What is the real use of the NSFW qualifier?

I think it’s so that no minors stumble across something they may not want to see. Or, to take the acronym quite literally, so that no one clicks on anything that would embarrass them if a coworker saw!

For me, it tells me not to open the links if my son is standing next to me looking at the computer since the content would most likely not really be suitable for him yet. Depending on what the question is, I may not even open the question if he’s standing near me because he has a tendency to read what’s on the screen as well.

Everywhere I’ve worked recently has not allowed us to use computers for anything personal, so the actual work part of it is irrelevant to me. I’ve never considered the NSFW tag as something to stop minors from looking at things on their own.

If it is just there to say to people “don’t open it where your boss or coworkers can see” then it does its purpose…. yes. That’s what it is there for, that is its purpose. It’s to let people know (wherever you are) that if you open the question there is ‘NSFW’ content and that if you don’t want people around you to see it that you shouldn’t open it. Or hell, maybe you don’t care if they see it. Either way, it’s just a warning about its content. Whether you view it or not is up to you.

It serves three purposes:

1) So that minors seeking forbidden material on the internet can find it easier.

2) So that prudish adults who are offended by the sight of nekkid boobies can avoid looking at nekkid boobies.

3) So that Americans who are browsing the web at work and would get fired for looking at nekkid boobies can go back that evening from home to look at the nekkid boobies.

It’s not intended to stop minors from seeing it. There are far, far more interesting things for minors to look at than a thread about whether female jellies groom their cha-chas.

It’s to warn those who don’t want to look that they shouldn’t look. Whether they’re at work or the kids are around or they just don’t like those kinds of questions.

I bet Ron Jeremy laughs his considerable bollocks off when he spots it. Is the tubby titmaster active on these pages? How the fuck should I know? I just make up the rumours.

Like @Seaofclouds, I don’t look at NSFW questions when my kids are around. They are forever over my shoulder.

I’ve got not clue, I end up reading all of those at work anyway.

Sometimes I’m fluthering when my 7 year old daughter is home. If she comes to give me a hug or wants to talk to me, she doesn’t need to see the stuff that is considered NSFW. NSFW is a warning for me to not open it when she is around.

I’ve always thought it’s to let you know your boss/co workers more than likely wouldn’t appreciate walking by and seeing it up on your computer screen.

In my place of business, those posts often inspire the most fun co worker chats.

Warning: (NSFW) post:

I’ve thought about this – there never was one… but it’s obvious now what the official reason would be – and rightly so.

In old wis.dm – there was a “room” for 18 and over – with a click button “agreeing” to the terms – not unlike www.youporn.com for those who are so inclined.

Me, I never watch porn.

Many people express not wanting their kids exposed or reading NSFW content but any kid who opens up a bogus account using his older brother, uncle, or late father’s info who would know? Those kids who are not watched or supervised closely to whom a NSFW tag would be like a Hustler on the coffee table among the Road&Track, Men’s Fitness, and Redbooks most – boys—will try to sneak a peek at the Hustler; and if they see no one is around to stop them I am sure they won’t miss a page. As @Seaofclouds Everywhere I’ve worked recently has not allowed us to use computers for anything personal, so the actual work part of it is irrelevant to me. They have eyes on the network or software that track activity so if you try to sneak around office policy you can’t. If you own the business then you are the boss and don’t care.

@Hypocrisy_Central Are you saying the NSFW warning shouldn’t be in place since it doesn’t help with unsupervised children? I’m confused. Fluther isn’t responsible for unsupervised children, but the warning does help those of us that do supervise our children. My daughter is only 7, but she can read what is on the computer screen when I’m using it. I will not go to NSFW questions or posts if she is home.

I would like to add that before NSFW was required, I once clicked on a link on a Fluther question that had no warning. My daughter was 5 at the time, and she was sitting by my side when I opened the link not knowing what it was. It was a photo of three women fondling each other. She got a nice little peek at the picture and I wasn’t happy about it. Had the NSFW been in place, I would not have opened it.

@Hypocrisy_Central By the time I allow my son to start roaming around the internet without me watching him, I won’t really worry about him looking at porn stuff. Right now, he’s too young so the NSFW comes in handy when he’s around while I’m looking on the internet.

As I understand it, it’s for people who don’t want their kids to see, and people who are allowed to surf the internet at work (perhaps for lunch) but don’t want everyone to see questions about pubic shaving or whatever. Me, I sorta figure that if I’m surfing at work, there’s not much more damage to be done by someone finding out I’m helping a 16 year old girl deal with tampon sizing, but I think I’ve proven myself to be one of the more.. sexually enthusiastic members of the collective, shall we say, and subtlety has never been my thing.

@Mariah nailed it out of the gate, I take it literally. If I could get to fluther from work (it’s blocked by a firewall along with other ‘social’ sites) I’d appreciate the warning so I won’t have text of a potentially objectionable nature on my screen.
You folk who don’t have firewalls at work and don’t have reason to think anything would upset others at work are spoiled!