HUBPAGES: SEX TALK AND SEXUAL TOPICS STILL TABOO
71BANNED IN THE USA: THIS HUB ABOUT CENSORSHIP HAS ALREADY BEEN CENSORED BY GOOGLE ADSENSE DUE TO THE MENTION OF SEX IN ITS TITLE
SEX MAY SELL, BUT NOT ON HUBPAGES
Typically, sex sells. We've all seen ads using tough guys or sexy girls to sell products, and marketing specialists all know the strategy. Writing candidly about sexual topics; however, does not earn money on hubpages, because such hubs end up with the little dollar sign with a line struck through it much of the time, meaning that google ads have been pulled from the hub due to "inappropriate" content.
Admittedly, I've written some addiction related fiction that may not be the best subject matter for ads other than perhaps those for methamphetamine or sexual addiction treatment centers, but there are plenty of those around. Why then, are the hubs banned by google from earning any money? None of my writing would be classified as pornography, or even erotica, since its purpose is always that of either fiction that teaches about the power of addiction, or essay writing that discusses some sexual topic candidly. Who decides which writing is not appropriate for AdSense? Does a human even actually read the hubs, or does AdWords simply strike a line through anything that looks as if it might have sexual content in it.
It seems to me the titles have more to do with hubs being classified as inappropriate for google ads than does the content. For instance, one chapter of Undercover titled Hookers and Pimps is actually case study type writing. It describes a substance abuse counselor doing in-home counseling with a crack prostitute and her elderly grandmother. There is no sexual content in this hub at all, other than the discussion of the client being a prostitute who is involved financially and sexually with a "pimp" who abuses her. What about this case study is inappropriate for treatment center ads? I'd like to know.
Another hub banned from google ads is titled Kiddie Porn. It is a lyric about a young girl who reports child abuse to the police and is able to have the perpetrator stand trail and do time in prison. What about that is inappropriate for treatment center ads or public service ads? Nothing that I can see.
I wrote a hub titled Sex and Alcohol: a bad combination. This hub merely describes alcohol as a central nervous system depressant, as it is, that tends to dull the senses to all physical experience, including sexual stimulation. I would think the writing would actually discourage alcohol use in young people, yet it is banned from google ads as if it featured sexual content simply for the purpose of sexual stimulation. Most recently, my Addiction Lyrics and all things addiction site was banned from google dollars, and again, I don't see why learning about addiction, sexual or any other type should not be excellent material for treatment center ads.
SEX SELLS, BUT ONLY IF IT IS EROTICA OR PORNOGRAPHY
Apparently, talking honestly about sex is still taboo. Sex can sell undercover, but don't try to talk about it logically, or with any intent other than that of turning somebody on. In one chapter of Undercover, which was titled Erotic Dancers and the Indian Princess, the main character of the novel goes to a strip bar with some college friends for laughs, and discovers her best friend from her home town is now dancing there. The main character from Undercover becomes very disturbed that her friend is now an erotic dancer and leaves the club early in tears with a male friend who is also from her hometown and disappointed in this development. What about this innocent story is not appropriate for google ads? It appears to me that merely the appearance of the word sex or erotic dancer is enough to earn the dollar sign with the strike through it indicating that one's hub is too sexual for google earnings.
SEX VERSES WAR, MURDER, POLLUTION, HATE SPEECH AND POLITICS
I have read political hubs bashing the poor, bashing all liberals or all conservatives, complete with hate, and followed by hate comments, yet none of these hubs appear to be google ban material. We can write logically about murder, suicide bombers, racism, sexism (as long as you don't use the S word in the title), war (the deliberate mass killings of billions of young men and women), pollution, the destruction of our earth, yet mention of the word sex still calls for a ban on my writing's ability to earn money. We can write about God, against God, slander any religious beliefs we choose, or so it seems, yet the mention of sexual content in a hub title makes my writing inappropriate. Why?
Anyone can flag a hub for any reason. Does google automatically stop placing ads on any hub that is flagged? I should hope not since some straight laced types believe any mention of sex should be banned, some atheists might think any religious content should be banned, and some liberals might think any conservative writing should be banned, and vice versa. While most great thinkers of the past inspired new concepts somewhat against the norms of their times, some would prefer all differing opinions be banned if they are not liberal enough, conservative enough, or mainstream enough. We all have the ability to self censor any material, and with kids sexting one another on a regular basis, I hardly think straight candid responsible talk about sexual issues needs to be banned from earning google dollars nor from the Internet.
