Community & Content Guidelines
Last Updated: 8 May 2022
BASTTA is a respectful, supportive, and encouraging community that is deeply passionate about art and creativity. We welcome artists of all experience levels and walks of life. BASTTA asks that you do not seek or engage with the content you don’t agree with (no need for troublemaking).
And if you see behaviour or content that goes against our guidelines, please flag it through one of the reporting functions on our site. Above all, we urge you to make the most of your time here by offering support to artists. Contribute positively to the community, and you’ll find that BASTTA can be a fun and rewarding place. (Yay.)
Note: for additional guidance, please visit our separate Coronavirus/COVID-19 Content and Mask Guidelines pages.
• The Fine Print
• Age
• Mature Content
• Tag Spamming
• Self-Promotion
• Adult Language
• Nudity/Pornography
• Designs on Children’s Clothing
• Violence and Hatred
• Racism
• Use of Symbols
• Country-Specific Laws
• Defamation
• Vilification
• Harmful Misinformation
• Uninvited criticism
• Personal attacks
• Harassment
• Baiting
• Threatening Behaviour
• Copyright and other forms of IP protection
• Upload Limits
• Account deletion for policy violations
The Fine Print
The following paragraphs summarize BASTTTA’s approach to behaviour and content. These guidelines have been made public in the spirit of open communication but it should be noted that they are adaptable and will evolve over time. Depending on the severity, a breach of BASTTTA’s guidelines can result in a formal warning, account suspension, or account closure. BASTTA has internal policies and procedures in place to ensure these guidelines are applied in a consistent and fair manner. In applying these guidelines, BASTTA reserves the right to remove a work or close an account at our sole discretion.
Age
Members must be 16 years or older. This is a legal requirement as people under the age of 16 are not able to enter into a legal contract with BASTTTA.
Mature Content
Mature Content refers to works containing content that may be considered not suitable for viewing by some audiences, such as nudity, blood, guns, alcohol, drugs, violence, adult language, and other similar themes.
Artists should indicate that their work is Mature Content as a part of the upload process, however, this can also be done at any time using the Edit Work function.
Marking your work as Mature Content ensures that it will only be seen by viewers who choose to include this content while browsing BASTTTA. Failure to comply with this guideline may result in account restriction or closure.
Tag Spamming
Tag spamming is not permitted. Tag spamming is the use of irrelevant or inappropriate words in the tags on a work - for example, using the tag blue on a work that contains only red, or using adult-themed tag words on children's clothing or works that reference children.
Self-Promotion
Members can self-promote in their parts of the site (i.e., journal, profile), but should refrain from uninvited self-promotion outside of these areas. For example, members should not self-promote in the comments under another member’s work. Artists can promote products and services they provide in their journals or profile but need to be clear and transparent about the details – in particular, the financial details.
Adult Language
Malicious or hurtful swearing at another member is not permitted (it is considered a personal attack). Swearing and adult language in a more general context is acceptable. Works containing adult language should be marked as Mature Content.
Nudity and Pornography
The following material is not permissible on BASTTTA:
• Sexual material: Explicit and gratuitous foreplay. Displays of sexual intercourse showing genitalia in direct contact including, but not limited to, male-to-female, female-to-female, and male-to-male. Male or female masturbation where hands come into contact with genitalia in real or simulated masturbation/fondling. Semen and vaginal fluids. Urine when considered in a sexual context. “Sex toys” in use with genitalia or in a clear sexual context including but not limited to penis-rings, dildos, strap-ons, vibrators, etc. Manually spread vaginas or anuses (either sex) by hand or manipulated open by any other artificial means.
• Penises and vaginas: Any image that is deemed to be gratuitous - definition of gratuitous: "unnecessary or unwarranted". This will generally include close-up vagina images or images that show intimate details of a vagina, men with an erection that is clearly visible, or images where the penis is the focal subject.
• Nude or 'sexualized' children: BASTTA has a conservative approach to images of children. Children should be appropriately clothed. As a general rule, 'appropriately clothed' means no genitalia, no uncovered bottoms, and, for pubescent girls, no bare chests. We define a child as anyone under the age of 18. In images of babies or infants, some nudity is acceptable but we request that genitalia is covered.
• General titillation: Images constructed with the primary purpose of sexually exciting the viewer and where no attempt at an artistic statement has been made.
Designs on Children's Clothing
We take a conservative approach to designs made available on children’s clothing. Designs should be suitable for children of all ages and without undesirable associations or connotations (for example, sexually or violently suggestive, demeaning, derogative, or political material or phrasing that could be interpreted as such). Humorous slogans need to be tested against a broad range of views as they can cause unforeseen and unintended offenses. Gender-specific slogans also need careful consideration.
