January 2, 2009
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Inappropriate?
We recently featured an incredibly powerful post by ed_reality_check, about her struggle with eating disorders. I thought it was a very important and moving post, and felt really good about featuring it.
After we featured it, I got a number of questions from users who claimed that the blogger’s nipple was showing.
I have two thoughts on this.
First of all, I do not believe that a nipple is showing.
Second, even if it was… the picture clearly shows a person suffering from extreme starvation. It is not remotely sexualized or glamorized in any way. I thought that the picture conveyed the dangers of an eating disorder better than words ever could.
Either way, I stand behind featuring the post and showing that picture on Xanga’s frontpage.
Still, I’d like your feedback. Do you see a nipple in the picture? And if you do, do you think it was inappropriate to publish the photo on our frontpage?
Comments (126)
I think it’s a nipple and I think it’s not inappropriate.
I don’t know. My concern was that I looked at her site, and it seems she created the site to post that in 9/07 and hasn’t been on since. It doesn’t even seem that any of the comments have been replied to. Makes me a little worried about her.
i..can’t see it. that’s like someone complaining about pictures of some of the victims of hiroshima, when some people had their clothes burned off from the radiation -_-;
taking being a prude to a new level. feature the post!
it’s a pepperoni slice.
Ditto Manilajones.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the photo. It may be a nipple, but that’s not what first came to mind when I saw it. It’s all right. I hope she’s all right though.
If seeing her nipple is what upset them, they missed the boat.
I think my head is playing tricks on me again… It does seem like a nipple, but I think it’s too high up to be a nipple. IMO, I don’t think it’s inappropriate…
Honestly, I think that there must be something wrong with her anatomy if her nipple was that high up on her chest, but I’m only addressing the point. I do not believe it is a nipple and I agree with you that it’s not a sexualized picture.
-ray leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
@moniet - Well said.
i couldn’;t give a shit about some nipple, in light of the gut-wrenching, courageous blog. i saw that comment, after i wrote something, and thought to myself…well,you wouldn’t wanna know what i thought. this shouldn’t be an issue. oh, man. my heart bled so much for the blogger that i couldn’t see anything else…bleh
My only issue is why was it featured over a year later? Does anyone who left comments even realize the post is from September of 2007?
no, i did not see a nipple. and even if it is a nipple, it’s a great pic – so raw…
they need to get over it.
It is in fact, a nipple. However, it’s not inappropriate. People are just starving for controversy.
You are quite right in featuring this blog complete with picture. This pic is no more inappropriate that pictures of starving prisoners taken just after WW2 at a Nazi concentration camp! Besides which, a nipple is certainly not out of bounds in a carefully and thoughtfully taken picture.
Yea, it does look like part of the nipple. Nah, I don’t think it’s inappropriate as it relates to that article.
@moniet - Agree.
ya its a nipple but its not a sexual picture so its ok
Um. The picture isn’t about someone’s nipple.
I didn’t even notice it until you pointed it out.
I find it more inappropriate for people to be so uptight they look at a picture of a starving woman and complain that part of her emaciated breast is showing.
Umm first of all I didn’t notice a nipple. Now that I look at it, it does look like there is a nipple, but as you said, the picture/post was not about sex or anything like that. What about the pictures of naked babies on Feed the Children ads!? I could give two shits about a nipple. What I find ironic is it’s okay to show a woman in a string bikini will all her boob-age out and all her curves outlined, BUT IT’S OKAY because the string has a scrap of material that covers the nipple. Yes, there’s possibly a nipple and no it’s not inappropriate.
I was too busy looking at her protruding bones to notice her nipple. I think you did a good job featuring that post.
It was a fantastic post and the picture just adds to her pain… I don’t see anything wrong with it
I see nothing indecent about this picture.
I think I see a nipple, but it doesn’t bother me. I feel so sorry for her
With a nipple or no nipple, this is not the point of the featured story. People need to overlook that and read about what she had to go through.
I hope the people who mentioned it to you weren’t really complaining. It’s a moving picture.
no nipple, shade between the breasts
it’s not inappropriate (and for the record, i don’t see a nipple anywhere). some people are just overly sensitive. these are the same people who probably lobbied for snowperson to be added to the dictionary.
i dont see a nipple. people need to forget the nipple and look at the bigger issue… the girl has a serious problem!
