Question about interaction within the community

[WarpGirl]

Well it was a good example on how to disagree in a forum without hurling curses, terrible insults, or verbal bloodshed. So I think that we can all interact in a productive way. A little courtesy goes a long way.

[marchale]

Okay, you just can't see where I'm coming from here, I guess. The reason why I stick to using fictional characters is because they are make believe creations and as such don't have rights that real people have. Thats the same reason why people write stories about Trip and T'Pol rather than stories about Connor and Jolene. You don't involve the actors, just the fictious characters themselves. And anyway, I don't do "mean spirited" type of artwork. Hell, years ago - I used to run a Yahoogroup for fakers - and anyone caught posting (or hiding in their folders) any porn, fakes of real people, etc were given a very swift kick in the ass out the door. I abhor that type of thing and it's a deep thorn in my side because when I first began faking, stupid here did a few fakes I'm now deeply ashamed of (which is why I forbid nudity, etc in my group). I'd give anything if I could only take them back; it's a regret that will haunt and deeply bother me for the rest of my life. But because that bothers me so much, I adamantly refuse to do any work now or in the future I couldn't live with a clear conscience about having done.

But guys, apart from any personal dislike you might have towards it, it does have a real fan base out there and for everyone who doesn't like it, there's probably just as many fans who want to see it as those who don't care for it. And I think there is something to be said for those fakers out there like me who don't do the porn or the bondage crap or any of the other type of fakes that probably would piss me off if I seen them more than what they would you even - because I got so f***ing mad about all the crappy stuff out there, I flushed my own fakers group down the toilet and got barraged with tons of angry emails from other fakers for doing that. You think I don't care about wanting to do nice artwork? Hell, I'm probably the most hated faker out there amongst fakers because they branded me a little goodie two shoes for wanting to confine my fakers group to nothing stronger than an R rating and for banning fakers who violated that.

As for those lawsuits, well - they are probably on real shaky ground if they are basing it on fakes of ficticious characters and I'm surprised there haven't been cases upholding that. Actually, regarding the Allyssa Milano case - what I heard was that someone was trying to pass off a fake as being a real photo of her (and not a fake of her character) and thats what she sued over. I'm not sure where the law stands on doing celeb faking, but you couldn't get me to do a fake of a real person for all the money in the world because I wouldn't want any part of such a thing anymore than a fanfic writer would write a story about an actor either.

Look, we could spin our wheels all night on this subject and it's really pointless. I am sorry I even brought up the subject here; but there's no getting around the fact you think I'm doing fakes of actors and I think I am doing fakes of characters, so lets just drop it, shall we? You're not going to convince me I am and I guess I obviously can't convince you I'm not - so this is futile and frankly, I can think of far better things to do with my time than trying to talk to a brick wall here. You see it from your point of view and think I'm delusional, I see it from my view and think you're equally as delusional and what does this accomplish here when neither side can convince the other?

[marchale]

Well it was a good example on how to disagree in a forum without hurling curses, terrible insults, or verbal bloodshed. So I think that we can all interact in a productive way. A little courtesy goes a long way.

Yes, absolutely - I have nothing but the highest regard for you, Kotik and anyone else who disagreed with me. I think you guys are dead wrong, but thats okay, I know you think I am too. I have no hard feelings here at all, we just can't agree on this. So what? Who cares?

[Distracted]

I'm in agreement. Let's drop it. Although it would be nice if we didn't call each other "delusional" , I think WG has a point. Despite strong feelings on both sides, this debate stayed civil. It's good to see. Thanks, guys.

So...have we talked this thread subject to death or does anyone else have something to say about interactions within our community?

[WarpGirl]

YES! I think it would make things a lot easier around here if people didn't let things fester. It's very hard to have a conversation and then almost a week later find out that you totally inadvertantly hurt somebody's feelings! Because it makes the poor person who inadvertantly did the hurting feel like a HORRIBLE, AWFUL, NO GOOD PERSON!

I think people who are hurt should do 3 things...

1. Take a deep breath

2. PM the person with the hurtful remark and ASK them for clarification.

3. Do not automatically think that the person understood what they said hurt.

I should really take my own advice. Maybe it would cut down on the panic attacks.

[marchale]

YES! I think it would make things a lot easier around here if people didn't let things fester. It's very hard to have a conversation and then almost a week later find out that you totally inadvertantly hurt somebody's feelings! Because it makes the poor person who inadvertantly did the hurting feel like a HORRIBLE, AWFUL, NO GOOD PERSON!

I think people who are hurt should do 3 things...

1. Take a deep breath

2. PM the person with the hurtful remark and ASK them for clarification.

3. Do not automatically think that the person understood what they said hurt.

I should really take my own advice. Maybe it would cut down on the panic attacks.

Well, at the risk of probably sounding like a real suck up here, I sure hope to hell I didn't hurt anyone's feelings. Believe me, I didn't want to do that and I apologize if I did. And while I'm not making any excuse for this, jeez - I'm a former philosophy student who passionatly loves a good argument, so that might explain why I got so carried away with it. But really, I didn't mean any harm at all here (I was just having a blast and enjoyed it thoroughly). No hard feelings, folks? I hope not, I don't have any.

[WarpGirl]

Nope that was just a general suggestion.

[Kotik]

Let's take Distracted's advice and drop it. But it sure was a nice argument I should found a debate club, but with my diplomatic skills we'd probably have to meet in a truckers joint