What is "Society?"
When you hear people say "Society wants this" or "Society doesn't want that", or "Society requires this" or "Society won't have that", what exactly do they mean by "Society?"
In a recent debate with a moderator (guess who won?), I had a poll going about how people felt about public exposure of human nipples. The moderator's opinion is that men, but not women, should be entitled to public nipple displays, as being consistent with the desires of "Society." The poll got relocated to here:
http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt191118.html
you can see clearly that the majority of people were in favor of both genders being permitted to reveal their nipples in public. I thought that "Society" would refer to the opinion of the majority of people.
The moderator's final word: "WP is not Society!"
So, my question is: "What exactly is 'Society'?" I'm now completely baffled by this word. I can't even think of options for a poll--that's how perplexed I am.
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hyperlexian: "WP is not society"
Sweetleaf
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Well I agree that both should be entitled to public nipple display,if they so choose. I mean in reality what harm has seeing a nipple ever done anyone? I mean I never posted in that thread because I have absolutely no opinion about something so insignificant.
Other that I suppose I can leave this here
Society: so·ci·e·ty
noun
1.
an organized group of persons associated together for religious, benevolent, cultural, scientific, political, patriotic, or other purposes.
2.
a body of individuals living as members of a community; community.
3.
the body of human beings generally, associated or viewed as members of a community: the evolution of human society.
4.
a highly structured system of human organization for large-scale community living that normally furnishes protection, continuity, security, and a national identity for its members: American society.
5.
such a system characterized by its dominant economic class or form: middle-class society; industrial society.
note* this is from dictionary.com if you type in society, I do not claim to take credit
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Chipshorter
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Pronunciation: /səˈsʌɪɪti/
noun (plural societies)
1 [mass noun] the aggregate of people living together in a more or less ordered community: drugs, crime, and other dangers to society
the community of people living in a particular country or region and having shared customs, laws, and organizations: the ethnic diversity of British society [count noun]: modern industrial societies
[with adjective] a specified section of society: no one in polite society uttered the word
(also high society) the aggregate of people who are fashionable, wealthy, and influential, regarded as forming a distinct group in a community: [as modifier]: a society wedding
[count noun] a plant or animal community: the analogy between insect society and human city is not new
2an organization or club formed for a particular purpose or activity: [in names]: the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
3 [mass noun] the situation of being in the company of other people: she shunned the society of others
undefined
Origin:
mid 16th century (in the sense 'companionship, friendly association with others'): from French société, from Latin societas, from socius 'companion'
Based on that definition from the OED, I'll say that WP is a society
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Sweetleaf
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Pronunciation: /səˈsʌɪɪti/
noun (plural societies)
1 [mass noun] the aggregate of people living together in a more or less ordered community: drugs, crime, and other dangers to society
the community of people living in a particular country or region and having shared customs, laws, and organizations: the ethnic diversity of British society [count noun]: modern industrial societies
[with adjective] a specified section of society: no one in polite society uttered the word
(also high society) the aggregate of people who are fashionable, wealthy, and influential, regarded as forming a distinct group in a community: [as modifier]: a society wedding
[count noun] a plant or animal community: the analogy between insect society and human city is not new
2an organization or club formed for a particular purpose or activity: [in names]: the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
3 [mass noun] the situation of being in the company of other people: she shunned the society of others
undefined
Origin:
mid 16th century (in the sense 'companionship, friendly association with others'): from French société, from Latin societas, from socius 'companion'
Based on that definition from the OED, I'll say that WP is a society
It is a society, but not the whole of the larger society...personally think it is unwise for females to publicly display nipples online. Not because I care because I don't because I don't see what harm seeing nudity does, nudity does not have to be related to sex the way society treats it. But because it would probably get treated like illegal pornography or something by the federal government...so until laws can be changed it would be possible to face legal consequences if a female has her nipples publicly displayed.
So I don't agree with those laws, but they still exist. And I suppose it is up to the mods and owners a website like this if they want to take those kinds of risks with the current laws.
But I am all for everyone being able to freely show their nipples. So I guess I can kind of see both sides.
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We won't go back.
I can see the point of not wanting to have too many pictures of boobies adorning the site. It might give an unfavorable impression to someone visiting the site, and might make it difficult for people to use the site while at work, or even at home with other family members present.
Maybe I was just giving Hyperlexian a hard time, for the sake of being pedantic.
I do have a sweet spot for pedantry.
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hyperlexian: "WP is not society"
Maybe I was just giving Hyperlexian a hard time, for the sake of being pedantic.
I do have a sweet spot for pedantry.
*feigns shock and surprise*
thank you for stating this - it is what i meant. also that WP exists as an entity WITHIN larger society and abides by the social rules of the prevailing society.
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on a break, so if you need assistance please contact another moderator from this list:
viewtopic.php?t=391105
"Society", in this context, means "let's not upset the prudes".
Women going topless isn't illegal in as many places as you might think. It's legal across most of Europe, for example. I know for certain that it's legal fullstop in New Zealand, a fact that was clarified in 2008 after there was a topless parade. And it's legal to breastfeed in public in every Western country, as far as I know. It's more of a case of "not wanting to rock the boat", rather than it being outright illegal.
I think that the reason is obvious: it's a remnant of a society that is run by and for men. A topless woman is a distraction and a provocation. A topless man is merely functional.
Last edited by Declension on 27 Feb 2012, 6:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Still, a picture of a monument that has a statue of a woman with a bare nipple gets deleted? Those monuments are out there, in the prevailing society. No-one is covering them up, except for the pigeons.
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hyperlexian: "WP is not society"
not gonna argue individual picture removal because i don't have the context or threads or photos in front of me. also, you are discussing "society" not boob pictures aren't you?
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spongy
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Wrongplanet.net is a part of society but its also a website privately owned by alex at the same time.
We try to listen to members whenever its possible but if theres a conflict between what members want and what alex wants we cant do anything.
Weve tried to have some discussions with him on several aspects of the rules hoping some things change but we cant do anything until he agrees it´d be a great improvement for the site.
I guess when people say "society wants this" or "The American people want that". it means more of a general trend, because society is just a lot more complex and chaotic than that, and its made up of a bunch of interdependent individuals who have the misfortune of disagreeing on a lot of things. Power structures tend to take advantage of division, and its well documented in how imperialists would conquer continents by setting tribal groups against each other. Its also apparent in modern day politics.
No, technically, each of us talking on here is society, or at least one particular vantage point of it or another.