@saintvi - Exactly.
yes. no. Good call John!
i don’t see anything and I think the fact that anybody would care in any situation is utterly absurd.
i don’t see a nipple, and even if I did I don’t think this post is indecent or innapropriate or anything. it’s about someone with an eating disorder, it’s not meant to be sexy.
Context is almost everything and in this context, even if there is a nipple, I don’t think it’s inappropriate. That’s not the point of the picture and like you say, the picture is not meant to be sexual in any way.
@moniet - definitely agree.
if people get offended because of this picture, they’ve got bigger issues than being an overzealous prude, which is a pretty big issue.
easy to crop and resubmit.
look, if we really cared about bringing attention to such a “powerful’ post and issue, why taint it in any way with a “caution” or “discretion” community rating?
crop and resubmit.
it is irresponsible to post that on the front page if we allow people between the ages 13 and 17 to have access to this site.
there are laws on the books that do not take issues such as age verification lightly, why push the envelope with semi suspect post and pictures (even if it’s a secondary concern)?
Well, you let a man’s ass on the front page. Yet, butt gets censored on top blogs?
Whatever. I see nothing but the bones. People are crazy.
@another_rebel_without_a_cause - I missed that the profile pic of that other post included a male butt. I took it down right away.
This one I was also unaware of, but when it was pointed out… well to be honest… like you, I don’t see the nipple that some people do. I figured I’d collect feedback in this post before taking any action.
As for the starring out of certain words, I’m looking into what words are starred. I think the algorithm is a bit overly sensitive.
Americans are obsessed with the idea of a nipple showing. Whether its a poor, anorexic girl or la Jackson, so what? Blink and the world is still here, unchanged.
I don’t have a problem with it but I am pretty open.
@john - The profanity filter can definately get carried away. Remember Chris Choi’s peanut ****er post?
@john - I saw circumstances starred the other day…cir***stances?? That’s almost as bad as the spellcheck that doesn’t know ~I’d~ the contraction of I would, is a word..LOL
I don’t see it. All I see is a poor girl who’s starving herself.
@another_rebel_without_a_cause - @moniet - Yah sorry guys, working on it. I think we’re one of the few sites that shows unscreened user-generated content on our frontpage – def some wrinkles to work out!
Not inappropriate in the slightest. Adbusters did a spread with a nude model to demonstrate how eating disorders are not glamorous or sexy. They were not likewise scrutinized.
I think there is a level of awareness or openness that is lacking when something like that becomes the main focus. A lack of culture or maturity too maybe. Who knows?
In a class once we saw the famous photo of the child running in Vietnam who had been napalmed. Her clothes had burned off and her skin was doing the same. It was a moment of maturity for the kids that only one could not meet. She did mature after she sensed the social reaction to her crassness. It is sort of embarrassing to understand you have been sort of appalling in a way, but unless it is pointed out it will keep recurring. I have been in those shoes myself. Everyone probably has.
I will go read the post now. Thanks for putting it up.
Time magazine had an article about My Space censoring nipple showing when breast feeding. Nursing my space people fought back by posting more nipples.
BTW the Minoan civilization had women showing their breasts because they were proud that their women could do it.
I think if you google nipple censorship you might find the Time article…..I just read it last night…
My bad it was Facebook:
http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/show_story.php?id=10555
And this is a different article in which I read.
@CaKaLusa - LOL gross.
if it is a nipple
that is ONE BIG NIPPLE.
I think that it might very well be a nipple. However, I would agree with your opinion: It is not remotely sexualized or glamorized in any way. I am extremely modest, and do not like to see nipples showing, but I do not feel that this is inappropriate in the least.
there’s a bigger cause of concern at hand, and they are making a big hoohaa about nipple showing?!!
The position looks a bit too high. Even if it was, the context of the posting and your intent, speaks for itself. This wasn’t exploitative or inappropriate.
I didn’t even notice the “alleged nipple” until you pointed it out, and even so, I don’t think it’s a nipple anyway. Anyone that commented on it had to be looking at her with some sick mentality anyway. She’s ill, leave her alone. If it were some woman out to get attention in a sexual way and you see her dressed provacatively, then yes, it’s inappropriate….. but this? Nope.
Yes, there is a nipple and yes it’s appropriate. It’s a post about desperation. Besides, sex sells and Xanga needs the traffic.
I’m not sure that’s a nipple; the shadow or whatever we’re seeing isn’t placed where a nipple would be.
