Can an admin check these comments?
Friday, April 18, 2003 by goodmorphing | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
Reply #22 Saturday, April 19, 2003 3:50 AM
So in the end, art can't contain political statements, but art criticism can, and not even bother to reference the work in question... I'm not following how this issue is 'grey'. If the site feels flags or military images are "asking for it", post such and let people go elsewhere. Bullets are bullets. I didn't see hell raised over Russ's combat vehicle.
re: the item linked in post #4, all that is is a US flag, and look at the comments he has to look at...
saito80 is exiled, but his "death to the United States " and "I hope that your friends die in combat or are taken like prisoners death to all the North Americans around the world " statements are still there.
That author has to either delete his work or tolerate all that hateful diatribe when he gives someone a link to his work here. If I had to delete a work because of inappropriate comments, I dunno if I would bother to reupload it.
The issue isn't whether or not the work is troubling to you, art often is. The point here is the ranting arguments in the comments are inappropriate, and some are purposefully offensive. I mean, how often do we see the word "faggot" allowed here, regardless if it is used for irony or not. As much as I have seen DevArt dissed for its chaos, I would have never supposed there'd be this much 'tolerance' here.
Reply #23 Saturday, April 19, 2003 3:59 AM
*************
At least one of his 9/11 comments remains... (he seemed to suggest that he knew another was coming). Still, Jafo said he was on it and some things take time.....
Reply #24 Saturday, April 19, 2003 4:11 AM
I mean "stupid login, stupid war" is bad enough, but it is a shame that guy has to tolerate much worse when all an admin has to do is delete them.
Reply #25 Saturday, April 19, 2003 4:19 AM
Nevertheless I am all for removing those offending comments as they are deeply violating some rules and are very offending.
And as for Dangeruss' wall : I see nothing related to this war on it, I just see what it is : A damn good render of a futuristic military vehicle... And he even stated that in his description.

