Was my thread deleted?

  I like the idea of the swastika pasties. May have to use that one on a the next anime build.

IanIsBored2000 wrote:

Bgrigg wrote: As much as I enjoyed participating I think we have reached the point of and should consider ceasing and desisting before the gets here!    Now THOSE are emoticons.

I agree! Those are some great emoticons! Where did you find them? 

I steal them from other forums, of course. Mostly I just search thinking "I need a beating a dead horse smiley" and search for that. The mob scene one I stole from TheologyWeb Campus Forum, though I suspect they'll claim I'm borrowing it. Buzzlife Message Board is where I got the dead horse one from, along with this one:

Which we need!

Most of them are just gifs and should be able to be added to this forum very easily.

You can get packs for use with forums off the net for free. Just search for Free Forum Smilies.

Does that big lug David Voss still work there (if you could call what he does work!)? Tell him Hi from Bill" and that he needs to:

1. upload some more smilies, the ones we have are getting old.
2. correct the spelling in the "ditto" smiley. I have one I can send him.
3. post more often!

 But this is getting and might be considered !

Bgrigg wrote:

I steal them from other forums, of course. Mostly I just search thinking "I need a beating a dead horse smiley" and search for that. The mob scene one I stole from TheologyWeb Campus Forum, though I suspect they'll claim I'm borrowing it. Buzzlife Message Board is where I got the dead horse one from, along with this one: Which we need! Most of them are just gifs and should be able to be added to this forum very easily. You can get packs for use with forums off the net for free. Just search for Free Forum Smilies. Does that big lug David Voss still work there (if you could call what he does work!)? Tell him Hi from Bill" and that he needs to: upload some more smilies, the ones we have are getting old. correct the spelling in the "ditto" smiley. I have one I can send him. post more often!  But this is getting and might be considered !

Cheers Bill. Mr. Voss id still here and I'll pass your message along.

Bgrigg wrote:

I steal them from other forums, of course. Mostly I just search thinking "I need a beating a dead horse smiley" and search for that. The mob scene one I stole from TheologyWeb Campus Forum, though I suspect they'll claim I'm borrowing it. Buzzlife Message Board is where I got the dead horse one from, along with this one: Which we need! Most of them are just gifs and should be able to be added to this forum very easily. You can get packs for use with forums off the net for free. Just search for Free Forum Smilies. Does that big lug David Voss still work there (if you could call what he does work!)? Tell him Hi from Bill" and that he needs to: upload some more smilies, the ones we have are getting old. correct the spelling in the "ditto" smiley. I have one I can send him. post more often!  But this is getting and might be considered !

He means !

Bgrigg wrote:

He means !

See!

It has always bugged me that the Ditto emoticon was spelled incorrectly. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/harajuku/interesting/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/harajuku/

 

 

ModelNerd wrote:

tetsujin wrote: ...There is no man in the image making the woman his playtoy, that's an interpretation you provided yourself.  I think you missed it. The man is not in the image. The man is the observer of the image.

This, again, depends heavily on your interpretation getting injected into the equation.  My interpretation is different. Just because you look at the image and want to make the woman your playtoy (and then feel guilty about it) doesn't mean that's true in my case. You're treating your opinions as though they are universal constants.

And if the image kicks off a bit of fantasy? What's wrong with that? Should I feel guilty for looking at women and thinking of sex? If so I'd be spending a lot of time feeling guilty.

tetsujin wrote:  ... regardless of whether we choose to see them as healthy realities of our state of living, or reject them as sinful or shameful. Fine, I'll ask you the same question. Is it healthy to portray women in degrading or compromising situations? Or, only if it's fantasy women you don't know? How about YOUR daughter? Would YOU make a statuette of your daughter like we saw and proudly show it off to everyone? Be truthful with your reply.

