Should nudes be allowed in Portrait threads?

[sanking]

Interesting thread, but nothing more from me for a while. Have a long plane ride I have to get ready for early tomorrow morning.

I don't anticipate seeing any nudity at the TSA check points and boarding, and probably not in flight.

Sandy

[Brian Sims]

When this thread was relatively new, I didn't vote yes or no. I recommended that there was ambiguity about what constituted nudity and so we should all use common sense and sensitivity to others in deciding whether to post to any thread an image that contained a nude or partially nude human figure.

Having followed this thread since my posting, I am now voting "No."

It appears that a significant portion of this online community must have the strong guidance of firm (even if they are arbitrary) rules. Does this say something about the demographics of this community? The stubbornness of large format photographers? Or does it say something about our behavior under the protection of the anonymity or semi-anonymity of an online community? I don't know. Maybe some of each. But I find it depressing.

[polyglot]

I don't anticipate seeing any nudity at the TSA check points and boarding, and probably not in flight.

Yeah, about that...

[soeren]

When this thread was relatively new, I didn't vote yes or no. I recommended that there was ambiguity about what constituted nudity and so we should all use common sense and sensitivity to others in deciding whether to post to any thread an image that contained a nude or partially nude human figure.

Having followed this thread since my posting, I am now voting "No."

It appears that a significant portion of this online community must have the strong guidance of firm (even if they are arbitrary) rules. Does this say something about the demographics of this community? The stubbornness of large format photographers? Or does it say something about our behavior under the protection of the anonymity or semi-anonymity of an online community? I don't know. Maybe some of each. But I find it depressing.

?? Strong guidance? why? please elaborate. I woted yes because I find the arguments for excluding images portraiting a subject in the nude from the thread that the poster find to be the most apropiate on the basis of such being NSFW wrong.
1. restricting the the subject matter on the basis of clothing vs no clothing in a portrait-, Alternative techniques-, Pictorialism or any other thread will cause less flow, some pics will not be posted because the poster don't find the nude thread apropiate and discussion on the said subjects will be drawn into the nude thread where information will be lost among all the other stuff.
2. The Courtesy argument about those browsing this fora at work or in public is to me like you asking me to protect you from accidentally causing offense to a third person. A bit odd to me.
3.Taken to the exrtreme if we should conform to how all the most sensitive people in the world feel there wouldnt be much left to photograph.
I see no need to restrict posting of pics but maybe some should take up their internet use to revision if the live places where simple nudity displayed on a PC is a problem. This is a strictly moderated forum allready and on the basis on whats possible on other foras I think we need to lighten up a bit.
Best regards

[DerIkonograph]

After reading through this thread, trying to understand the point of view of the people who have concerns about nudes in the portrait thread, I'm a bit shocked by the tone of the argumentation.
Most people are mixing two different facts.
Even if everybody will post in the nudes thread, the whole forum will be rated 'sometimes pornographic content', because of there is a nude thread.

It seems to me those guys, talking of 'polluted with nudity' and 'cleaning', would gladly erase the nude thread too.

I'm new to the large format photograpy forum and to LF, not to photography, art and the web.
I post on different platforms, different styles of photography and was glad to have discovered this place, to find technical and photographic inspiration as well.
Started to post my first alternative process shots and was thinking of sharing more of my views.

Now I feel more than uncomfortable, knowing 50% might evaluate my photos in terms of their interpretation of morals.

So, sad to say, I will stop sharing pics and only stay in technical discussions.

[rdenney]

What is clear to me is that rational discussion of this topic is elusive, and that some who espouse respect for the situations in which others find themselves still struggle to put themselves in and understand those situations. I think we have heard all there is to hear, so I'm closing the thread. Thank you for your feedback.

Rick "closing the thread" Denney

[Ken Lee]

Now I feel more than uncomfortable, knowing 50% might evaluate my photos in terms of their interpretation of morals.

What we see here (as with all surveys) is not 50% of forum members, but 50% of a small number of members who saw the thread, and felt strongly enough to reply.

Nudes have appeared on the forum in a variety of locations for many years - with little incident. This poll was started out of courtesy to a member who was merely wanting to know where the nudes were, so he would not find them by surprise while showing the forum to children. The conversation which ensued, has explored the issue from a much broader perspective, and therefore got people into areas of strong feelings and beliefs.

Not surprisingly, a small number of members have strong opinions. A small percentage of them are probably better photographers than writers, and struggle to express themselves without being discourteous.

So if you look at the forum in general, you'll see that 99.99% of members and discussions are cheerful and friendly, with little controversy. Don't let a few eccentric members prevent you from sharing.