Webcomics are allowed as long as not the entire comic is mirrored here, meaning only up to 5 consecutive pages.

There are many comics here longer than just 5 consecutive pages. I understand that anything posted before this rule was made doesn't matter, but what about ongoing comics that have had all pages so far uploaded here? And what about future comics?

So basically what I'm trying to ask is, seeing as this rule isn't really applied, why is it here?

Just to clarify the terms, a webcomic refers to something like VGCats or Oglaf, not any comic that is posted online.

As Strikerman said, webcomics and comics are two different things.

But the rule is here because webcomics can easily clutter the site. I mean, if people were given leeway for uploading webcomics, I wonder how many webcomic pages would be on this site over normal art. Comics also do this, but they are more varied (time-gated, lack of update schedule, already finished) so they have a less severe effect.

There may be more reasons, I am saying one that is easily observable. Go to any webcomic site and check their uploading trends and backlog, and you'll see how big such an uploading project can be.

Siral_Exan said:
But the rule is here because webcomics can easily clutter the site. I mean, if people were given leeway for uploading webcomics, I wonder how many webcomic pages would be on this site over normal art. Comics also do this, but they are more varied (time-gated, lack of update schedule, already finished) so they have a less severe effect.

There may be more reasons, I am saying one that is easily observable.

This, and the fact that even "free" webcomics are still a form of income for the artists and writers. If their comic strips were uploaded to a different website, it could take from the creator's potential ad revenue. When it's limited to five pages, it's enough to peak the interests of potential viewers, but not enough to keep said viewers away from the home site.

At least, that's what I've always assumed.

UnusualParadox said:
This, and the fact that even "free" webcomics are still a form of income for the artists and writers.

Yes, that's the main concern. Most webcomics are hosted on their own site, and re-posting them here would cut the artists' ad revenue.

Genjar said:
Yes, that's the main concern. Most webcomics are hosted on their own site, and posting them here would cut the artists' ad revenue.

Right. If I were a webcomic creator (or any other type of serial), I'd be pretty upset about it too. The way it's implemented here is essentially free advertising, which I'm all for.

Edit: Although, I have to wonder about completed/unfinished/abandoned webcomics. If it's proven that the comic won't be getting any more updates and the artist and/or writers are no longer depending on the series for income, could the rule be lifted or bent? There is one webcomic I know that like this. I think it only reached twenty or so pages and the site is completely stagnant. Plus, I've actually spoken to the creator who has admitted to forgetting about that project.

On a side note, when was the rule put in place? Because there's quite a few Oglaf comics here.

Strikerman said:
On a side note, when was the rule put in place? Because there's quite a few Oglaf comics here.

It may have been an approval mistake, Oglaf comics are really short skits, barring the first hundred or so, so they may have been interpreted as comic pages.

By "webcomics" we mean specifically those comics which have their own website and are still going, such as Oglaf, Bittersweet Candy Bowl, TwoKinds, etc. This does not include sites like Furaffinity, DeviantArt, Tumblr, or any other general gallery site.

This is to keep the site from "stealing" their views (do consider ads) and audience, but still allow a few pages to be hosted since it may spark some interest to check out the rest of the comic. This rule was enacted sometime in Q4 2015.

Yeah, some webcomics might get accidentally approved. For example, none of those Oglaf strips seem to be currently tagged as webcomic -- and it's too much to expect janitors to recognize every webcomic as such.

Those are far too old to do anything about, but if you notice any that have been approved by mistake lately, contact whoever approved it asap.

Ratte said:
By "webcomics" we mean specifically those comics which have their own website and are still going, such as Oglaf, Bittersweet Candy Bowl, TwoKinds, etc. This does not include sites like Furaffinity, DeviantArt, Tumblr, or any other general gallery site.

So, just to clarify, are discontinued/abandoned webcomics safe to upload, provided we get permission from the creator/(s) as well?