Since I first blogged about “No Porn on iPad“, there have been several high-profile censorship stories in the news – including a few that are homosexual in nature.

The mainstream media has reported that several App Store applications were approved with no problems when they depict heterosexual contact, but were rejected outright when they depicted homosexual content – even in line-drawing format.  The panels below are from a graphic novel version of “The Importance of Being Earnest”:

If this was a really isolated incident, it might just be a clerical error, or an overjealous summer student working the App Store approval queue…  but a few more minutes of reading turns up this:

(If you aren’t familiar with “Moby Dick,” there’s a sperm whale involved).

And the word “sperm” is censored.  Even though it’s part of a species.

Are Horny Toads also censored?

XXX Horny Toad

What about Sea Cucumbers?

XXX Sea Cucumber

Anyway, I digress…

I think Jobs’ motives are good:  to try to offer a porn-free online experience… because porn does seem to be everywhere as soon as you turn on your devices… but I think the choice has to sit with the consumer.

The sales numbers for Android devices are on the rise, and some pundits seem to think the censorship issue may be one of the causes.

I have had at least 2 iPods in service since the second generation hit the market… and I have been happy with their durability, battery life, and design.

But:  Would I have bought more than one if it didn’t play songs that contained profanity?  Or if it wouldn’t play an audio book with homosexual content?

Nope.

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