I can’t help but feel Facebook and most Social media platforms are nothing but a spiteful, jealous, hateful, bully playground.

 

Four talented artists who I follow (and I am sure there have been many more) have been blocked and had their images of the artistic nude removed from Facebook. Despite the fact they are high quality drawings / paintings /photos.

 

In this day and age there are so many websites, social media sites have a built in Safe filter option. I hold accounts on Redbubble, Fine Art America, where I can safely share my images, and those who want to view these images can by a click of a button. Admittedly I do not have this feature on my own website, but I make it clear that some images are of the male nude (Haven’t got any female nudes as not worked with any females in this gene yet).

 

Why can’t Facebook and Instagram introduce one of these, I for one would use it.

 

Facebook writes – “We need to give people a voice to get a diversity of opinions out there, but we also need to build enough common ground so we can all make progress together. We need to stay connected with people we already know and care about, but we also need to meet new people with new perspectives. We need support from family and friends, but we also need to build communities to support us as well”

 

How can you support an Artist or Photographer if they keep getting blocked, where is the sense of community there? If you do not conform to the narrow mindedness you get blocked.

 

I joined Facebook and Instagram, as I wanted to find people who were creative, enjoyed the arts, film, music and photography, all the genes that art embraces, not just pretty dog paintings and landscapes. But, sadly I feel pretty dog paintings and landscapes is what is wanted from the likes of Facebook and Instagram artistic realms.

 

Why is nudity so frowned upon? Why can't people see there is a huge difference between positive nudity and porn?

 

It’s one of the most natural states we live, yet we are forced to hide our naked self in an artistic manner? I am not talking porn, we all know the difference. I am talking about natural images show the positively in the human form, regardless of shape and size. Like many, I suffer with self body confidence issues, as I don’t not live up to the “Plastic images” which I feel is forced upon us, by media. I will never look that way, and this is no disrespect to those who do, I know many work hard to look the way they do, is that because they are looking for acceptance, as they feel the only way they gain acceptance for who they are, is by having to look a certain way?

 

If an artist or photographer is using subjects of all shapes/ sizes and age, and this is seen by others,surely this would give some a little self confidence, especially if they are not “The idealistic” image of a man or woman.  We are not all Barbie and Ken.

 

The reporting system sucks on Facebook, If an image or post offends, shouldn't you have to give a reason. How do we learn by just clicking a box?

 

If it’s offensive to one, it may not be to other, and to dispute the “report” sucks as well, as no one ever comes back to you with a valid reason, I know, as I have been there so many times.

 

I feel we are living in a world where we no longer know how to communicate with others. I am sure most of you will agree that there is a lot more disturbing things shared on Facebook and Instagram, that promote Hate and Bulling, a lot more offence than a tasteful nude male or female

 

I have always asked, “If I post anything offensive, then please tell me, at least then we can have an open discussion about it” You can hide things from people, it’s simple. But if someone doesn't tell you what offends them, how can they stop an individual seeing something that others want to see?

 

With Facebook and Intagram it’s all cloak and dagger, please report, the person will not know you reported them. Doesn't this only promote hate, anger and frustration?

 

As some of you know, I took part in an exhibition in May 2018 and my images were hanging on a wall in the public arena, this made open discussions, between me, and others looking at the images. Of course there were images some didn't like, but at least they had an open conversation about their views. No malice was the intent.

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To all the artists, photographers, and models out there,

 

STAY CREATIVE.

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