talktomeinclexa

[talktomeinclexa]

Steam, Itch.io and the banning of explicit and LGBT+ Content. What can we do?

[All images in this post have alt/id text if you need it or want to copy paste anything]

With no warning, Itch.io, a site where many host their indie games, comics, books and more, has started purging and shadowbanning explicit and LGBT+ works. Creators got no warning. And if they were still owed payouts from these works, Itch.io is saying they won't give them their money as they 'broke the rules'. Rules that were only just set in place, with no warning, and therefore no way for creators to try and draw out their money or delete these 'offending' works before they got banned under the new rules.

So Itch.io has been the most recent to fall to the demands of a group that's been contacting Visa and Mastercard and convincing them to threaten sites/businesses with 'stop selling what we consider to be explicit content on your sites of we'll stop allowing your site to have transactions with Visa and Mastercard'. Steam folded, and now Itchio has too. And a reminder earlier this year Gumroad also stopped allowing explicit content, further back than that Patreon banned some kinks and fetishes even if it's depicted in fiction not real life, and I don't have to explain to you guys the great Tumblr explicit content ban of 2018.

And as always remember this doesn't stop with sexually explicit work as LGBT+ stories and people are often labelled as explicit and already we're seeing works being taken off Itch.io that are about LGBT+ and especially trans stories. Other non-sexually explicit works I've seen already getting shadowbanned, delisted or deleted are SFW games featuring furries/anthros, SFW dress up games (because when you take the clothes the model is nude), and the aforementioned SFW games that include LGBT+ characters and stories.

I'm compiling here information I've seen around various social medias, mostly Bluesky, because I haven't seen all these things shared over here.

I don't personally have explicit content on itch, but I had been considering one day selling things on there and I do currently have explicit content on my Patreon, my main source of income, and am terrified that Patreon is going to fold next (if anyone knows alterative for hosting audio content behind a paid subscription service please let me know so I can start maybe making a back-up in case the worst happens). Because for me personally if Patreon goes next, it's not like I can go out and easily get another job. Not only because in general finding and getting a job is difficult enough, but I'm autistic and have chronic pain and have been constantly getting sick or new pains over the last few years and don't feel safe being trans in the UK right now and all of that combined rules me out of a lot of jobs and makes me feel unsafe to apply to any. I'm so grateful I've been able to make a community around my work, but if Patreon caves next and I just leave my SFW posts on Patreon... 10% of my Patreons are signed up to the SFW tier, 90% are signed up to the explicit tier... I know if Patreon caves I will go from someone living comfortably who's searching to move out of my parents so I can live in a safer environment to someone who can no longer even afford the rent I pay to my parents. I'll try and get an alterative found and set up in case that happens and I can only hope you guys will follow me to whatever other site I have to set up... but it feels unlikely that people will get a whole new account on a whole new payment provider just to support me on a website they might never have heard of...

But what can we do right now?

A petition you can sign (international but you do have to give your name, email, and postal/zip code):

Get calling:

Mastercard (US): 1-800-627-8372

MasterCard (UK): 0800 964 767

Mastercard (International.): +1-636-722-7111

Visa (US + Can): 1 800 847 2911 / 1-800-VISA-911

Visa (AUS): 1 800 125 440

Visa (UK) : 0800 891 725 or use their international call collect +1 303 967 1096

Visa (International): (call collect - it costs them $): +1-303-967-1096

PayPal (US): 1-888-221-1161

PayPal (UK): 0800 358 7911 from landline, +44 203 901 7000 mobile

PayPal (International): 1-402-935-2050

(numbers gathered from these posts X X X )

Don't know what to say on the phone? Here's a script written by timidtanuki:

Creators have had their work removed off Itch.io with no warning and since it's been removed for 'breaking the rules' (rules that were suddenly in place with no warning) they aren't entitled to get their payouts. Just like other sites such as Youtube and Twitch and Etsy, Itch.io hold onto money from their users in a wallet and then give them payouts. So there is money creators have made, are owed, that Itch.io is not giving to them.