You missed the whole point of family ties. Of course my answer to that would be "no", but the point I'm trying to get across is that the reason the answer is "no" is not because I feel presenting sexual images of women is disrespectful - it's because I don't personally want to see my female (or male!) relatives in that context. That's why I suggested the question should be tossed out. It's a loaded question and the reason people would answer the way they would has little to do with the overall question of respect for women as a group. Still, if my relatives were involved in that kind of artwork, I wouldn't think less of them for it.

If we're not dealing in relatives, then I'd say I have absolutely no problem with the idea of sexy artwork - whether it's pure fantasy or if someone acted as a model (whether or not I knew the model) - I'm down with that, and from that perspective it's utterly baffling that you'd try to convince me I shouldn't be.  Is it healthy?  Why wouldn't it be?  It doesn't really make you go blind, you know!

Would some people interpret such works as disrespectful to women as a group? Maybe. I can't control how people will choose to react to frank displays of nudity and sexuality. I've done the whole "shame" thing, though, and I'm finished with it. Boobies good. Why feel bad about that?

You cannot deny that the Hitler bust has historical context, and my point was that it DOES serve as a reference. What reference does the nudie flasher convey, may I ask?

 

I don't recognize any particular value in merely referring to a piece of history. If I said "Remember the Alamo" with no clear idea of what I was supposed to be remembering - what's the value there?

What purpose must the model serve? It's art, a presentation of beauty for beauty's sake. When I build a model of a giant robot I don't labor under some delusion that it's for some purpose - I build because I want to, I share the result because I hope people will be interested in it and enjoy it.

Your whole argument is dependent on the idea that there's something wrong with the image, that we must somehow justify it.  Granted, I tarried on the same field for a bit, but that doesn't mean your assertion gets a free ride.

tetsujin wrote:

This, again, depends heavily on your interpretation getting injected into the equation.  My interpretation is different. Just because you look at the image and want to make the woman your playtoy (and then feel guilty about it) doesn't mean that's true in my case. You're treating your opinions as though they are universal constants.

Well, first off, your assertion that I personally "make the woman my playtoy, then feel guilty about it", is inaccurate, and is a bit of a cheap shot. To launch ad homenim attacks exposes a modicum of immaturity on your part. I don't make it my anything, really. I'd rather look at my wife than a little statue. But by your succinct assertion, it appears that you are the one who is now applying your opinions as universal constants, wouldn't you say?

But that's the whole point of fantasy icons or photos. The observer is the "second party" to the equation. And if you think that the vast majority of the "second party" observers are merely studying for their anatomy finals, rather than doing the other thing, then you're in complete denial. 

But look closer at something. You then assert you don't feel guilty about it ("doesn't mean it's true in my case."). But later, you answer in the affirmative that it is not healthy to portray women or your daughter in the same fashion. You say the reason is because you don't want to see you family naked, which is one good reason, I suppose. But could it also be because you don't want anyone else to leer at an image of your (female family member) with lusful fantasy thoughts?

There seems to be rampant denial amongst the proponents of the fantasy statue, in the form of the "interpretation" clause. So many things can be "interpreted" differently by every individual. So, does this mean that it's cool to distribute Hustler magazines to kindergarteners, as long as the distributing person's "interpretation" of Hustler is that of "art"? (Now please don't get on a hang-up on whether Hustler is that same as the statuette, this is merely an illustration.). If you're honest, you'll agree that some things have limits, and would only be appropriate for a mature audience.

tetsujin wrote:

And if the image kicks off a bit of fantasy? What's wrong with that? Should I feel guilty for looking at women and thinking of sex? If so I'd be spending a lot of time feeling guilty.

There is nothing wrong with fantasizing. That isn't at the heart of this discussion. Seems everyone keeps missing the crux of the debate, and goes off on this side point, for some bizarre reason. Nor is sex, or whether sex is good or bad, is at the heart of this discussion. People don't read anymore, it seems. Not once was the assertion made that sex is bad, or one should feel guilty about sex.

