I am pretty sure that the fact it is not handing "nsfw" if it is the 2-5 tag is actually a glitch in the code. There is an open GitHub issue for the fact that tags are not working correctly, and the nsfw logic is a large part of it.
The community has requested that @alexanova use "nsfw" as one of her tags - which she is doing. IMO, your issue should be with the site, more than with @alexanova. She is following the rules that were given to her by the community.
That aside though, I think that the best solution is to allow each user to chose whether or not they want to view this type of content. It should be hidden by default, and users can enable a setting if they want to view it. That is basically what is being discussed / proposed in https://github.com/steemit/steemit.com/issues/827.
I am not sure it actually is a glitch. Or at least if it is a glitch, it one that seems to make sense on its own terms.
To me, a nsfw tag that is the primary tag (the one that determines the URL) indicates that the primary focus of the content is the NSFW aspect.
Something like sexy santa, or photography that incorporates some nudity, OTOH even though there is a NSFW aspect to it, the NSFW aspect is incidental to the post.
So basically the difference between art and porn. ANd before you ask, i determine the difference the same way potter stewart did.
the solution you mention in your last paragraph seems reasonable to me.
That said, the "issue" with people that elect to downvote this material is an issue with the site as well, and the entirely fictional representation of the downvote as a flag.
What you said about it being the intended behavior makes sense. It could be that way by design. I am hoping the change to allow each user to filter for whether or not they want to see that type of content goes through. It seems like a good compromise that would make both sides happy.
Why should anything legal be hidden by default? Furthermore, who decides what tags are hidden by default? Asking for a friend.
In my opinion Steemit should be a censorship free community where users can post whatever they want. I am not even 100% against 'illegal' content being posted, although I am on the fence about certain types. Who am I to decide though.
Being able to freely post and view content censorship free does not necessarily mean that everyone has to view it though. Being able to chose for yourself whether or not to view something (without having a say in what others can/should do) still falls within the bounds of a censorship free community (IMO).
If we put NSFW content out there without the ability for users who don't want to see it to block it, we are going to alienate a large portion of our potential user base. I would agree that the people that are saying "NSFW content shouldn't be allowed here" are probably better elsewhere, but people who are just upset at not being able to hide it from their kids or co-workers are not necessarily people we want to push away.
There are a lot of ways to make the system more robust and elaborate (like degrees of NSFW content) but I don't think that is really necessary. Just having one "nsfw" tag that allows users to have some control over what does/doesn't get shown by default, seems like a viable solution. There are some gray areas, and a big rabbit-hole to go down as far as "what is really NSFW" - but I do think that a lot of it is fairly black and white. Given the right tools - I think the community can handle it.
[citation needed]I'm not sure if I understand your comment. Are you trying to say that what I said as far as potentially alienating a large portion of our potential user base is just my opinion and may not be factual?