@posalootly: yes, this would be awesome.

Definitely something we're thinking about. Would be great to hear any more specifics about what you'd like to do/what kind of privacy settings you'd want to see here.

@nsbarr: Within a private group, I'd like the option to have privately read & write threads only viewable by group members, and an option for public read-only threads. Maybe also think about light mod powers for OP of threads in the group (more like a curator position than a mod).

I really like this idea! Moderation may be tricky, though. Not sure how'd that work.

@Sysop: Perhaps just the ability to hide posts? Or do you mean moderation of private groups from your Mod position?

As much as I see benefits from that, well... it's look like some social network sh.. ame. That may suffocate creativity...

Kinda hate this idea, though it will make it so less stuff appears on the new page/popular etc so whatever.

Kinda just going to promote segregation and cliques though.

@misa: I see your point, but I think public threads are still the meat and potatoes of canvas. It's obvious that's where the most creativity is coming from (see: continuous vertical thread). But there are times when I'd like to just mess around with my friends.

Also, with invite-only deals we could have virtual forms of Super Art Fights http://www.superartfight.com/

@Anonymous: / Thread

@Anonymous: I have faith in the canvas community that people won't be stuck up assholes about it.

Maybe the solution is just to have a way to "follow" what your friends have been up to? (that they have agreed to let you see, obv.)

@posalootly: Please, the canvas community is full of stuckup assholes, you actually dont even need a private group afaik to achieve what you are after, as you should be able to start your own group anyway with yourself as the mod and control the posting thats done in the group anyway right? Sure people on the site will still be able to see whats posted in new, but whats the problem with that honestly? Is it not enough that you can post anonymously so that the things you say arent linked to you anyway when you are just mucking around? If its not a fear of judgement that makes you want it private, what is it?

To the Anon who deleted the post, I agree with you. even though you did seem like a 6 year old with a skinned knee, it seems most post anonymously, most probably dont know anyone, and many possibly dont even really want to. There are plenty of ways to meet people and privately share pics with your friends, I had always thought this was more about playing with pictures not really caring who was involved.

If this is done I just cant wait for the bitching about reposting from private groups to start, as then the reposting/complaining about reposting argument can develope to a whole new level, is it reposting to repost from a section of the site that most people cant see to the section of the site that people can?

If we can have private groups can we finally have NSFW ones also.

tl;dr

I also don't like the idea of private groups, part of the draw of Canvas is that it's pretty open and I can sort of post on whatever. Maybe it wouldn't end up that way, but the idea of private groups makes me think of something like the communities on Livejournal where it ends up that stuff can only be seen by members of the group and other people are out of luck.

I just worry that people would end up being cliquey and the free flow of ideas that currently exists would be lost. Plus, there's plenty of other sites for social networking, it doesn't really seem to be something necessary to Canvas.

@Anonymous: I think there were an easier way to connect with people you know/people you meet and befriend on canvas, it would become more community-y, and might encourage people to hang out and create even more content. I know I would. Private groups was my thought, but maybe there is another way to do this.

As for wanting it to be private: wanting to attribute content to yourself in a controlled environment instead of publicly. I have several friends that would rather know who is going to see what they are posting simply because they're shy. I guess you could post anonymously and post your name, but eh. Also, what if you want to remix a photo of your friends/people you know?

In my mind the groups would be more for a feeling of safety/comfort in knowing only your friends are seeing what you want, rather than to exclude. It could be useful for curating threads too though, or having contests or whatever. If people are going to be cliquey then forget them, I don't want them on my canvas.

@posalootly: >In my mind the groups would be more for a feeling of safety/comfort in knowing only your friends are seeing what you want, rather than to exclude. It could be useful for curating threads too though, or having contests or whatever. If people are going to be cliquey then forget them, I don't want them on my canvas.

So again let me get this right, you want people to be able to create small insular private groups where they can feel safe and secure posting by making sure that people who they dont want cant see their posts, or even know they are posting or possibly if the group even exists, and yet in your mind this is not cliquey or something that will inevitably leave the vast majority exlcuded?

Alot of what you seem to want [aside from being able to create private groups] like having contests can be done already with the existing group mod powers, thats not to say they maybe cant be beefed up etc.

>Also, what if you want to remix a photo of your friends/people you know?

Seems kinda twisted.

> If people are going to be cliquey then forget them, I don't want them on MY canvas.

So people who dont use canvas your way aren't welcome? Makes me sad bro, makes me sad.