So how does Google determine content is unsuitable for google ads? I'd really like to know, and I'd also like for google, or whomever makes these decisions, to take the time to read some of the hubs they've banned from earning dollars on my own site, as I feel they might be surprised at what they find. It does not help that the ads they happen to ban are also the ones tending to draw the most traffic, and there is nothing sensual in the writing 99.9% of the time. Even if there were, would it be any more destructive than war, hate speech, or pollution? I do not think so, but because you may, I have added a link to every hub I have that has been banned from earning money through google AdSense to this hubsite, and will let you decide. Don't forget that I may find some hubs flag material too, if they inhibit free speech or the free flow of expression writing is all about.
Many Middle Eastern countries, in the name of Ali, inhibit and repress sexual behavior to the point that women must wear veils over their faces, and can be executed for so called sex crimes that actually only refer to the freedom to decide for oneself when and with whom to engage in sexual activity. Gays have been attacked and killed for the same repressive reasons, the need of many to control the sexual behavior and thoughts of others. Why does anyone really care who someone else engages in sexual behavior with, as long as he or she is not forced to participate?
The need to control the sexual experience of others is so strong for some that it extends itself into a need to control what we are even able to write or talk about. Google will not stop me from writing about sex whether they pay me or not, especially since they pay so little when they do pay, but it is difficult for me to understand why they would even desire to do so. I encourage you to bookmark this hub, and eventually read the hubs I have linked to it. Then make up your own mind as to whether these are actually even sexually explicit hubs that should be banned from google ads, or whether their titles just hint of sexual content . Do we really need automatic censorship of anything that hints it might have sexual content within it? Sounds a lot like the Ali crowd to me.
THE FOLLOWING HUBS HAVE ALL BEEN BANNED FOR SEXUAL OR OTHER CONTENT:
COLLEGE DAYS: EROTIC DANCERS AND THE INDIAN PRINCESS:
ADDICTION LYRICS AND ALL THINGS ADDICTION: (THIS IS THE ONE I SUSPECT WAS BANNED FOR POLITICAL RATHER THAN SEXUAL REASONS, BUT ONE IS NEVER SURE)
http://hubpages.com/_2pvzhao591xs4/hub/ADDICTION-LYRICS-LYRICS-ABOUT-ADDICTION
ALCOHOL AND SEX: A BAD COMBIINATION:
http://hubpages.com/_2pvzhao591xs4/hub/ALCOHOL-AND-SEX-A-BAD-COMBINATION
KIDDIE PORN:
http://hubpages.com/_2pvzhao591xs4/hub/KIDDIE-PORN
HOOKERS AND PIMPS:
http://hubpages.com/_2pvzhao591xs4/hub/HOOKERS-AND-PIMPS-CHAPTER-SEVEN-OF-UNDERCOVR
ONLY THE HUB LISTED BELOW, THE DEPARTURE, EVEN HAS ANY SEXUAL CONTENT IN IT, AND THIS PARTICULAR WRITING SPEAKS OF THE POWER AND DANGER OF METHAMPHETAMINE ADDICTION, SPECIFICALLY. THE STORY WAS WRITTEN TO MAKE AN IMPACT BY EXPOSING CHRYSTAL METH AS A DANGEROUS DRUG.
THE DEPARTURE: CHAPTER 46 OF UNDERCOVER
http://hubpages.com/_2pvzhao591xs4/hub/THE-DEPARTURE-CHAPTER-46-OF-UNDERCOVER
MOST OF THESE HUBS WERE BANNED MERELY DUE TO AD WORDS RELATED TO SEX. ADDICTION LYRICS AND ALL THINGS ADDICTION WAS BANNED BY MODERATOR REVIEW, AND I HAVE TO ASK WHETHER IT WAS BANNED DUE TO MY OPINIONS ABOUT ADDICTION THAT ARE NOT ALWAYS OTHERDOX, OR AGAIN FOR SEXUAL CONTENT.
