Sarah Vaughan
June 2nd 06, 09:45 PM
The message below was posted to misc.kids.breastfeeding. I'm forwarding
it to parenting-related groups in case anyone's interested. If anyone
replies, do note that this is cross-posted to four groups - by all means
snip. ;-)
All the best,
Sarah
Xavier wrote:
> The press release is going out as we speak. Please feel free to forward it
> on to any media contacts that you may have, friends, family, playgroups,
> anyone who is a supporter of breastfeeding.
>
>
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
>
> May 31,2006
>
> Contact:
> Carrie Patterson
> Executive Director, ProMoM.Org
> http://www.promom.org
>
> 678-513-6329
>
> Popular Blogging Site Restricts Use of Breastfeeding Photos
> LiveJournal cites breastfeeding images as 'inappropriate' and sends mothers
> to the virtual restroom
>
> Women on the popular blog site LiveJournal are calling foul at the company's
> decision to brand images of breastfeeding as 'inappropriate.' Many users of
> the site have joined together to urge LiveJournal's parent company SixApart
> to address their concerns and reevaluate the policy.
>
> Small "userpics" of no more than 100 by 100 pixels represent LiveJournal
> members throughout the site. Users can define one of these icons as "default
> icon" which plugs it into the user's public profile. These default icons
> were originally not permitted to be 'sexually explicit or graphically
> violent.' Recently, icons which depicted breastfeeding were cited as being
> 'inappropriate' by the LiveJournal abuse team, a group of volunteers who
> monitor complaints on the site. After clarification was requested,
> LiveJournal changed their FAQ to reflect a no nudity rule and is claiming
> that icons with visible areola or nipple are not permitted. Whether or not
> areola is visible in a photograph is dependent on a number of factors,
> including skin tone of the mother and physical changes during pregnancy.
>
> Claimed Live Journal Abuse Staffer 'Erin' in a post on the site, "That's
> really a matter for the FCC to decide. LiveJournal's policies on this mirror
> what would be allowed on primetime TV or in a PG-13 movie." However, this is
> not true. The FCC does not consider the act of breastfeeding on television
> to fall under the definitions of indecency or obscenity.
>
> Breastfeeding is exempt from nudity laws throughout the United States as
> well as countries such as Canada. Advocates are urging LiveJournal to adopt
> the same criteria. "It is regrettable that LiveJournal has chosen to target
> breastfeeding mothers instead of standing up for the protection provided
> them by law," says Carrie Patterson, executive director of ProMom.org, a
> non-profit organization dedicated to increasing public awareness and public
> acceptance of breastfeeding. Advocates state that the feeling that
> breastfeeding should be hidden only fosters the idea that the natural act of
> nourishing a child is scandalous.
>
> Breastfeeding bloggers who have refused to change their default icon have
> been suspended from the site. These users, as well as others questioning the
> policy, have been treated poorly by the site's volunteer abuse team,
> something that is not unusual according to other site users.
>
> More than 1,000 LiveJournal users complained, and SixApart issued an apology
> to the group. However, the company refuses to consider modifying their
> policy and continues to suspend users whose default icons are deemed
> inappropriate. Although LiveJournal stated a clarified rule, mothers are
> still reporting major inconsistencies in its application.
>
> The breastfeeding debacle is only the most recent in a long line of
> incidents that have people wondering if the abuse procedures as a whole
> should be reviewed for fairness and propriety. Complaints have been raised
> about users' privacy, inconsistent enforcement of the Terms of Service,
> conflicting information and responses from abuse team members, and
> discourteous replies to users seeking clarification on the rules.
>
> Activists are now working together to get this policy changed and to clarify
> the policies and procedures of the LiveJournal abuse team. While some are
> refusing to continue paying for the service, others have moved to different
> journaling websites to protest what they feel is a violation of their
> rights. For more information, contact Carrie Patterson at 678-513-6329 or
> or visit http://www.promom.org/bf_info/mp.html.
