Why are so many questions related to sex labeled as NSFW?

@ninjacolin Puritan-bred concentration camps? Love that image! I wouldn’t say my classroom qualifies, but I appreciate the NSFW label. I’m allowed to use my lunch hour as I wish, and sometimes I like to take a look at Fluther during lunch… so I do appreciate the NSFW warning. I doubt my boss will take kindly to a speed-of-sperm question on my computer if she walked in, even during lunch.

I think the guidelines ask you to put it there or else it will be pushed to editing.

Some workplaces actually forbid ‘inappropriate’ content on work computers. Words like ‘penis’, ‘vagina’, and ‘porn’ could get people in hot water, regardless of whether the question is really a sex-fest or a deep sociological discussion.

@augustlan Very true. Also, some words are totally innocent until you consider their other definitions.

I’d have to say I appreciate it. Fluther is recreational, and the bottom line is it’s smarter to protect your job than enjoy something ‘edgy’ in the workplace. I can’t even get to the fluther through the corporate firewall but if I could I’d want the heads-up on anything potentially risky.

“What kind of puritan-bred concentration camps are people working at these days”...

To me all questions are NSFW, I catch you online browsing when you should be working and you are out the door.

Oddly, my company’s firewall allows Fluther in, but blocks all the user’s avatars. Strange.

I was going to say what @augustlan said. That certain words trigger work problems.

In addition to what has already been said, by labeling it NSFW, it also protects people from opening an innocent question that may have some not so innocent answers in it. Any question relating to a possible sexual situation (ejaculation in this case) could easily contain some answers that are inappropriate.

Maybe because we’re an uptight but still sex crazed country?

Perhaps we should be labeling political and religious questions as NSFW. Those topics can cause a great deal of trouble at work. Not to mention any question about labor relations or any other topic that could be verboten at various work-places.

But no. It doesn’t work that way. People put NSFW on their questions in order to attract more attention. Maybe I should do that, too. My questions don’t get much attention any more.

I like the NSFW warning. It lets you know immediately that there is possible objectionable material inside. Even though I’m a stay home mom, the NSFW label lets me know that there is information being given that I must be careful with, in regards to my kids running through my bedroom randomly.

Whether it’s a steamy, sexy conversation, or just an informational conversation, words like “sperm” and other terms are not appropriate reading when my kids are in the room. Unless I, as the parent, am the one who is having a talk with them about their bodies and biology.

@wundayatta: Huh? Did you say something? ;^)

ALL questions about work should be labelled NSFW because most work places really are that puritanical, and people can and do lose their jobs becauseof what they look at online. Also its not just for work. It’s also a reminder that if a mother is sittng at home Fluthering with a small child on her knee, she might not want to click on some links while the child is there.

Like @downtide pointed out, NSFW isn’t just about work. It’s to let everyone know that there may or may not be something appropriate for certain atmospheres. Some of our younger Jellies also surf while they are at school. How much trouble would they get in if a teacher walked by and saw the word “penis” on their computer screen?

Most of the time, sex questions aren’t about the purely biological aspect of sex, though.

A lot of the time, sex questions are really about how many giant purple dildos one can fit in their ass, or how to make the most out of a fivesome, and so on. There is nothing wrong with this, per se, but it may not be appropriate for the workplace.

@downtide is right too.

I work in a hospital. That’s where human anatomy is innappropriate! ~

@linguaphile – “I doubt my boss will take kindly to a speed-of-sperm question on my computer“_
– On seeing a question on the speed of sperm.. Your boss should laugh. Otherwise, something might be wrong with him/her.

@augustlan (and @downtide) said: “Some workplaces actually forbid ‘inappropriate’ content on work computers. Words like ‘penis’, ‘vagina’, and ‘porn’ could get people in hot water, regardless of whether the question is really a sex-fest or a deep sociological discussion”

well, that’s exactly what the question is about. Why should anyone get in trouble for a deep sociological discussion? No one should even expect to get in trouble for such a thing.

As an example, if a client was ligitmately named “Dick” and the computer monitoring software picked up on it and the boss looked into it and found out that “dick” was referring to a name and not anything legitimately offensive.. would you expect to get in trouble or would you expect your boss to make an exception based on the results of his investigation?

Similarly, if you’re allowed to be online at all at work, I would expect a boss ought to make exceptions for non-offensive browsing even when it has to do with regular human sexual biology.

“people can and do lose their jobs becauseof what they look at online” – actually, @downtide, what you’re saying is: “people can and do lose their jobs for looking at non-offensive content related to sex online.” .. which is ridiculous really. This speaks to the “tolerance” of such puritanical behavior.

@poisonedantidote “To me all questions are NSFW, I catch you online browsing when you should be working and you are out the door”

Yes, depending on what kind of work is being done it may be that browsing online is entirely a destructive waste of company time. But this kind of iron fist browsing control isn’t always choice. Consider the problem of seriousness and not enough play Bulgaria is facing. Also, consider the thoughts of a leading collaboration software developer. The entire psychology of workplaces can often be enhanced by the use of play and permission to be normal online. (Obviously care must be taken to use these kinds of ideas intelligently and it may not apply to all workplaces)

(btw, both of those ted discussions I linked are pretty awesome)
———-

As for children on laps.. Fluther doesn’t even have imagery. Not really a big deal. You can tell pretty quickly without the NSFW label whether something is heading in a not safe for children direction. discussions about sperm speed.. I don’t think there’s any child in existence who needs to be protected from that topic. If the discussion starts to turn evil, I can understand flipping away from it.

Anyway, I certainly do believe there are NSFW topics.. I just don’t think it applies to EVERY discussion regarding sex.

What kind of puritan-bred concentration camps are people working at these days that human biology is considered taboo?

Lol that was awesome. Puritans. That always reminds me of that canned stew you can buy, with that dude wearing a buckled steeple hat as a logo.

But anyways, some places are just picky like that, and I guess you just can’t chance it. It’s stupid and retarded (for the harmless questions, not saying, if someone asked, _what the fuck is this pulsating tumor coming outa my cock? btw I bangaranged a corpse last night) but it’s the way it is.
Some people and establishments have strict rules about that, as well as the power to act on it. I’m sure Fluther don’t give two shits, but some places where you’re checking it out might, even if it’s harmless and normal. :/

“puritan-bred concentration camps” It has a lot less to do with puritans than lawsuits, from employees who could feel intimidated in the workplace – a valid concern.