Cheerleaders back intact.

The problem with social media sites like YouTube and Facebook is that when anyone, for any reason, finds something offensive they have some Facebook-given immediate right to have the content removed simply by flagging it - whether it is justified or not, which I'm thinking usually not as it is a freedom of speech issue, isn't it? After someone had our video "Catholic Cheerleaders for Satan Reel 3" banned from YouTube under what I thought was suspect circumstances (please see previous posting on that) I took it upon myself to appeal the YouTube decision.

Appealing a banned video in something any YouTube account holder can do, but they don't tell you that in the initial "we've banned your video" courtesy Email they send you directly. It's not even in your YouTube account inbox. No, you have to dig around until finally you stumble upon a path that will allow you to send in an appeal - and when you do find that link, you appeal had better be thirty words or less. Shit, I've had tweets longer than a YouTube appeal.

After stating my case (that there really was no graphic nudity or explicit sex in the video, the very reason it was flagged and banned - again, see last post) one week later, this is the I received back from YouTube:

Dear creepysixfilms:

Thank you for submitting your video appeal to YouTube. After further review, we've determined that while your video does not violate our Community Guidelines, it may not be appropriate for a general audience. We have therefore age-restricted your video. This does not negatively impact your account standing.

To learn more about age-restricted videos, please visit our Help Center

Sincerely,

— The YouTube Team

Pretty damned generic if you ask me, but proof that they don't actually look at the content before it's banned or taken off of the site. If someone flags it, then why not review it at that point? Why not send the insulted/offended party and email, something like,

Dear sir or madam,
We have reviewed your flagging of certain content posted on YouTube/Facebook and have decided that although it may offend you, there was really nothing illegal or in any violation of free speech to be found. We have added a content warning which should be satisfactory to anyone who may, in the future, also be offended so they might not view the content in question without prior warning, as you unfortunately had.

Thank you and good day.

I suppose the only thing that really irks me about this is one person takes it into their own hands to decide what others should or should not be viewing, based on their own principals or religious beliefs. That's not how it works, man. We all get to hear each other and make decisions for ourselves. Again, for ourselves. We're all adults here, aren't we? And if we're not, then what is your kid doing on YouTube unsupervised? I've seen more risque stuff on that site than our silly 70's grindhouse homage.

-V.