Reply #26 Saturday, April 19, 2003 4:27 AM
One time I found a rape site. It was obviously authentic. No one can look that terrified and not be, I think. I reported that site. It took some time to disappear... and someone told me that it took more time because this site faced legal action. Not that this one will, but still...
I dono... Terrorism stuff has really bothered me, and some of this stuff dealt with that. If it takes a little more time to espunge... I can wait. It took that rape site some days to come down, but people faced prosecution..
Reply #27 Saturday, April 19, 2003 4:38 AM
The thing is.... People from all kinds of life-styles contribute here. Military people, even if other people don't agree with them, some of them are still artistic. One thing I wonder is that if someone believes in something (such like an artistic marine uploading art that has to do with the essence of their work-a-day life) has to refrain because some terrorist attacks them.... doesn't that just let the terrorist win?
You know, the only reason I came upon this was because I wondered why a logon had so many responses. Once there I was deeply offended.
Reply #28 Saturday, April 19, 2003 5:57 AM
The comments remained for a 'short'[ish] time to help re-inforce/explain the motivation/reason for the exiling, as the Admin involved felt unsure of its appropriateness, that is all.
There was no intention to hide behind some false-reality of 'free speech' and leave them [the comments] there.
He is gone, his comments are gone, and the retaliation he inspired is gone.
All that is left is the graphics, and the comments about the work [not its message as perceived by the pot-stirrers].
If that fails to restore a semblance of sanity then the Logons will go as well.
Reply #29 Saturday, April 19, 2003 7:48 AM
In the case of those particular logons, I guess if there was no "Irak Freedom" title to it, they'd be OK. Just like if I made a logon with a peace sign it would be OK, but if I added "Stop the war in Irak" on it, it would be out of bound.
I agree that the comments were really bad and in no way belonged in the comments area of the skin. But I also feel that subiting the artwork in the first place is making the first statement of a political debate. I feel that those discussions are fine in the messageboard but have no room in the artwork sections of the site.
Just my opinion. Ne official admin decision has been taken on this.
Reply #30 Saturday, April 19, 2003 7:56 AM
nothing wrong with political artwork. personally it think that those logons are pretty poor. a photo with a font slapped on it. probably a ripped photo anyways (even if it is a stock photo, most sites require credits for using their stuff). rather hard to think it was uploaded for an other purpose than just getting praise.
Reply #31 Saturday, April 19, 2003 9:12 AM
Most of the admins here are not from the US. Interestingly, the logons were in the queue for a long time. It seemed no one wanted to approve them but the majority of admins being from other countries, there was probably a confusing sense that somehow these were representative of current American interests and expression. Also the pro-war vs anti-war debate was overwhelmingly on the pro side making them appear to have a popularity among a large base of members.
I can understand the dilemma, if we don't accept, is that censorship and if we do is that promoting a nationalistic arrogance? We would not accept an overtly anti-American, or anti-any-country piece but these were not only pro-American they were pro a specific (and controversial) political event. The rhetoric flak was inevitable.
Since we are members of a world community we should not isolate or alienate anyone by having a narrowly defined attitude towards political expression. I made no decision on the logons because I felt my feelings were biased, so I left it up to the other admins. There wasn't any discussion or decision made (as paxx said) they merely got approved because they worked as logons.
I think the real lesson is one that political leaders could learn as well as all of us. Sensitivity to the feelings of all members of the community would not be a bad thing. Jumping on a popularity bandwagon that is expressive of an exclusionary ideology will only create a rift in the community.
But where does it go from there? I don't think anyone is offended by nationalistic pride as long as it's not expressing violence or hatred towards another nation. Maybe that's a fair distinction, show your flag or your landmarks but not your disagreements. Be proud but not pushy?
So... why aren't there any German or French or Canadian flags for logons? I would hate to think that a Canadian Maple Leaf would get rejected after all the Stars and Stripes we've seen. But do we want to be flooded with images of flags and hockey teams?
The one thing about the internet that I like the most is its lack of borders.
Reply #32 Saturday, April 19, 2003 9:40 AM
i guess what raised uproar was the "Iraqui Freedom" tag. for many people that slogan looks like it was brought up by the "ministry of truth".
Reply #34 Saturday, April 19, 2003 2:31 PM
I think in a place like this, with stern requirements as to content, it is good to allow people to express anything they like. If someone is skillful enough to make statements about hard topics without violating the standards, then they are a exercising a great amount of skill.
On the other hand... I don't think there is *ever* a reason to use someone's comments as a soapbox. If the problem is the comments, address the comments or the system through which they are made. I think that one of the reasons that the wallpaper section gets to be so monotonous is that people aren't trying to say anything with their art. Further limiting what they *can* say will make it even more monotonous. We *need* people to say something once in a while.
**
I would like ask again that something be done about post #4: https://www.wincustomize.com/window.asp?Cmd=COMMENTS&Lib=26&SkinID=1156
That is only a US flag, and the reference to the penis size of Americans and such is, I feel, unrelated to the work in question. I mentioned it earlier, but perhaps my post was accidentally overlooked.
Reply #35 Saturday, April 19, 2003 2:56 PM
The "Greetings from Canada" wallpaper set by SuPeRhErOCanadian includes German, US, Brit, etc flags in addition to the Canadian flag. All by request. Without the uproar.
People who comment are responsible for what they say and how they say it. Unless the work is completely out of line (and if it was, why would it be posted?) or even if it is out of line, one can still comment on the work (and even whatever political statement one infers from it) in an adult and responsible manner. (I think I saw a post that in effect said, I don't care for support the subject matter but its an ok work.') Is the attitude some admins *may* have is that "well, the artist was asking for it" in any way mitigate the offensiveness and inappropriateness of the comments and determine that it's even debatable (sp?)whether they should be allowed to remain on this site? One may not be comfortable with the work for one's own reasons and point of view and I can understand that, but that doesn't justify IMO that there was/is even a question of whether or not to delete the offensive comments.
If Superhero's Candian flag had those kinds of comments based on political differences I doubt there would be a question as to whether they should be deleted. (Someone did ask that the German, French flags not be included in the set which I thought was petty, but it wasn't at all similar a comment to Saito80's which still remain on the site.)

Reply #36 Saturday, April 19, 2003 3:00 PM
#1: this is just art, not a political forum. So no political discussion has a place in the art sections. In this case, neither a political artwork, nor political comments are welcomed.
#2: art is a mode of expression, therefore making a political statement through art is acceptable. In that case, the art work itself is the first statement of a political debate, and other political responses are to be not only expected but encouraged. After all, most artists that make social or political statements do so specifically to cause a reaction. In other words, if we are to allow political statements in the artworks, we must also allow a follow-up in the comments area.
It's just a decision we must take. Do we want political discussions in the comments or not.
Reply #37 Saturday, April 19, 2003 3:06 PM
Reply #38 Saturday, April 19, 2003 3:08 PM
Reply #39 Saturday, April 19, 2003 3:10 PM
Reply #40 Saturday, April 19, 2003 3:28 PM
I for one welcome wallpapers and logons or whatever that are of American flags (or any other current flag for that matter) as long as it meets reasonable artistic guideliens (i.e. patriotism isn't a substitute for quality).

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Reply #21 Saturday, April 19, 2003 2:25 AM