View source for Violet Blue

{{Short description|American writer}}
{{about|the journalist||Violet blue (disambiguation)}}
{{Pp-semi|small=yes}}
{{Pp-move-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/doc]] -->
| name = Violet Blue
| image = Violet_Blue_April_2013.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Violet Blue
| pseudonym =
| birth_date = September 22<ref name="birthdate_put_to_BED_please">[http://www.tinynibbles.com/blogarchives/2008/09/the-birthday-the-turning-point.html Violet Blue, "the birthday, the turning point"]. Retrieved September 19, 2012.</ref> <!-- birth year not volunteered. Do not add -->
| birth_name = 
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation =[[Journalist]] for [[CBS Interactive]]<ref name="CBS Staff Journalist Profile of Violet Blue">{{cite web|url=http://www.cnet.com/profile/violetblue/ |title=CBS Staff Journalist Profile for Violet Blue |publisher=Cnet.com |access-date=2014-07-08}}</ref> and [[blog]]ger
| nationality = American
| ethnicity =
| citizenship =
| genre = Technology, harm reduction, sex education, erotica
| subject =
| movement =
| notableworks =
| spouse =
| partner =
| children =
| relatives =
| influences =
| influenced =
| awards =[[IPPY]] Erotica category, 2006 and 2007 (twice) 
| signature =
| website = {{URL|http://tinynibbles.com}}
| portaldisp =
}}

'''Violet Blue''' is an American journalist, author, editor, advisor, and educator. 

Blue wrote a weekly [[sex columnist|sex column]] for the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' until 2010.<ref name=Batey2010>{{cite news|last=Batey|first=Eve|title=Violet Blue Explains Why She Quit The Chronicle/Gate|url=http://sfappeal.com/media/2010/03/violet-blue-explains-why-she-quit-the-chroniclegate.php|access-date=21 March 2013|newspaper=The San Francisco Appeal|date=3 March 2010}}</ref> In her [[podcast]], Open Source Sex, she reads [[erotica]] and discusses topics such as [[sexual fetishism|fetishes]] and [[oral sex]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sfbg.com/40/08/art_music_pod.html |title=San Francisco Bay Guardian Arts and Entertainment |publisher=Sfbg.com |date=2005-11-29 |access-date=2013-08-29 |archive-date=2012-11-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127131234/http://www.sfbg.com/40/08/art_music_pod.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Awards ==
* In January 2007, [[Forbes]] named her one of The Web Celeb 25.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/webcelebs|title=The Web Celeb 25|author=David M. Ewalt|date=2 February 2010|work=Forbes|access-date=3 April 2015}}</ref>
* Blue was named "Best Sex Educator" in 2013 by the ''San Francisco Weekly.''<ref>{{cite web|title=Best Sex Educators - 2013|date=29 May 2013|url=http://www.sfweekly.com/bestof/2013/award/best-sex-educators-3478461/|access-date=8 June 2013|archive-date=29 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729214856/http://www.sfweekly.com/bestof/2013/award/best-sex-educators-3478461/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Name ==
Violet Blue is the author's legal name. In an online article, she has stated:

<blockquote>My name really is Violet Blue. Despite any rubbish you’ve seen by my harassers and detractors, Violet Blue is the name on my passport, social security card, all my ID, and it is who I am.<ref>{{cite web|last=Blue|first=Violet|title=My name is Violet Blue|url=http://my.nameis.me/215/violet-blue/|publisher=My Name Is Me}}</ref></blockquote>

On August 19, 2011, Blue's [[Google+]] account was suspended for failing to comply with the Google+ [[Nymwars|real name policy]], but this decision was reversed three days later.<ref name="toomuch">{{cite news|last=Blue|first=Violet|title=Google Plus: Too Much Unnecessary Drama|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/google-plus-too-much-unnecessary-drama/|work=ZDNet|access-date=24 August 2011}}</ref>

== Litigation ==
In October 2007, Blue filed a lawsuit against adult actress [[Noname Jane|Ada Mae Johnson]], who had performed as "Violet Blue" since 2000, alleging that Johnson had adopted Blue's [[persona]], and her recently trademarked (in 2007) name, "Violet Blue."<ref name="bluesuit">{{cite magazine |url=http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2007/10/sex-journo-viol.html |title=Sex Writer Violet Blue Sues Porn Star Violet Blue Over Name |access-date=2007-10-24 |author=Ryan Singel |date=2007-10-24 |magazine=[[Wired News]]}}</ref> She said she had been using the name in writings since 1999.<ref name="bluesuit"/> The lawsuit alleged trademark violation and [[trademark dilution|dilution]], as well as [[unfair business practices]]. Pursuant to a preliminary injunction and court order granted in 2007<ref name="injunctiongranted">[http://www.jurisnote.com/Cases/blue5370.htm Order Granting Plaintiff's Motion for a Preliminary Injunction] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805154212/http://www.jurisnote.com/Cases/blue5370.htm |date=2020-08-05 }}.</ref> to cease using "names, trademarks and Internet domains confusingly similar to, or identical to, Plaintiff's trademark VIOLET BLUE," Johnson changed her stage name to Noname Jane. The lawsuit was settled in
October 2008.<ref name="lawsettled">[https://web.archive.org/web/20081222174454/http://www.ainews.com/story/13983/ Noname Jane Settles With Violet Blue - AINews].</ref>

