Are these Gallery images OK?

To all RFF members,
It took me a while to find this thread. I would have actually appreciated a personal message on the matter, but now that an issue has been made publicly I have no choice but to defend myself against a potential mob.


Here is my original response to Jon Claremont's comment on my picture.

"Hello Jon,
I'm not aware of any posting requirements on subject matter. I was under the assumption that photos need only be taken with a rangefinder.

However, let me elaborate my position.
1. The photo is in fact taken with a rangefinder
2. The photo is all in good fun. Many photos in the gallery are.
3. That is not a real rifle. It is an airsoft rifle. All three of my "rifle" snaps all have airsoft rifles. In fact, you can even see the red tip on the barrel in one of the photos, obviously indicating that it is not a real rifle.

I'm not sure what your experience is with firearms, but is the fact that there is a "rifle" in the photo your main gripe? They may look young, but the subjects are men, who are fully aware of gun safety, not that the rifles are real.


Honestly, I think it would help if you would elaborate your position. Please, do me that courtesy.


Regards,
Sherman"


I stand by my pictures as good natured fun, albiet perhaps one skewed by certain American values. The subjects are not "kids". They are 20 something year old adults. Those are not real rifles nor are they loaded. Those are not real mustaches or eye patches. Both of them have actual pairs of eyes.

If the moderators deem them inappropriate than I will remove them. If there are any real objections by members, than please present them in a rational, non confrontational and non-emotionally explosive arguement. Otherwise, please, save the value judgements on my personal character off the forum.


Respectfully yours,
Sherman
 
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Sherman. I don't have any objection to these photographs at all- but I don't see the point - would you care to elaborate on what you meant with them?
 
Hello jaapv,
Well, I don't really have a point with those 3 pictures other than capturing their playfulness. There is no meaning inherent in them other than the ones people give it.

And, I know I'm sounding a bit defensive here (with good reason, I'm sure some of you would agree), but I wasn't under the impression that photos needed a point or intrinsic meaning. If indeed, photos are required to have a point or meaning, than every single member here needs to be willing and ready to defend their photos. "Cowboy up," as President Bush likes to say.

This certainly has been a learning experience for me in regards to the interpretation of meanings. While many of my friends and associates see them as funny and good natured, some here see them as distasteful and one member even called them "disgusting". It's all very academic sometimes.


Regards,
Sherman
 
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I expected my comment to the first poster was going to be "what concern is it of yours?" But I'm deprived of the opportunity to make an intelligent comment because the image had disappeared by the time I read this thread. It's mildly annoying. I doubt the image in question was hurting anyone.

How about this shot from Bill Owens? Does he need to "elaborate" on "what he meant", or can we just look at it?

http://www.gregkucera.com/_images/owens/owens_playwar.jpg
 
gabriel: with respect to those kangaroos, pls also read the second sentence i wrote, right after the first one :)
 
Sherman,
I want to publicly regret that I went public on the mock rifle pix...
rather than sending you a PM. There was NOTHING personal
intended. Sincerely, mike
 
if we learned one thing here its that breasts and vaginas are ok, but penises are truly shocking. keep this in mind. and keep posting in the camera and coffee thread. shouldnt this thread have been deleted a long time ago?
 
Hi einolu in Boston,
Mike, former Bostonian here.

Yes, with the Forum owner on vacation, we have to monitor ourselves.
Perhaps, the moderators observing this entire dialog, are just letting
it run its course. I've long since moved on from post HH-3 in the Gallery
[self-portrait] and have apologized to schow for not sending him a PM
first re: the boys with toy rifles.

Shall we move on to an enjoyable Sunday and a cuppa?
Cheers, mike
 
mike, yours was the first post in this thread. if you delete IT, the entire thread will follow.

it's your call.

with or without stephen being here, it is best to always monitor/moderate oneself anyway. then there would be no need for outside moderation.

and if you had followed this thread which you started then you would be aware of what actions i have already taken.

joe
 
If anything it hightlights our cultural differences. As a European I do not have the right to bear arms, I cannot buy a gun, and photos depicting people playing with guns do not exist.

For you, schow, your values are somewhat different and I imagine we will always differ over these photos. I look forward to seeing some more of your photos as I have just enjoyed looking through your gallery.
 
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Thanks jon, and joe... not, I'm NOT deleting it.

Given some afterthought, I'd approach those
questionable pix [ALL of them]... from the place
of Dale Carnegie wisdom, "Don't condemn, criticize
or complain." Tho' the toy rifle shots irked me,
anyone can see it's a gag.

Time for a cuppa fresh brewed, Irish Cream flavored coffee.
Ahh :D mike
 
I agree with mike about not deleting this thread.

It is very educational in showing how we view our gallery.

Perhaps if a mod locked the thread that would be a better solution?
 
I've been following this one all along. A mod lock about now would be good. I don't want this to disappear but there is nothing to be gainied by it continuing.

William
 
mike goldberg said:
"If an mage is distasteful, don't look at it." Still and all, freedom of expression is best, when balanced by good taste.

And, what is good taste? Well, maybe there's one for another poll ;-)
Click to expand...
Precisely. Bad taste also needs to express itself; it's just that some cultures don't have as much capacity to handle it as much as others. On the flip side, there are cultures that are so repressed, that they reciprocally output stuff in very poor taste. Funny how that works. Let's not forget censorship. Etc. etc. etc.

Again, somebody succeeded in getting the attention they wanted. Good job! :rolleyes:
 
Pherdinand said:
gabriel: with respect to those kangaroos, pls also read the second sentence i wrote, right after the first one :)
Click to expand...

You mean:
However, i noticed then the actual image and i did not like it so i decided not to defend it.
Click to expand...
?

I respect that point of view. 95% of the time, the stance I take, though, is: "I may not agree with it, but I'll fight for your right to..."oh, Marc A., why did you have to debunk the quote? :p
 
einolu said:
if we learned one thing here its that breasts and vaginas are ok, but penises are truly shocking. keep this in mind. and keep posting in the camera and coffee thread. shouldnt this thread have been deleted a long time ago?
Click to expand...
No no no. Not all bipeds are kangaroos! :bang:
 
I've followed the debate about pictures of guns/penises (no you don't have to be Dr. Freud to know some nerves have been touched ...) with huge interest. It seems to have run its course but I want to talk more about the issues raised. What was wrong - should guns (or whatever) never appear? Why not?

An example picture to stir debate by Philipe Chancel:

http://www.philippechancel.com/port-dprk-01.html
 
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