image captions are ESSENTIAL to computer accessibility. when you delete the descriptions underneath photos, you’re making it hard for MANY people to access the content that you’re trying to share.
Imagine, if you will, says the person who hates disability simulations, that you wake up tomorrow and find that the mode of communication used by most people is one you do not understand. That every time you try to enter a building, a door slams shut in your face. That every newspaper or book you pick up, you can’t read. You know it’s there. You know something is happening. But you might as well be looking at a blank sheet of paper.
That’s what being on the Internet feels like, sometimes. So much for free access to information.
Fundamentally, what the accessibility issue boils down to is this:
If you don’t commit to fully providing image descriptions and transcripts, you’re telling a segment of your potential readership that you don’t care about them, and aren’t interested in attracting or retaining them.
That’s bad business, and it’s also bad social justice.
here is a great link to an article on Feministe that will explain it more and better for you.
not so nice version for people who totally know better:
If you reblog a picture with an image caption and you know what it is and what purpose it serves, DON’T FUCKING DELETE IT. that’s rude as hell, and has all sorts of nasty results, including the fact that those of us who are trying to be thorough and inclusive by provide image captions will think you are a dick.
I have noticed a fair few people reblogging things from me and removing the image descriptions. Surely having a tumblr people can access is more important than having a ~cool~ tumblr that is all images and no fucking context.