I recently posted three YCH template images here: post #4035857 post #4035862 post #4035868

Since we have a ych_(character) tag here (used on e.g., post #3993032 post #3864791 post #3786919), I expected that it would be allowed to post here.

But it was deleted as "advertisement" - even though I'm not the author and it was already closed.

So, my question are:
- why some of the posts are approved while others may be banned? What was the difference between the post #3786919 and my submissions?
- why do we have the ych_(character) tag if, when applied, it probably is considered something to be banned?

Incidentally, you can link directly to a post by formatting it as such: post #4035857 post #4035862 post #4035868

The ych (character) tag is meant more for posts where the generic character is intended to be generic from the start, rather than posts where the artist is advertising that the 'YCH' will be replaced for someone else.

- why some of the posts are approved while others may be banned? What was the difference between the post #3786919 and my submissions?

I missed this part of the post, sorry. And in all honesty, that shouldn't have been approved either.

strikerman said:
The ych (character) tag is meant more for posts where the generic character is intended to be generic from the start, rather than posts where the artist is advertising that the 'YCH' will be replaced for someone else.

If it's the point, then the wiki page is very confusing IMHO.

The first paragraph explains what YCH usually means:

An acronym for "Your Character Here." Artists use this term as a description of the auction they are holding. People bid on a certain spot they want their fursona/character to be placed in. When the bidding process is finished, the finalized artwork will then show the winning bidder's character or fursona in the exact pose and place represented in the preset roughly sketched area.

Good. It's right, and I was posting and tagging with it in mind. But then we have:

Note: This tag is mainly used for blacklisting.

Is it mainly for blacklisting? Then why do we have it and no warning when adding a post with it?

And following:

Do not tag for finished works; this is only applicable to unfinished works that include placeholder characters with text "ych", "you", or similar.

It's still confusing IMHO.
In the third example, we have the post #1449241
It's a Telegram sticker with a character with "ych" - but it's finished. It's working as intended.

On my posts, the art was unfinished (so was following what this sentence says), since it's supposed to replace the YCH with the actual character.

I think we should change the wiki with something like: "Use it only for finished work, not for YCH intended to be replaced with another character."

As far as I understand, in-progress YCH art is allowed as long as the art is of sufficient quality and is more than just a mere advertisement. It's a tricky line to balance, but acceptable art typically includes one of more finished characters along with the YCH character, and there's sufficient detail in the image for it to be a good standalone piece.

Generally, though, I don't see much point in having the YCH base here, instead of the finished piece when available.

Leave off the YCH text, and then we'll talk. I've gladly approved the occasional good quality YCH base when the artist posted a textless version. The YCH text frequently tends to water down the artistic quality of a picture, plus it's going to be advertising a product that won't be sold or cared about months and years down the road.

specteon said:
But it was deleted as "advertisement" - even though I'm not the author and it was already closed.

Doesn't matter. Just because something is no longer being offered doesn't make it stop being an advertisement. In fact, that could make it even more annoying as now that thing that's being advertised no longer exists. What's the point of the picture now?

Since we have a ych_(character) tag here (used on e.g., post #3993032 post #3864791 post #3786919)...

These likely could have been approved if that YCH text had not been there. The same goes for post #3786919, which as Strikerman said, should have been deleted too for being an advertisement. As for

I recently posted three YCH template images here: post #4035857 post #4035862 post #4035868

those are iffier due to the jarring blandness of the character versus their underwear and the background, but possible if without that YCH.

- why do we have the ych_(character) tag if, when applied, it probably is considered something to be banned?

YCH_character is basically a subset of anon, used when a generic everyman character is visible. For all your examples, the tag likely could have been used even if the YCH text had been missing.

If it's the point, then the wiki page is very confusing IMHO.

Which would be a wiki issue requiring tightening up of the wiki entry rather than a problem with how we handle YCHs on the site.

In the third example, we have the post #1449241
It's a Telegram sticker with a character with "ych" - but it's finished. It's working as intended.

That's a case that illustrates how a YCH character can be acceptable enough to get approved. Good quality art, including a good quality YCH character that matches the rest of the picture's art quality, and less obtrusive YCH text. Ideally, if that YCH text had been removed, the picture would be much better, but the approver happened to think it was acceptable enough.

I think we should change the wiki with something like: "Use it only for finished work, not for YCH intended to be replaced with another character."

Finished works are finished works, even if they came from a YCH thing. They're done with being YCHs and totally ready to take their place as fully finished pieces. If a textless version of the picture can pass for finished, it'll probably stay. In fact, I've happily approved posts like that, in which the artist uploaded a text-free YCH picture to e621 while the text version stayed on their site.