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Gaia Online is a PG-13 website, and to uphold that roleplays that are created anywhere on Gaia Online must follow this as well. Many people have asked what is considered over PG-13 material. Below is several items listed per category of what is safe for roleplaying on Gaia, and what is considered against the rules.

Romance
Roleplays that revolve around two or more characters meeting and falling in love is safe on Gaia. However, certain actions are over the PG-13 limit, and if performed will lead to a warning, and a ban being placed on the people guilty.

As with most couples, hugging and kissing is allowed on Gaia Online. This is a general display of affection and breaks no rules. There are several things that are considered over the PG-13 guideline, and are as follows:

arrow Grabbing of private areas, fondling
arrow Sexual encounters, also known as cybering
arrow Inappropriate dialogue, "talking dirty"
arrow Nudity, a character stripping in detail or for acts of seduction

Fighting and Violence
Many roleplayers enjoy a good fight now and again. As these fights take place, several things can be done to break the PG-13 mold, which can lead to an account being warned or banned.

With fighting, general portrayal of violence is allowed. This includes bloodshed, slicing, killing, beating, and other general actions. What is breaking the PG-13 limit, is extremely graphic descriptions of violence in a fight. Going into details down to the last organ hitting the floor is considered over the PG-13 limitations.

Exploration
Nothing says the prospect of adventure like entering an uncharted wilderness and seeking out an item or destiny. Exploring can lead roleplayers into places where the setting could be quite grizzily. Similar to the violence rule, please be aware of how to describe places and settings.

Slave, Master, Kidnapping, and Pet
These kinds of roleplays are based around a dominant/submissive style. These in the past have lead to may PG-13 violations, and hopefully we can change that. These kinds of Roleplays must have zero sexual content, and zero physical abuse within the RP. These kinds of RPs also belong in the Series/Misc. Subforum.

To stay PG-13, the roleplay must follow all of the above areas. remember, as a thread owner it is your responsibility that people keep your thread clean of violations. If you see someone violating the rules, report them using the Report This Post button.

How to keep a roleplay free of PG-13 violations

Remember, cybering is not allowed anywhere on Gaia. This includes the forums, PMs, GAIA towns, and the game chats. Therefore, you should not post something like "take cybering to PMs". If your roleplay is found with something like this, you will be asked to change it. If you do not change your thread after being asked, you will recieve a warning for encouraging PG-13 violations (such as cybering). Remember, if the thread creator expects PG-13 to be broken, then starting the roleplay is a bad idea.

So, in short:

arrow Telling people in thread rules to take PG-13 violations to PMs, AIM, or anywhere else is not allowed on Gaia Online.
arrow Setting the rating of a roleplay over PG-13 is a bad idea. this could lead to your thread being mistaken as a place where TOS breaking violations are acceptable, which can leave the thread owner in a sticky situation.