Now Facebook is telling people that W Magazine’s post is being removed, when it really isn’t. Plus, a fellow artist put me on blast because she couldn’t see past the end of her own nose. The fight continues…
After I posted the blog last night and shared it to social media, I had several people inform me that they had reported The Teigen Image and that Facebook removed it.
Naturally, I found this surprising. But lo and behold, some people sent me screen caps. They received notifications via both Facebook and email.
Must be official, right?
Nope. Not really.
The post is still there. Don’t believe me? Check it out: https://www.facebook.com/wmagazine/posts/10157235816425004
(BUT don’t consider this a battle cry to go and keep reporting the post! I’ll explain why I am saying this later in this post.)
So what is this about? Facebook is now lying to people to get the heat off? Do they really think that we’re stupid enough not to check? I guess so.
I’m glad, though, that they’ve done this. It’s just one more piece of evidence. And if you fully understand what I am implying by using that last adjective, then you get extra points for the day…
Just Dig A Deeper Hole, Facebook!
Now, onto the next matter.
This afternoon, another photographer/model put me on blast for reporting W Magazine’s image, accusing me of perpetuating the cycle of censorship and not doing anything to help. She made a blog post on her website (“inspired” by mine) and we had quite the argument on one of the many social shares of my previous post.
She could not see past the fact that I had reported an image. Sparing you the details of her diatribe against me, which were mostly baseless and included the most effective way to argue–name calling–she did say one thing that I do feel that I need to clarify.
It was not my goal to “rally the troops” to go and report the image. I did not intend to imply in any way that additional people should report W Magazine’s image.
Because I know that wouldn’t have done any good anyway. I already reported it, along with 7 others (that I know about), and it wasn’t removed. What difference would it make if the thousands of people who read Exposing Facebook’s Double Standard (NSFW) reported it? It still wouldn’t have been taken down.
Furthermore, what I said at the end of the post should have been clear. I didn’t have a problem with the image, nor one with W Magazine. I had a problem with the double standard, and I, like the 7 others I knew of that reported it, wanted to prove a point. And for me, it turned into an evidence gathering mission (hence all the screen caps).
I will admit, sincerely, that I was a little unclear–and angry–when I wrote the last post. “If I can’t, you can’t,” when taken literally, is pretty childish, as my accuser charged. So, for all those in the room who may have failed to take that phrase in its proper context, allow me to explain:
My goal is not to bring any “harm” to W Magazine. I don’t even want the post removed. I knew, when I reported it, that it wouldn’t be removed, and probably wouldn’t have reported it had I not been so confident. I reported the image in order to use Facebook’s own weapon against it: reporting. Sort of like asymmetric warfare, because that is the only way a little insignificant person like myself can fight the corporate machine.What’s angered me, and should anger all of you, is that Facebook is intentionally allowing them to post the content, while turning around and restricting us, the artists.
My animosity is directed at Facebook.
Finally, the people who consider my work pornographic are going to consider something of the same style that happens to be in W or Elle as pornographic as well. If you think otherwise, you do not understand the mentality of people who consider nude art to be porn.
W Magazine’s share was not a turning point in the normalization of nude art. I wish it was.
I’m done here. Have a good night.