@Anonymous: Oh dear, I'm sorry that's how I came off, it's really not how I intended. Maybe I worded that wrong; of course I didn't mean *my* canvas. I meant the lovely canvas that is in existence now. I want to be bros and not fight. :[

>you want people to be able to create small insular private groups where they can feel safe and secure posting by making sure that people who they dont want cant see their posts, or even know they are posting or possibly if the group even exists, and yet in your mind this is not cliquey or something that will inevitably leave the vast majority exlcuded?

Would you invite every person in the world to a dinner party at your house, or just a few close friends that you know and think would get along well? Would you invite your more introverted friends to a huge party, or help them enjoy an activity within their comfort zones? Sorry if I'm being obtuse but I don't see why people would get upset about other people using canvas in a different way. I think it would make the site more approachable for people who don't want to share everything with everyone.

@posalootly: >a dinner party at your house

It's more like going to a restaurant and expecting a private entrance, room and service isn't it though if you wish to use the dinner party analogy? Or more like going out to a bar and expecting a private room for you and yours that is locked to everyone who is not on the guest list? I appreciate that some may feel intimidated by others, again though being able to post Anonymous so that only the site mods, at best, know who you are and being able to block all posts within a group that you are mod of I would have thought, somewhat moots the need for extended private group functions.

>why people would get upset about other people using canvas in a different way.

It's less about how people use the site rather that parts of the site will be locked off from almost everyone, and that over time that will increase so that the amount able to be seen by a new person or a non-member would be greatly and alot of really funny mixes would never be able to be seen or participated in.

@Anonymous: Let's use the bar analogy then: yes, except everyone can have their own room if they want, it's not a limited number of rooms.

I really don't think it will harm the site. Limiting people = limiting the potential amount of creativity, so 99.9% of people will still be using public space IN ADDITION to small side rooms.

>I appreciate that some may feel intimidated by others, again though being able to post Anonymous so that only the site mods, at best, know who you are [...]

Not being intimidated, just straight up not liking it. I have friends that have told me it's just too much, too overwhelming. They like making things, and want to use canv.as but would prefer to just do it in a little space with their friends. I don't think that's wrong. And not to pull the hipster card, but when canv.as was in beta, it felt a lot more like a happy little community and it rocked to know who you were posting with and to meet the people you didn't know yet.

> alot of really funny mixes would never be able to be seen or participated in.

On one hand, yes, and that is the trouble. On the other hand, so what? There are tons of jokes that no one knows about because they are little goofs between friends. Do you need to know all of them?

(Am enjoying this discussion/debate by the way!)

@posalootly: "it felt a lot more like a happy little community and it rocked to know who you were posting with"

Too bad most people during beta posted anonymously. So yeah, your point is moot.

@Anonymous: You are the cancer killing everything.

@posalootly: "I think it would make the site more approachable for people who don't want to share everything with everyone."

Then this isn't the site for them. They can go elsewhere if they want to be private.

OR, get off the Internet entirely, because nothing is private on the Internet.

@posalootly: "There are tons of jokes that no one knows about because they are little goofs between friends. Do you need to know all of them?"

Then keep it off the Internet? Plain and simple, no?

I don't think that is the best idea because it might make others feel unwelcome.

I was thinking this but didn't explicitly say it: groups would be limited to, i don't know, 25 people? So it won't be some crazy exclusive club or something that you're not allowed into. Does that make it better or worse?

Clearly I'm outnumbered here, but whatever.

>Then this isn't the site for them. They can go elsewhere if they want to be private.

Why can't it be? And where else offers the same tools canvas does?

>Then keep it off the Internet? Plain and simple, no?

Again, why is the internet an exclusive club for people who want everyone to see everything? And I'm not talking about privacy things, I'm just saying, it's nice to sometimes have a specific audience.

And canvas is for remixing, of course, but it could potentially be used for other things, like art classes to share things and play with them, people to share concept art and discuss/remix them, and these would be for specific people, it wouldn't make sense to send them out into the vast sea of canvas.

@posalootly: >Why can't it be? And where else offers the same tools canvas does?

Photoshop, MS Paint, Paint Tool SAI, deviantArt Muro, etc.

>Again, why is the internet an exclusive club for people who want everyone to see everything?

BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS ON THE INTERNET. Nothing is private. Things are copied and pasted everywhere, no matter how hard you try to keep it private.

>but it could potentially be used for other things, like art classes to share things and play with them,

Why don't they do that IN the art class, instead of on some site?

>people to share concept art and discuss/remix them

People can do that already.

Canv.as is an open community, not a social network.