WARNING: Graphic truth is a no-no

February 17, 9:36 AMBirmingham Community ExaminerLuann Dawkins

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Bob Parks, of Black and Right and NMA TV, added a video to his channel on YouTube, depicting the 2005 brutal beheading of U.S. construction worker Jack Hensley, by Islamic Terrorists in Iraq.  This video was removed within 20 minutes by "community" flagging and YouTube citing, "content violations."  Is it graphic?  Yes, and could possibly fall under YouTubes Community Guidelines as inappropriate.  Where the grey area begins is the distinction between educational and informative versus shock value.  According to YouTubes Community Guidelines, under the heading, "Shocking and Disgusting," it reads;

The world is a dangerous place. Sometimes people do get hurt and it’s inevitable that these events may be documented on YouTube. However, it’s not okay to post violent or gory content that’s primarily intended to be shocking, sensational or disrespectful. If a video is particularly graphic or disturbing, it should be balanced with additional context and information. For instance, including a clip from a slaughter house in a video on factory farming may be appropriate. However, stringing together unrelated and gruesome clips of animals being slaughtered in a video may be considered gratuitous if its purpose is to shock rather than illustrate.

1. What are the differences in the two videos?
2. Do the videos violate YouTubes Community Guideline?
3. Should the first video have been removed?
4. Should the second video be removed?

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