Censoring Criticism?

This image protesting censorship on G+ was actually censored itself, and the corresponding account was disabled.

True, the original poster shared it without the censoring badges over the breasts. But still, dealing in this way with criticism is a pretty bad move.

When I posted the pre-censored version, it got flagged almost immediately and probably automatically. But I requested a review and it got unflagged again. Thank you, Google! If it were always this simple...

Let me decide

"Think for yourself and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too". Voltaire

Adults.
They have the right to vote, make legal contracts, legally buy alcohol and even die for their country. Why should they be deprived of the ability to decide what they want to see? Whether at some online community like Google Plus, on the television, at the museum ...

People are not being forced to view artwork at gunpoint. Every member of the public has the right to avert their eyes and not look at anything that offends them. They can always refrain from entering a gallery with an exhibition of "offensive" works.

Censorship of anything, at any time, in any place is bad. It is unacceptable to censor art. Only thing we'll get by doing that is making it "underground". 

Think. 

Isn't it better to keep everything completely accessible to the public, where people can see for themselves and decide is it "bad"? Don't we all love to have control in our hands?

Censoring legal content does not promote discussion, learning, dialogue, diversity, better understanding and discovering different cultures.

Censorship is not the answer. Content control is. Freedom of choice is what we need. 

Think. Decide. Support us. Sign the petition here.

Contrasting artistic nudes

The painting on the left by Chinese artist Liu Yingzhao was contained within my album of 22 images in my OP on censorship (the first #occupygpluscensorship post). The image was quickly flagged and subsequently restricted from view by Google. However, after appealing for a review, the image was reinstated...although it took awhile. Then flagged again, appealed and reinstated again. Currently, it is still available (here) as one of 14 you are allowed to see out of the original 22 images.

The painting on the right by Di Lifeng, also a Chinese artist, has been banned – permanently. And by that I mean that my appeal was rejected. For the life of me, I wish I could discern any major difference between the two. Then, I could understand, if not agree. The best I can come up with is that Di's nude on the right is more, well, frontal in its depiction of nipples.

What do you think?

If you prefer uncensored art, please consider "signing" the Occupy Gplus Censorship (OGC) petition here. You can also +1 the petition on the OGC Page here.

Which world art heritage do you prefer?

This is the world's art heritage on Google Blogger. Go here to see the world's art heritage on Google G+. Okay, you're back. Now, which heritage do you prefer for real life sharing?


If you prefer uncensored art, please consider "signing" the Occupy Gplus Censorship petition at goo.gl/fCmZw. Or, you can also +1 the petition on the OGC Page at goo.gl/E6uXE.

Venus de Milo

Dost this flower offend thee?

If so, please kindly inform Google.


Yet another example of the inane flagging of art. I simply can't bring myself to deface this wonderful painting with a black bar, or a G+ logo as I have been lately in order to make a point. But this Georgia O'Keefe work has been flagged before.

Our children are taught art history and art appreciation in school textbooks without needing parental permission. Our public libraries, bookstores and museums are full of splendid works of art.

Yet we aren't old enough to enjoy "real life sharing" on G+?

Georgia O'Keefe – Blue Flower

Picasso + Nipple/Nether region = CENSORED

We suppose, if you squint your eyes really, really hard...maybe this Picasso piece could be considered titillating. Possibly. But we'd need a whole new mind set to come to that conclusion.

Picasso – Nude: Green Leaves and Bust

Michelangelo, too! Really?

Apparently, God did not create Adam – nor did Michelangelo create this beautiful masterpiece...at least not on G+, if it's not censored.

May we point out that this masterpiece and many others are widely and commonly available to minors in school and public libraries, bookstores, museums, etc?

Students can study artwork and art history, without parental permission, but G+ users are not allowed to share this legal content?

Michelangelo – Creation of Adam

Famous art censored for sensitive souls

We invite you to visit our Flickr stream where we are doing our best to collect and curate many of the images that are being flagged and subsequently banned from G+.

Blue Flower, 1918

How does censorship serve the G+ community?

On the left, we show you the only way you are allowed on G+ to see Chinese artist Liu Yingzhao's artistic nude. On the right, we offer you the painting in its original form. While Liu might not be well known in the West, we feel it is important to note that many famous artworks, which are currently being permanently banned on G+, are widely and commonly available in our society through school and public libraries, bookstores, museums, etc. – without restriction or censorship.

Click on the image to see it full size.

Petition to Google for content control

You notice the Petition tab in our header? If you go there, it won't take but a minute to read our plea to Google to implement control controls on G+. If you agree, we hope you will "sign" our petition, so that we can hopefully influence Google.

If you don't need any more convincing, you can find the petition here.

Artistic nude by Chinese artist banned on G+

We can't post it uncensored on G+, but we can show you Liu Yingzhao's original work here on Blogger. This is just one of many artistic nudes that have been permanently banned from G+.