In July 2008, Blue sought restraining orders against online critics David Burch (aka Ben Burch) and Nina Alter to prohibit them from e-mailing her, editing her Wikipedia page, or writing unkindly about her online. Both motions were dismissed but she is allowed to file again.<ref name="benburch1">{{cite web|url=http://gawker.com/5032995/violet-blue-cant-convince-court-to-restrain-wikipedia-editors |title=Violet Blues restraining order dismissed but allows refiling |date=4 August 2008 |publisher=Gawker.com |access-date=2013-08-29}}</ref>

== Boing Boing deletions ==
Around June 2008, Blue stated on her blog that the blog ''[[Boing Boing]]'' had removed all posts referring to her (estimated by a ''Los Angeles Times'' blogger<ref>{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/webscout/2008/06/violet-blue-scr.html |title=Violet Blue scratches her head over BoingBoing purge|last1=Sarno|first1=David|date=June 30, 2008|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080701164050/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/webscout/2008/06/violet-blue-scr.html |archive-date=2008-07-01}}</ref> to number at least 70) from the site. A heated debate ensued after a brief statement on the Boing Boing site regarding this action stated: "Violet behaved in a way that made us reconsider whether we wanted to lend her any credibility or associate with her. It's our blog and so we made an editorial decision, like we do every single day".<ref>{{cite web|author=Teresa Nielsen Hayden |url=http://www.boingboing.net/2008/07/01/that-violet-blue-thi.html |title=That Violet Blue thing, Posted By Teresa Nielsen Hayden / Moderator, July 1, 2008 8:48 AM |publisher=Boingboing.net |date=2008-07-01 |access-date=2013-08-29}}</ref>  Boing Boing editor [[Xeni Jardin]] said that she hoped she would not have to make the reasons public.<ref>{{cite news|author=Steve Johnson|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2008/07/09/blog-hits-nerve-in-excising-some-old-posts/ |title=Blog hits nerve in excising some old posts|access-date=July 8, 2008|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=2008-07-09}}</ref>

== vb.ly URL shortener ==
In August 2009, Violet Blue and Ben Metcalfe launched a [[URL shortening]] service with the [[domain name]] <code>vb.ly</code>, which was described as "the Internet's first and only sex-positive URL shortener."<ref>[http://news.cnet.com/8301-19882_3-10313617-250.html 'Sex-positive URL shortener' Vbly launches] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013205537/http://news.cnet.com/8301-19882_3-10313617-250.html |date=2013-10-13 }} ''CNET News'', August 19, 2009.</ref> The site was hosted on the [[.ly]] [[top-level domain]], and the main page showed Violet Blue holding a bottle of beer.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11484751 Libya takes hard line on .ly link shortening domains] BBC News, October 6, 2010.</ref> In October 2010, the site was shut down following a letter to Violet Blue from [[Libya Telecom & Technology]], saying that the site was contrary to the principles of [[Sharia]] law and stating: "The issue of offensive imagery is quite subjective, as what I may deem as offensive you might not, but I think you'll agree that a picture of a scantily clad lady with some bottle in her hand isn't exactly what most would consider decent or family friendly at the least." Ben Metcalfe responded by stating, "We're very clear that the site did not have pornographic or adult content hosted on it; but even if it did, my bigger concern is that the domain registry is trying to regulate against the content of a website. A domain and a website are two extricably decoupled and separate entities."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2010/oct/08/bitly-libya |title=Libyan domain shutdown no threat, insists bit.ly|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=October 9, 2010}}</ref>

== Selected works ==

=== Authored ===
* ''A Fish Has No Word For Water: A Punk Homeless San Francisco Memoir'', Digita Publications, 2023, {{ISBN|978-0-9862266-7-0}}
* ''How to Be a Digital Revolutionary'', Violet Blue (self-published), 2017, {{ISBN|978-1-52133-828-5}}
* ''The Smart Girls Guide to Privacy'', Digita Publications, 2014, {{ISBN|0-9799019-9-5}}
* ''The Ultimate Guide to Cunnilingus: How to Go Down on a Woman and Give Her Exquisite Pleasure'', 2nd Edition, Cleis Press, 2010, {{ISBN|1-57344-387-5}}
* ''The Ultimate Guide to Fellatio: How to Go Down on a Man and Give Him Mind-Blowing Pleasure'', 2nd Edition, Cleis Press, 2010, {{ISBN|1-57344-398-0}}
* ''The Adventurous Couple's Guide to Strap-On Sex'', Cleis Press, 2007, {{ISBN|1-57344-278-X}}
* ''The Smart Girl's Guide to the G-Spot'', Cleis Press, 2007, {{ISBN|1-57344-273-9}}
* ''Fetish Sex: An Erotic Guide for Couples'', [[Daedalus Publishing Company]], 2006, {{ISBN|1-881943-23-2}} - with Thomas Roche
* ''The Adventurous Couple's Guide to Sex Toys'', Cleis Press, 2006, {{ISBN|1-57344-254-2}}
* ''The Smart Girl's Guide to Porn'', Cleis Press, 2006, {{ISBN|1-57344-247-X}} ([[Independent Publisher Book Awards|IPPY]] Bronze award winner for erotica<ref name="independentpublisher.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1157 |title=Independent Publisher: THE Voice of the Independent Publishing Industry|work=Independent Publisher|access-date=3 April 2015}}</ref>)
* ''The Ultimate Guide to Sexual Fantasy: How to Turn Your Fantasies into Reality'', Cleis Press, 2004, {{ISBN|1-57344-190-2}}
* ''The Ultimate Guide to Adult Videos: How to Watch Adult Videos and Make Your Sex Life Sizzle'', Cleis Press, 2003, {{ISBN|1-57344-172-4}}
* ''The Ultimate Guide to Cunnilingus: How to Go Down on a Woman and Give Her Exquisite Pleasure'', Cleis Press, 2002 {{ISBN|1-57344-144-9}}
* ''The Ultimate Guide to Fellatio: How to Go Down on a Man and Give Him Mind-Blowing Pleasure'', Cleis Press, 2002, {{ISBN|1-57344-151-1}}

