a question of taste

[sevo]

Originally Posted by dave lackey

Exactly. Grandkids occasionally come into my home office while I am working and on the phone...or on the RFF. It is awkward when something pops up

However I have yet to see an awkward NUDE pop up - the odd few nude images here were more tasteful than the average news kiosk.

Arguably there have been a few embarrassing images attached to threads, which I'd rather hide from friends or clients. But none of that drivel was anywhere close to being nude - as long as we consider cats, dogs and cameras without ERC non-nude. So can we please have a "don't show me images that suck" flag?

[rover]

Take a deep breath Black.

This thread is about the fact that we do have to respect each other, and the revelation that there is a way in which each member can filter content to fit their own wants.

So skip the judgement, yours can only be as wrong as everyone elses about anyone else.

[Mr. Fizzlesticks]

Originally Posted by sevo

....So can we please have a "don't show me images that suck" flag?

I would find that entirely more useful.

[taskoni]

Originally Posted by Black

... And children need to understand that the naked form is wrong and the more we hide them from it the better people they will be...

This is the weirdest post I have ever read here, ever! This is a ridiculous though for my understanding and I am glad you weren't my father

[Black]

Originally Posted by taskoni

This is the weirdest post I have ever read here, ever! This is a ridiculous though for my understanding and I am glad you weren't my father

You understand I was being ironic, right?

[mdarnton]

Will the folks who are discomforted by breasts support those who are discomforted by any woman who isn't wearing a black cloak covering 98% of her body, and be willing to support the total banning of photos of women here?

I suspect not.
Grow up, boys. Everyone's got a body--get used to it. The excitement you do or don't get from these things is cultural; it's not inherent. As such, it's something you can change by becoming more reasonable. Ankles used to drive the men wild, and they don't anymore. The problem, then, is not the photographs, which are just photos--it's your attitude about the subject matter. We aren't talking about pain, death and abuse here--things no one ever seems to complain about, and can't get enough of. If you don't like the feelings you get about things which are inherently harmless, change them.

If there's something there's too much of in the gallery, it's photographs of cameras, IMO.

[back alley]

i can see this thread is getting a bit hostile...funny, many speak in harsh tones but listen like little girls...

this is an age old issue and i highly doubt that it will be settled here and now.

[dave lackey]

Originally Posted by photomoof

Well I guess, but still you should be able to expect [and enforce] privacy, especially when working or on the phone?

I do think that it is pretty clear that the galleries are not work-safe, or child-safe. I don't think children are likely to be bothered by the forum thumbnails.

Fred, first of all, I never said it was a big deal. Just potentially awkward as they are not my kids, they are my children's kids so those kinds of things are their responsibiity. They stay with us 24 hrs/day for extended periods of time and are super sharp and see and question everything. I answer all their questions honestly and frankly.

My first post on this thread, I mentioned I have no problems with nudity at all. None. Except when it may be inappropriate.

I simply prefer to stay away from certain issues that are not part of my responsibilities as a grandparent. I have raised my children, so we have successfully plowed this ground many times in years past. It is up to my own childrent to raise their kids the way they see fit. Now, it is not my problem or responsibility and I do not intend to make it mine as there are too many important things in life like enjoying the precious time with our grandchildren and not being a parent..just a grandparent.

[taskoni]

Originally Posted by Black

You understand I was being ironic, right?

Yep, I ment to be ironic too

[christian.rudman]

I really don't see why people are taking so much offense over this discussion.

Personally, I use RFF a whole lot at work, and for work. It's an awkward thing to even have some of the aforementioned images display at any point while on this site. I understand not censoring, but allowing for users to determine their content appropriately should not even be an issue, much less a grounds for argument.

We have the ability to place mature content filters in for situations like work and at home with the family, but that doesn't always work for the lazy uploader who forgot to indicate that their image is for mature audiences. I'm not always down to see some guy's Suicide Girls fantasy shot worked out through Model Mayhem and really poor skills. I'm not opposed to artistic nudes, and I am happy to let other poor souls gaze at them all day long. But, I would appreciate a real cohesive approach for those of use who use the appropriate filters and still see the odd one slip in. There is some great photography on this site, I don't want to avoid it entirely because of a select few images, and I think that's what started this thread.

It seems like an easy fix for this is for those who don't want to see that content at times is to indicate that option in their profile, and for those uploading to have some common decency and indicate their image accordingly. For those that don't properly flag their images, there should be a "Flag this as Mature" button or something of the like in the gallery, so that it can be reviewed by a mod if someone finds issue with it's placement.

Just my two cents. Interesting convo, especially with all the inflammatory words being tossed about carelessly by users without consideration for their usage or effect. Oh the joys of RFF.

[Keith]

Akkkkk!

Just when I thought it was safe to get back in the water!

[christian.rudman]

Originally Posted by Keith

Akkkkk!

Just when I thought it was safe to get back in the water!

Haahahahaha.

[Frank Version Two]

I think it's fine to tag the images as mature but it should apply to scenes of war and pepper spray too.

On Facebook and other sites, other people are allowed to flag images that may be inappropriate. Then we would be self-policing in case the photographer overlooks using good judgement or is in a cranky mood. Just be clear and specific about the rules and be civil about it. Somebody will get flustered but life isn't fair.

