disclaimer: all usernames and identifying information (age, demographic, etc) is redacted for privacy. if you can figure out a person's profile from given information.... don't fucking contact them! this is not a callout for them!

toyhou.se (also known as toyhouse) is a gallery-type website centered around users archiving their characters and art of said characters. each character has their own profile, biography, artwork galleries (and subgalleries, sometimes), and ownership information.

every character has an owner. and that owner has a central profile. and toyhouse has this helpful feature that allows users to self-select and self-type an over-arching content warning for their profile.

the intended usage looks like this:

it's clear-cut: warnings for anything that might harm or otherwise affect your average browser. this is the ideal... just tell me what to watch out for.

sometimes they add other information that isn't entirely relevant, but may be useful for context. however, more often i see content warnings that have no use at all as warnings.

it's not necessarily harmful, but it isn't.... warning the user of anything. it says, hey, check out my profile! but like, you don't need to warn someone about that. if you see the warning you're generally already on your way to look at it. this is what the profile page is FOR.

another category of useless content warnings: things that are either common sense or are literally already covered by the toyhou.se code of conduct/terms of service.

like, first of all, ow, caps? second of all. via the rules page

4.1 Artwork Sourcing

Please ensure all artwork you use is used with permission and properly sourced.

When using free bases, stock photography, or other free assets, keep in mind that image sharing boards, Pinterest, Tumblr/Twitter re-posters, and other image aggregate sites do not constitute an original source. You must provide a direct and accurate link back to the original artist or photographer.

additionally:

4.6 Unauthorized Artwork Usage

Do not use stolen fanart or artwork belonging to other users in any location on the site unless you have obtained permission to use it, or the artist has made a statement permitting use of their artwork in this manner. This includes user avatars, user profile layouts, folder icons, public forum threads/posts, public comments, etc., even when it is being used a placeholder.

4.7 Tracing

Do not upload traced artwork unless you have received permission from the artist to trace and re-upload their work.

you literally cannot, legally bound by the site's terms above, trace or copy. that's just right-out. you don't need to reiterate something that's part of the basic service terms.

a lot of content warnings i have come across also include a mix of actual genuine warnings and stuff that is either a rehash of above or not enforceable at all.

We have:

• a greeting (not really necessary, but not totally out of place)
• reiteration of site rules (not necessary)
• 'do not take inspiration', which seems to be defined here as synonymously with copying (despite 'inspiration' having a multitude of other meanings)
• a genuine warning

and here are a few others i've found in the wild that don't use the content warning field seriously (and are a large part of why i have them turned off):

funny, sure, but like, they don't use the field correctly and it's frustrating enough that i've ultimately turned off content warnings by default.

so i leave you with this thought: what is the use of a content warning system if no one takes it seriously?