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October 24th, 2008
 | 01:25 pm - flickr is angering dan
as mentioned recently, flickr restricted my account for "potentially offensive content". they still haven't gotten around to telling me what this content IS or why it is potentially offensive. for all i know, the complaint is from a klan member who doesn't like pictures of black people. the way their guidelines are written, this is entirely possible. "there are millions of people visiting Flickr who may not see the world the same way you do" this is certainly true, but a dangerous way to run a community.
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From: Flickr Support
Sent: Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:49 PM
To: dan widrew
Subject: Marked as restricted
Hello kingnixon,
We've changed the safety level of your photostream to "restricted".
As per our Community Guidelines, content like that in your account is not considered "safe" for everyone to view. You may or may not be aware that Flickr has a Safe Search system. When people browse or search on Flickr, they can filter what they see based on a safety level that they are comfortable with - either Safe Search is on, set to moderate, or off. In order for Safe Search to work, we relying on *you* to filter your content appropriately. As you upload stuff to Flickr, you need to make sure that you're applying appropriate filters (safe, moderate or restricted) and telling us what sort of content it is (photos, video, screenshots, art & illustration). If you don't apply filters correctly, there's a very good chance another member will let us know - in fact that's why we've taken action today. (No need to be upset - it's every member's right to let us know if they ever feel uncomfortable. Yours too.)
We want Flickr to be a place that everyone can enjoy. That means making sure that potentially offensive content is filtered from public, safe areas of the site. If you read our Community Guidelines, you'll see the key points are:
play nice, upload things that you have created yourself, and respect the fact that there are millions of people visiting Flickr who may not see the world the same way you do. Use your common sense about whether or not your content is suitable for a global, public audience. If the answer is no, you need to filter it from public view.
You should also know that if we receive another report about your content or conduct, it's very likely we'll terminate your account.
So, please take a moment to find out how to work with safety levels, use 'em, and everybody's happy!
Regards,
Terrence
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From: dan widrew
Sent: Sunday, October 12, 2008 7:19 PM
To: Flickr Support
Subject: RE: Marked as restricted
so are you planning to tell me what the problem with my content is, or am i supposed to guess?
and i agree, it's everyone's right to be uncomfortable and to say so when they are. for example, i am currently extremely uncomfortable that my entire account can be restricted and all i am told about it is a form letter that doesn't tell me what the complaint is, what content people are bothered by, why it bothers them, and whether or not flickr's staff agreed (or even looked for themselves before restricting me). it's just vague boilerplate about the virtues of censoring anything that anyone could conceivably be bothered by, and then a threat of terminating my account if i repeat whatever it is i've been accused of doing wrong.
which, to emphasise, i still have not been informed of. does someone think my photos are offensive? should a photo of a painting or a shirt be called art instead of photo? is it the gay ad from the magazine? the dogs? the dragon? for all i know, maybe someone doesn't like dirty dishes.
~dan, unhappy flickr user
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From: dan widrew
Sent: Friday, October 24, 2008 1:13 PM
To: Flickr Support
Subject: RE: Marked as restricted
nearly 2 weeks later, i am still waiting to hear back about this. i find it very upsetting that flickr feels justified in censoring my account based on unspecified complaints from unspecified people about unspecified content which is offensive for unspecified reasons, and on top of that, you threaten to terminate my account if i repeat whatever it is i am accused of doing.
all i'm asking right now is to be told what content is at issue and why it is a problem. if this is too much to ask, then i have no interest dealing with such a company and i'll simply delete my account.
dan
np: Adam Glasseye and the Insect Fable - Doin it! Their Way! - Armageddon Days
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I find your bridge photos offensive because I am scared of heights. HOW COULD YOU BE SO INSENSITIVE.
srsly though, that is nutty. I'd guess it's probably something related to http://flickr.com/photos/kingnixon/2518193756/ and the other ones from the art show. However, that doesn't make this kind of behavior acceptable -- specifically, the not responding to your emails -- and I've posted to my blog mentioning it. If you haven't heard anything within another couple of business days, let me know, and I'll start sending emails as well: I've put too much work into Flickr to feel like this kind of thing leaves me in any safer of a position than it does you. hmm those never even occurred to me. my theory was it's the naked guy postcard, and i was kind of excited to raise a stink if they try to ban non-sexual nudity (like when lj decided breast-feeding pictures were unacceptable) ![[User Picture]](https://l-userpic.livejournal.com/98087474/940390) | | From: |  gorzo |
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| Date: | October 26th, 2008 09:26 pm (UTC) |
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When I clicked that link I went to a warning page that said it was "outside of my safesearch filter" which as an account option I was unaware existed before now. I had to click through to get to it. Just thought that might help.
Photobucket is adding features that are making it similar to Flickr if the latter decides to keep taking admin advice from Kafka's "The Trial." I think if Photobucket dislikes something they just boot it and send you and email to the effect of "hey cut that out doofus," though I can speak only anecdotally as I have never run afoul of them myself. Photobucket has nowhere near the level of polish that Flickr does, sadly. If I have to leave Flickr, I'll likely go back to hosting things on my own, but I'd really rather not do that. ![[User Picture]](https://l-userpic.livejournal.com/53832789/98846) | | From: | bertho |
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| Date: | November 2nd, 2008 12:15 am (UTC) |
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Not to mention that even if you pay for Photobucket, the maximum pic size it will store is under 4 megapixels. you asked to be informed in a couple business days, so here i am uhh nearly 3 weeks later. but anyway, still not a word. meh Seeeeeeeriously? That's messed up. I'm pissed that I've given those people money. | | From: | bertho |
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| Date: | November 2nd, 2008 12:09 am (UTC) |
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Bah! I *just* gave them money for the first time about a month ago. I hope this works out okay because I don't want to have to start over somewhere else (and I wouldn't know where to do so...) i had been thinking about it! i hate not being able to look at my whole photostream
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