Violence and Hatred
Work that glorifies or trivializes violence or human suffering is not permitted. For example, graphic depictions of violence, works that trivialize violent acts, and work or behaviour where the intent of the artist is to incite hatred or violence. This includes the promotion of organizations, groups or people who have a history of violence and/or an agenda of hate.
Works that deal with catastrophic events such as genocides or holocausts or other atrocities need to be sensitively handled. Works that have the potential to cause the victims serious distress may be removed.
Racism
Racist content or behaviour and material designed to incite racism is not permitted. We define racism as either the hatred or intolerance of another race, or discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior, or a belief that all members of a racial group possess characteristics specific to that race, especially to distinguish it as being inferior.
Racist Terms: Works that use racist terms in a casual and/or derogatory way are not permitted. The decision to remove a work will depend on the context in which words are used, but as a rule of thumb, this excludes situations where legitimate discussion or commentary is taking place. For example, a written work where the artist uses a racial slur in the context of describing their personal experiences of racism would be allowed to remain, but a slogan t-shirt featuring the slur would not.
Use of Symbols
Symbols and icons carry strong messages e.g. the swastika, crosses, the Confederate Flag, Hitler, and the Koran. These symbols and their like can be used in a work, but only with considerable care. Works may be removed if:
• the intent is ambiguous or needlessly provocative
• the content appears deliberately designed to contravene anti-vilification, anti-racist, or hate guidelines
• the content does not comply with country-specific laws
Country-Specific Laws
Some countries regulate or prohibit the use of certain content, like symbols, images, or words. To comply with the laws in these countries, BASTTA may remove works that contain such content.
Defamation
Any work or behaviour that can reasonably be considered defamatory is not permitted. As a general rule, works that are presented as an opinion or a criticism on a subject of public interest do not fall under this definition.
Vilification
We define vilification as conduct or content that is intended to invoke serious contempt, revulsion, or severe ridicule of an individual or group of people because of race, religion, disability, gender identity, sexuality, or they are deemed to be a vulnerable person or group eg: refugees. This includes the promotion of organizations, groups or people whose views are inherently vilifying any of the above. As a general rule, works that are presented as an opinion or a criticism on a subject of public interest do not fall under this definition.
Harmful Misinformation
Harmful misinformation is not permitted. We define this as any misleading or false information that harms or significantly threatens public health and safety, or where the intent is to cause fear and suspicion about a topic that can cause real-world harm.
Uninvited Criticism
Criticism should only be provided on a work or journal where it has been specifically requested. For example, where the artist writes in the description “critique of this work is welcome” or “constructive criticism is welcome”. Criticism includes:
• negative comments about the quality of a work, and
• finding fault with the arguments or ideas expressed by a work
BASTTA provides a supportive and encouraging environment for artists of all skill levels and experience. If someone is unprepared for criticism or is self-conscious about their work, uninvited criticism can be upsetting and can have a negative impact.
Personal Attacks
A personal attack is where a member writes hurtful or insulting things about another member or makes personal remarks with the intention of hurting or upsetting them. Personal attacks can also include comments made about a group of members and names don’t have to be mentioned in order for behaviour to be considered a personal attack. Most importantly, provocation is not a justification for a personal attack on another member.
If an exchange is becoming heated or if someone’s behaviour isn’t appropriate we strongly advise taking a few deep breaths, reporting any instances where the behaviour falls outside BASTTTA’s guidelines, and then ceasing communication.
BASTTA staff does their very best to listen and address concerns but we ask that you treat staff as you treat each other. The staff welcomes suggestions, ideas, feedback, and constructive criticism but we ask that you share your thoughts in a mature, respectful, and considerate manner. Personal attacks on staff will be followed up in line with our Community Guidelines.
Depending on the severity, an isolated comment or BASTTA mail can usually be dealt with as advised in our help article on resolving conflict online.
Harassment
Harassing behaviour includes: to disturb persistently, torment, humiliate, bother continually, pester or persecute. Names don’t have to be mentioned in order for behaviour to be considered harassing. Harassment doesn’t have to be negative behaviour; it also includes unwelcome behaviour.
Harassment can include:
• Persistent communication after a request has been made to cease communication
• Persistent or continuing intimidation, bullying, or stalking behaviour
• Continuing of offline disagreements or other negative personal issues
Depending on the severity, an isolated comment or BASTTA mail can usually be dealt with as advised in our help article on resolving conflict online.
If you are being harassed, as a first step please politely ask the person not to contact you again. If the harassment continues, please report all harassing comments, BASTTA mail, and other communication to BASTTA staff using the reporting links provided around the site.
If you are being harassed, as a first step please politely ask the person not to contact you again. If the harassment continues, please report all harassing comments, BASTTA mail, and other communication to BASTTA staff using the reporting links provided around the site.
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