The main point of this discussion was whether sexually explicit icons should be posted to a forum where children (minors) are present. I have seen many curious support arguments made for the side that says it's o.k., such as there's no difference between an icon of a softcore babe or an icon of Hitler, or between the babe and an empty hang noose, or "I saw a nudie mag when I was eleven, and it didn't kill me." , or, "There's a lot worse things on the web that a kid could see.". As if that justified anything at all. How ridiculous. What? Really? Is that how far we've come as a society? Most responders went out of their way to bypass the main point! Or, as in the case of the original poster, he simply refused to answer the more implicating questions, standing behind the excuse of being powerless to do so. Whatever. My fault for thinking (hoping, really) that a real discussion could take place. Mea culpa.

tetsujin wrote:

...Of course my answer to that would be "no", ...That's why I suggested the question should be tossed out. It's a loaded question and the reason people would answer the way they would has little to do with the overall question of respect for women as a group.

It is not a "loaded" question. Unless, of course, one feels it backs them into a corner. It is a very relavant question, because many guys don't see exploitation of women as a bad thing, until it is brought home to someone they love. And more importantly, it acts as a gauge for where their moral compass points. Because if one responds, "Exploitation is ok, except if it's my daughter being exploited.", then that person is a hypocrite. If they say, "Exploitation is cool, even if it's my daughter.", then that person is obviously screwed up. If they say, "I used to think exploitation was fine until the day my daughter got a job as a stripper.", than that person is honest.

tetsujin wrote:

If we're not dealing in relatives, then I'd say I have absolutely no problem with the idea of sexy artwork - whether it's pure fantasy or if someone acted as a model (whether or not I knew the model) - I'm down with that, and from that perspective it's utterly baffling that you'd try to convince me I shouldn't be.  Is it healthy?  Why wouldn't it be?  It doesn't really make you go blind, you know!

I'm also not offended by "sexy" artwork. Or "nude" art, for that matter. And again, from a technical viewpoint, the builder of the fantasy figure did a good job with his assembly and painting/shading. But I am offended by having it posted to a place where kids frequent. And my discussion sought to explain the reasons why kids don't need to see this stuff. I don't care what turns people on, what they enjoy or like, that's their business. I support the Constitution.  But I have a good laugh at those who wish to deny me my Constitutional right to enjoy a family-oriented website, free from the encumbrance of softcore fantasy images. I chuckle at all of those who claim to be so progressive and tolerant in their thinking and morals, yet have presented an avalanche of intolerance for those of us who have a different viewpoint and were not breaking the forum rules in the first place!

tetsujin wrote:

Would some people interpret such works as disrespectful to women as a group? Maybe. I can't control how people will choose to react to frank displays of nudity and sexuality. I've done the whole "shame" thing, though, and I'm finished with it. Boobies good. Why feel bad about that?

You're airing a little more of your personal laundry here than is necessary. If you felt that "boobies" were shameful at one time in your life, than that may have indicated a hang-up. Well, I'm glad you are over that now. "Boobies" are never shameful. The shame should come from the person who posts icons with exposed "boobies" to a public family forum, with utter disregard for kids or forum rules. 

tetsujin wrote:

I don't recognize any particular value in merely referring to a piece of history. If I said "Remember the Alamo" with no clear idea of what I was supposed to be remembering - what's the value there?

The value comes from the opportunity to minister to the inquisitive individual who wants to know more about the Alamo.

tetsujin wrote:

What purpose must the model serve? It's art, a presentation of beauty for beauty's sake. ... Your whole argument is dependent on the idea that there's something wrong with the image, that we must somehow justify it.  Granted, I tarried on the same field for a bit, but that doesn't mean your assertion gets a free ride.

The figure doesn't have to serve any purpose at all. I was asking you what purpose it serves for you? But be careful, now. Be careful. You just called it "art". That's your "interpretation", isn't it? You have given me an opportunity to use your own reasoning against you! Because my interpretation is different! Now what? Who's right? I'll tell you who. We're both right. And because we're both right, there must be a third party, a referee, to ultimately decide if it's appropriate for the Forum. And the Forum says "No, it isn't." Case closed. Any further debate is pointless.