>
> ###
>
>
>
--
http://www.goodenoughmummy.typepad.com
"That which can be destroyed by the truth, should be" - P. C. Hodgell
it to parenting-related groups in case anyone's interested. If anyone
replies, do note that this is cross-posted to four groups - by all means
snip. ;-)
All the best,
Sarah
Xavier wrote:
> The press release is going out as we speak. Please feel free to forward it
> on to any media contacts that you may have, friends, family, playgroups,
> anyone who is a supporter of breastfeeding.
>
>
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
>
> May 31,2006
>
> Contact:
> Carrie Patterson
> Executive Director, ProMoM.Org
> http://www.promom.org
>
> 678-513-6329
>
> Popular Blogging Site Restricts Use of Breastfeeding Photos
> LiveJournal cites breastfeeding images as 'inappropriate' and sends mothers
> to the virtual restroom
>
> Women on the popular blog site LiveJournal are calling foul at the company's
> decision to brand images of breastfeeding as 'inappropriate.' Many users of
> the site have joined together to urge LiveJournal's parent company SixApart
> to address their concerns and reevaluate the policy.
>
> Small "userpics" of no more than 100 by 100 pixels represent LiveJournal
> members throughout the site. Users can define one of these icons as "default
> icon" which plugs it into the user's public profile. These default icons
> were originally not permitted to be 'sexually explicit or graphically
> violent.' Recently, icons which depicted breastfeeding were cited as being
> 'inappropriate' by the LiveJournal abuse team, a group of volunteers who
> monitor complaints on the site. After clarification was requested,
> LiveJournal changed their FAQ to reflect a no nudity rule and is claiming
> that icons with visible areola or nipple are not permitted. Whether or not
> areola is visible in a photograph is dependent on a number of factors,
> including skin tone of the mother and physical changes during pregnancy.
>
> Claimed Live Journal Abuse Staffer 'Erin' in a post on the site, "That's
> really a matter for the FCC to decide. LiveJournal's policies on this mirror
> what would be allowed on primetime TV or in a PG-13 movie." However, this is
> not true. The FCC does not consider the act of breastfeeding on television
> to fall under the definitions of indecency or obscenity.
>
> Breastfeeding is exempt from nudity laws throughout the United States as
> well as countries such as Canada. Advocates are urging LiveJournal to adopt
> the same criteria. "It is regrettable that LiveJournal has chosen to target
> breastfeeding mothers instead of standing up for the protection provided
> them by law," says Carrie Patterson, executive director of ProMom.org, a
> non-profit organization dedicated to increasing public awareness and public
> acceptance of breastfeeding. Advocates state that the feeling that
> breastfeeding should be hidden only fosters the idea that the natural act of
> nourishing a child is scandalous.
>
> Breastfeeding bloggers who have refused to change their default icon have
> been suspended from the site. These users, as well as others questioning the
> policy, have been treated poorly by the site's volunteer abuse team,
> something that is not unusual according to other site users.
>
> More than 1,000 LiveJournal users complained, and SixApart issued an apology
> to the group. However, the company refuses to consider modifying their
> policy and continues to suspend users whose default icons are deemed
> inappropriate. Although LiveJournal stated a clarified rule, mothers are
> still reporting major inconsistencies in its application.
>
> The breastfeeding debacle is only the most recent in a long line of
> incidents that have people wondering if the abuse procedures as a whole
> should be reviewed for fairness and propriety. Complaints have been raised
> about users' privacy, inconsistent enforcement of the Terms of Service,
> conflicting information and responses from abuse team members, and
> discourteous replies to users seeking clarification on the rules.
>
> Activists are now working together to get this policy changed and to clarify
> the policies and procedures of the LiveJournal abuse team. While some are
> refusing to continue paying for the service, others have moved to different
> journaling websites to protest what they feel is a violation of their
> rights. For more information, contact Carrie Patterson at 678-513-6329 or
> or visit http://www.promom.org/bf_info/mp.html.
>
> ###
>
>
>
--
http://www.goodenoughmummy.typepad.com
"That which can be destroyed by the truth, should be" - P. C. Hodgell