[WikiEN-l] Re: Pictures of genitalia

Sat Jan 10 19:07:56 UTC 2004

Re circumcision: it looks to me as if the current article has pictures of 
both a circumcized and an uncircumsized penis, so what's the problem?

Re pictures of genitalia. As a reference point, the Encyclopedia Britannica, 
11th edition, the index word "penis" references the article "Reproductive 
system." This article contains a number of detailed line drawings 
(engravings?), mostly from Cunningham's Textbook of Anatomy. None of them 
are, however, what I'd call a picture of a genital. The male section shows a 
transverse section of a "young Prostate" (eeewwwww); a transverse section of 
a testis and epididymus (eeeewwww); a sagital median section of bladder 
prostate, and rectum, and a three-dimensional-looking detailed view that 
looks to me like a dissected cadaver (EEEEEwwwwww), showing a "view of the 
base of the bladder, prostate, seminal vesicles, and vasa deferentia." The 
female section offers a cadaverous view of the uterus and broad ligament, and 
a diagram of the vaginal cavity, cervix, and uterus. 

In other words, I infer that their policy is "an encyclopedia should have 
pictures," and also that their policy with respect to genitalia "cadavers and 
transverse sections only, and no erectile tissue at all."

Let me say as clearly as I can that I present that just as a data point. I am 
not, repeat NOT suggesting that this is the appropriate policy for Wikipedia!