Contrary to you above statement, my whole argument was not dependent on the idea that there's something wrong with the image. That point was secondary in importance to my main point, which was whether it was appropriate for a family forum. Every argument under the sun was presented to side-skirt addressing this main point.

 

 

So... What were we discussing?
I kind of lost track of the topic. I read the whole thing, its gotten pretty crazy but entertaining. now its just kind of becoming circular. ModelNerd replied "My fault for thinking (hoping, really) that a real discussion could take place." If not a huge discussion, I don't know what the last 4 pages are. Both arguments have some holes, but thats why we are discussing them. Personally, and some people have pointed this out which is why it was so obvious, but I think someone mentioned the historical significance of the Hitler bust. because this discussion is partly talking about the connotations of nude figures, it seems that the Hitler bust is hardly a point against it. Recall that busts are almost always a way to glorify a person. Wait! don't explode on me, I don't have anything against hitler figures, but it annoyed me that it was being used as an argument. I'm not trying to point you out for that ModelNerd.
I can see where he is coming from. One point I think we can all agree that the exploitation of women is wrong for whatever reason. The issue here is not that, but what we interpret as exploitation. Everyone seems to be drawing the line at different points. Also, it appears that he is just defending his point that it should not have been posted where kids can see. The arguments against this hold little weight. Be careful that you don't get offended by this, he is not attacking your views of women (I think we are all very tolerant here of to his his own) he is merely upset about the issue of kids. (ModelNerd, thats what I got, I'm not trying to express your opinion, let me know if i'm offtrack).
I will also reitterate (sp) what others are saying, and that is that the first topic was why the post was deleated, and the answer of course is because of forum rules. No one should feel offended or leave the forum if something like this occurs, just don't post that model. Your rights of speech are not being infringed, you can still be involved in the forum in other subjects.
My own opinion, I enjoyed the model very much. I was surprized all this came from it because this was not my initial responce to it. I just enjoyed it from a modeling standpoint (well ok, and I loved the transformer) and I'm 17, so this coming from a sex-crazed hormonal teenager. I shared it with my girlfriend and she and I cracked up over the transformer. Also I thought she would like it because she likes anime (which is almost borderline porn anyways) (i don't read it). Honestly I did not click the link because it advertised boobies, but because I had once seen an "anime" figure somewhere that didn't look very animeish and was curious whether this one would be able to successfuly transform the 2-d into 3-d, which it did incredibly.

---Sawyer

I am going to give up trying to make a rational argument about why the thread may have been deleted because I didn't do it, and all I have to go on from those who did are the forum rules, which do not seem to be a threshold for this discussion, starting from the beginning.

I find models of that type cheezy. And really demeaning to women. But that's just me. Therefore I choose not to spend any time looking at that type of thing, online, in the theater or otherwise.

But I am inclined to defend art from the notion that it's an excuse for a free-for-all and that such an expression deserves unrestricted display.

I am an artist, and while I believe art is useful to challenge notions of rules, it has it's forums too. I can draw anything I care to and send an agent around to museums and galleries seeking a venue, but I can't just seize a public one and call it my own. I can design any type of building that suits my own fancy, and perhaps get it financed, but I can't just go build it. If you disagree with that, write me and I'll arrange to have ten gallons of flourescent house paint delivered to your neighbor.

Model Nerd- I think you took a few there that were unfair and I admire your continued levelheadedness. i'd have gone off on the mind-rap* shot.

Oh, and in the spirit of disclosure, I've had a few threads locked up too. One's I created while really piss*d off and better left to the trashcan. That's life, just because you believe it and go shout it out doesn't mean it's valuable.

