hey all! haven’t been around lately, or at least, haven’t been very active lately. i’ve been lurking, watching things, and as i have been doing so i’ve been made very aware of some things that have bothered me for some time, but haven’t until now been able to put words to.
and i think the best way i can start is by reiterating one of the most absolutely true things about steven universe: it is, by all means, a show for kids.
“ness, no! the themes it deals with are so dark and heavy, it is a trojan horse of a show! advertised as for kids, but for adults too!”
no, no, no. true, the themes steven universe deals with are at times dark, but that does not in any way detract from the fact that its intended audience is children. adults can enjoy the show, even love it (as i know so many of us do), but we must understand that we are not the intended audience. not being the intended audience does not mean we can’t enjoy it, or are wrong for enjoying it -- it just means that we have to keep the show safe for the intended audience.
which brings me to what has been bothering me regarding steven universe rp. i sincerely believe that our blogs should be safe enough that if a kid were to google “steven universe” and our blogs were to show up, they could browse our blogs without encountering any upsetting adult content.
i’m talking nsfw, i’m talking adult language. this is the kind of adult content that could really upset children were they to stumble across it. i know that when i was little (ages 8-11) i played PoTC: Online, and enjoyed roleplaying with my avatar -- but when i encountered foul language, i remember becoming so distraught that my “safe place” had been tainted by nasty words that i eventually just quit, and didn’t pick it up again despite how happy it previously made me.
the same can likely be said for other children ages 8-11.
look also at my little pony -- it’s a bit saddening when a kid can’t google their favourite pony without seeing copious amounts of porn and other such nsfw things.
here on marty, i try to keep it as clean as i can (and have a lot of cleaning up to do, with a previous track record of swearing and reblogging songs that contain foul language and suggestive themes) -- i try to use kid friendly “swears” (heck! darn! shoot! i don’t give a hoot!) and, though i have many “adult” headcanons for marty, i try to keep those to myself because i don’t want a kid to find my blog and have to see them and be hurt by them.
please try to make your blog a safe space for the intended audience. i’m not saying that you can’t draw nsfw (though i’m personally creeped out by it, because, honestly, they’re characters on a show for kids) and i’m not saying you can’t have “adult” headcanons -- just. make sure that you’re responsible with that stuff. just like you wouldn’t leave adult magazines or adult toys in the reach of children, you shouldn’t risk exposing children to something that they shouldn’t be exposed to to begin with.
gummygunk
dailybridgerton
stormborns
annaxmalina
turnnoffyourmind
pixelskylines
