No one is forcing anyone to view the social media pages of these athletes. And Empire's comment regarding the biathalon is well taken. Let me guess - the biatheletes will not be allowed to pose privately with the weapon they use either?
Am I missing something here? They had their picture taken while holding a weapon and they (Swimming Australia) consider the photos "inappropriate"? How exactly are they inappropriate?
Ordinarily this would not be an issue, but because of the similarities to horrendous incidents this picture is insensitive to many. Monk was holding the same pump-action shot guns used by Martin Bryant, who murdered 35 people in Port Arthur in 1996. D'Arcy was pictured holding semi-automatic pistols, similar to those used by Virginia Tech gunman Cho Seung-Hui.
pbaird2: That's the best reason these are inappropriate?! That's the DUMBEST reason I can imagine!! Insensitive?! That's even worse. So because a police officer was struck and killed by someone using the same make and model as my car any photo of me with my car is to be considered inappropriate? It's gun-control-wackoism, plain and simple!
Swimming Australia issued a statement saying it became aware of "inappropriate photos" and "instantly contacted the athletes involved to ask for them to be removed."
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It is said that "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". One of the corollaries is also true. "Innappropriate photos" are also in the eye of the beholder. Different country, different mores, different perceptions.
They didn't bring the guns to Australia nor does it sound like they bought a gun just posed with them!! Nothing illegal about it in the US so what's the probem! OH that's right since they are on the Olympic Team they are ROLE MODELS so they shouldn't be human and just be robots that only think of the children!! Give me a break, they are young men with talent, they signed up to be swimmers not Role Models!!!
Well, looks like George Orwell had the right idea in 1984, but perhaps the wrong country. Australia implements "Thoughtcrime" punishment. Sanctioning people because they took a (non obscene) photo.
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No one is forcing anyone to view the social media pages of these athletes. And Empire's comment regarding the biathalon is well taken. Let me guess - the biatheletes will not be allowed to pose privately with the weapon they use either?
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It is said that "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". One of the corollaries is also true. "Innappropriate photos" are also in the eye of the beholder. Different country, different mores, different perceptions.
This is absurd.