[WikiEN-l] So, why do we provide porn?

[Steve Bennett]

On 2/22/08, Oskar Sigvardsson <oskarsigvardsson at gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm sorry, but what sets this category apart from any other, say for
>  instance [[Category:Dogs in clothing]] (at
>  http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Dogs_in_clothing ). Commons

Here are some things:
 - It's NSFW. I accidentally clicked on "masturbating amy" at work,
thinking it couldn't possibly be...
 - It's not safe for kids. Apparently some libraries already ban
wikipedia. Making institutions unwilling to use our resource is not
helping spread knowledge.
- I would happily reorganise a "dogs in clothing" category while my
girlfirend was watching.
- It's bad for our reputation to be known as a source of pornography.
It's not bad for our reputation to be known as a source of dogs in
clothing photos.

>  is simply a collection of free media representing different aspects of
>  human life. And not to get on a high horse or anything, but there is
>  absolutely nothing shameful about female masturbation. It's a
>  perfectly healthy part of human life, it should be encouraged, and
>  information about it should be distributed as widely as possible.

Yes, you are introducing a moral argument which is probably best kept
out. There's obviously nothing wrong having photos of "shameful"
topics (think of political events, massacres etc).

>  In addition, three of the images are fine works of art (the Klimt one
>  is spectacular and the Japanese one is mezmerizing) and another one is
>  fascinating illustration, a true picture of its time.

I think the illustrations - particularly historical - are ok. They
probably pass the tests listed above.

>  Frankly, I find your position prudish and counter-productive with
>  respect for what we are trying to achieve. We shouldn't censor based
>  on morality.

Heh, it's not often I get called prudish. I'm not quite sure what you
mean by "censoring based on morality", because I don't think I'm
proposing censoring, and I'm not bringing morality into anything. I'm
suggesting that storing and making available porn is not good for our
mission.

Steve