SEX AND ADDICTION ARE SO CLOSELY RELATED THAT TREATMENT CENTERS TYPICALLY TEST FOR STDS UPON ONE'S ENTRANCE INTO THEIR TREATMENT PROGRAMS. TO BAN HUBS ON ADDICTION THAT ALSO DISCUSS SEXUAL ISSUES IS RIDICULOUS. WHOSE GRANDMOTHER IS MAKING THE DECISIONS FOR ADSENSE ADS? ALSO, TO BAN OPINIONS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT AGREE WITH THE MAINSTREAM OPINIONS ON DRUG ADDICTION, OR ANYTHING ELSE, PREVENTS PROGRESS, AS MOST IMPORTANT CHANGES COME ABOUT THROUGH THINKERS WHO DISAGREE WITH THE MAINSTREAM.
If you say much of anything, someone will have a problem with it. That is why censorship is a bad idea in most cases that do not deal with child pornography or pornography depicting human or animal abuse, also otherwise unlawful. To censor opinions that do not agree with the mainstream is probably the most destructive kind of censorship you can institute, so I certainly hope my addiction site is not censored from google ads due to my political opinions, but if it is, those opinions are even more important to me now than I felt them to be before they were censored from google dollars, or should I say google pennies. I've finally earned over $100 after over a year of writing on hubpages, and yet to receive my first check. Obviously, none of these hubs are written for the purpose of getting rich. I also will not consider google's "grandmother" opinions on what I write in the future, since google is not paying me enough to seriously write commercial ads for them. I will write to impact the thinking of society as I have always done, and if google and I earn a little money from the process, then that is fine with me.
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Thanks Norah Casey, nice to know you find my work high quality. I have not had a lot of my work fall into this catagory, in fact every hub that has had ads disabled is listed here. I have never been able to figure out how to make the Amazon thing to work. I got a number, but never could make the ads show up on my hubs. Still, it disturbed me that anyone could have considered my material obscene. It is nice to know this is not the case. I guess it seems to me the addiction stuff could still do well on treatment center ads, though obviously it wouldn't do well selling kid's birthday party supplies. I do appreciate your comment, and will check the links provided. (:v
I did go back and read the first link provided, and do understand that my hubs are not considered obscene, which is nice to know. It is sad to me; however, that some of these particular hubs are not considered good ones for Addiction Treatment Ads, though I will not lose any sleep over it knowing the hubs aren't considered to be in bad taste in general.
Perhaps my next question, and maybe my next hub will be focused on why sexuality in general is always so sensitive, when so many other topics are not, to the point to which people are even sometimes put to death for sexual practices, yet greed, exploitation, and usery exist everywhere without anyone seeming to even notice. I could write a hub on theft, animal abuse, racism or sexism, and chances are it would not be considered sensitive enough to remove ads. Perhaps the question here is not related to google ads as much as it is the human mind. Perhaps anything with too much emotional or sensual power is threatening to us. Thanks again, norah, for the information, as I really did not understand. (:v
I completely understand, Valerie. Writers put their heart into what they create, and to have any facet of it questioned by an anonymous group of people is frustrating. I personally don't understand why there is not more leniency for content that aims to be helpful.
Your addiction hubs could be edited fairly easily to have them in compliance for ads, but I think the changes that would be required would weakened the articles' message. This is just my opinion though. If you'd like to shoot me an email, I'll be happy to walk you through the changes that should be made if you want ads reinstated.
Well, the racism and animal abuse hubs may be considered too sensitive. It depends on the direction you go with the content and what images are used. But I agree with your point, they would not be as quickly questioned by the general public as content about sexuality. That would make for a fascinating hub, can't wait to read it! :)
Thanks Norah, my very next hub is one on Malinois Belgian Shepherds, however. I do many dog and cat breed profiles inbetween my intense addiction and political hubs. They tend to be safe, draw animal loving traffic, make some money on flea ads, etc., and are never considered senstive enough to offend, other than the occasional breeder who does not like the pictures used or the way their dog is presented. Those problems can usually be resolved with minor changes or add ons.
