Connecticut.

Links:

http://connecticut.cbslocal.com/2015/02/26/students-create-bdsm-club-at-all-womens-college/

http://www.masslive.com/living/index.ssf/2015/02/mount_holyoke_students_form_bdsm_kink_awareness_club_on_south_hadley_campus.html

Dominatrix Attracts the Attention of Orlando Code Enforcement and Vice Squad

The Scoop:

Dominatrix Judith DeLucenay got a visit from Orlando code enforcement and central Florida’s vice squad when neighbors complained about her using a residential location as a dungeon. The “Local 6” news team jumped on this story with the usual yellow journalism this sort of story attracts.

Why This Matters:

Every professional dominatrix, private dungeon space and even people with personal dungeons run the risk of this sort of sensational story being plastered all over your local news. There is nothing in this story that says any charges have been filed or any rules have been broken. The whole piece is being milked for maximum titillation from this local news team.

I do have some advice though. If you’re a professional dominatrix (or you have BDSM gatherings), do not include a photo of the front of your house on your website. Be careful you who talk to about what you do, and consider meeting with people in a neutral location before you let them into your place.

This is probably a case of either neighbors being nosy, or someone with an ax to grind that tipped off the press, but any precautions you can take beforehand could pay off in the long run.

Links:

http://m.clickorlando.com/news/dominatrix-operates-dungeon-in-orlando-neighborhood/31526676

Website of the Week: The English Mansion Blog

http://www.theenglishmansion.com/blog/

The English Mansion puts out some very hot femdom content, and you’re looking for that sort of thing they produce quality photos and videos that are diverse and frequently updated. That’s not why I’m mentioning it here though.

Mistress Sidonia writes a blog for the English Mansion that is an excellent resource of all kinds of kinky things. She talks about BDSM and fetish topics, including introductory articles, pieces on kink in mainstream media and opinion pieces.

You don’t have to just be a fan of femdom to enjoy Mistress Sidonia’s articles… you just have to have an open mind.

Dirk Hooper Updates

#SexTalkTuesday

I was a guest host for Sssh.com’s Twitter chat #SexTalkTuesday last week. It was a great experience! I chose “The Public Perception of Kink and BDSM” as the topic.

https://www.dirkhooper.com/public-perception-kink-bdsm/

http://sextalktuesday.com/public-perception-of-kink-and-bdsm-with-dirk-hooper/

Mistress Olivia Vexx

I recently got the opportunity to travel to New Orleans to shoot with Mistress Olivia Vexx. We got some amazing photos together and she had some nice things to say about the shoot. If you’d like to see some of the photos, she has her favorites on her site.

http://www.mistressoliviavexx.com/

http://sexynetworking.com/mistress-olivia-vexx-gives-testimonial-about-dirk-hooper-photography/           

http://mistressoliviavexx.tumblr.com/post/106738591623/heres-to-a-spectacularly-naughty-2015-to   

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