Something Besides iFart Stinks At Apple

CNN's Jeanne Moos today presented a video report (below) on one of the latest iPhone applications to be rejected by Apple: Me So Holy. 

Me So Holy allows a user to pull a picture of himself (or anyone else) from his camera roll and paste it into a hollow outline of Jesus's face. It's a ridiculous app and, like so many others that are just as stupid but haven't been rejected, serves no other purpose than to attempt to make people laugh.

The thing is, some things just aren't funny to some people.

On the surface, it might be clear to you why Apple rejected the app, but in reality, it's not clear at all. 

According to the folks responsible for Me So Holy, the app was rejected because it "contains objectionable content and is in violation of Section 3.3.12 from the iPhone SDK Agreement" which states the following:

"Applications must not contain any obscene, pornographic, offensive or defamatory content or materials of any kind (text, graphics, images, photographs, etc.), or other content or materials that in Apple’s reasonable judgment may be found objectionable by iPhone or iPod touch users.”

As stated, Apple claims it used "reasonable judgment" in its decision. But what criteria did Apple use when faced with the decision? Why would the company reject an app that is offensive to Christians, but accept an app called iGirl that is offensive to women? Isn't that evidence the company is being completely UNreasonable, not to mention unfair? I think so.

And Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails might agree with me.

Reznor recently submitted an app to Apple that was rejected, according to MSNBC, "possibly because it can stream a song [The Downward Spiral] that contains a single curse word — even though the song is for sale on iTunes. But, actually, we really don’t know why."

Reznor is, to say the least, miffed by the rejection, as evidenced in a rant he posted on his band's message board:

"The Downward Spiral,’ the album, is not available anywhere in the iPhone app. ... The song ‘The Downward Spiral’ I believe is in a podcast that can be streamed to the app. Thanks, Apple, for the clear description of the problem — as in, what do you want us to change to get past your stupid fucking standards? ... You can buy ‘The Downward Fucking Spiral’ on iTunes but you can’t allow an iPhone app that may have a song with a bad word somewhere in it. ... Hey Apple, I just got some spam about fucking hot Asian teens through your e-mail program. I just saw two guys having explicit anal sex right there in Safari! On my iPhone! Come on Apple, think your policies through and for fuck’s sake get your app approval scenario together."

He's got a legitimate beef.

It seems that Apple uses the famous Potter Stewart "I know it when I see it"  formulation when deciding what's offensive. (In 1964, Justice Potter Stewart tried to explain what is obscene by saying, "I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced . . . [b]ut I know it when I see it.) 

For example, as noted in Moos's report, Apple not long ago rejected an app called Baby Shaker. Yes, that's really its name, and it does exactly what you're thinking: One shake of your iPhone and a crying 'virtual' infant turns into a still baby with bright red X's on its eyes.

Just by seeing Baby Shaker in action one knows it's wrong. In fact, I'd guess that everybody with the exception of psychopaths knows it wrong. But Apple can't say the same about Me So Holy, especially in the face of iGirl and the hugely popular iFart app. 

So, yeah, something stinks.

What gives Apple? You have respect for Christians but not for women? You know it's bad to market a product that makes fun of Shaken Baby Syndrome, but you think it's great to sell another, iGirl, that allows users to shake their iPhone to see their iGirl stumble?

Once again, iPutOff.

Comments

[Tracy]

WTF? I could smoke a fatty and come up with better ideas than these assholes.