How not to do business
 

One of the more interesting lessons in having a place like this, is finding that you have to host people, discussions, projects, etc. that you may not only have no interest in, but that you actively hate, or fear, or what have you.

Now I'm a long-time libertarianish freedom person, and I believe you can pretty much do whatever you want to, and it's very hard to squick me. So personally, I think I'm a good choice to host something like this. I'm not going to go crazy and take the site down in a fit of pique when somebody posts the worst they can think of to post. As long as it's correctly labeled NSFW for those people who need or want to avoid such stuff. Who cares, right?

This week we have two items which tell us that not everybody is so happy to take on the real world in this way.

First, Apple banned any level of porn in iPhone apps, unless you were Sports Illustrated or Playboy. Despite having developed parental controls to indicate apps that kids shouldn't see, Apple was unhappy with the mix of apps they were getting, and decided to ban some of them in order not to offend some of their buyers.

Before the complete ban, Apple was previewing images to decide which ones were OK. Here (NSFW) a strip poker app author shows which images Apple found objectionable, and which were OK.

Now, yesterday, Citibank blocked the bank account of a well-funded web startup that specializes in a gay male audience. The startup had attracted over a half million dollars from such investors as the Washington Post Company.

I have previously heard hints of Citibank being the world's suckiest of all banks, from ex workers who curse its name.

These lame attempts at molding the culture are going to bite these companies squarely on the ass. Mark my words.

This side of the pond we kinda snicker at mainstream "American" sensibilities. Speech marks because I know they are not nationally held.

I have no real opinion about our Page 3 girls (topless women on page 3 of the tabloids) but when it comes to international issues like this, I am proud to be British. Get your tits out for the lads!

I hope, hope, hope that gay website was not really blocked for content. That would sicken me. Finance has no place making moral judgements. Even if it comes from a (shaky) Christian standpoint, let him without sin cast the first stone. Here's hoping the Pink Pound (or whatever the US equivalent is) responds accordingly.

Not US bashing, but it does seem to me, as a furriner, that the land of the free and the home of the brave is one of the most homophobic countries in the Free West. Europe seems streets ahead in allowing its gay citizens the same rights as heteros - and we have no Constitution, and only recently a Bill of Rights. Europe was not founded on the idea of all people being equal. But we seem to be there sooner.

Consider them marked. :D

I hope these companies will pay the price for asshat-edness. But corporations (and those who manage them) have been getting away with purposeful evil for many years. So I'm not sure that simple bias will do them any particular harm.

I think statistically, our number of actual homophobes is probably similar to yours. Our problem is, the homophobes we do have are very vocal, and very organized, and the non-homophobes do not have the same sense of indignation that your non-homophobes do: we suffer from the old "When they came for the Jews, I said nothing because I was not a Jew" thing. A large majority of people are in favor of things like repealing Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell (no open gays in the military) and of creating federal civil unions for gay couples, but they don't care enough to get vocal about it, so the minority often wins.

I think our statistical number is the same ;) If it was the actual number we'd be over-run with the gay-hating bastards!

But I get what you're saying. I put it in the What the Cellar Did For Me thread, because it's a worthy reminder of international issues writ small.

Is there a difference in what falls under free speech vs hate speech? I suspect that we are not really that different but we hear the other countries extremists, because it sells papers.

I just pictured tens of thousands of rednecks and Mormons marching down cobblestone streets and overflowing the pubs. Awesome.

In light of repression of sexual expression my mind put an e between the b and s in the word pubs.

I think - I thought that the morally strident would not be overflowing out of pubs since it would be a little oxymoron-ish.

Well sure, the rednecks would be in the pubs and the Mormons would be having Lime Jello socials on card tables out front.

It's a joke and trying to be polite by explaining my thought process I ended up looking like I was finding fault. NO!


Here, I'll just stop pussy footing around.

I know sidhe, I got that part. I was just making an additional joke, about Mormon activities. This whole place is so touchy today, myself included apparently...

Oh, can I add feely to the touchy? :blush:

How not to do business