Although I haven't participated in any of the contests on this site, I don't understand the reasoning behind these actions. The reason given, that they "affect the normal operations of the community," is vague at best; posting of images in the galleries IS the normal operation of this community, and nothing in the TOS states that contests are disallowed, or must be run according to specific rules or in specific areas of the community. Given this, I think it is an extreme reaction to arbitrarily remove images that do not otherwise violate the TOS, especially without warning or communication; I'm certain that most of the participants and even hosts of these contests had no idea that the contests would or even could be construed as a violation of the R'Osity TOS.

Certainly, in the case where images violate the TOS, or infringe upon copyrights, there should be appropriate responses; there are a number of non-contest images that could be construed as violating copyrights, but I don't see that fans creating images of their favorite comic, fantasy or science fiction characters or scenarios warrants a draconian response; as insipid and poorly-designed as the DMCA may be, I don't believe even it was ever intended to completely stifle any sort of fan participation.

Worst of all, issuing warnings to participants when there is no sound reasoning nor support offered - and I don't believe the quoted portion of the TOS is either specific or applicable to this event - is a far worse disruption to the "normal operations of the community." The community is its members; they should be encouraged to participate and to communicate, and if there is an unstated reason behind this sort of arbitrary behavior, it should be revealed before these types of actions ever start, let alone before they get out of hand, as they seem to have done already. I have no doubt that a legitimate, stated reason for the need to close down contests in the galleries would be accepted by "the community" without needing to resort to unilateral alienation. I, personally, enjoy this community and find this a severe blow to the very reasons why so many of us wish to be a part of it.