When I first came here there was a jerk who got all hepped up over my pictures, not polite and rational like Paul. I certainly don't want to offend anyone or expose your grandkids to harshness prematurely. Heck I don't like a lot of them myself, if it were easier to delete the entire gallery I would since there are some howlers in it (you have to do them one at a time, about 45 seconds per....)

Also I don't like being associated with nudes or cheesecake or that sort of thing actually, I am pretty prudish in real life and treat whatever crazy naked women are crossing my path as documenting their eventual train wreck. So far in my experience they all grow to regret it. The creepiest thing is all the middle aged men who go gaga over the pix and make stupid comments, I find that most amusing... Here's to having a couple semi-naked druggie drunk wanna-bee model bimbos in your life fellas!

Cheers

[Viktor Sebastian]

Amen, to that Frank.

[paulfish4570]

thanks, frank vII.
by the way, thanks to rover, i have clicked on the mature filter box.
now i need to go back and read all three pages. i've been out shopping with the bride ...

[FrankS]

Funny and sad that some think that boobies are more dangerous than depictions of violence, even murder, as commonly seen on general television.

[paulfish4570]

and thank you, benjamin marks, for your opinion on this matter.

i think the mature button is the perfect application for this issue. i have so marked my gallery profile.

there are two sides to what some of you are calling censorship: those who want to see a subject, and those who do not. those who do not should not have to continually confronted with the subject in question. those who want to see the subject should be able to do so. a simple click by a poster wanting to show the subject is the answer. in my view, nudity is one of those subjects. so is gore for the sake of shock.

one more thing, for you dads with daughters: do you want guys like us ogling your naked children? under any conditions?

hey, i'm just sayin' ...

[Frank Version Two]

Well they are all sons and daughters but there are different kinds of pictures. Some are contrived to titillate and I find those embarrassing most of the time, especially in public. But others are more documentarian where the nudity is happenstance and not calculated. Sometimes they're just girls showing off and being real, as a 22-year is apt to do. I don't look at pictures of kids the same as young women ~ I know my 28-year old daughter is out in the world with boys and men and enjoys her sexuality but I can deal with it. It certainly isn't the same as when she was 15.

[paulfish4570]

true, frank, true.

now, if only bag photos can be marked as mature ...

[shadowfox]

For the couple of years I've been on RFF.
This is probably the most brave, well-reasoned, and well presented thread.
And I mean the OP, not some of the comments.

I suspect Paul and I share quite a bit in the matter of faith, but I'm here to stand up with him *deliberately* setting aside that fact.

There are other websites with mature contents that are accessible to minors. That is the fact. But to use that as an excuse for *this* website is akin to say that trash is everywhere in the world, so it's okay for me to litter in my own neighborhood.

Tagging one's photo with the mature tag is a responsible and self-respecting action. A forum that honors the tag is a forum whose owner and maintainers are people with strong sense of order and fairness. And that is called filtering, not censorship.

For those who are so sensitive as to object to clicking one more button just to see what you want to see, please, we may have to coexist, are you man enough not to whine about it?

[hausen]

I can never understand this sort of thread. I understand Paul's faith and am happy for him. It isn't something that we share but diversity is what makes the world we live in interesting. But for other posters to say that everyone that poses is being taken advantage or or is a druggie or whatever seems irrational to me. I read an interesting post on one of the forums about a couple of models who travel the US of A and make a great living posing for Photo clubs. I find it more distasteful when I see shots of street people drunk and passed out than I do of the 1 picture I saw in gallery today of a woman;'s chest.
I have a daughter of 20 and I have brought her up to make her own decisions, I always explained to her consequences of the decisions she made. If she said to me she wanted to earn some extra money by posing semi nude I doubt I would be happy about it but I would explain to her the consequences that that the images could/would be on internet forever and that "guys like us" will be looking at them. The decision would be hers just as the consequences would be as well. But to the make a massive generalization to say she is then being taken advantage of is non nonsensical to me. I have never taken a nude and doubt that I will. Would love to know how they light them though. Always been a weakness of my photography.

[sevo]

Originally Posted by paulfish4570

one more thing, for you dads with daughters: do you want guys like us ogling your naked children? under any conditions?

That is partially a matter of age. But I spent all my life publicly embarrassing myself, and left enough of a trail of bad art that it will take them many years to catch up - so who am I to blame them for showing off?

[robklurfield]

the most ogled thread on RFF seems to be the Let's See Your Leica M at well over a million views. Based on that, I'm going to keep a half-case on my cameras in the interest of modesty.

[paulfish4570]

[f16sunshine]

Beauty is all around us. Sometimes it is a human body. Why not photograph what you see? If you do, why not display what you photograph?
Choose to view it or not. What one does or thinks about the images is their own personal interpretation.
That saying "guns don't kill people... people kill people" comes to mind. Most (not all) of the images of nudes I've seen in the gallery are innocent on their own.
Being either a narrative or portrait of a woman or a moment in time and light.
A well made photo of a beautiful nude woman is not in itself a vulgar or exploitive thing.
It's the viewer who sees beauty and humanity or, vulgarity and as a result exploitation.
Is this not true of all art... of all photography?
So then... What is "taste" ?