Banning and Non-Banning

Thanks for the updates. To all mods: Can we now post SOLD cels in a gallery?

In the first post of this thread, Rheytarian wrote, "THINGS WE CAN BAN FOR: Posting cels that do not belong to seller. - Posting someone else's cels without their consent.- Using gallery as dumping ground for file storage."

We see lots of galleries with sold or traded cels displayed. A quick search of "sold" yields nearly 1000 results, "traded" yields 84, and "gone" yields over 440 results. We are sure the actual numbers are much higher since updated search results are delayed. So wowza that is a lot of sold/traded cels! Also it is probably true some galleries used the word "gone" in the cel details and are not actually sold. However, it definitely seems some users are posting cels no longer in their possession; so they might be using RS as a dumping ground for file storage.

@ Mods, if we are reading what Rheytarian wrote correct, users cannot display in their gallery sold cels or cels no longer in their physical possession, right? At one time their was discussed plans to stop/reduce this abuse of RS. Are we still doing this? Please let us all know what is the final decision. Thank you. =)

Yes, the policy regarding users displaying cels in their gallery that were sold or no longer in their physical possession, still stands. We realize not everyone on this site is aware of that and with some galleries from members outside the U.S. sometimes there can be communication issues. Members are encouraged to let mods know of galleries displaying sold cels or cels no longer in their possession. To all members out there reading this, mods don't want to have to ban you for this, if you've got 'sold' or 'gone' cels still displayed, please do us the courtesy of removing them. Thanks!

"Banning is at the discretion of the moderators. We realize that there are 'grey' areas, and this list is meant to help members understand what we expect from everyone. It's mostly common sense- the basic idea is to 'just play nice.' We're here for a common interest, so let's keep this a nice place for everyone.

As with most things in life the RS rules have has a lot of grey areas which fall to a moderators discretion. The sections of the rules Mohoro quotes about being banned for having artwork in ones galley not in a persons possesion was put in to prevent a person from displaying stolen images from another site and claiming them as their own.

Sold sections in galleries falls into a grey area. Yes, the person no longer has such in their possession but having such in such a section they are no longer claiming ownership of the cel and instead are declaring to all that they no longer own it.

A lot of the artwork that has been sold has been to off RS collectors and as such a lot of the artwork hence disapearsed from view of the collecting community. Now most do enjoy seeing as much quality artwork as possible. So what we have been doing over the years is only getting involved when the new owner of a piece of artwork objects to the piece they now own being displayed in anothers gallery in a sold section. We then ask to have it removed and if that does not happen then that gallery can be closed till the agree to comply with the removal of the artwork in question. So far in almost 5 years of being a Moderator here on RS I have only had 1 case in which a person objected to having their cel they now owned in the gallery from whom they purchased it in a sold section. The cels in question were removed after I contacted the person and demanded their removal.

If any memebers in the future objects to a item they have purchased being still being displayed in anothers sold section a mod will be happy to get involved to insure it is removed.

Okay I'm a bit confused here, I see one mod saying that it's against the rules and another saying no. Could you guys elaborate the final verdict for me?

As for myself, I'm starting to see the abuse here.
These sold sections/cels are starting to clutter up the search and I find it a bit annoying to see an increase in production art in these sections or the same cel appear like 5 times because of a rotation of owners.

I understand if people want to keep the images as a memorabilia of what they once had or as a keep track as to who owns what, but I think these kinds of sections should be private/hidden. Perhaps some kind of leeway where "sold" cels are displayed for a certain period of time?

2017.09.18

@ Mods: As other RS users pointed out, there is a higher amount of sold art still displayed in RS galleries. This increase of sold art direct skews the search results too.

What is the final consensus regarding RS gallery owners displaying art in their gallery that they no longer actually possess?

Also, does it make sense to require sold items in galleries be "hidden"?

Please let us know the final decisions from Jason and answers to the questions asked above. Thank you all for your dedication!