What sort of Images are Appropriate to Post on the Forums - Discussion Thread

[Jollyrei]

Opening up this thread for discussion of what sorts of images are appropriate to post on the forums. This is not a technical thread about file sizes or using thumbnails (all of which is covered elsewhere), but really about content. The discussion that started above happened because of images of people who were not in a BDSM or crux situation, and not explicitly erotic, posted in a thread featuring women in bare feet. This led to a discussion about why these images were not immediately popular with a large number of members, and then moved to a discussion of whether such images should be included here.

Generally, we try to be welcoming of any fantasy or fetish that members might have. We would like to encourage members to post things they like and which might interest other members. Naturally, we can't always be sure that what we post will be liked or admired by all other members, and sometimes may only appeal to a small set of members. That's perfectly fine.

We would like to discourage simply "mirroring" things like videos or entire galleries of photos that are available elsewhere. If you find a great site for source images for manips, you might want to simply post a link to that, for example, rather than reposting hundreds of photos here again. Also, we discourage reposting of videos whose subject is straight-up sex (for example, reposting PornHub videos). That's what PornHub, xvideos.com, and other sites are for.

That having been said, there is all sorts of room for members to be expressive of their fantasies and their interests, and we want to remain a welcoming forum where people can air their fantasies, including those about bare feet (or other bits of the body), whether models wear other clothing or not.

Let's keep the discussion polite and considerate.

 

[mp5stab]

Normal I’d agree with Crumera. I don’t mind a few off-topic posts, and I even have a dedicated barefoot channel on my own server, despite having no interest myself. But if bandwidth is valued here, shouldn’t we prioritize art, photos, and painting that are more suited to the theme of this place? Couldn’t this just be a link to a photo gallery on another website? This individual thread isn’t a big deal, but the hundreds of similar threads on aggregate are making up the bulk of the pictures on this site. There are pretty girls everywhere on the internet, but only cruxforums has them hanging on crosses. I think that’s worth remembering. If this was hosted by someone else, somewhere else, and it wasn’t the concern of those who have been so graciously donating money to the forum, I would have no issue. I have to disagree with the rest of you on this.

 

[Baron Von Sade]

Normal I’d agree with Crumera. I don’t mind a few off-topic posts, and I even have a dedicated barefoot channel on my own server, despite having no interest myself. But if bandwidth is valued here, shouldn’t we prioritize art, photos, and painting that are more suited to the theme of this place? Couldn’t this just be a link to a photo gallery on another website? This individual thread isn’t a big deal, but the hundreds of similar threads on aggregate are making up the bulk of the pictures on this site. There are pretty girls everywhere on the internet, but only cruxforums has them hanging on crosses. I think that’s worth remembering. If this was hosted by someone else, somewhere else, and it wasn’t the concern of those who have been so graciously donating money to the forum, I would have no issue. I have to disagree with the rest of you on this.

So much this.
The place is starting to feel like a random porn dump site. And now with this thread it's a non-porn, normal picture dump. Not only is it using loads of bandwidth and costing the site more and more and more to the point that eventually the site will have to close due to lack of finances, but these constantly updated picture dump threads push down and hide the threads from genuine artists who can't update their threads 10 times a day. I've even been seeing actual artists hosting their content externally in an attempt to help the server's bandwidth. Why should genuine creators have to make it more difficult on themselves while people dumping entire siterips get to run around freely?

Now, my apologies to mvalim for this thread becoming a discussion for this. This has bothered me for some time but so far one could make the argument that many of those threads have something to do with this forum, however tenuous. This thread, however, has as much to do with crux and BDSM as pictures of celebrity pets.

 

[Aralav]

As a relative newbie/longtime lurker here I'm loathe to stick my oar in for fear of backlash and becoming outcast, but I feel like for once, I should. I came here long ago looking for crux and similar slavery/peril/execution art and stories, and for a long time I never checked back because it was difficult to navigate, and it seemed there was very little of it to find without extensive searching. Recently I was encouraged by friends of mine from elsewhere to rejoin, because I was assured the forum was alive and well, and that there was more here, I just have to hunt for it.