And anyway, I agree with those who say the context makes the pic appropriate. My gosh, this girl’s clothes are falling off of her, she can’t even wear a shirt right, that’s how thin she is. o_O
I wasn’t even aware it was a nipple. I didn’t see it. My eyes glanced over the image.
i agree with you. it’s almost (well this is extreme) like when they show nudity on the discovery channel / natgeo in tribes or in parts of africa.
what nipple? i see bones. too many bones.
It is a nipple and I came all over myself in the meanwhile.
has the author confirmed or denied this?
btw: happy new year, john!
p/s.: way to bring in the new year! i tease.
The girl in the picture doesn’t even have boobs so how can a nipple be poking out? Seriously, people need to get a life and stop fretting over the little things. *rollseyes*
Ugh, people are so overly prude when it comes to the human body. I am honestly really tired of it. I don’t think that’s a nipple, but even if it was it’s not inappropriate or “dirty” in the least. I am tired of people equating the naked body to being a dirty and indecent thing.
It reminds me of a Dear Abby column where this woman was appalled to find that her daughter slept in the nude and one reader replied with “I would like to challenge your readers to explain why the sight of a nude body is an object of fear and shame rather than of beauty and pride.”
I’d be more upset that girls have eating disorders than a photo like that on Xanga’s front page.
It’s become a very American problem to progressively sexualize everything in ways increasingly backwards — nude statues (it hasn’t been only Ashcroft demanding that they be covered up!), pictures of anyone showing too much skin no matter what the context, even pictures of small kids having an innocent time taking a bath or running nakie on a beach.
Heh. When I was in Europe, kids 3 or 4 and under were constantly running nakie on beaches (no, these weren’t nudist beaches) all over and no one sexualized that.
But that kind of behavior would inevitably be sexualized and criminalized here.
Pedophiles sexualize kids when they shouldn’t. That’s clearly unhealthy. Sick. So why is it politically correct to sexualize so much here…people, places and things that shouldn’t be sexualized…and to hell with context? And why is it not only okay to suffer this but allow the criminalization of what falls outside of this twisted sick “prudish” sexualization?
Religion. We’ve been allowing the enshrinement of a minority’s version of Judeo-Christian social-religious demoralizing “mores” for the sake of political power and control struggles few seem to be able to name, debate, and better keep in check.
Because Americans have become such slaves to things PC, unable to name the dire expense of this slavishness. To the PC Gods, we sacrifice not just freedom of expression in the spirit of “the least restrictive alternative” but educational exchanges and everything else that can go in the falling domino effect associated with crypto-theocracy.
The price is too high.
i don’t think so but it’s totally irrelevant.
I’m as much against Xanga becoming the latest spot for all your softcore needs, but I really don’t think that picture is stimulating anyone O.o
wow, to the people who brought this to your attention…i’m sorry, i didn’t notice the nipple. i noticed the words of the writer and the fact that the picture practically shows every bone in her body. i noticed the fact that she’s trying to overcome the disorder and not the fact that there might be a nipple…obviously, these people are looking for something wrong…not seeing the good in the post.
I don’t see anything “inappropriate” about this picture or this particular entry that you featured. It was well written and it showed it other side of Eating Disorders that we don’t often get to see.
And there’s no nipple showing either. Whoever was paying attention to the nipple thing clearly missed the point of the picture–the girl is practically skin and bones.
People who get upset about a nipple, and not the wrecked physical condition of this girl, need to get a heart…
Does it even matter?
A. Not sure about the nipple – though I can see the possibility.
B. Not inappropriate. I mean… jeez. Not even close.
I do see a nipple but I do think it’s an integral part of the post to show that picture… it is not offensive at all.
Yes it’s a nipple, but like the survivors of the concentration camps their naked bodies made the whole picture of their story without uttering a word. Same as this one.
It could be, but I did not notice it until it was pointed out. I doubt it would scar anyone for life, because it’s difficult to even tell it’s a female. My guideline is, “Is it something I would not want a child to ever see?” I don’t think it fits that guideline.
I didn’t even notice the nipple/whatever it could be until just now when it was pointed out. I bet a lot of others didn’t either.
Nipple or not, people need to see what eating disorders can do to one’s body.
if you didnt say anything about her thing showing .i wouldnt have noticed. i was just so into reading the entry. but who cares?
I see beyond that and instead see the bones of a blogger who has suffered a great deal of physical and mental pain.
