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Professional offense
Apple has, for the first time, published the guidelines it uses to determine whether apps should be admitted to the iOS App Store. They include these choice terms:
14.1 Any app that is defamatory, offensive, mean-spirited, or likely to place the targeted individual or group in harms way will be rejected
14.2 Professional political satirists and humorists are exempt from the ban on offensive or mean-spirited commentary
This raises two important questions: Why are “professional” satirists and humorists allowed to be offensive and mean-spirited, while we enthusiastic amateurs are not? And why is offensiveness and mean-spiritedness alright when meant satirically or humorously, but presumably not if meant seriously?
14.1 Any app that is defamatory, offensive, mean-spirited, or likely to place the targeted individual or group in harms way will be rejected
14.2 Professional political satirists and humorists are exempt from the ban on offensive or mean-spirited commentary
This raises two important questions: Why are “professional” satirists and humorists allowed to be offensive and mean-spirited, while we enthusiastic amateurs are not? And why is offensiveness and mean-spiritedness alright when meant satirically or humorously, but presumably not if meant seriously?