I probably need to leave my others as they are, and just rely on animal profiles, funny animal stories, and other non-intense articles for the google thing. I agree that changing the ones we discussed earlier would tend to weaken the content, and they probably would not be big money makers anyhow. Thanks so much for your support. My main fear was that I had politically offended some big shot in the addictions field, as I have sent my hubs to my Certification board and the Addiction Association of my state, as well as to a few free standing addiction treatment facilities of which I am aware. I would hate to think anyone had asked to have ads removed from any of my sites, but hopefully that is not the case. (:v
Well, even though Norah explained why this hub does not have ads on it, thought you might be interested in reading my list of hubs too provocative to be used for advertising purposes, so I'm leaving it on here. Ha.
Yep, animal hubs are usually pretty safe. I can imagine that you get an occasional problem with ones that could be perceived as endorsing breeding/sale of puppies, but advertisers don't get involved with those sorts of controversies.
Let us know if you have any specific questions though, or if you have a hub that has ads turned off and you aren't sure why. We have an automated filter that does quite a bit of the work for us, and sometimes it gets a little over-zealous. :)
Thanks Norah. The people who have complained about animal hubs are usually breeders who don't like what was said about their particular breed, for instance, if a dog is not good with children, they don't like a hub that says so, but all the resources can't be lying. Usually the ads are flea and tick ads or something unrelated to the particular dog portrayed. Thanks again. The only ones with ads disabled are mentioned on this hub. It really doesn't happen to me that often. (:v
Hehe Valerie - when my Hub had title "Breast Cancer", there was no ads. I had to change tittle because "breast" was no-no word.
My Hub about healing prostate never got ads, because I could not replace world "prostate" with anything else.
It has nothing to do with Google - Google puts ads on almost every article about any real "sexual" topic on the Web (if not pornography) - those filters they do not allow ads here are from Hubpages.com
Yeah, its that silly filter, and most of the hubs aren't even about sex at all. Why don't they screen out hubs on murder or pollution. Why is sex such a big deal? I must laugh since almost everybody over age 15 has engaged in the act. Why is it still so taboo? (:v
Well, we can always post "hot sexy pictures" of some half-naked models or actresses and get all ads we want. Here on Hubpages. Strange, isn`t it?
We can also chat as much we want about sex in comments, filters do not affect comments.
Double standards?
Yes, strange, indeed. (:v
Watcha Valerie, well written argument. Oddly, I can see google ads on here, there is that little sign beneath them that reads, 'ads by google'?
I think one of the problems is that of the US, advertising and entertainments industry which seems to have a please everyone policy, we all know that is impossible. In their attempts to achieve this, everything is left rather Walt Disney bland. I think that over here in the UK, the only thing from US TV worth watching is Trueblood, everything else is a rather insipid, 12 rating.
Just a thought on why google may behave this way.
You are correct, MickS. In the US there is an attitude that no one is ever supposed to be offended. It started with the civil rights movement, which was a good thing, but continued until almost every group who ever gets an insult is included as a persecuted group. Enough already. You can't even make a joke over here without somebody trying to scream that some kind of discrimination is going on. (:v
If you have a blogspot blog the adsense spider will automaticly put up public domain ads on the mention of sexual topics. Its better to write 'xxx' rather than use words like sex, pornography, or erotic. But here in the Huboshere they police themselves. That's probably why Google loves Hubpages so much. You're right though when it comes to how our society marginalizes sexuality. Most kids have seen episodes of the Family Guy. What's worse? Kids seeing that or non-erotic human antomy?
Mercredi, Our society gives mixed messages. Almost anything goes these days, and then a hub with the word "sex" gets banned. LOL. (:v
Interesting article. You make many valid points.
Thanks Gyspy, I just thank sex is overrated as an evil to society. (:v
I think you did a terrific job on your hubs. They were very interesting to read. I have come to a point in my writing where I don't pay attention to how much money I make (or if I will make money) but instead focus on the topic I am writing about. I agree that it isn't right to punish writers for addressing a sensitive topic. To act as if sex is tabboo and then plaster it all over the tv for a child to watch is just sending up a red flag saying "Go ahead! It's ok!"
I think Google needs to re-evaluate their guidelines, if it is pushing for porn...ban it. If it is protecting your child...accept it.