People are recommending that if you still have works on Itch.io to turn down the revenue sharing to 0% so that Itch.io no longer takes a cut or your money if you no longer want to support Itchi.io finically but don't want to remove your works from their platform. X

Other Bluesky posts and calls to action I've seen:

radiantg.bsky.social is asking for anyone on Itch.io who got their game deindexed, removed , or payouts turned off to reach out to them (espeically if you make explicit and/or LGBT+ games) for a piece of journalism about what is happening.

sleepyhart.bsky.social is making a thread of all the games that Itch.io has censored/removed from their site search function. Obviously be aware this will include 18+ only games, games with sexual content and other dark or heavy themes.

thetransfemininereview.com wants you to reach out to them if you're a trans creator on Itch.io who is being affected by this so they can make an accurate report. they say 'authors' in their post and I'm unsure if they also want game devs to reach out.

dropdownbear.bsky.com wants you to reach out if you have purchased things on Itch.io that you can now no longer access because of this ban. they can include them in a report being filed with the Australian Consumer Commission as this may be a violation of Australian Consumer rights. If you are Australian you can no longer access things you purchased of Itch.io you can report directly with this guide.

It's a scary time for adult creators and sex workers. It's a scary time to be trans. Support creators. And if anyone knows of any alternate payment providers that allow explicit work, and/or alternate websites to Itch (and in case things get worse, also give me Patreon alternates please) where people can host, sell and/or offer paid subscriptions to writing, images, videos, audios, games and more please leave them in the replies. And please help share this post, the posts I'm linking too, and any other resources you can find.

[talktomeinclexa]

Many people in Poland first discovered you in “Severance”, but your career is so much richer than one role. How would you describe your evolution as an actress?

I think my career has been a series of different leaps. Sometimes careful, sometimes just blind. I started in Australia, working on a show called “Neighbours”, and at the time I couldn’t have imagined where it would lead. Each role I’ve taken has taught me something new, whether it’s a Sci-Fi epic like “Altered Carbon” or a grounded crime drama like “Animal Kingdom”. I’ve grown more fearless overtime. Becoming a mother has helped with the fearless part. Something I didn’t expect. I’m more willing to explore different things and characters who exist in that grey area between strength and fragility.

You were born in Nepal, grew up in Australia, and now work in the US. How has this cultural mosaic influenced your art and your worldview?

Growing up in a developing country, and having the contrast of moving to the west has shaped so much. The duality of evolving between two cultures gave me this sense of being an outsider and an observer, which I think naturally feeds into acting. It taught me to adapt quickly, to listen more than I speak, and to understand that identity can be fluid. In my work, I think that’s why I gravitate towards characters who are in between worlds… People navigating fractured, identities, or extraordinary circumstances.

“Severance” has been called one of the most hauntingly accurate series about modern work culture. What drew you to the role of Ms. Casey?

Yes. Ms Casey is a woman with almost no memory of her life, yet she has this ache in her, this unspoken longing. That required me to lean into silence. To let pauses, breaths, and the smallest gestures carry the weight. It’s oddly exhausting, because you’re holding so much back while still trying to let the audience feel the humanity beneath the surface.

There’s a quiet melancholy and poetry to your performance — was it emotionally challenging?

It’s often about the character, first do I understand them, my teacher said “never judge your character” so it’s not so much about that… more about can I be believable. Can I bring something unique to them? And then it can also be about the collaborators. If I know I’m working with people who take big swings whether it’s Dan Erickson and Ben Stiller on “Severance” or Laeta Kaligridis on “Altered Carbon”, I know it’ll be worth diving into even if the role is terrifying at first.

Having said that sometimes you go into something and everything is a question mark. Even yourself, but you move forward because I feel like sometimes the universe is giving me what I need in that moment and I just trust it. I have met many incredible people this way. Also made many mistakes but then in life I think all of it is important. Honestly sometimes and actually often I don’t think i know what im doing I just flow with the current.

Do you feel sci-fi as a genre gives actresses more layered, powerful roles than traditional drama?

Often, yes. Sci-Fi lets women exist outside of traditional archetypes. And because you’re often building a new world, you’re not bound by the same societal expectations you might see in a straightforward drama that freedom can lead to roles that are incredibly layered and dynamic.

How do you and your husband – who is also an actor – supports each other’s careers, especially when you both have intense schedules?

