Inappropriate Content
photo by Circe
I had planned on posting this outtake photo today of Rachel and Desiree along with ”Save the Date” information for the 2010 calendar release party here in NYC on November 6th. Instead I spent most of my morning working on finding a new company to print the 2010 calendar.
Yesterday when our designer contacted the US printer we had chosen he was questioned what the content of this calendar was because of the words “sex blogger” in the title of it. After a few phone calls and emails including sending all the calendar images to the printer for approval I was informed late yesterday that they would be unable to print our calendar for us due to the “inappropriate content” of the calendar.
You may wonder what it was that we had in the calendar this year that would have a printer turning down a job in this poor economy. Well it seems that two of our photos are showing nipple in them. Let me clarify that even further for you. They are showing female nipple because if it had been male nipple then that would have be perfectly acceptable.
During one of my conversations with this printer where I tried to explain artistic photography I also discussed that nowhere on their site was there any information indicating they had any type of content restrictions. It was then I was told that they do print some “adult” material such as flyer’s and advertising for the strip clubs in their area.
At this poinst I wondered why they had no problem printing materials for a business that was, well in the business of nudity but they would not print an artistic photo that showed nipple. I had also asked them if they would have an issue with printing logos on the calendar of any of our sponsors and was informed that wasn’t a problem at all. We can promote our sponsors who are in the adult industry on the calendar but just not with any nipple showing.
Last year we printed our calendar in China and this year had chosen to spend more money and print in the US never imagining we would have such an issue with printing in this country that was all triggered by the word “sex” in the title.
Lucky for us we had quotes from several other printers and upon contacting one this morning and forwarding the images to them they had absolutely no problem with the content of our calendar or printing it. Our designer is already in contact with them and we don’t expect any delays from switching printers.
We had been trying to pick a signature drink or two for the party this year. Slippery nipples were suggested this morning.
The NYC Sex Bloggers Calendar seeks to bring the sex-positive community together in a fun and interactive way that results in the funding of sex-positive organizations. We believe that sexual freedom is a basic human right and we hope that our calendar succeeds in spreading that idea far and wide.The benefactor chosen for 2011 is Woodhull Freedom Foundation - Affirming Sexual Freedom as a Fundamental Human
Right.
Comments
This is awesome. I’m never happier than when I’m involved in offending someone.
That is utter fucking bull-shit! Wow, this country and its ridiculousness just amazes me….
I think you should name the offended printer so that those of us that choose not to give our money to such businesses can be aware!
The idiocy of people will never cease to amaze and disappoint me. I’m just glad you found someone else. And I think Courts! above is right. Name names. Then we can all avoid them like the plague.
Wishing you lots of love,
Jenny Block
I’m all for naming and shaming. How ridiculous that this sort of thing still happens. Glad you got an alternative printer, though.
I hate hypocrites. Everyone has the right to their own standards and boundaries but if they’re willing to take money from strip clubs, nudity in person, they’ve totally blown any right to say they’re taking a high moral ground by saying no to printed nudity.
Luckily we live in a country where we’re as free to take our business elsewhere as they are to refuse our business.
A few years ago, I ordered pencils from Oriental Trading company. I had some made with Thomas Roche’s website and another with TinyNibbles.com for Violet.
Oriental Trading Company refused to print the Tiny Nibbles URL on a pencil. Due to inappropriate content. The content was:
http://tinynibbles.com
Someone at OTC went and checked the site and refused to print it.
I still think this is bizarre. There are no dirty words in the URL. A worker at OTC wouldn’t have to go check the site if he/she didn’t want to. How would workers be harmed?
So I went with another company instead:
http://www.explicitlyyourspencils.com/
XXX,
Alison
Oh MAN! Just caught this update. GRRRRR! GODAMMIT what is with Americans and the female nipple??? I feel like cutting holes in all my shirts so they stick out ALL THE TIME.
It’s ART, PEOPLE. IT’S A BEAUTIFUL THING.
I was so glad you were able to print the calendar in USA, did not expect this bump in the road from our free country.
They should be ashamed of themselves!!!
PS: Lucy Vonne is going to be featured on my site tomorrow as a YATBK! xoxo
How can anyone be surprised by this? It’s the United States. We are THE most prudish country in the entire world. In Europe, wrinkly old women with boobs down to their knees prance around on the beach nakey and no one thinks twice about it. Here, one sliver of nipple causes a huge uproar. If the statue of David were at the Met it would be covered by a pair of boxer shorts because a jock strap might be too lascivious.
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