Not to mention, minors can't legally consent, so it throws the consent thing out the window.
I should have known a bad-faith option would be presented here. This reads as trying to box those of us arguing for clarification into a specific situation, whereas others like JanVanding have raised critical points of consented venues (private chats where consent between the involved parties is clear, etc.)
EDIT: A number of times, things are rather quick to go towards minors. Seems there's a lot of people with an axe to grind, seeing as there's been suggestions of grooming (a serious accusation that can be considered harassment if unfounded), open attacks against unspecific "degeneracy", and even one user later claiming sarcasm over unclear posts that suggest LGBT+ groups should go next because of - again - allegations of child grooming. Not necessarily from you, mind, but scattered amongst this whole thread.
But in an online game, where minors play, and you can't easily determine if someone is actually the age they say they are, and that minors cannot legally consent, then doesn't that throw the "consent between involved parties" thing get thrown out the window a bit here?
I'm fine with ERP if you have substantial grounds for knowing what the age of a person is, in that you two can actually legally be consenting, but engaging in ERP in 18+ player houses that was advertised publicly, you can't really tell just who is coming through the door, and have to take them at their word.
Nevermind, I think we're done here. The "think of the children"ing is too common in this thread, enough to argue that the mention itself is being used to sink peoples' arguments without merit, as a suggestion that they're advocating for unopposed interaction with minors.
Sticking to EDITs because I appear to be capped, but... it continues. A lot of insinuation that there's exploitation of minors and/or grooming, and it's going unchecked.
But this is a global game, so you have to take into account that people may be from areas with higher or lower ages on consent.
The age of consent is 16 in New Zealand, but I'd be uncomfortable with people from countries where the age of consent is 18 sending explicit material to those who are 16 (or potentially 13, as that's the youngest age that a person may play this game at without violating ToS)
And it's not just about "think of the children! Protect the children!", perhaps there could be a lawsuit against FFXIV or an adult if there's complaints filed about explicit material sent to a minor without the adult person realizing. It doesn't just protect the minor, it also protects the adult and the company from facing legal action.
That is because the game has been stated to be considerate with that age range in mind and to act accordingly. Advertising this in a public space like the Party Finder creates a situation in which people not of the appropriate age of maturity can get involved in such activities, with many of them not even understanding the gravity of the decision they're making or the implication as such. Be it obscene or not. None of this is acting in accordance with that in mind.
I wouldn't even care if there were a section specifically for 18+ on the PF which states and highlights the implications in no uncertain terms of opening up such a section which by default wouldn't appear within the default category of the PF. However, there isn't, so yes people will be inclined to morally grandstand and say you should not advertise mature content on a public space such as the PF which minors will have access to such advertisements, and unsolicited. no less