Communication is very important. We both know the demands of this industry. Long shoots, travels, unpredictability. So we make conscious efforts to stay connected, even when we’re apart. And we celebrate each other’s wins, big and small. We also are there for each other when things don’t go our way, which is in every relationship I suppose. Having someone who truly understands the highs and lows of this profession is such a gift. It’s also very helpful because we can help each other with auditions build characters, for example.

You’re also a mother — how has motherhood changed the way you approach acting or storytelling?

It’s given me a new depth of empathy. But also a fierceness. I’m not sure how to explain it. Motherhood changes your sense of time, your priorities, and even your understanding of love and fear. It’s made me more conscious about how I spend my time away from my family. I want to tell stories that resonate, that Mathilda might one day watch and feel proud of as much as possible but I also understand that I have to work to provide for her.

Fashion and visual storytelling are often tightly connected. How would you describe your relationship with style?

Style, to me, is another form of storytelling. Especially for the character. On the screen, the right wardrobe can communicate who a character is before they even speak. In my personal life, I lean towards pieces that feel effortless but expressive. Things that have a bit of edge or artistry without feeling too contrived. I love supporting designers who approach fashion in a very eccentric and organic way if that makes sense. I do love to be comfortable and stylish, which is sometimes a hard balance. I love mixing thrift clothes with Heully crafted items and also I am guilty of a bit of fast fashion.

If a Polish reader has never seen your work before, which one role would you tell them to watch first — and why?

I would probably say “Severance” to start, because it’s such a unique series and a role that I’ve done that is unlike any that I have played. But if they want to see something completely different, I’d point them toward “Altered Carbon”. It’s bold, stylish, and I get to play a very different kind of character. It’s also very beautiful beautifully made.

What are you currently working on and what exciting projects do you have coming up in the future?

I just finished a horror movie that I did with Blumhouse Productions for Universal. And there are some things that I can’t talk about beyond that. I’m also slowly developing a few projects of my own, stories. I want to help bring to life, but those things take a very long time. I’m just very excited that “Severance” has been recognized for being such an extraordinary show and everyone’s hard work is being acknowledged.

[talktomeinclexa]

An alligator friend..

[talktomeinclexa]

parents will make u feel guilty about absurd shit like breathing too much air or smth. and it will work too like you'll be laying on the ground years later paralyzed by the guilt that you're breathing too much until someone grabs u by the shoulders and tells u that is fucking stupid. and then you'll need to remind yourself of that every day for the rest of your life to function

[talktomeinclexa]

[talktomeinclexa]

Big fan of characters realizing they don't get to die. They have to live. And grow. And be a person. And deal with shit they thought they'd never have to. And be fucked up about it. I would like more of this. Enough dying for honor or as redemption. It ain't. You're just a corpse. There is no moral value in dirt time.

[talktomeinclexa]

What is your opinion on using ChatGPT to help you write? I myself use it for moral boosters and when I'm doubting myself and ask it if something makes sense, nothing more as I'd never want a word of my novel to not be my own. But I've seen some hate online recently from writers saying that anyone who uses it at all isn't a writer? Which does make me awfully sad

-

It's not hate – we're scared and frustrated. Not just for ourselves, because AI is a genuine threat to our livelihoods, but also for the next generation of writers, like you. It's going to be a lot harder to get discovered or published with AI-generated content flooding the Internet and the book market.

Earlier this year, it was revealed that Meta trained Llama 3 on a massive body of pirated work. You can read more about it here. Meta employees knew this was morally wrong, but they did it anyway, because (1) they didn't want to pay anyone for the use of copyrighted work, and (2) they knew they could get away with it, and they have. They took our stories, born of real human experiences, and used them to feed something that's designed to be able to replace us. There are other reasons writers may be anti-AI, like the impact on the environment, but hopefully that gives you some context for why writers, specifically, are reacting to this so strongly.

You've said you wouldn't use ChatGPT to write your novel, which is great to hear. If you did, I would tell you that you weren't, in my opinion, a writer – just as I would never claim to be an artist if I used ChatGPT to create images, or a musician if I used it to generate a song. But I would also gently question why you feel like you need it to give you morale boosters or tell you if something makes sense. ChatGPT is not a human reader; unless you specifically instruct it not to flatter you, it will say what you want to hear. It isn't reacting to you, or to your story, with a human gut or a human heart. To me, any praise or encouragement it offers is empty. There's nobody and nothing behind it.

