Tag: website updates

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So Ko-fi Did a Thing. Here’s What I’m Doing Next

So my Ko-fi page has been marked as NSFW, with no notice or warning. When I appealed the decision, Ko-fi rejected it – also with no reason given.

the ko-fi email saying my appeal to NOT be marked as NSFW was rejected. Notice how bare it is. No reason or explanations given.

I feel that I should not be marked as NSFW, but the powers that be have different ideas.

Why would they mark me as NSFW, when my most recent posts have no sexual content or nudity (sexual or otherwise) on it? There isn’t even any profanity. Violence can’t be the issue, because our culture rarely, if ever, marks swashbuckling violence as NSFW.

My best guesses are:

  • I have a presence on itch.io, including two comics that are clearly marked as for adult readers only. These comics are NOT on Ko-fi because of their content. But apparently having that content on any site – even if it’s not Ko-fi – is enough for the platform to mark me as NSFW. Possibly. Again, Ko-fi gave no clear reasoning, so this is a guess.
  • (In that vein, I feel like censoring me on one platform because of something on another is an unnecessary punishment, censorship overreach, and a pretty clear conflict of interest. Also, bad business practice. If Ko-fi is trying to deter me from posting on itch.io by censoring me on Ko-fi, the only thing it’s making me do is consider migrating to itch.io more fully. More on that in a minute.)
  • I’m out in online spaces as genderqueer/nonbinary, and they’re starting to crack down on people with those identities. Given how much anti-trans backlash there is online and off, I’m not ruling out this possibility. (Even if that backlash is funded by right-wing billionaires with nothing better to do than sow division among us working people. Also, who funds Ko-fi?)

Again, these above points are just speculation. But the silence that Ko-fi has greeted me with, does them no favors.

So, I’m looking to move away from Ko-fi. Here’s how I’m doing it:

  • I’m setting up my memberships on this website. Shout-out to Cartoonists United, because there are members who suggested I do this and have pointed me to resources that are helpful in this regard.
  • I’m no longer selling physical merch online. This phase-out started early because of the current political administration making shipping a MASSIVE PAIN IN THE ASS, domestic or not. Since my shop is now digital-only, I’m migrating my full library to itch.io. My work has been received way better on itch, anyway. So my ko-fi shop will be closing soon as a result.
  • Commissions and how I administrate them are still a work in progress. More updates to come on that front.

Will my Ko-fi page close soon? No.

  • The migration progress is going to take the time it takes.
  • Until then, my Ko-fi page is still up, just marked as NSFW (even if I disagree with it).
  • Once my alternatives are set up, my Ko-fi page will still run as a mirror version as folks transition off the platform. Once my current members are fully off the site, I’m turning memberships and other features off.

Ko-fi is more than welcome to email me at any point to clarify their stance and why they rejected my appeal. They have my contact information. I would love to hear ANYTHING from them besides “no” and no explanation.

I usually sign off my blog posts with “Thanks for reading. You. Are. Awesome.”

But in this situation, nothing is awesome about it. I’m just angry, disappointed, left in the dark, and left to my own devices. Ko-fi has branded me as NSFW in their walled-off internet garden.

So fuck that. I’m building my own damn internet garden.

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Updates to My Website (and Life) This Week

Today I’m sharing some updates I’ve made to my website and my life this week.

RESOURCES – I’ve added new resources, including zine libraries where you can download (and in some cases print) free zines!

MEMBERSHIPS – “Fan Clubs” has been replaced with “Memberships,” which directly links to my Ko-fi Memberships page.

WIDGETS – I removed some outdated widgets. Also updated my “Upcoming Appearances.” More appearances to come as soon as I confirm some events behind-the-scenes.

THUNDERBIRD – apparently Google has been doubling down on being evil, so I’m moving my calendar events from Google Calendar to Thunderbird. Thunderbird is much more secure, anyway. Also Thunderbird allowed me to import the previous calendars, so moving was a breeze.

CONTACTING REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS – I already knew about 5calls.org as a resource. But my mind was blown when someone on Bluesky recommended “just make a short list of the issues so you only have to make one phone call to your rep.” I thought that was GENIUS. I will be making lists more often.

Sub point – Resistbot is available on Telegram. Just text RESIST to 50409. Resistbot makes it easy to sign petitions and send letters to your reps and to the op-ed sections of your local newspapers.

Sub point – Reddit now has r/onethingtodo, which gives one thing that’s easy to do each day to reduce the amount of suck in the world.

YOUTUBE STREAMS – I set up the next livestream this week. You can find it now on my channel.

Yes, I am aware YouTube is a Google product. I’ll be looking into alternatives to YouTube over the next few weeks.

MARTIAL ARTS – I’ve started taking martial arts classes through a local dojo! It’s only been a week or two, but I’m making progress.

That’s all I’ve got for now. I need to get back to the studio to work on some comics. More substantial updates will be coming soon, including a call for a boycott and the conditions for it.

Thank you for reading!

You. Are. Awesome.