Talk:Censorship on wikimedia projects

User:GerardM states, "with the introduction of End-user image suppression, it is proposed to tag pictures with labels that can be used to either prevent images totally from being seen or to make them one click away. In essence it negates the editorial process and it allows for self censorship. As the editorial process is there to produce quality information, images are an essential element of this information. A picture paints a thousand words."

However he negates to point out that the proposed "tagging" of images is more commonly called categorisation, a daily occurence on Wikimedia projects. End-user image suppression asks that potentially offensive images be categorised before being said to be implemented.

Gerard also negates to point out that self-censorship is already taking place on Wikipedia (i.e. suppression of images such as the ciltoris, torture and autofellatio) and that end-user image suppression is a proposal to negate this process. Instead he attempts to argue that such suppression of images is just us "editing our content", however many people admit that their reason for suppressing images such as that of a man performing autofellatio are for reasons of offence (i.e self-censorship). A picture of a man performing autofellatio in an article about autofellatio is of encyclopedic value. For us to suppress it is to particpate in self-censorship.

As a proponent myself of inlining all images deemed to be of encyclopedic value, in outlining end-user image suppression I have cooperated with those who would like to see such images linked or removed. End-user image suppression negates having to make a choice either way and leaves it up to the end-user.

Gerard also writes that end-user image suppression allows for self-censorship. In fact what it allows for is end-user self-censorship. Something I have no problem with. —Christiaan 09:45, 26 Feb 2005 (UTC)

I will refrain from reacting to this. See the history of some relevant articles to see why. GerardM 22:48, 27 Feb 2005 (UTC)