But that's the thing...I have to hunt for it. Hunting for crux, on a crux forum. A shame, since I know there's some very talented artists and authors here that I would love to see more of, and show my appreciation to! There are just so many vanilla picture threads and such that someone like me--who isn't fully accustomed to how it works here--takes a look around, gets discouraged by the lack of the subject in question, and overwhelmed by the abundance of ordinary stuff one already has to wade through on other sites to find the crux gems hiding underneath. Which makes people like me quite wearied by the notion of even bothering to come check the new threads at all. :-(

I have nothing against these threads or the pictures...but I do wonder like Baron Von Sade and Mp5stab if a link to where they're hosted might not be better, and easier on both the browsing users and the bandwidth of the site? Perhaps posting that link in an already existing vanilla picture thread? Perhaps consolidating them so that there's not a continuous stream of unrelated threads to wade through? I don't know what's a good answer to this.

I'm very sorry if I come across as rude and ungrateful. This was not my intention at all! I just thought to put out a rather discouraged newbie's opinion. I'm very grateful to find other like-minded crux enthusiasts here, and hope my stay is long and welcomed. I shall go back to my corner and lurk again...

 

[Darkprincess69]

What I love most about this forum is that it has content for everyone. Personally I'm not much into the crux aspect (and even less so the hangings and other executions) but I enjoy erotic photography of all kinds and mature / lesbian BDSM themes in particular.

While crux is of course the headline topic of the forum, the warm and welcoming community here is very inclusive of all kinds of niche erotic interests that extend far beyond the obvious, and that's what makes this place so great (and of course the great community we have here)

 

[KageKamen]

That said, it probably is worth considering if there are better ways of arranging material for the benefit of confused newbies. And possibly a way to promote original art in a way that stands out from threads which just gather images?

 

[Eulalia]

As a relative newbie/longtime lurker here I'm loathe to stick my oar in for fear of backlash and becoming outcast, but I feel like for once, I should. I came here long ago looking for crux and similar slavery/peril/execution art and stories, and for a long time I never checked back because it was difficult to navigate, and it seemed there was very little of it to find without extensive searching. Recently I was encouraged by friends of mine from elsewhere to rejoin, because I was assured the forum was alive and well, and that there was more here, I just have to hunt for it.

But that's the thing...I have to hunt for it. Hunting for crux, on a crux forum. A shame, since I know there's some very talented artists and authors here that I would love to see more of, and show my appreciation to! There are just so many vanilla picture threads and such that someone like me--who isn't fully accustomed to how it works here--takes a look around, gets discouraged by the lack of the subject in question, and overwhelmed by the abundance of ordinary stuff one already has to wade through on other sites to find the crux gems hiding underneath. Which makes people like me quite wearied by the notion of even bothering to come check the new threads at all. :-(

I have nothing against these threads or the pictures...but I do wonder like Baron Von Sade and Mp5stab if a link to where they're hosted might not be better, and easier on both the browsing users and the bandwidth of the site? Perhaps posting that link in an already existing vanilla picture thread? Perhaps consolidating them so that there's not a continuous stream of unrelated threads to wade through? I don't know what's a good answer to this.

I'm very sorry if I come across as rude and ungrateful. This was not my intention at all! I just thought to put out a rather discouraged newbie's opinion. I'm very grateful to find other like-minded crux enthusiasts here, and hope my stay is long and welcomed. I shall go back to my corner and lurk again...

The way the Forums are is the product of a rather complicated history, but, as the home page shows, we have a section headed 'CruxForums: the heart of our community', and if crux is what you've come to see, which is of course fair enough, you'll find it there, without needing to hunt. The BDSM Forums came a bit later, again you'll find what it says on the tin. But where this present thread is called 'Fantasy Unlimited', it's an extra part, an add-on, a playground area for anything other than crux or BDSM that at least some who come here might enjoy.