 

 

 

Cosmic J wrote:

What I do resent is when individuals take it upon themselves to "Police" the site, cloaking themselves in a Holier-than-Thou attitude, telling the rest of us what we can and can't discuss in any way we see fit. I was exchanging e-mails w/ a fellow from this site just last night, who said he had been continuously harassed by fellow members, not for reasons of content, but for what appear to be economic reasons. I myself received a PM from an site member that read as follows: You joined the site only slight(sic) more than a month ago, and perhaps you have not yet had the time to yet realize that we in the Armor forums are a pretty well-behaved and self-policing group of guys. They're(sic) have been many past "flame wars" in the past, which caused the loss of many members who had their feelings hurt or just didt(sic) want to be part of a hostile environment. To avoid that possibility, we try to  take the initiative to try to squelch any post where the participants are starting to lob insults or careen off topic--the site is. after all, about MODELLING(sic).  If you want us to put you on the "shit list" of people with attitudes whose work and questions will be ignored by the members who know that maturity and respect are the watchwords of the site, you&#39;re(sic) doing a pretty goog(sic) job! YOU(sic) CHOICE?!? Who exactly are the members of this ‘cabal', and who gave them the right to decide what was acceptable or not? How is it that they, above all others, have been blessed w/ the knowledge of Good and Evil, politically correct and incorrect? To me, jerks like this are a far more pernicious problem. <Anybody wanting to see the full PM, (including the author's identity, as well as all the spelling errors, malaprops and self-contradictions) should drop me a note; I will forward you the complete text.>

I'm going to beat you to the punch here, Cosmic J, and take credit for posting that PRIVATE message to you, which was done after you interjected a rather tasteless and unnecessarily sarcastic comment into the thread "Some say he died in the bunker, but...".

Curiously, this was after you posted another thread saying that you "looked in here in the first place because I thought the author might be one of those closet Nazi sympathizers I sometimes run into..."--you came looking for a fight, and it seems that when you didn't find one, you perhaps sought to create one after the fact? Interestingly, it looks like you returned the next day, apparently thought about it, and decided to stir the pot with an "attitude"? Not in reaction to anything new that had been posted, but apparently just as a provocation. At least that's how it seemed to me?

Cosmic, there are still posts that lament about how many people have left the forum because  of the "Flame Wars",--I tried to explain that to you in the original PM--and even in the short time that I've been here--about a year now--we've seen some "situations" here where people get PO'd and leave, and we lose some very good modelers and friends--totally unnecessary and avoidable, in my opinion, and a little bit of diplomacy goes a long way if you ask me. We do seem to have a pretty steady and friendly bunch here now, and to be frank, I honestly value that and enjoy the interaction tremendously, and if there's any way that I can possibly head off the possibilty of that happening again, I have resolved to make a generally-directed post and call for a re-assessment of where things might be headed, or to call out a person in private for a post that I feel might be inappropriate, Is that "policing the forums"? Not to me. It's called "caring enough to voice an opinion", in my book. Better than having the moderator lock the thread after it degenerates into open hostility, in my opinion, but hey, if that's your thing...?

Posts about Hitler always seem to gravitate toward potential minefields of strong opinions--look at how the mere mention of his name here brings them up---and when I felt that the thread was perhaps turning toward the hostile, I posted a simple suggestion that perhaps the thread had run its course of productive discussion--the same as I would do in any small group, bar room circle, or community gathering--a model club perhaps, or a bunch of guys watching a game? The dynamics of personal interactions don't just disappear in cyberspace, and I'd be the FIRST to say to one of my friends "hey, that was a bit harsh" in "real life", in person.

interestingly, as I have said previously, you did not take issue with THAT post, but returned a day later with a provocative post which I still have a hard time understanding as far as your intention, given your opportunity to voice your opinion on the subject had you really taken some sort of offense to it.

