*snicker*

[bladespark]

In certain circles there has recently been a big to-do about paypal's "changing" the rule about sexually related sales.

What I find funny is that the previous policy was that all sex items were banned, except those allowed by their guidelines.

The "new" rule is that all sex items are allowed... except those banned by their guidelines.

Tell me I'm not the only one that notices what that actually means?

Comments

[karadur.livejournal.com]

Okay. You're not the only one, but is / has there been any indication that they notice?

Maybe they should just say "Here's a list of items we've banned. You're free to sell anything else", but that all depends on how long said list could be :s

But yeah. Yay for going around in circles all the same :p

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Of course they notice! THEY wrote it. They're not stupid. A lot of people were getting upset that they banned adult materials, so they did something that will make those people happy, because it /looks/ like they now allow it, but they haven't actually changed the rule.

It's a PR move, and a very good one, and there's no way the people who run paypal are stupid enough to not notice it.

[endymion-v1.livejournal.com]

Bureaucracy at it's finest! (though they'd call it "progress")

[unspeakablevorn.livejournal.com]

The difference is that, well, here

Let us first say that there are two kinds of things controlled by the rule, Type A and Type B. Under the old rule, both kinds of objects would be disallowed, except that there is a specific guideline allowing Type A objects. Under the new rule, both kinds of objects would be allowed, except that there is a specific guideline disallowing Type B objects.

So far, these have the same effect.

Now, let's add a new kind of object, Type C. Under the old rule, Type C objects would not be allowed until specifically provided for by a guideline. Under the new rule, Type C objects are already allowed.

The new rule is easier to maintain, because as new kinds of things come into play, they don't have to worry about each individual kind of thing.

Vorn

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

This is true. And it's possible that they will actually allow some things that were previously disallowed. But see above. I suspect this is motivated entirely by PR, and in reality very little is going to actually change.

I don't particularly care, as I don't make or sell such items, nor am I in the habit of buying them.

I just think it's funny how some folks are all excited that their pr0n will be allowed now when that's not actually the case.

[2dlife.livejournal.com]

To put examples in this analogy: Suppose someone wants to use paypal to buy a life-sized rubber banana. Under the old system, they may balk because this COULD be a something sexual and by the old rules, it may be banned since it wasn't explicitly allowed. They'd e-mail paypal who would have to add "rubber carrots, cucumbers, bananas, plantains, corn and the like" to their list. Under the new rules, buying of rubber vegetables is allowed and the world moves on.

[reaverta.livejournal.com]

The phrase "Eat your vegitables or you'll get a spanking" takes on a whole new kink.

[unspeakablevorn.livejournal.com]

[reaverta.livejournal.com]

...Whaaaaaaaaaaat?

[unspeakablevorn.livejournal.com]

What he said.

I lol'd

[aazhie.livejournal.com]

not that this changes anything, but it is nice that they are able to make it easier to enforce their own rules. Total PR, but it makes things a little easier for everyone, methinks... the less complex a system is, the better.

[silveradept]

It means much less work for the Paypal people in charge of overseeing adult items.