The saga continues...
"""
This action also does not automatically mean you’re banned from using Stripe services elsewhere, as Stripe makes those determinations independently.
"""
But they determined that what I do on *my own social media* is too spicy for them to process money that my friends gave me for totally non-nsfw reasons...on a platform that they don't have anything to do with.
Color me skeptical of Stripe's future good graces.
This all feels like it's designed to shame sexworkers and push them even farther into the margins (and I'm not even a sex-worker! My crime was looking femme and posting photos of myself that you'd find in any Victoria's Secret storefront—on Fedi...for free).
Meanwhile, these payment platforms seem to happily process money for far-right influencers and (other) hate groups.
Email from Alice to BuyMeACoffee support:
Thanks, and I understand this is a "capitalism ruins everything" scenario. The issue now is that, because I *am* involved in the adult content community (specifically trying to clean it up so Mastodon doesn't end up like Twitter, Reddit, and every other platform that simultaneously makes it an unsafe place for artists while stealing and profiting off their work), I can't trust that I won't be financially wrecked by BMAC or Stripe for things that I do on my own personal social media.
This has shown that they can pull the rug out for things I do on *other* platforms, and that means they're not safe companies to rely on. Which adds them to the pile of companies that chase off queer folx and sexworkers, while—correct me if I'm wrong—still accepting money from folx known for hate-speech or worse.
Still, thank you for trying to hasten the refunds to my friends and supporters.
—Alice 💜
Email from BuyMeACoffee support to Alice:
Hi Alice,
I’m really sorry this happened, especially given the timing, I understand how upsetting and stressful this must be.
I’ve raised a request with our team to expedite the refund of all payments on your account back to your supporters as soon as possible. I’ll keep you updated once I hear back.
Regarding Stripe, the decision was not based on Stripe alone. It was made in line with our own Terms of Service, as well as the requirements of our payment partners. This action also does not automatically mean you’re banned from using Stripe services elsewhere, as Stripe makes those determinations independently.
For more context, I recommend reviewing our Terms of Service, Prohibited use cases and the payment providers' guidelines, which outline how these decisions are made.
I know this is frustrating, and I appreciate your patience while we work on getting the refunds processed.
Email from Alice to BuyMeACoffee support:
Then can you issue a refund to my friends asap, so we can all take our tips elsewhere? Getting suspended on Xmas day and losing all the funds to pay my bills was really shitty timing.
So, does this mean that I can never use any Stripe services again? I've never accepted money for adult content (and my donation comments should make that pretty clear), but I have been (mostly) naked on the internet before, and I can't take that back.
Would this apply in revenge porn cases too? Since by the reply I got, it sounds like if I've ever done anything adult anywhere online, then I'm failing Stripe's ToS.
