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Apple removes "Gay Cure" app from iTunes

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Re: Apple removes "Gay Cure" app from iTunes

#21

Post by Confusion »

photophotoplasm wrote: post #5

It didn't deserve to be removed in my opinion. It wasn't hurting anyone by being there. That being said, I can understand why Apple did remove it, because it doesn't make any business sense to enter a PR war over the relatively miniscule amount of profit they'd make from this app.

"you can't cure gayness"

"of course you can, otherwise Apple wouldn't have approved an app that does it"

'Apple' is a name that carries authority and that can be used to lend credence to misinformation. That definitely does hurt people. Read the above as the last thing a father said to his gay son. If banning this app prevents even one tragedy, then good riddance. There are no disadvantages to applauding Apple for removing this app.

Re: Apple removes "Gay Cure" app from iTunes

#22

Post by corin_ »

A part of me does support totally free speech, but the other part of me is what made me one of the demonstrators against the Oxford Union when they had invited David Irving and Nick Griffin, and also that made me be one of the many people who emailed Apple (or, more specifically, Jobs) to complain about this app.

Re: Apple removes "Gay Cure" app from iTunes

#23

Post by megablast »

corin_ wrote: post #22

A part of me does support totally free speech, but the other part of me is what made me one of the demonstrators against the Oxford Union when they had invited David Irving and Nick Griffin, and also that made me be one of the many people who emailed Apple (or, more specifically, Jobs) to complain about this app.

Most of us feel the same way, but surely free speech is so much more important than these other issues.

Re: Apple removes "Gay Cure" app from iTunes

#24

Post by tosiabunio »

davvid wrote: post #10
photophotoplasm wrote: post #5

It didn't deserve to be removed in my opinion. It wasn't hurting anyone by being there. That being said, I can understand why Apple did remove it, because it doesn't make any business sense to enter a PR war over the relatively miniscule amount of profit they'd make from this app.

> It wasn't hurting anyone by being there I have to respectfully disagree. I'm glad they got rid of this stupid app. It's simply hate sugar-coated with psuedo-science. Apple made the right decision. "app store removes questionable content" -- How is this news? It's not like the app store is known for being a "free" or "open" platform in the first place.

> It's simply hate sugar-coated with psuedo-science. Apple made the right decision.

Shouldn't Apple remove all astrology apps then?

Re: Apple removes "Gay Cure" app from iTunes

#25

Post by corin_ »

megablast wrote: post #23
corin_ wrote: post #22

A part of me does support totally free speech, but the other part of me is what made me one of the demonstrators against the Oxford Union when they had invited David Irving and Nick Griffin, and also that made me be one of the many people who emailed Apple (or, more specifically, Jobs) to complain about this app.

Most of us feel the same way, but surely free speech is so much more important than these other issues.

I've tried to have that debate between my two opinions so many times, but haven't managed to find a way to be OK with people who are racist or homophobic.

I'd still defend the right to call me stupid, to call all British people stupid (my country), and many other things. But some hatred goes too far over the line for me to not want to try and prevent.

I'm not particularly up on legal systems, but I believe that in both the US and the UK the law is with me, to an extent at least - while freedom of speech is promised, there are also laws against types of "hate speech"?

Plus, freedom of speech says that they should be able to have that opinion and to say that opinion, not that they have the right to have third parties promote that opinion. Extending that is why I had the right to complain to Apple, and, while their removing the app isn't exactly a case of "free speech", it is a case of them being able to chose what their company sells based on moral choices.

Re: Apple removes "Gay Cure" app from iTunes

#27

Post by henrikschroder »

bad_user wrote: post #18
CaptainZapp wrote: post #11

This app may or may not be offensive. Personally (being straight) I find the idea of a "gay cure app" or "gay cure seminars" or "gay cure exorcism" despicable and repulsive. That said, I don't believe an app shall be removed because it may be deemed offensive (by whatever standards). Or as Voltaire put it: "I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend to the death your right to say it."

Yes, but you know what's worse than removing "offensive" apps? Being selective about it. Or rather, if you make it your missing to ban "offensive" apps and a "gay cure app" gets approved, then you look like an ass.

That makes no sense, "offensive" is an arbitrary standard anyway. By definition you're being selective about it.

I guess in this case Apple's standard is that they remove apps that are offensive to their shareholders and customers.

Re: Apple removes "Gay Cure" app from iTunes

#28

Post by tallanvor »

MarkSimpson wrote: post #7
photophotoplasm wrote: post #5

It didn't deserve to be removed in my opinion. It wasn't hurting anyone by being there. That being said, I can understand why Apple did remove it, because it doesn't make any business sense to enter a PR war over the relatively miniscule amount of profit they'd make from this app.

Why are people downvoting this? I'm not saying it should necessarily be upvoted or anything, I'm just wondering what part of it people are taking exception to.

I downvoted because the statement "It wasn't hurting anyone by being there" is wrong. Organizations and programs that advocate the ability to cure homosexuality are responsible for a lot of harm to individuals who are either forced into their programs or go to them willingly because they think something is wrong with them. These programs have caused or contributed to suicides among the LGBT community, so to say they aren't hurting anyone is just wrong.

this article mentions this: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/12/nyregion/12group.html?_r=3...

Re: Apple removes "Gay Cure" app from iTunes

#30

Post by stretchwithme »

CaptainZapp wrote: post #11

This app may or may not be offensive. Personally (being straight) I find the idea of a "gay cure app" or "gay cure seminars" or "gay cure exorcism" despicable and repulsive. That said, I don't believe an app shall be removed because it may be deemed offensive (by whatever standards). Or as Voltaire put it: "I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend to the death your right to say it."

except that this is a privately owned app store. I defend Apple's right to exercise its property rights.

But not to the death. I'm busy that week.

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