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Jun. 1st, 2006 11:11 amMmm...tempting...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Lindsay Hoppe
http://breastfeedingisnormal.org
lindsayhoppe@breastfeedingisnormal.org
707-539-1825
'Lactivists' Plan Protest at Blogging Company Headquaters
Wednesday, May 31, 2006 - Women on the popular blog site LiveJournal.com are calling foul at the company’s decision to brand images of breastfeeding as ‘inappropriate'. Users of the site have urged LiveJournal’s parent company Six Apart to address their concerns and reevaluate the policy. The company refuses to consider modifying their policy and continues to suspend users whose default icons were deemed inappropriate, even though SixApart has asked the letter writing campaign to cease. Over one thousand complaints about LiveJournal's policy were sent by users of the site and supporters. LiveJournal stated a clarified rule, mothers are still reporting major inconsistencies in its application. A nurse in is planned to take place at Six Apart’s US Headquarters, located at 548 4th Street, San Francisco, CA. The event is planned for 12 pm on Monday, June 5th. The activists encourage nursing mothers and supporters to join in the protest.
Userpics are small icons (pictures) no more than 100 by 100 pixels. They are used to represent Livejournal.com members throughout the site. LiveJournal allows users to define one of these icons as "default icon" -- a setting that automatically plugs the icon into the user's public profile. These default icons were originally not permitted to be ‘sexually explicit or graphically violent.’ When asked for claification, LiveJournal changed its FAQ section to state nudity and continued to suspend users with breastfeeding icons.
Claimed Live Journal Abuse Staffer 'Erin' in a post on the site, "That's really a matter for the FCC to decide. The standard for the FCC is that bottle nipples are a-okay." These statements, however, are false. The FCC does not consider the act of breastfeeding on television to fall under the definitions of indecency or obscenity and therefore would be appropriate for any television programs or movies. Nursing photos not showing visible areola are considered acceptable on LiveJournal. Whether or not areola is visible is dependant on a number of factors, including skin tone of the mother and physical changes undergone during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding is exempt from nudity laws throughout the United States, but more notably in California where the SixApart offices are located. Advocates are urging LiveJournal to adopt the same national criteria." "It is regrettable that LiveJournal has chosen to target breastfeeding mothers instead of standing up for the protection provided them by law." says Carrie Patterson, Executive Director of ProMom.org, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing public awareness and public acceptance of breastfeeding. Advocates state that the feeling that breastfeeding should be hidden only fosters the idea that the natural act of nourishing a child is scandalous.
Breastfeeding bloggers who have refused to change their default icon have been suspended from the site. These users, as well as others questioning the policy, have been treated poorly by the site’s volunteer abuse team, something that is not unusual according to other bloggers on the site. For more information on the Nurse In, please contact Lindsay Hoppe: lindsayhoppe@breastfeedingisnormal.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Lindsay Hoppe
http://breastfeedingisnormal.org
lindsayhoppe@breastfeedingisnormal.org
707-539-1825
'Lactivists' Plan Protest at Blogging Company Headquaters
Wednesday, May 31, 2006 - Women on the popular blog site LiveJournal.com are calling foul at the company’s decision to brand images of breastfeeding as ‘inappropriate'. Users of the site have urged LiveJournal’s parent company Six Apart to address their concerns and reevaluate the policy. The company refuses to consider modifying their policy and continues to suspend users whose default icons were deemed inappropriate, even though SixApart has asked the letter writing campaign to cease. Over one thousand complaints about LiveJournal's policy were sent by users of the site and supporters. LiveJournal stated a clarified rule, mothers are still reporting major inconsistencies in its application. A nurse in is planned to take place at Six Apart’s US Headquarters, located at 548 4th Street, San Francisco, CA. The event is planned for 12 pm on Monday, June 5th. The activists encourage nursing mothers and supporters to join in the protest.
Userpics are small icons (pictures) no more than 100 by 100 pixels. They are used to represent Livejournal.com members throughout the site. LiveJournal allows users to define one of these icons as "default icon" -- a setting that automatically plugs the icon into the user's public profile. These default icons were originally not permitted to be ‘sexually explicit or graphically violent.’ When asked for claification, LiveJournal changed its FAQ section to state nudity and continued to suspend users with breastfeeding icons.
Claimed Live Journal Abuse Staffer 'Erin' in a post on the site, "That's really a matter for the FCC to decide. The standard for the FCC is that bottle nipples are a-okay." These statements, however, are false. The FCC does not consider the act of breastfeeding on television to fall under the definitions of indecency or obscenity and therefore would be appropriate for any television programs or movies. Nursing photos not showing visible areola are considered acceptable on LiveJournal. Whether or not areola is visible is dependant on a number of factors, including skin tone of the mother and physical changes undergone during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding is exempt from nudity laws throughout the United States, but more notably in California where the SixApart offices are located. Advocates are urging LiveJournal to adopt the same national criteria." "It is regrettable that LiveJournal has chosen to target breastfeeding mothers instead of standing up for the protection provided them by law." says Carrie Patterson, Executive Director of ProMom.org, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing public awareness and public acceptance of breastfeeding. Advocates state that the feeling that breastfeeding should be hidden only fosters the idea that the natural act of nourishing a child is scandalous.
Breastfeeding bloggers who have refused to change their default icon have been suspended from the site. These users, as well as others questioning the policy, have been treated poorly by the site’s volunteer abuse team, something that is not unusual according to other bloggers on the site. For more information on the Nurse In, please contact Lindsay Hoppe: lindsayhoppe@breastfeedingisnormal.org
