What is "Society?"

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When you hear people say "Society wants this" or "Society doesn't want that", or "Society requires this" or "Society won't have that", what exactly do they mean by "Society?"

In a recent debate with a moderator (guess who won?), I had a poll going about how people felt about public exposure of human nipples. The moderator's opinion is that men, but not women, should be entitled to public nipple displays, as being consistent with the desires of "Society." The poll got relocated to here:

http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt191118.html

you can see clearly that the majority of people were in favor of both genders being permitted to reveal their nipples in public. I thought that "Society" would refer to the opinion of the majority of people.

The moderator's final word: "WP is not Society!"

So, my question is: "What exactly is 'Society'?" I'm now completely baffled by this word. I can't even think of options for a poll--that's how perplexed I am.

Well I agree that both should be entitled to public nipple display,if they so choose. I mean in reality what harm has seeing a nipple ever done anyone? I mean I never posted in that thread because I have absolutely no opinion about something so insignificant.

Other that I suppose I can leave this here

Society: so·ci·e·ty 
noun
1.
an organized group of persons associated together for religious, benevolent, cultural, scientific, political, patriotic, or other purposes.
2.
a body of individuals living as members of a community; community.
3.
the body of human beings generally, associated or viewed as members of a community: the evolution of human society.
4.
a highly structured system of human organization for large-scale community living that normally furnishes protection, continuity, security, and a national identity for its members: American society.
5.
such a system characterized by its dominant economic class or form: middle-class society; industrial society.

note* this is from dictionary.com if you type in society, I do not claim to take credit

A second question: once one has defined society (WP may be a society, or might not), then how does one know what Society's will is? Are polls not valid?

I can see the point of not wanting to have too many pictures of boobies adorning the site. It might give an unfavorable impression to someone visiting the site, and might make it difficult for people to use the site while at work, or even at home with other family members present.

Maybe I was just giving Hyperlexian a hard time, for the sake of being pedantic.

I do have a sweet spot for pedantry.

"Society", in this context, means "let's not upset the prudes".

Women going topless isn't illegal in as many places as you might think. It's legal across most of Europe, for example. I know for certain that it's legal fullstop in New Zealand, a fact that was clarified in 2008 after there was a topless parade. And it's legal to breastfeed in public in every Western country, as far as I know. It's more of a case of "not wanting to rock the boat", rather than it being outright illegal.

I think that the reason is obvious: it's a remnant of a society that is run by and for men. A topless woman is a distraction and a provocation. A topless man is merely functional.

No, I really do enjoy pedantry. And boobies.

not gonna argue individual picture removal because i don't have the context or threads or photos in front of me. also, you are discussing "society" not boob pictures aren't you?

Correct. How does one know what "Society" wants? At what level does one speak for "Society?"

Wrongplanet.net is a part of society but its also a website privately owned by alex at the same time.

We try to listen to members whenever its possible but if theres a conflict between what members want and what alex wants we cant do anything.

Weve tried to have some discussions with him on several aspects of the rules hoping some things change but we cant do anything until he agrees it´d be a great improvement for the site.

I guess when people say "society wants this" or "The American people want that". it means more of a general trend, because society is just a lot more complex and chaotic than that, and its made up of a bunch of interdependent individuals who have the misfortune of disagreeing on a lot of things. Power structures tend to take advantage of division, and its well documented in how imperialists would conquer continents by setting tribal groups against each other. Its also apparent in modern day politics.

No, technically, each of us talking on here is society, or at least one particular vantage point of it or another.