While battling YouTube’s army of bots, bureaucrats, and bullies over the company’s selective enforcement (and reading) of its Nudity & Sexual Content policy, I’ve had a lot of time to think about why I care so much, why I fight so much.
I’m not a nudist nor a pornographer. But I find nothing wrong with either.
Not to get too political, but as a moderate liberal, I am decidedly laissez-faire about all areas of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. If grown people wanna do grown people stuff (that isn’t hurting anyone…or is only hurting someone who’s consented to being hurt), it’s nobody’s business but theirs. And if they share that business and it bothers you…look for something that doesn’t.
I’m so tired of so many folks feeling their opinions are more important than everyone else’s right to do with their bodies and lives whatever they want/need. It’s exhausting and unnecessary.
Do you, boo. I’ll do me.
Seeing a global company make up subjective rules that use “sexual gratification” as a measuring stick (without bothering to define plainly what that is) is offensive to me. As an artist, man, and human being.
In its Content Guidelines, Substack has common sense rules about “nudity, porn, and erotica.” Why can’t Google? Likely because they like controlling everything and enjoy moving goalposts after the games have begun.
ON NUDITY
Whatever you (or YouTube) feel about nudity, we’re all born naked. And most of us are naked at some point at least once a day for the rest of our lives. (Hopefully. Air. It. Out.)
Nudity has and will always exist. It’s literally how we come into this world.
Debating nudity is proof some folks are just dumb. Or trying to distract from other shit.
Nudity lets it all hang out. And fall where it may. What will be will be. Praise be.
Whatever you (or YouTube) feel about drag—or RuPaul…our relationship is of the “it’s complicated” variety—this sums up my feelings on everything from birthday suits to three-piece suits:
“We're all born naked and the rest is drag."
RuPaul Charles
ON SEX + SEXUALITY
Whatever you (or YouTube) feel about sex and sexuality, they are part of what makes us human.
In case you missed that day of sex education: Sex is how babies are made.
Gross and shocking, I know, but also very true. So…clutch those pearls, gurrrls.
But sex is more than just for procreation…for most, it’s for recreation too.
Some do it for fun.
Some do it for a living.
Some do it with or without pay.
Some only do it with the opposite gender.
Some only with the same gender.
Some do it with all/most genders.
Don’t like it? Do you, boo. I’ll do me.
ON SEXUAL CONTENT
Whatever you (or YouTube) feel about sexual content, please know that every piece of “content” ever made, in the course of human history, is “sexual” content to someone.
What turns people on is as unique and varied as fingerprints and snowflakes.
Trying to guess what will/won’t turn on someone is childish and a waste of time.
In the course of human history, trying to control or restrict “sexual content” tends to make it more taboo (and valuable). Where there’s a will, man will find a way.
And if Google’s “SafeSearch” won’t show it, other search engines will.
“Sexually progressive cultures gave us literature, philosophy, civilization, and the rest, while sexually restrictive cultures gave us the Dark Ages and the Holocaust.”
Alan Moore
25,000 Years of Erotic Freedom
Don’t like porn? Don’t watch porn. Simple, right?
As for those that point out it’s often exploitive to women and minors, I think it’s safe to say capitalism and social media are at least, if not more, exploitive to us all, regardless of age, gender, race, or sexual orientation.
Not to mention all the other problems so many wanna blitch and glitch about online but don’t do anything about in real life.
I wish these outrage “performance artists” would find a new way to express their creativity. Marina Abramović is my kind of performance artist: Most of her work is done in complete silence. And occasionally has been done nude.
As for pedophiles and those making sexual content for them, my rule has always been and will always be:
CONSENTING ADULTS ONLY.
NO KIDS. NO ANIMALS. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Break those rules?
Go to hell and jail.
Simple, right?
ON ARTISTIC NUDITY (SEX OPTIONAL)
Whatever you (or YouTube) feel about art or artistic nudity, it’s been around as long as we have. Mankind has been painting ourselves and our “private parts” forever.
Countless pre-historic examples exist in around the world. Caves, museums, and pyramids are filled with all kinds of nudity and examples of the human form.
