Avatars (and by extention signatures) have always been a tricky situation to the mod team. Concerning what is appropriate for this site and what isn't, understanding what constitutes as "crossing the line" and what to do about those that seem to toe it. Even our ruleset gives an example that is still up to interpretation:
Avatars. All Avatars must be safe for work. This means that they should not be overtly sexual (this includes blatantly sexualised poses), grotesque or graphically violent in nature. As a general guide, ask yourself whether you would see something like that in a PG-rated movie. There are children here, and people who are working, and there is no way for them to hide your obscene avatar. If in doubt, don’t use it. Avatars must not troll or flame (or violate any of the rules laid out for posts, especially 10, 11 and 13). Whether or not an avatar is appropriate is subject to moderator approval. Avatars may be removed by the Lead Moderator (axumblade) or Deputy Lead Moderator (Kantor) if they violate these rules.
Signatures. Signatures must not be excessively long. GIFs contained within signatures must not exceed 1.5MB. Like avatars, signatures must contain no graphic violence or sexual/NSFW content, and must also be free from flashing lights and other discomfort-inducing GIFs. Quotes in signatures are subject to the approval of the quoted member. You must remove a quote of a member from your signature if they ask you to do so. Every rule applying to posts (especially 10, 11 and 13) also applies to signatures. All content in a signature is subject to moderator approval. Failure to comply with these standards will result in moderator action. Signatures may be removed by the Lead Moderator (axumblade) or Deputy Lead Moderator (Kantor) if they violate these rules.
(did you even know about this rule? Well when you clicked on the "I agree to the terms and conditions of VGChartz" button you told us you did. So ha!)
So what makes an avatar "PG" and what doesn't? Are we going to go extremely literal and just go "No nips and no nether reigons: No problem!" or perhaps go the other way and have everyone wear jean skirts that cover their ankles (We'll have Miz do the photoshopping)? It's not an objective view on what makes things NSFW and what doesn't, and because of that, the mod team has been inconsistent with how we interpret this rule. I'm sure there's been a few of you how have had one mod say your avatar is fine while another mod will tell you to remove it. This is something we're trying to correct, not just for our sakes, but so that VGChartz and gamrConnect can be a more inviting and inclusive community.
So what does this mean? Well, first of all... the mod team is going to take a harsher stance on where that mystical "line" between appropriate and inappropriate lies. We want to continue to make sure that VGChartz can be accessible and appropriate for everyone who wants to view Data or be part of the community. Whether you're 12 or 92 (I miss Grampy 
), browsing at the comfort of your home or browsing at a busy bookstore, an avatar or a signature should not cause you to hesitate to click a link in VGChartz (unless it's NSFW Discussion of course. The heat's on you if you click there while at work. ^_^)
Am I in danger of being banned? How will I know?! Users that have avatars or signatures that contain borderline content that we don't approve of will not be moderated for it (Obviously, overtly sexual, violent, or other extremely inappropriate images will be moderated. That's common sense on your part guys). If we find that your avatar or something in your signature isn't right for VGChartz... we'll just remove it. And if your avatar/image/GIF is removed... it is not something to argue about. The decision to remove it is at the discretion of the mod team. If it happens, move on and pick another (more appropriate) avatar to suit your needs. But it will also be the moderator's responsibility to let the user know that this has happened. Transparency and communication is essential for this to work, so we'll do our best to keep everyone in the know as we go forward. The best advice I can give you is this: don't take it personally if this happens to you. It's not an attack on your character or even your taste in avatars (We all love beautiful men and women! Why do you think AxumBlade is the head mod?). This is just a rule we're now trying to enforce in the most consistent way we can so that the whole site benefits from it.
So What's Now Crossing the Line? For avatars, images, and GIFs, the mod team will ask themselves this one question: What's the intent of this picture/GIF? If it's to be sexual in nature, then it's not appropriate for VGChartz (collective groans ensue). That's it. End of story. You can still have a beautiful woman in a swimsuit, but ask yourself this: Is this picture's goal to get a sexual response from the viewer? If it is, then it's not VGChartz material. Like we said before, we want this site to be as inclusive and appropriate for folks of all ages and for those who want to browse this site in a public setting.
Smeags, you're such a prude! *laughs maniacally as he flies off on his magic chasity belt*
Currently Online 