=== Edited ===
* ''Sweet Life: Erotic Fantasies for Couples'', [[Cleis Press]], 2001, {{ISBN|978-1-57344-133-9}}
* ''Sweet Life 2: Erotic Fantasies for Couples'', [[Cleis Press]], 2003, {{ISBN|978-1-57344-167-4}}
* ''Taboo: Forbidden Fantasies for Couples'', [[Cleis Press]], 2004, {{ISBN|978-1-57344-186-5}}
* ''Best Sex Writing 2005'', [[Cleis Press]], 2005, {{ISBN|978-1-57344-217-6}}
* ''Best Women's Erotica 2006'', [[Cleis Press]], 2005, {{ISBN|978-1-57344-223-7}}  ([[Independent Publisher Book Awards|IPPY]] winner for Erotica<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=946 |title=Independent Publisher: THE Voice of the Independent Publishing Industry|work=Independent Publisher|access-date=3 April 2015}}</ref>)
* ''Best Women's Erotica 2007'', [[Cleis Press]], 2006, {{ISBN|978-1-57344-258-9}} ([[Independent Publisher Book Awards|IPPY]] Gold winner for Erotica<ref name="independentpublisher.com"/>)
* ''Lust: Erotic Fantasies for Women'', [[Cleis Press]], 2007, {{ISBN|978-1-57344-280-0}}
* ''Lips Like Sugar: Women's Erotic Fantasies'', [[Cleis Press]], 2007, {{ISBN|978-1-57344-232-9}}
* ''Best Women's Erotica 2008'', [[Cleis Press]], 2007, {{ISBN|978-1-57344-299-2}}
* ''Best Women's Erotica 2009'', [[Cleis Press]], 2008, {{ISBN|978-1-57344-338-8}}
* ''Girls on Top: Explicit Erotica for Women'', [[Cleis Press]], 2009, {{ISBN|978-1-57344-340-1}}
* ''Best Women's Erotica 2010'', [[Cleis Press]], 2009, {{ISBN|978-1-57344-373-9}}
* ''Best Women's Erotica 2011'', [[Cleis Press]], 2010, {{ISBN|978-1-57344-423-1}}

=== Digital releases ===
* ''Sweet Heat'' (erotica), Digita Publications, 2008 (audiobook), {{ISBN|978-0-9799019-6-6}}
* ''Erotic Role Play: A Guide For Couples'', Digita Publications, 2007 (audiobook, ebook), {{ISBN|978-0-9799019-5-9}}
* ''How To Kiss'', Digita Publications, 2007 (audiobook, ebook, and Amazon Kindle versions), {{ISBN|978-0-9799019-2-8}}
* ''The Modern Safer Sex Guide'', Digita Publications, 2007 (ebook and Amazon Kindle versions), {{ISBN|978-0-9799019-4-2}}
* ''Creatures of the Night'' (erotica), Digita Publications, 2007 (audiobook and ebook and Amazon Kindle versions), {{ISBN|978-0-9799019-3-5}}
* ''Pleasure Zone Basics'', Digita Publications, 2007 (audiobook), {{ISBN|978-0-9799019-1-1}}

==See also==
{{Portal|San Francisco Bay Area|Biography|Journalism|Human sexuality}}
* [[Sex-positive feminism]]
{{clear|right}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Official}}

{{CBS Interactive}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blue, Violet}}
[[Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:American columnists]]
[[Category:American health and wellness podcasters]]
[[Category:American relationships and sexuality writers]]
[[Category:American self-help writers]]
[[Category:American sex educators]]
[[Category:American women bloggers]]
[[Category:21st-century American women writers]]
[[Category:BDSM writers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:San Francisco Chronicle people]]
[[Category:American video bloggers]]
[[Category:American women columnists]]
[[Category:American women erotica writers]]
[[Category:Writers from San Francisco]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:American women podcasters]]