 

[mp5stab]

It’s hard for me to consider Fantasy Unlimited a little extra add-on when it is the largest forum here, with the most messages, and second-most threads.

 

[Apostate]

It’s hard for me to consider Fantasy Unlimited a little extra add-on when it is the largest forum here, with the most messages, and second-most threads.

But Em, do you think of FU as some sort of drag on the rest of the site?

That said, it probably is worth considering if there are better ways of arranging material for the benefit of confused newbies. And possibly a way to promote original art in a way that stands out from threads which just gather images?

Kage, it seems to me CF navigation is simple; if you came for crux it's clearly marked on the home page.

Unless I'm missing something here, which is entirely possible.

 

[KageKamen]

But Em, do you think of FU as some sort of drag on the rest of the site?


Kage, it seems to me CF navigation is simple; if you came for crux it's clearly marked on the home page.

Unless I'm missing something here, which is entirely possible.

I do recall a bit of confusion early on, and I've heard some from others lately. And I think there might be some merit in considering whether the current arrangement could be improved on in some ways. It's a problem if it's driving off newbies, right?

 

[Darkprincess69]

I do recall a bit of confusion early on, and I've heard some from others lately. And I think there might be some merit in considering whether the current arrangement could be improved on in some ways. It's a problem if it's driving off newbies, right?

Sometimes it can be tricky to find older threads and the search function doesn't always work as well as it's supposed to, but it's usually possible to find exactly what you're looking for with a little effort. I don't really think that the forum layout and/or content is really likely to deter newbies, because anyone who comes here specifically looking for crux will find it pretty quickly.

I'm not sure how much of a problem this really is (if indeed it is at all, because I don't see it that way) but it would be interesting to see the age demographic of those who appear to be having difficulties here - my guess is that they are likely to be the younger members, and don't get me wrong - I'm not ragging on the younger generation (a few people in here seem to be under the impression that I'm anti-youth, but nothing could be further from the truth) but the fact remains that there is a whole generation out there who appear to require that websites spoon-feed them with the content that they want, rather than accepting the fact that to get the greatest rewards out of life, they need to inject a bit of effort to seek it out. These are the people who would rather say "Alexa, show me porn" rather than clicking a few links for themselves

I believe that this forum has a great balance of content for all tastes and, for the most part, the front page is pretty easy to navigate for all users, and not just those who come here initially just looking for crux content. The search function could still be improved a bit though but aside from that, I'm of the mindset of "don't fix what's not broken"

 

[mvalim]

Thank you, @Darkprincess69 and @Barefoot Bondmaid for your support. Also, I appreciate especially the support of @Apostate and @Eulalia , as staff members. @Eulalia , my warm gratitude to you for the feedback including the comparison of the models! To say the truth, I was surprised to face with so strong opposition from a group of members of the forum. Looking through the forum previously, I observed, for example, Lovely Ladies Thread, which includes more than 500 (!) pages filled with standard erotic, non-fetishists, photographs. So, nothing suggested me that my small thread can be so troublesome... However, now I see rather many likes under my selections of photographs, not to say about the comments with a feedback. Therefore, to continue with this tread seems me reasonable. And I agree with @Darkprincess69 - the attitude like "Why I see here so many materials that I dislike?!" is usual in different forums: I observed some examples of that in the Russian forum forum.shtorny.com.

