[WikiEN-l] Re: Offensive photos policy

Thu May 13 12:38:11 UTC 2004

From: David Friedland <david at nohat.net>

>How would you feel if the linked images had a disclaimer saying 
>something to this effect:

>The following images have been placed on a separate page because they 
>MAY be consiered disturbing and/or offensive. It is Wikipedia policy not 
>to take a position on whether the following images are in fact 
>disturbing or offensive or not (See [[Wikipedia:Neutral Point of 
>View]]). However, to avoid disturbing or offending those users to whom 
>the images are disturbing or offensive, they have been placed on a 
>separate page.

It would be nice to find a much shorter way of expressing this, but I think 
this is a very accurate and nicely put expression of what I, personally, feel 
needs to be expressed. And I think it's a good policy, while recognizing that 
no disclaimer can change the fact that placing the link does amount to 
catering to somebody's point of view.

I've been brooding about this issue of "making it a link caters to a point of 
view." I've asked myself how I would feel if I went to an article about 
someone I admire--say, Margaret Sanger--and found that the text had been 
completely replaced with a link and a disclaimer, saying "It is Wikipedia 
policy not to take an position on whether the life and opinions of Margaret 
Sanger are, in fact, offensive. However, to avoid disturbing or offending 
those users to whom this material is offensive, we have placed it on a 
separate page." My conclusion is that I _would_ find this irritating but I 
would find it tolerable. (Just barely). 

Linking to photographs which ought to be seen _does_ affect the _balance_ of 
point of view on the page, but does not amount to _censorship_ or 
_suppression_ of any point of view.