As for asking it to help you work out if something makes sense: I really do understand the temptation. I'm chronically ill, so I write at a slower pace than a lot of my colleagues, and it might help me churn out books faster if I asked ChatGPT to help me unpick a knot in the narrative, or fix a plot hole. But I don't want to surrender the ability to think and problem-solve for myself, and I would caution you against doing that – not just for the sake of your writing, but for everyday life. In this era of disinformation and propaganda, our ability to think, interrogate and analyse the world around us is more important than ever.

I can't stop you from using AI. But ask yourself: what would you have done before ChatGPT? Could you have figured out for yourself if something about your story makes sense? I think you definitely could have. It might have taken a bit longer, but you would have worked it out. I would encourage you to hold on to that ability. Cherish and nurture it. Rather than relying on artificial intelligence, trust your own.

[talktomeinclexa]

you wanna fight huh? okay let's take this outside! the stars are so bright tonight. the moon looks so nice. hold my hand

[talktomeinclexa]

before you stab someone: THINK!

how can you make it Tender?

how can you make it Homoerotic?

how can you make it Implicitly intimate?

how can you make it Noticeably a metaphor for sex?

how can you make it Kind of gay?

[talktomeinclexa]

*Dead media (assassinated)

[talktomeinclexa]

Chapter 18 "Heart", the penultimate chapter, is up on Ao3

The Royal Guard

By: TalktomeinClexa

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Mild violence

Status: WIP

Summary: Princess Clarke of Arkadia is kidnapped by mercenaries while on a visit to one of the kingdom’s cities. Her abductors treat her well enough, but everything becomes more complicated when their client orders them to execute her. Lexa thought this was just another job. High risk, high pay. But when push comes to shove, will she betray her orders or her heart?

***

Chapter 1: Kidnapping

The rain fell on the windows with lazy regularity, drawing random patterns on the glass. Her Royal Highness Princess Clarke, the oldest daughter of King Jacob and Queen Abigail, stood behind it, face turned toward the outside to admire the old city’s architecture.

Contrary to the capital, a modern and fast-paced urban center peppered with prestigious hotels and tech companies, Reim offered a quieter, more human-sized environment. Several parks invited families and young couples to relax during the warmer months, and cruises on the canal traversing the city from west to east delighted both locals and tourists. However, the Princess’s favorite attraction remained the Art Museum, an imposing neo-Gothic building hosting the largest collection of paintings and sculptures in Arkadia.

Freeing two hours between her speech at a newly opened hospital in the morning and her visit to the orphanage in the afternoon had required some juggling and careful planning. But the “Nature” exhibit alone—soon set to leave for the Louvre—was well worth the trouble. It was merely unfortunate the rain started while she admired the earthy-toned pieces and that the museum’s parking lot was located outside.

“Would you like to remain here longer, Your Highness? The rain might yet abate.”

Keep reading on Ao3

[talktomeinclexa]

okay but there is something disquieting about this urge to cast fan writers as altruists. they give us all this for free!! well, no.

they’re sharing

it’s a key difference in perception. fic isn’t given. it’s shared. it’s part of a fandom community— in which readers are also an integral part.

it’s probably inevitable mission creep from the increasingly transactional nature of the internet and fandom-as-consumerism, which was always gonna happen after corps worked out how much bank there is to make from those weirdo fan people

but like. fandom is sharing. i think we’ve lost that somewhere.

[talktomeinclexa]

[talktomeinclexa]

Everytime I see something gay in a tv show and I say to myself ‘wow that might be the gayest thing thats ever happened on tv!’ I have to remind myself that the actual gayest thing that has ever happened on television was the time on Xena Warrior Princess that Xena got Sappho to write Gabrielle a poem for her birthday and they used Sappho’s actual poem.

Which means that in the Xena universe, one of Sappho’s most famous remaining poems was one dedicated to Gabrielle from Xena.

And that’s pretty fucking gay.

[talktomeinclexa]

[talktomeinclexa]

THE MUMMY 1999 | dir. Stephen Sommers