In any case, I posted a PRIVATE message to you to tell you that in my opinion, your post was really in bad taste and that that kind of provocative "blog-like" confrontation could be found in any political blog out there, and based upon what I had seen here as an active member, a bit  uncalled-for, and ill-considered. Had you had an issue with me on that, you could have returned my post with a response ( or an email)--THAT IS WHAT THE PRIVATE MESSAGES ARE FOR--to dispute or talk amongst members about things that are not appropriate or necessarily relevant to the whole community. You're not the first I have PM'ed in this manner, nor will you be the last. Likewise, I have recieved PM's from members who felt that my posts were inappropriate, and I have admittedly been harsh to one member in the past, and have publicly apologized to him here--as others have done so as well to other members. This, to me, represents the "spirit" of this site, which I love so much. I have become not only a better modeler, but a better person since joining the FSM sites.

Unfortunately, since you have taken it upon yourself to make this a "public issue" with your equally ill-considered "offer" here to make available the text of my PRIVATE message to you ("...with all the spelling errors, malaprops and self-contradictions") to anyone interested in the salacious details, in what can only seem to be an effort to impugn me, I feel regrettably compelled to respond in a similarly public fashion.

The comment about "If you want "us" to put you on the..." was in reference to a situation that happened almost a year ago where we had a member who was quite abusive in many people's views, and who almost wore out his welcome before making a 180-degree change and re-ingratiating himself with "US"--the community here who DO treat each other--for the most part--witha good deal of respect. That was not a "threat" (I admit and regret that my wording of that was hasty and could have been better explained and termed more eloquently). I will not claim to speak for anyone, but was only trying to convey an innate understanding of what I understand as "group dynamics" in a social context and setting. IMO, if you don't know by now that, in this forum, in a bar room, in a model club or church community, that people who are provocatively confrontational just inevitably do get "put on an "ignore" list" almost subconsciously, then perhaps you really should reconsider my motivation in trying to get you to grasp that concept; for the sake of your enjoyment and participation here??? That's why I ended the post with "YOUR CHOICE??" It was a simple call to you to reconsider your tone in the future? Sorry if you felt so defensive about it; as I said, I should have worded it more clearly, but thought that you would grasp the well-intended point behind it--you are, after all, a somewhat "new" member, and every forum and site has its own particular dynamics and intangible parameters of "acceptable behavior" whether we wish them to exist or not.

But in fact, perhaps now that you've alluded to something more sinister and threatening in my well-intentioned post, perhaps you SHOULD post the body of that text here?--with all the spelling errors, malaprops, and self contradictions (???--as if that proves what? That I'm a bad typist?) and let the community decide of it was "out of line" or in any way NOT  simply well-intentioned? If it was, I'm man enough to take the criticism and say I'm wrong if I'm called on it by the majority. Let me have it, guys, if you feel that I was out-of-line, or acting outside the bounds of "good taste"?

In closing, I WILL say that I am honestly sorely disappointed in your "offer" to betray what I see as a fundamental issue of integrity and trust--a PRIVATE MESSAGE is a PRIVATE MESSAGE, period--regardless of whether you agree with it or not. You can respond in it with as many profanities or insults as you would deem appropriate; they are not monitored by the moderators! But your willingness to betray the trust of a forum member in this way--and after not even having the courage to respond mano-a-mano--in my opinion betrays the very letter and spirit of this forum and its community of members in a way that just makes me almost physically ill.

I was only trying to suggest to you a "kinder, gentler way" to consider your posts in this forum. If that's being a "pernicuous jerk", I'd rather, any day, to be THAT than whatever you have proved yourself to be by your lack of apparent lack of integrity.

Karl- you should know better: on line = on the www.

Did this drift over from the Bunker thread, because I didn't see either of you in this fracas when I tripped back up the thread? And only bothered to because I invested a little in it earlier.

But so what. Jeez, CosmicJ that's low, no matter what the guy said or what your past is with him/ her/ you. Not real upstanding, in my opinion. 

Awwww... Did Karl get his widdle feelings hurt? I'm sorry. Here, have a cookie.

Seriously dude, that was weeks ago. Have you been losing sleep about it all this time? You gotta learn to let things go.

