Nudity and banner ads

Earlier today www.dailysydney.com had advertising from American Apparel which displayed a girl unzipping her top and baring her breasts. (screenshot) I promptly questioned @dailysydney and here are some screenshots, source code and links to the discussion I had with @jessnichols, @jymmysim.

(artr). @dailysydney I'm interested to know why there's naked women in your ads. accessible to minors and no warning for people in the workplace

(artr). @dailysydney anybody viewing your site in a public space could be liable for sexual harrasment.

(jessnichols) @artr i think its more their sponsor (american apparel) rather than @dailysydney - but agree it probably should be addressed

(jymmysim) RT @artr @dailysydney I'm interested to know why theres naked women in your ads accessible to minors and no warning for ppl in the workplace

(artr) . @jessnichols the img is hosted at macsmithms photobucket with the alt tag of "boob" @dailysydney has full knowledge what the nude pic is


<h2 class='title'>SPONSOR</h2>
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<a href="http://store.americanapparel.com.au/rsa8354.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="boob" src="http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i80/macsmithms/160x600_New_Zip_It_1.jpg"/></a>
</div>


(jessnichols) @artr yeah that's a completely different story then - but sexual harassment? really?

(jymmysim) . @artr @jessnichols You know @dailysydney may receive the content from their sponsors but don't have control to edit it.

(jessnichols) @jymmysim @artr yeah i think @dailysydney is prob has that constraint, but @americanapparel shld consider where the content is going anyway

(artr) @jessnichols it could be a simple issue of "don't do that again" but theoretically even bikini clad pictures can be a problem in a workplace

(jymmysim) . @artr @jessnichols So it may not be @dailysydney's doing, but @AmericaApparel's. @dailysydney can only host the content. not edit it.

(jessnichols) @artr but @ the same time youre going 2 a site for going out + partying so it could be questionable y youre going on a site like that @ work

(artr) @jessnichols lunchbreak, and if viewed in a public place (library, computer store, cafe, etc) it'd be highly questionable. (get kicked out)

@dailysydney finally replied, insulting me and @jymmysim

(dailysydney) Dear @jymmysim & @artr get a life... Dear @jessnichols we love u, u are wonderful x

The blogger, has taken the advice and removed all the advertising, but seems to have done so in disdain.

Reflecting upon the entire conversation now, It seems that my initial comment at dailysydney may have been a bit strong. Like a recording company sending a takedown letter to single internet user. However the point still stands that the images used are NSFW.

We see nudity used in magazines many times. Although the blog's audience seems to be focussed at young adults, it is very unsuspecting to see a nude image displayed in banner advertising. It'd be great to get some clarification from people in marketing and advertising as well. So I'd like to ask this question. To what extent should nude images be displayed in a semi-public space like a website, and should it be handled the same way as images in a magazine?

Okay the fact is that in the past I really don't think I had much to say to the world that it was important to publish that to a blog (who the hell would want to read it anyway). Few things have changed that though.

Alot of things have happened for me in the past few months. Earlier this year I threw myself at any opportunity had, and in some cases, I made my own opportunities. The result: A Co-Op scholarship with the UNSW BIT Program. Which brings me to my last point (the first point is coming next).

Anybody is capable of doing anything as long as they put their mind to it.

I talked my way into the Honours research preparation course, a course normally restricted to BIT scholars, and I also managed to attain the position of secretary in a student society where it was against the constitution for me to even be a member. For that I have my supportive friends at uni, my loving girlfriend for the inspiration, and the invisible structure that is my family.

So the initial point of this post was to announce my re-entry to blogging.

The inspirations for this is actually the combination of Twitter and Web Directions South. Thanks to @seancurtis for recommending me to WDS09 and also at $250 student price vs $1000 attending Web Directions South was a no brainer choice. Blasted with information I left with a stunned and inspired outlook. Most pertinently the main driver of blogging for me now, is expanding upon my 140 character tweets, that sow the seeds for greater and grander ideas.

So here we go, my tech and media based rants, raves, ramblings and reviews.

I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you all.

artr