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IKamasutra: Apple Hates Brunettes

ikamasutra.com

21–30 of 170 posts

Re: IKamasutra: Apple Hates Brunettes

#21

Sergey said that Apple and Facebook are a threat to freedom on the web, but I submit that commercial 'app stores' like Google Play and Apple's AppStore are the real threat. They have all the control and solely get to decide what is acceptable or not (while reserving the right to change their mind later). Google Play won't even let you rent a video from the store if it detects your phone has been rooted. This sucks. W…

I disagree regarding Google Play. Appstore is a threat because if you want software on your Apple phone then it is the only legal method. But with Android you can install software from any app store you like, or directly. Google provide an app store as a service, but it's only one of many.

Yes the fact that you can add extra apps is better than the 'our way or the highway' approach of the apple app store, but defaults matter. 99% of people think the play store/app store/android market is the only way to do it. You remove it from there, it's gone.

Re: IKamasutra: Apple Hates Brunettes

#22

The trouble is that the guidelines aren't black and white. They are somewhat grey. This means that 2 reviews will rarely result in the same action. I would argue the Kama Sutra is both historical and educational and not sexually explicit at all. Perhaps a celebration of human bodies even, I don't know. It seems though that Apple particularly feel that its customers require a squeaky clean filter to assess everything…

I would argue the Kama Sutra is both historical and educational and not sexually explicit at all. Perhaps a celebration of human bodies even, I don't know.

The problem is that there is no one objective definition of seuxality explicit. "I'll know it when I see it" is almost as good as you can get.

Re: IKamasutra: Apple Hates Brunettes

#23

Sergey said that Apple and Facebook are a threat to freedom on the web, but I submit that commercial 'app stores' like Google Play and Apple's AppStore are the real threat. They have all the control and solely get to decide what is acceptable or not (while reserving the right to change their mind later). Google Play won't even let you rent a video from the store if it detects your phone has been rooted. This sucks. W…

I disagree regarding Google Play. Appstore is a threat because if you want software on your Apple phone then it is the only legal method. But with Android you can install software from any app store you like, or directly. Google provide an app store as a service, but it's only one of many.

Until your carrier decides you don't need the ability to install non-market apps and disables the option. Oh, and the phone in question is not yet rooted. This is a matter of time if it isn't already happening. Google can do the open and free dance all it wants but with the carriers standing between you and Google...

Re: IKamasutra: Apple Hates Brunettes

#24
post #13
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let me try: your parents are paying for your iPhone and they don't want you to have a Kama Sutra app :)

So, let me try to figure this out: Kama Sutra - not ok. Killing people app[1] - ok. ??? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8gAdb2N7Po

This is not a new problem in US entertainment and media. Compare the behavior of Apple with the MPAA ratings board which treats violence and sex in a similar manner, rating films which depict violence with an "R" while effectively censoring films with certain kinds of sex scenes with "NC-17" ratings (in case you aren't familiar: films rated "R" will be shown in most movie theaters but many if not most theaters choose not to show "NC-17" films). See the documentary "This Film Is Not Yet Rated" for more.

I have no idea where this comes from, if it stems from some kind of deep rooted puritanical culture, but it's not exactly unique to Apple's app store.

Re: IKamasutra: Apple Hates Brunettes

#25
post #13
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let me try: your parents are paying for your iPhone and they don't want you to have a Kama Sutra app :)

So, let me try to figure this out: Kama Sutra - not ok. Killing people app[1] - ok. ??? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8gAdb2N7Po

I still cannot wrap my head around this. My brain just switches off when I try to think how did we come to this when nudity (and of course sex) is taboo, but killing people is OK. The fact that I don't even see any discussions about this baffles me even more.

Re: IKamasutra: Apple Hates Brunettes

#26
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But why? WHY? What harm could come from app like this? Please, assume that I'm 12 years old, and try to explain.

Here's an explanation I would offer to a 12-year old to explain Apple's decision, but please bear in mind that it doesn't mean I agree with it: There are many people in the world who use technology, but are offended by even the slightest sexual material. They might not have reasons for it that you and I would agree with, but that's beside the point. The point is that they can get very loud and insistent and they migh…

[deleted]

Re: IKamasutra: Apple Hates Brunettes

#27
A friend of mine that used to work at iTunes tells me that Apple always keep the front page of their stores completely 'family friendly'. Maybe this mentality is starting to filter down past the front page and result in a knee-jerk rejection of anything vaguely adult.

Re: IKamasutra: Apple Hates Brunettes

#28
post #6
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple has consistently proven that they want the App Store to be squeaky Disney family clean. So the fact that some apps went through the cracks was pure luck.

But why? WHY? What harm could come from app like this? Please, assume that I'm 12 years old, and try to explain.

Some people do not like sex, and do not like people enjoying sex, and do not want to "promote" (i.e. talk about) sex.

Ergo anything that implies that normal people can be healthy and happy and want to have sex threatens this world-view.

Re: IKamasutra: Apple Hates Brunettes

#29

The fact that this happened on both the App store, and Google Play almost simultaneously raises the suspicion that one of the less reputable competitors lodged some kind of complaint.

Very possibly. It could also be that someone at Google is watching what gets taken down from the app store an following suit.

Re: IKamasutra: Apple Hates Brunettes

#30
I hope that Steve Jobs, who happily credited himself as an openly adherent member and ambassador of the counterculture that fought for ideas like this to be acceptable in a then over-conservative society, is rightfully turning in his grave.
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