I really liked this post, it reflects my point of view. We're talking about teenagers who probably know more about it than some of the people wishing to censor it, for starters. And they see worse on TV every night - there's serial killers, murders, drugs and sex even before 8:30 in many cases. To be forewarned is to be forearmed, as the saying goes, and I think censoring things "for the children" is a pretty outmoded approach that reflects a lack of understanding of modern youth - especially if we're talking about a factual resource with an NPOV approach.
cheers Andrew 2008/12/9 Andrew Garrett <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > 2008/12/9 private musings <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > My answer right now to the question 'should wikipedia be available in > > schools' is 'no' - I'd be interested to hear yours. > > > > I think it'd be great to lead the way on a community level in figuring > out > > how best to communicate this - you know - accentuating the positives, > > communicating clearly the nature of the wiki beast etc. > > > > Stuff that I've done in this area goes back a little way - primarily in > > 'project space' with; > > > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Advice_for_parents and recently > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Sexual_content > > > > On a side note, I believe Commons has a bit of catch up to do in terms of > > policy and practice in dealing with images best described as 'edgy' and > > uncharitably described as free porn, and whilst I'm happy to talk about > that > > here, I guess the most 'on topic' matter in hand is how this (and indeed > > recent press coverage) impact our outreach work, and what we might be > able > > to do to best work with schools etc. > > You're resting your entire argument on the assumption that > encyclopedic, earnest and frank discussion of sexuality is a weakness, > and something to be ashamed of. I don't agree that children need to be > "protected" from sexuality any more than they need to be "protected" > from non-heterosexual influences. History, past and present, shows > that those societies in which sexuality is discussed openly, > earnestly, and honestly, have the lowest rates of sexually transmitted > infection, teen pregnancy, and divorce. While many of the powers that > be (parents and teachers, as well as the government of the day) are > afraid of earnest discussion of sexuality, I don't see why we ought to > indulge them. > > Even if you accept the idea that pornography is inherently damaging to > society and to viewers (which is an entirely different, but related > argument, and I can certainly see arguments on either side, regardless > of my feelings on it), it does not necessarily follow that sexual > content is also damaging to society. In your crusades against > sexualised content, you have consistently denied or ignored the > distinction between smut (that is, something that appeals purely to > the prurient interest), and tasteful but relevant illustration (that > is, something which would also appeal to curiosity or a more > intellectual interest). > > The fact of the matter is that a basic understanding of human anatomy > is essential to any well-rounded education, and I would far prefer > that a child comes to this understanding through tasteful, but earnest > images (including photographs), rather than a mishmash of unclear and > over-complicated diagrams (made complicated to mask the sexual aspect > of them), vague description, and personal experience that most of us > have used to come to our current understanding of the anatomy of both > genders. > > I therefore view your, and other's attempts to suppress representation > of sexuality for fear that it is 'inappropriate' for children (without > any stipulation as to the reasons for this assertion) as misguided at > best, and at worst willful denial of the education that children need > to function correctly in society. Sexuality is a part of society - an > integral part, as it happens, it governs much of our lives. This will > remain the case despite the attempts to suppress it by you, the IWF > and other organisations. > > -- > Andrew Garrett > > _______________________________________________ > Wikimediaau-l mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaau-l >
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