Thanks and great job!
tipoague, I am now working full time and spend little time worrying about money I make or don't make on hubpages. I still enjoy writing on weekends at times and checking my comments section. I think sensitive ads don't pay because they are inappropriate for ads, which is how we get paid, not on the writing itself. Advertisers complain if a hub is too sensitive for ads to be appropriate; however, I've seen Bibles advertised on hubs that were bashing the Christian religion. Rather sad and funny.
This seems to be a nonsensical approach. A word in a title should not be a reason to disable adds. Articles should be read and a decision taken afterward if they are appropriate or not.
I don't know if this is being done by people or an automatic filter. My hub dealing with photography and nudes also had the ads disabled. BTW; the article does not have any nude people on it.
Interesting article, and I very much agree with the points you've raised. I have to assume that a computer is doing the filtering here, because of the poor reaction to anything containing the word "sex".
There are so many unemployed people in America, (as indeed there are here in Ireland.) Why not take a few of them on to read through hubs/blogs/articles/etc? It would be much more effective.
Hey Vendetta Vixen, I couldn't agree with you more, but business today is not about quality; its about the almighty dollar.
Hmm, unfortunately.
Again - an excellent hub. Keep up the great work.
WHY THIS SEX HUB IS BANNED OR IS PLANNING TO BANNED?REASON?
WHAT WE SEE IN HOLLYWOOD MOVIES?SEX.
WHAT WE SEE IN THE STREETS OF USA?SEX.
THAT HOLLYWOOD MOVIES HAVE NOT BE BANNED INSTEAD THEY HAVE PROMOTED,SO WHY THIS SEX HUB SHOULD BE BANNED?BECAUSE SEX IS A BAD THING AND ITS COMMON IN OUR SOCIETY,REASON BECAUSE IN OUR SOCIETY WOMEN WEAR NAKED CLOTHS AND THEN MEN ARE BIOLOGICALLY ATTRACTED TO THEM AND HAVE SEX WITH THEM,IS THIS IS A GOOD THING?THINK SENSIBLY,ALL THIS SEX IS DUE TO WOMEN WHO WEAR NAKED CLOTHES IN OUR SOCIETY LIKE USA,IS WEARING NAKED CLOTHES FOR WOMEN SHOULD NOT BE BANNED IF THIS SEX HUB HAVE TO BE BANNED?THINK SENSIBLY,BE SENSIBLE.
Dear J Velvet: I don't think sexual desire or sexual thoughts are limited to situations where women wear less clothing. I think sexual thoughts are natural and happen regardless of what women wear. This may shock you but women also have sexual thoughts and desires and I can attest to the fact that whether or not men are naked has nothing to do with that. (: v
Thanks mame for your reply,i agree :-).But doesn't you think so that wearing less clothing for women is a bad thing.For example,if i am with my family in the streets of New York City shopping and suddenly i see a woman wearing a bra and a knicker,it would have a very negative impact,that negative impact is also referred as PG.Is this is a very good thing or impact?Obviously no.I don't no but why mostly women in our West like to show off their entire bodies to men,and then attract men to them sexually,and then those men have sex with them.Is this is a very decent or good thing?Those women hurt themselves,rather than that seducer men.It is a very bad thing,i am giving this answer by my common sense.Sensible women never wear a bra and a knicker in public if they have common sense.By the way Jane is my nick,my real name is Saif.Thanks.:-)
Norah Casey Level 1 Commenter 21 months ago
Hello Valerie,
The hubs that you posted are all published, and have not been banned. Ads have been disabled on this content because it is too sensitive to be advertiser friendly. This was done in order to protect your relationship with advertisers, as well as our own. We have outlined the reasons for ads being disabled on our FAQ, found here: http://hubpages.com/faq/#adsdisabled
This should not be viewed as censorship. We are not telling you to conform to the standards of advertisers. If you would like the warning to disappear, please set your ad level to none. I have read through the hubs you listed, and all are high quality and important works. (edit: Hadn't finished my post)
I understand your frustration with this process, and I apologize for any confusion that may have been caused. You will still be able to use Amazon capsules for advertising and your HubScore will not be impacted. Please contact us if you have any questions.
http://hubpages.com/email/help/alert/disabled