In addition: I enter this forum as an artist, to share my works. Presenting the selections of my models' photographs is only an additional activity aimed to have some estimations (at least likes) of the girls apart the fetish manips based on their photos. So, I have some practical interest in this, different from a wish to flood the forum with inappropriate materials

 

[Darkprincess69]

Thank you, @Darkprincess69 and @Barefoot Bondmaid for your support. Also, I appreciate especially the support of @Apostate and @Eulalia , as staff members. @Eulalia , my warm gratitude to you for the feedback including the comparison of the models! To say the truth, I was surprised to face with so strong opposition from a group of members of the forum. Looking through the forum previously, I observed, for example, Lovely Ladies Thread, which includes more than 500 (!) pages filled with standard erotic, non-fetishists, photographs. So, nothing suggested me that my small thread can be so troublesome... However, now I see rather many likes under my selections of photographs, not to say about the comments with a feedback. Therefore, to continue with this tread seems me reasonable. And I agree with @Darkprincess69 - the attitude like "Why I see here so many materials that I dislike?!" is usual in different forums: I observed some examples of that in the Russian forum forum.shtorny.com.

In addition: I enter this forum as an artist, to share my works. Presenting the selections of my models' photographs is only an additional activity aimed to have some estimations (at least likes) of the girls apart the fetish manips based on their photos. So, I have some practical interest in this, different from a wish to flood the forum with inappropriate materials

Please feel free to post in here. All contributors are welcome. In general we are a very open and welcoming community and while there are certainly some members who would prefer to keep this as a crux-focussed site to the exclusion of other interests, I firmly believe that there is more than enough diversity of interest among the membership to embrace all kinds of content

 

[Barbaria1]

I believe that this forum has a great balance of content for all tastes and, for the most part, the front page is pretty easy to navigate for all users, and not just those who come here initially just looking for crux content. The search function could still be improved a bit though but aside from that, I'm of the mindset of "don't fix what's not broken"

Please feel free to post in here. All contributors are welcome. In general we are a very open and welcoming community and while there are certainly some members who would prefer to keep this as a crux-focussed site to the exclusion of other interests, I firmly believe that there is more than enough diversity of interest among the membership to embrace all kinds of content

Thank you DP for these helpful statements. I couldn’t agree Moore. Let’s keep our community open and welcoming.

 

[KageKamen]

To say the truth, I was surprised to face with so strong opposition from a group of members of the forum. Looking through the forum previously, I observed, for exa
mple, Lovely Ladies Thread, which includes more than 500 (!) pages filled with standard erotic, non-fetishists, photographs. So, nothing suggested me that my small thread can be so troublesome...

If it helps, I think those speaking out against such things dislike that a lot more. Your thread was just a flashpoint.

Perhaps discussion of forum issues should move to the Technical forum, and leave this thread to it's nominal purpose?

 

[bobinder]

Thank you, @Darkprincess69 and @Barefoot Bondmaid for your support. Also, I appreciate especially the support of @Apostate and @Eulalia , as staff members. @Eulalia , my warm gratitude to you for the feedback including the comparison of the models! To say the truth, I was surprised to face with so strong opposition from a group of members of the forum. Looking through the forum previously, I observed, for example, Lovely Ladies Thread, which includes more than 500 (!) pages filled with standard erotic, non-fetishists, photographs. So, nothing suggested me that my small thread can be so troublesome... However, now I see rather many likes under my selections of photographs, not to say about the comments with a feedback. Therefore, to continue with this tread seems me reasonable. And I agree with @Darkprincess69 - the attitude like "Why I see here so many materials that I dislike?!" is usual in different forums: I observed some examples of that in the Russian forum forum.shtorny.com.

In addition: I enter this forum as an artist, to share my works. Presenting the selections of my models' photographs is only an additional activity aimed to have some estimations (at least likes) of the girls apart the fetish manips based on their photos. So, I have some practical interest in this, different from a wish to flood the forum with inappropriate materials

I enjoy seeing Mvalim's models in this thread. He presents some very fine photo manipulations (on this site and previously on DeviantArt) in terms of convincing realism and technical accomplishment. Our favourite models spend only a very small part of their lives posing nude, and I appreciate the opportunity to see them clothed in something like an everyday scene. They may be the actresses in our perilous fantasies, but a glimpse of their 'ordinary' lives makes a pleasant contrast. I think these well known crux stars from Orchid Studios look quite attractive in clothes.