Couldn’t care less, it’s clearly not inappropriate. That being said, I didn’t see it, noticed a few people point it out, STILL didn’t see it (I assumed they were referring to another commenter), and NOW I see what you’re referring to and… don’t think it is. Seems too high, particularly with her anorexia. I believe it would be a LOT lower. Doesn’t matter either way…
Oh, and I too am worried about her… it has been a long long time since that post…
Well, i think it’s her bra and i think the post is impactful and important and you were right to feature it.
I honestly don’t see it…
@moniet - Agreed.
I can’t see it though.
@CaKaLusa - I think you should grow up. This girl is battling a serious issue and literally starving to death. It’s incompetent fools like YOU that makes the world a sick sad place!!!!
@AnaModel_88 - the sarcasm gene must have never been passed down to you from your parents when you were born, huh? That’s a shame.
I really don’t know what it is. It’s similar in color to the clothing so it could be part of the clothing or part of the body. I don’t know.
But I think it was fine to feature it for the reason you stated.
I think the edge of the aeriola is showing, but since I’m not offended by human anatomy, it’s fine. People complain about too much stupid stuff.
There is no nipple.
No. I don’t think it’s inappropriate. I think it’s a very powerful post and I’m really touched that you featured it to get the word out. I struggled with bulimia for several years and am now in school to be a therapist to help girls with eating disorders. Her story was real, and very scary, but people need to be aware that people with anorexia aren’t stupid, they aren’t selfish, they are sick. Period.
So, thanks for helping others see the dangers of eating disorders.
Your first problem is that you’re not being belligerent. It’s way more fun.
Yes, I think it’s a nipple. No, I don’t think it’s there for sexual reasons.
However, it just seems very odd that someone would want to identify themselves — because, really, your avatar is your public face on Xanga — by their emaciated ribs and nipple.
On top of that, I can’t imagine ever wanting to display myself, my IDENTITY, day in and day out, by some horrible disease I had. If I had cancer for years, I wouldn’t be Laura, the Cancer Girl. I wouldn’t change my avatar into an MRI of my tumors or something. I’d be Laura, the girl who loves animals, people, books …. and happens to have cancer.
Maybe it’s “a part of her coping process.” I don’t know. I just don’t see how anyone could progress past a disease when they continue to adopt it as their visual identity.
And I do understand that my replies to her post were focused more on the nipple. I was wondering why no one else addressed it, since people tend to get up in arms about nudity … and I was merely (albeit impudently) wondering whether I was seeing something that wasn’t there. oops?
Long story short, it just seems very odd. Not ”wrong,” not immoral, just odd.
That’s all.
no, I don’t believe a nipple is showing and even if it were people shouldn’t be concerned about that…they should be concerned with the picture itself as a whole which I don’t think is inappropriate either because it’s displaying the truth and outcomes to a eating disorder which is a serious problem for many people
how long did the complainers have to stare at the picture to find an alleged nipple? I didn’t even notice until you pointed it out, and even then I had to stare at the photo for a while to find it. I guess if people want to complain, they will find anything to complain about.
if the complainers had else nothing to say about the post except to notice there’s part of an areola showing, then they have bigger issues in life.
Poor girl.
I’m not sure if it’s a nipple or not… even if it is, i don’t think it’s inappropriate at all.
I wouldn’t have noticed the nipple because I was too busy looking at her BONES sticking out! That’s scary and sad.
I don’t think it’s inappropriate, considering the entry and the purpose of it. I agree with you – it conveys the dangers of eating disorders.
Not inappropriate, not sexual at all. (Poor thing probably doesn’t even HAVE nipples, she’s so emaciated.) Eating disorders are terrible life-destroying diseases that we simply don’t understand if we haven’t been there. But I would hope we can all feel compassion for someone in this shape.
maybe a nipple.
not inappropriate.
pahleeeze people as if a male nipple is indifferent but a female one obscene.
Honestly I didnt notice the nipple* until you pointed it out
I just see how boney* she is
does it really matter??
So that’s actually a nipple? I had to call my mother and ask her if she sees any nipple ^_^; Well, anyway, no, I don’t think it’s inappropriate. It does not convey the message, “hey check out my titties!” Instead, this image conveys the message of malnutrition due to eating disorders (which is exactly what the blogger intended to do.)
So that’s actually a nipple? I had to call my mother and ask her if she sees any nipple ^_^; Well, anyway, no, I don’t think it’s inappropriate. It does not convey the message, “hey check out my titties!” Instead, this image conveys the message of malnutrition due to eating disorders (which is exactly what you intended to do.)