And many also depict sexual acts. Cuz…most humans like sex. Whether it’s having sex or seeing sex be had. If we’re lucky (and honest), almost all adults have had sex at least once. (And some of us have had it once, twice, three times a lady…but who’s counting or keeping score?)
This might come as a surprise to some, but as a creative gay man, I find few things as beautiful as nude (or nearly nude) men. Always have. Always will. Shocking, right?
Always beautiful. But not always sexual or sexually gratifying.
Most adults I know seem to understand that difference.
Bots, bureaucrats, and bullies seem unable or unwilling to understand the distinction.
ADULTS ONLY
These photos are part of a small collection of vintage photos I find beautiful. So beautiful they’re available in my Shop. But before I added them, to be safe, I double-checked with my shop’s platform/production partner. Just to make sure they were okay with artistic nudity.
Lucky for me (and you, if you’re interested), they were. Because so many aren’t.
It’s so lovely when grown people don’t treat other grown people like children.
In my book, art and beauty require love in respect.
I do understand the need for SOME censoriship and discretion. Not everybody wants to see genitalia. That’s why I mark posts I think some might not appreciate “(NSFW).” But anything more than SOME gets on my my last good nerve.
Anyone pretending men don’t have bulges and butts, for instance, makes me question their ability to see and think clearly.
HOW DO I REALLY FEEL?
In case I haven’t made it abundantly clear alredy, YouTube’s bots, bureaucrats, and bullies piss me off. (But I’m not sure YouTube gets that we will never be friends, even though I’ve spelled it out repeatedly. Bots and bot-like humans are dumb and are not my cup of tea.)
You'Tube’s Nudity & Sexual Content policy is written as vaguely as possible, but seems intended to be enforced as specifically as possible to reinforce “the male gaze” and prevent “the male gayze.”
Long story short, here’s how I sum up my define their double standard:
Boobs with barely-covered nipples are fine and dandy.
Women are eye candy.Bulges bigger than Ken’s better be in cargo shorts.
Men are handy, not eye candy.
Last night, mad from yet another email from YouTube Creator (Un)Support, I decided to make myself a T-Shirt. I ended up liking it so much it’s now available for anyone else similarly mad as hell and not going to take it anymore.
While I do wish YouTube made me less bitchy and glitchy (as I’m sure many others do too…maybe you, boo), I plan to wear the T-Shirt with pride. Pants optional. 🤣😎
ON HAPPY ENDINGS
While writing this post, I received an email from Substack letting me know Collide Press now officially has 100 subscribers. I can’t express how happy (and relieved) I am to be publish my work on a platform that respects creators.
I also can’t express how grateful I am to those of you who’ve chosen to subscribe and support my work here on Substack. So I won’t try…it’s time to finish getting dressed and get this work week’s party started.
Thanks for reading!
Clint
I Say this in Instagram to you,but i say again,Before I watched gay porn and male nudity to have fun and orgasm, but when I met Tom of Finland and his life story, I realized that gay porn and male nudity is a political act against the misogynistic and exploitative system we live in.
Clint, you have really captured a neglected portion of male to male relationships. We have plenty of hard core porn available, which I enjoy. We have a lot of homoerotic art on display in various venues. We also have a deepening realization of masculine spirituality from some brilliant writers and practitioners. Unfortunately we also have a trivializing of maleness in comedic discussions around penises, vaginas and masturbation.
You, however, fill a void and counteract the trivialization of genital sexuality. You offer us male images that visit us from centuries past. They express through their eyes and their innocence a sweet vulnerability that defines masculinity.
You also add lots of men in skimpy clothing and/or bathing attire that help us focus on male musculature, the intertwining of affectionate bodies, and for me and so many others, the unique, singular and beautiful shapes and sizes of genitalia, as well as the endless variations of male hairiness.
All of this contributes deeply to the spiritual connection men automatically have with each other. Too often it's depicted in aggressive, almost violent, tones. But ask nearly any man, and if he's honest, he'll recount moments when he was so drawn to another man that he yearned to hold him close, to plant a kiss on his mouth, smell his distinctive man-odor, and feel hardening phalluses pressing against hungry groins.
Thank you for giving men the "permission" to imagine and fantasize more deeply upon their tender experiences with other men and to invite others into their loving auras.