I also want you to meditate on this phrase: "Brevity is the Essence of Wit".

For those of you new to our tawdry drama:

There was a post about a Hitler figure in another topic. Karl ‘the doof' decided that it was possible that someone might take offence. In the future. So he took it upon himself to condescend to the rest of us and attempted to shut down further discussion on said thread. I rebuked him for his attempt at censorship, in an amusing manner. He took umbrage, and sent me a nasty, self-aggrandizing, and threatening note, via PM. I posted a small part of said note above, as part of the whole "censorship" theme the post had back then. Aaron Skinner asked me for a copy of this note, and asked me to let him handle it, so I did. Karl however, has obviously had his feelings hurt, and has chosen this time and place to vent his spleen.

I didn't read all Karl's above remarks. I didn't need to. I've seen such drivel before. I'm sure it read something like: "I did nothing wrong. I was only doing what was right. I was looking out for our little community. People are too stupid to behave themselves without my help. You Cosmic J, are an Outsider, and Evil, and must be punished for going against the will of the group (as represented by me, Karl ‘the doot')."

Is that about it?

We all know people like Karl. The sycophantic, control obsessed narcissist who can't stand it when someone doesn't recognize his ‘authority'. Having no real authority on his own, he attempts to manufacture it, under the guise of "The Good of the People".

Dude, you're a cliché.

Well, if nothing else comes of it, at least ‘the doob' figured out how to use the spellchecker.

bondoman:

But so what. Jeez, CosmicJ that's low, no matter what the guy said or what your past is with him/ her/ you. Not real upstanding, in my opinion.

Really? Why? Someone wiser than me once said that "Sunlight is the Best Disinfectant". I think that the only people who rely on Night and Fog to do their deeds are people with something to hide.

Besides, why would I care what you think?

 

Political correctness is emergin' its ugly head again! I'm here in the UK and we don't have that much of it compared to the US. But I hate it with a vengeance.

Jus' read my signature, enough said!! 

Cosmic J wrote:

Awwww... Did Karl get his widdle feelings hurt? I'm sorry. Here, have a cookie. Seriously dude, that was weeks ago. Have you been losing sleep about it all this time? You gotta learn to let things go. I also want you to meditate on this phrase: "Brevity is the Essence of Wit". For those of you new to our tawdry drama: There was a post about a Hitler figure in another topic. Karl ‘the doof' decided that it was possible that someone might take offence. In the future. So he took it upon himself to condescend to the rest of us and attempted to shut down further discussion on said thread. I rebuked him for his attempt at censorship, in an amusing manner. He took umbrage, and sent me a nasty, self-aggrandizing, and threatening note, via PM. I posted a small part of said note above, as part of the whole "censorship" theme the post had back then. Aaron Skinner asked me for a copy of this note, and asked me to let him handle it, so I did. Karl however, has obviously had his feelings hurt, and has chosen this time and place to vent his spleen. I didn't read all Karl's above remarks. I didn't need to. I've seen such drivel before. I'm sure it read something like: "I did nothing wrong. I was only doing what was right. I was looking out for our little community. People are too stupid to behave themselves without my help. You Cosmic J, are an Outsider, and Evil, and must be punished for going against the will of the group (as represented by me, Karl ‘the doot'." Is that about it? We all know people like Karl. The sycophantic, control obsessed narcissist who can't stand it when someone doesn't recognize his ‘authority'. Having no real authority on his own, he attempts to manufacture it, under the guise of "The Good of the People". Dude, you're a cliché. Well, if nothing else comes of it, at least ‘the doob' figured out how to use the spellchecker. bondoman: But so what. Jeez, CosmicJ that's low, no matter what the guy said or what your past is with him/ her/ you. Not real upstanding, in my opinion. Really? Why? Someone wiser than me once said that "Sunlight is the Best Disinfectant". I think that the only people who rely on Night and Fog to do their deeds are people with something to hide. Besides, why would I care what you think?

