Does Authenticity Matter Here?

[kieranhalcyon01]

im definitely a catfish

I'm more of a bluegill myself

 

[Apisto42]

You know where to find the AM pics thread? there are SOOO many titties there… I promise! Go and have a peek I know you want toooo

This thread was for discussions onlyyy no pics unfortunately!

What? There’s pictures on here?

I never. *clutches pearls*

 

[OneNiceguy007]

I would like to step back from the heat of recent discussions and ask something broader.

Is authenticity important here?

Lit is structured around threads, dialogue and ongoing interaction, with images being only one part of the site. By contrast, there are endless places online to scroll through porn without speaking to a single person, with no community element and no conversation required. So if someone is only interested in visuals and not the person behind them, what makes this space different?

For me, the appeal has always been that there are real people here. The images are part of it, of course. But so are the personalities, the humour, the back and forth, and the sense that there is a human being on the other side of the screen.

That is why authenticity matters to me.

Authenticity does not mean forcing verification. Anonymity and privacy absolutely matter. But there is a difference between protecting privacy and fabricating an identity. Protecting privacy means choosing what you reveal about a real self. Fabricating identity means presenting something as real that is not.

That distinction matters because it shapes whether we are interacting with real people or performances.

So the real question becomes this:

If a space built around interaction becomes flooded with imported images, AI content, or personas that are not grounded in a real person, does that change what kind of place this is? Does it slowly become just another scrolling platform rather than an open community?

If authenticity becomes optional, then the vulnerability of sharing something real becomes interchangeable with something synthetic. Over time, that shifts trust, expectations and the character of the space itself.

I often hear that many users skip sections of text and look straight for posts with pictures. That is their choice. But it does make me reflect. If the human element is irrelevant, what separates Lit from any other site that serves purely visual content?

In a world so heavily saturated with edited realities and disinformation, does it matter if some spaces remain rooted in actual human interaction?

I genuinely think it does.

I also understand that some people come here primarily to escape reality. To enjoy fantasy and to totally disconnect from everyday life and step into something playful or erotic without needing it to be grounded in anything 'real'. There is nothing inherently wrong with that...But for others, part of the appeal is that there is a real person behind the username. The fantasy might be heightened or stylised, but it is still anchored to someone who actually exists. Those are two entirely different ways of engaging.

I am not trying to take fantasy or escapism away from anyone. I know this is an erotic space. Fantasy, exaggeration and playful personas are part of what makes it fun. No one is expecting ID checks or fingerprint recognition.

However, there is still a difference between consensual fantasy and misrepresentation. If we all understand something is stylised (ie, the person behind an account has openly chosen to stay anon) or roleplay, that is one thing, if something is presented as real and it is not, that is something else entirely.

So for me, when authenticity is dismissed altogether, it can unintentionally make those who are here as themselves feel interchangeable with something manufactured.

That is the part that matters to me.

I am really interested in hearing different perspectives. This is not about naming and shaming or targeting anyone. It is about discussing what we want this space to be, and whether authenticity plays a role in that.

The simple answer is that it matters to most but not at all to others and it certainly doesn't matter to those being unauthentic.

If it's AI then it's not so bad just move on but when it's stolen pics or vids that's a whole different matter. Report what you find and move on as it prevents a lot of drama as you well know.

For what it's worth it's very important to me to know that whoever is sharing their pics is authentic and to build a little connection with them. It makes it feel more real and intimate.

The bit i don't really get is why people do it as I simply cannot understand what they get from it unless it some horrible revenge thing but I think most is just people craving attention and going about it the wrong way.

 

[danjtoy]

I would like to step back from the heat of recent discussions and ask something broader.

Is authenticity important here?

Lit is structured around threads, dialogue and ongoing interaction, with images being only one part of the site. By contrast, there are endless places online to scroll through porn without speaking to a single person, with no community element and no conversation required. So if someone is only interested in visuals and not the person behind them, what makes this space different?

For me, the appeal has always been that there are real people here. The images are part of it, of course. But so are the personalities, the humour, the back and forth, and the sense that there is a human being on the other side of the screen.

That is why authenticity matters to me.

Authenticity does not mean forcing verification. Anonymity and privacy absolutely matter. But there is a difference between protecting privacy and fabricating an identity. Protecting privacy means choosing what you reveal about a real self. Fabricating identity means presenting something as real that is not.

That distinction matters because it shapes whether we are interacting with real people or performances.

So the real question becomes this:

If a space built around interaction becomes flooded with imported images, AI content, or personas that are not grounded in a real person, does that change what kind of place this is? Does it slowly become just another scrolling platform rather than an open community?

If authenticity becomes optional, then the vulnerability of sharing something real becomes interchangeable with something synthetic. Over time, that shifts trust, expectations and the character of the space itself.

I often hear that many users skip sections of text and look straight for posts with pictures. That is their choice. But it does make me reflect. If the human element is irrelevant, what separates Lit from any other site that serves purely visual content?

In a world so heavily saturated with edited realities and disinformation, does it matter if some spaces remain rooted in actual human interaction?

I genuinely think it does.

I also understand that some people come here primarily to escape reality. To enjoy fantasy and to totally disconnect from everyday life and step into something playful or erotic without needing it to be grounded in anything 'real'. There is nothing inherently wrong with that...But for others, part of the appeal is that there is a real person behind the username. The fantasy might be heightened or stylised, but it is still anchored to someone who actually exists. Those are two entirely different ways of engaging.

I am not trying to take fantasy or escapism away from anyone. I know this is an erotic space. Fantasy, exaggeration and playful personas are part of what makes it fun. No one is expecting ID checks or fingerprint recognition.

However, there is still a difference between consensual fantasy and misrepresentation. If we all understand something is stylised (ie, the person behind an account has openly chosen to stay anon) or roleplay, that is one thing, if something is presented as real and it is not, that is something else entirely.

So for me, when authenticity is dismissed altogether, it can unintentionally make those who are here as themselves feel interchangeable with something manufactured.

That is the part that matters to me.

I am really interested in hearing different perspectives. This is not about naming and shaming or targeting anyone. It is about discussing what we want this space to be, and whether authenticity plays a role in that.

I've spent some time thinking about this post before responding. Here's my take. Authenticity matters everywhere. But finding authenticity ANYWHERE is hard. It's particularly hard when we're all behind a computer screen. By keeping ourselves largely to the written word (putting aside pictures), our interactions can be thought through, edited, and crafted in a way to create an image we want to perceive. This is more difficult with in person interaction because it removes body language, eye contact, and tone (at least oral tone). So, finding the authenticity is even harder because it's more difficult to discern.

I've only been here less than a month. So my perspective is not particularly long. And I've not had many one on one interactions with people, yet. But here's my objective. My objective is to be authentically me. Those who seem interested in getting to know me (the good, bad, and ugly) will be getting to know the real me. The dumb thoughts; the silly thoughts; the serious thoughts; the kind thoughts; and everything in between. I generally try to avoid the filters in my life. I want to think about the things that matter, and less about the things that don't. I want to enjoy my interactions more than I want to think about crafting who I am. Being present requires more focus on what is happening, and less focus on what I want to happen. And, I hope that in being authentic, the authentic people will rise to the top. I can't control who sends AI images or who posts their stories, posts, thoughts from AI. I can focus on what I am, and hope that others focus on what they are, and we'll meet in the middle. Maybe even with our clothes off.

If I get stuck with an inauthentic person, that would largely be no different than real life where plenty are trying to craft themselves into something they are not. I'll just be me, and let the world fall where it may.