I don’t see a nipple. Besides people should not be attempting to look for that just because a picture shows her chest…. that’s NOT it’s purpose. What’s wrong with you perverse people? I mean, really?
Have some respect for this strong girl. It’s not easy having an eating disorder, letting alone sharing the facts, her personal experience as well as her own physical transformation the disease has cost her.
it could be a nipple, but it is definitely not inappropriate at all. people who think it is are beyond prude…
i think its shadow or soemthing, but im not sure, even if it is, it doesnt bother me at all. if thats what people care about, thats an even bigger problem.
there’s no nipple.
but i think i’m seeing a part of her areola.
and no, i don’t think it’s inappropriate. the context of the areola isn’t for sexual purposes; it’s highlighting this woman’s struggle. kinda like, if someone posted an interesting blog about breastfeeding, and had an image of her breastfeeding her baby, would you deem that photo as inappropriate? i think the debate should be whether the photo is correctly illustrating her issues, instead of worrying about whether a particular body part would be offensive or inappropriate. in fact, the only person who should be worried about it being offensive or inappropriate is the blogger herself. it’s HER areola.
if they are commenting about a nipple, i think they missed the entire point of the blog
and seriously, this is not the 19th century. it’s not even a big nipple, it’s moresoe what you see when a guy takes his shirt off…. no offense or anything, but that tends to happen when your body has wasted away….
the picture doesnt bother me as i dont see anything inappropriate in it. and the picture shows us how skinny she is because of the eating disorder.
That’s not a nipple.
@CaKaLusa - You know what your right it wasn’t passed down boo hoo too bad so sad, but atleast I will be remembered when I die.. unlike a useless jackass like you, who lacks the ability to bring honor to your family, yourself, and the world.
@AnaModel_88 - you sure people will remember you? that’s rather egotistical of you.
@AnaModel_88 - @CaKaLusa - Guys, please stop with the personal attacks (on each other, you can always attack me).
@john - <33 you, johnny baby.
I do not see a nipple and feel it was incredibly important and powerful to feature it. Great job on taking a strong stance on an important subject. This is why I love Xanga!
It is definitely a nipple, but there’s absolutely nothing sexual about it. It’s an appropriate picture given the topic.
I cannot see a nipple.
It isn’t sexualized, so it’s okay. It’s a true portrait of what happening. Her nipples appear to be the largest part of her body, so it puts her emaciation into a physical perspective.
it may be; or it could be a shadow.
i’m of the mind that no truth is ‘inappopriate’ and the truth of this photo is not the breast or lack thereof but the pain of having such a brutal disease.
So I came to this while back reading all of my old subs I have neglected. I second your two thoughts and add my own;
Really this is all they have in the whole site and world to complain about?!?!? I am flummoxed, flummoxed by such feigned puritanism.
The story and the message therein is what is important. Illustrating the ravages a disease is not inappropriate. Fight the fight and follow your heart man.
I don’t see anything. And I think you’re right, if it was there, it’s not a sexual image.
Now, if it was Pam Anderson, you’d have a problem.
I didn’t notice it until you pointed it out. I’m a conservative person and I feel that this is ok. If it is a nipple, I’m sure she noticed before posting the picture, and if she didn’t feel uncomfortable it, then I don’t see a problem. I am all for education, and I have no problem with a detailed drawing in an anatomy book of a sexual organ, much less a picture meant to educate on the dangers of eating disorders.
It’s a picture taken in 2007. I’m more interested in knowing how has she been doing in the past 2 years.
i don’t get why there is a stigma against showing nipples even in nonsexualized context, but it exists. did you hear about how recently facebook banned pictures of breastfeeding mothers?
It is a nipple, and it’s inappropriate.
I see her nipple but i dont think it inappropriate because she very sick and she needs help and you was just tell us about her.
Um. This comment will sound inappropriate, but I don’t think that a woman that tiny has nipples that big. And I had to strain to see what you were talking about. Have people not considered the possiblilty that what they are seeing is the top of a bra? And if it is a nipple, is not the bigger problem how starved she is?
People baffle me.
(And I am extremely late in commenting this post…)
I have no idea if it is or isn’t but find it bizarre that with that particular post, that’s what people focused on.
There’s no way that’s a nipple. It’s too high up. Totally a bruise.