I owe Flickr for getting me some attention and tons of viewers and allowing me to pay $25/year to store my photos there. But today, I have had enough.
This is absolutely inane. Look at what I got today:
We’ve placed your account under the category “public”/”restricted”. You’re welcome and encouraged to moderate your content on a photo by photo level, while keeping our Community Guidelines and FAQ for content filters in mind.
Your account has been classified as “restricted” by the Flickr team given the sexualized nature of the content in your photostream.
Kind Regards, -Terrence
First of, NO I cannot “moderate my content on a photo by photo level.” Apparently when an entire account is marked restricted, you are not allowed the option to change any of the flags on your photos. The “safe” and “moderate” radio buttons are grayed out so you can’t use them. So that doesn’t really work, does it?
Second of all, every photo I have of a human being is taken IN PUBLIC. So please tell me how this applies: Restricted – This is content you probably wouldn’t show to your mum, and definitely shouldn’t be seen by kids. Guess what guys. My “mum” sees these people on the street. So do their mums. So do their dads. And so do their kids. Are you telling me the stuff I see every day in the shopping mall should be hidden from my mother?
Dear lord. So I get this: My account has been reviewed as unsafe. What does that mean? An “unsafe” account is something we think of as a loose cannon. It’s not clear to us that you’re moderating your own content at all, or if you are, you’re not bearing in mind that there are other people using Flickr and that it’s up to you to not be overtly offensive.
Okay, you’re right. I am not moderating my content AT ALL.
A loose canon,
Malingering
Briefly, I thought it was over. My account had been marked “safe.” Just as I was feeling better, I found this:
IT IS NOT OVER
It appears my whole Ridiculous Los Angeles set is not available for public view (at least when I log out, I can’t see it).
Other sets not available for public view:
Some is flagging my former explore photos. Please tell me how this is “restricted.” It was #1 in Explore on that day for a YEAR (if it were so offensive, why did it stay there?). www.flickr.com/photos/malingering/152506055/
There are about 15 more restricted photos which were former Explore photos: all have the following message on them.
This image was moderated as RESTRICTED, PHOTO by Flickr Staff.
(see page 2 of the comments for the dirtiness which Flickr must restrict)
Anyway, photo taking has become a compulsion for me now and I simply cannot stop, but Flickr’s censorship is getting out of hand. So I am going to try some new methods and work on this blog for now.
Also look for my write-ups on www.LAist.com
http://www.laist.com/2007/05/11/caught_between_a_rock_and_a_breast_implant.php http://www.laist.com/2007/05/04/yes_i_am_the_muffin_man.php http://www.laist.com/archives/2007/04/26/ugg_enough.php http://www.laist.com/archives/2007/04/17/american_girls_gone_wild.php http://www.laist.com/archives/2007/04/19/root_root_root_for_the_away_team.php http://www.laist.com/archives/2007/04/23/dodger_stadium_doesnt_like_me.php
May 18th, 2007 - 3:32 pm
I don’t know if it means anything or is helpful, but I can see all of those sets that you linked to. Am I misunderstanding something?
May 18th, 2007 - 4:19 pm
My guess is anyone who is a contact of Malingering’s can see her pics, but anyone else can’t.
BTW, some other recent Flickr drama here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/500072393/
May 19th, 2007 - 1:03 pm
sexualized? hahahaha
May 19th, 2007 - 10:38 pm
I can see all of the sets, too. And (no offense, but) I had never heard of Malingering before this. Admittedly, I am not an expert on how Flickr works, but it looks like those particular sets are still available to the browsing/surfing public.
May 20th, 2007 - 11:37 am
Yeah, you have to read the update post. They un-censored me after all of the bloggers spoke out.
June 21st, 2007 - 11:05 am
I can see all of the pictures AND i’m from germany (but i also have a us-yahoo account afaik)
March 11th, 2009 - 12:48 pm
I was threatened by this Terrence twice already on my 2 flickr accounts, turned them restricted and unsafe. This guy should be fired!
June 2nd, 2009 - 7:04 pm
FLICKR RUNS A CALCULATED POLICY OF FRAUD!. You will notice that almost all unjustified tampering is carried out within 36 hours of the member paying up his Pro account. A coincidence would be a several million to one chance.
Their criminality does not end there. They harbour doscriminatory staff. I am convinced I was targetted by Terrence Philben (Flickr) for especially nasty treatment because I am disabled. Virtually everybody I have copied in on the thread of corresponsdence between this moderator and myself is of the same opinion. A completely unique disability is all that differentiates me from all other Flickr members. Heather and her cronies are sheltering him. Why did I bother coming out about my difference just for a discriminatory sociopath to set my esteem back years? I am truly hurt.
I have always had courteous, understanding service from Yahoo, who own Flickr, so I have referred it to them at CEO level. However I am not optimistic.
The trouble is that all the closet Klansmen alive are hiding out among ther realms of internet moderators.
Hugs, Will
July 20th, 2009 - 5:58 pm
I was targeted last week and I had to take down all my people shots because otherwise Terrence was going to completely suspend my account … and these were just pictures of shirtless guys on the street or in the park. They also told me that pictures of tight clothing, underwear or swimwear should be restricted. I’m very bitter about it and I really hate Flickr now … I’m searching for another alternative.
July 20th, 2009 - 7:13 pm
Really? What’s your account?
September 27th, 2009 - 1:38 pm
You are not alone. Read more about my war with Terrence here:
http://douchebagorno.blogspot.com/2009/09/flickrs-admins-are-douchebags.html