Pornography -- The Difference Being a Parent Makes

[FlaGator]

The exchange between Steve Jobs and Ryan Tate on the lack of availability of porn in the Apple iStore says a lot about the argument of one group pushing their morality on another.

Political scientists and sociologists long ago came to the realization that one of the most significant indicators of political behavior is parenthood. Those who bear responsibility to raise children look at the world differently from those who do not. In fact, parenthood may be the most easily identifiable predictor of an individual's position on an entire range of issues.

Now, along comes Steve Jobs to prove the point. Jobs, the Maestro of Cool at Apple, recently engaged in a most interesting email exchange with Ryan Tate, who writes the "Valleywag" blog for the gossip Web site, Gawker.

On his initial email to Steve Jobs, Tate complained about what he described as a lack of freedom in Apple's approach to the approval of products for its "App Store" for iPods, the iPhone, and the iPad. "If Dylan was 20 today, how would he feel about your company?," Tate asked. "Would he think the iPad had the faintest thing to do with ‘revolution?' Revolutions are about freedom."

Apparently, Tate was upset about some of the restrictions put in place by Apple. Among those restrictions is a ban on pornography.

Steve Jobs threw Ryan Tate's definition of freedom right back at him. Is Apple about freedom? "Yep," said Jobs, "freedom from programs that steal your private data.

Freedom from programs that trash your battery. Freedom from porn. Yep, freedom. The times they are a changin'."

One of the interesting dimensions of Steve Jobs' leadership at Apple is his habit of answering selected emails personally. It appears that Ryan Tate's complaint got under Jobs' skin. It is even more apparent that Jobs' response irritated Ryan Tate.

"I don't want freedom from porn," Tate asserted. "Porn is just fine." Jobs sent back a remarkably insightful retort, informing Ryan Tate that he "might care more about porn when you have kids." Tate wasn't conceding his case, however, acknowledging that he might "sound bitter," by complaining that Jobs is "imposing his morality about porn."

There are several startling aspects of this exchange. When was the last time we saw a major American business leader take the lead to point to porn as something from which we should seek to be free?

Steve Jobs is a businessman of unquestioned ability, a technological wizard, and one of the greatest orchestrators of "cool" in world history. Nevertheless, he has not been known as a critic of pornography . . . until now.

Whole story is here

[Gingersnap]

There are interesting twists to the exchange between Tate and Jobs. Tate actually accuses Jobs of imposing his own morality on the App Store (as if the contrary decision would not be just a reverse form of imposing morality). Felten also wonders if Jobs' statements indicate that at least some sectors of the creative classes are turning cold to pornography as such a dominant influence. "Could it be," he asks, "that the tide has begun to turn against pornography, and not because of any moral awakening, but just as a matter of taste and style?"

I think it's interesting that porn could be excluded from arena based on "taste and style" but not for any moral qualms.

As a woman and a Christian, I really prefer a porn-free environment. Parents usually prefer porn-free environments. There are probably many groups who would prefer that.

[FlaGator]

I think it's interesting that porn could be excluded from arena based on "taste and style" but not for any moral qualms.

As a woman and a Christian, I really prefer a porn-free environment. Parents usually prefer porn-free environments. There are probably many groups who would prefer that.

I was thinking that if Mr. Tate uses his iPhone and iPad to view porn he probably should purchase the extended warranty. :D

[Gingersnap]

I was thinking that if Mr. Tate uses his iPhone and iPad to view porn he probably should purchase the extended warranty. :D

You have to wonder about that. I mean, what does it say about you if you can't get through your normal day without using porn-on-the-go?

[FlaGator]

You have to wonder about that. I mean, what does it say about you if you can't get through your normal day without using porn-on-the-go?

Perhaps he should hang out with Tiger and get some tips on dealing with a sex addiction. At least Tiger gets reall girls. :D

[wilbur]

Steve Jobs isnt the first here - cell phone companies have had a prohibition on porno from day one in their walled gardens (which mostly don't exist now) as well as for any of their value added services based on sms texting and billing - at least in the US. The US porn industry has been chomping at the bits to be able to bill for services using sms for a long time too.

In Europe, its anything goes.

[warpig]

If there is a magazine store that sells regular mags and next to it is a store that sells porn, you can make your choice to which store you can shop at. If you buy an IPod and they make it know that you cannot get porn when you buy it, you can make an informed choice whether or not to proceed with you purchase.
It how ever is not the responsibility of the make to provide you with all access pass. If they want to set limits on what their product can do, they have that right.
If the guy wants his money back....give it to him.

[malloc]

Jobs may have made the decision to not offer porn on iTunes, because of his parental status but beyond that, I think he has every right to choose what is offered on iTunes. From the more libertarian prospective, one need only look at the owner of the property. Who owns the iTunes store thing? It's not anti-porn groups, it's not the guy demanding porn, Apple is the owner of iTunes and they are free to offer, or not offer what products they choose within the law. Not only that, but it's not impossible to get porn on an iPod, and any who wish to buy an iPod should take the fact that iPod porn is available, just not through iTunes into account before they purchase.

Yes it is okay for Apple to not offer porn on their store. It is not okay for Apple to expect everyone to not use their purchased iPods to look at porn outside of some contractual agreement which would destroy iPod sales.