​

As Eul has already observed, clothing can provide an attractive, even erotic element in the pictures. Many of Mvalim's manips employ clothed figures, and their clothing does not detract from the erotic value - rather it contributes to the credibility and realism of the scene. I am interested in the sources of his inspiration, and it is entirely appropriate that his models should appear in clothing. Sometimes the manipulation process requires the addition of clothing to a nude figure to produce the desired effect in an illustration.

​

Thank you Mvalim, for presenting such charming pictures of your models, as insights in connection with your creative processes and your sources of inspiration.

 

[Barbaria1]

Perhaps discussion of forum issues should move to the Technical forum, and leave this thread to it's nominal purpose?

That would be most appropriate.

I enjoy seeing Mvalim's models in this thread. He presents some very fine photo manipulations (on this site and previously on DeviantArt) in terms of convincing realism and technical accomplishment. Our favourite models spend only a very small part of their lives posing nude, and I appreciate the opportunity to see them clothed in something like an everyday scene. They may be the actresses in our perilous fantasies, but a glimpse of their 'ordinary' lives makes a pleasant contrast. I think these well known crux stars from Orchid Studios look quite attractive in clothes.

View attachment 1027827 View attachment 1027828 View attachment 1027829​

As Eul has already observed, clothing can provide an attractive, even erotic element in the pictures. Many of Mvalim's manips employ clothed figures, and their clothing does not detract from the erotic value - rather it contributes to the credibility and realism of the scene. I am interested in the sources of his inspiration, and it is entirely appropriate that his models should appear in clothing. Sometimes the manipulation process requires the addition of clothing to a nude figure to produce the desired effect in an illustration.

View attachment 1027830 View attachment 1027832 View attachment 1027831​

Thank you Mvalim, for presenting such charming pictures of your models, as insights in connection with your creative processes and your sources of inspiration.

Well said. Now let’s return this thread to it’s regularly scheduled programming

 

[mvalim]

If it helps, I think those speaking out against such things dislike that a lot more. Your thread was just a flashpoint.

Perhaps discussion of forum issues should move to the Technical forum, and leave this thread to it's nominal purpose?

Yes, I think that if somebody wish to continue the discussion, it would be more proper in a special thread, since the topic does not concern only my contribution. However, I am not sure that I shall participate in it.

 

[windar]

For me, it's not about whose fetish belongs here and whose doesn't, but about length. I happen to like barefoot pics. As far as Russian women barefoot, few if any did it better than the late Nikolai Bessanov/Tibool (the source of my avatar). Most of them are clothed in prison uniforms, while some are naked, but all are excellent. As many of you know, Barb and I used some to illustrate our story "Mine Misery".

The question is, would it be appropriate to post every Tibool picture here, when his website chainganggirls.com has the entire works in their original context? I say it would not be, for many reasons, including web hosting costs, copyright, and respect for the artist, among others. So, if you could assure me that the thread will post a FEW pics of barefoot Russian women and then say, "That's enough, go here for more", then I would say, "Fine."

But I've been around CF long enough to be pretty confident that the thread will soon have 20 or 30 pages and hundreds of images. All of which could be substituted for by links to the original sites. The same, by the way, goes for crux pictures being re-posted for the umpteenth time

The other question that no mod has answered is why there cannot be a section for ORIGINAL artwork only, posted by the CREATORS. We have 12 sections on the site. Surely a 13th could be handled easily. I'm not suggesting anyone go through all the existing threads and sort, but it can be used going forward. That would make the site more attractive to artists, I think, and to viewers as well.

So, I would like an answer as to why this cannot be done. Thanks in advance....

 

[montycrusto]

a section for ORIGINAL artwork only, posted by the CREATORS.

Yes please