HAha, I actually had to laugh at your post Cosmic, as I DID read the whole thing, and actually started to type an "appropriate response" but thought myself the better man to handle this through the proper channels, as is proper for this forum.

It might interest you to know that AT NO TIME was I contacted by any member of the FSM staff redarding my note to you. Perhaps they were bright enough to "catch" my best intentions? 

In any case, thank you for showing your true colors here and for validating and confirming what I only had suspected and hoped against; that is, your true "character". I'm sure you will contacted soon. Have a greeeeeeaaaat day, dude!

Gentlemen!

How about if we go to neutral corners and cool down for a while?

Actually, it's plenty cool here. Milwaukee (home of FSM) is officially shut down because of snow. We're snowed in, and that almost never happens up here. I'd like to go up to the bench and work on something, but my arms are sore from shoveling snow.

What's everyone working on? 

Matt @ FSM

I can relate to that Matt.  We've been dealing with snow pretty much every day since the beginning of the year.

Been busy working on the old Tamiya 1/35 PzKpfw II Ausf. F and the Tristar 1/35 PzKpfw 38(t) Ausf. F  

Sorry to hear about your cold weather guys... It's a beautiful sunny 61* here and feels great. On my worktable I am putting the finishing touches on a Dragon 1/35 Sherman Hybrid IC Firefly and Tamiya 1/35 Centaur CS....  

While the day off in the middle of the week was nice, the snow's getting a little old at this point. At least we have two cars with all-wheel drive, so we can get pretty much anywhere regardless of the weather.

I just finished a project, actually (a car). Whenever I finish something, I always feel like jumping into another kit/project right away. I just can't decide what to work on!

Matt @ FSM

Matthew Usher wrote:

Gentlemen! What's everyone working on?  Matt @ FSM

but....

matt  i got an idea for either a post here or a mag article

have the whole fsm family post their stuff you , arron everyone right down to the people in the mail room including immmediate families too

i think many of us would like to see the madness behind the magazine 

 

 

That's not a bad idea!

I know Aaron and Mark have projects in the works, and the Model Railroader staff (down the hall) just started building a project railroad last week. The benchwork was up yesterday, and some of the track was going on. It's always interesting to watch a layout go together with a half-dozen (or more) guys working on it at once. I'll have to remember to bring in a camera this week.

Matt @ FSM

ModelNerd wrote:

It's also degrading to women. (And if you don't agree, just replace the figurine's head with a likeness of your wife, your mother, or your 18-year-old daughter, then you just might see things in a totally different light.)

If I put my wife's likeness on the mentioned model....I'd tell you that you made the Hoo-Hah's way too big!!

Matthew Usher wrote:

Gentlemen! How about if we go to neutral corners and cool down for a while? Actually, it's plenty cool here. Milwaukee (home of FSM) is officially shut down because of snow. We're snowed in, and that almost never happens up here. I'd like to go up to the bench and work on something, but my arms are sore from shoveling snow. What's everyone working on?  Matt @ FSM

Matt, maybe you should ask for a pay raise so you can afford to buy a snowblower. Keep shoveling all of that snow (you've gotten more than us up nort) and you be a looking for a job editing 'Muscule Magazine'.

It's finally getting up into the 70's here in Arizona. If I want to see snow I just drive up towards Flagstaff or, watch it on TV as the latest storm hits the East coast again. What's a snow shovel?

Having recently came across a couple of Japanese/ Hong Kong model websites for female figures, I ordered three 1/6th figures which were pretty cool looking but not too risque and boy, there's a lot of animation figures out there that are extemely obscene that would shock this old retired Marine... well not really but I would not consider buying such a kit. It's all a matter of personal taste and a little bit of common sense when posting a pic. Pegaso sells several excellent female bust sets which the figures is topless, I'm currently working on the "Chinese Lady" kit and it's a beaut! but I may not post it in the forum unless I maybe doctor it up a little bit in Photo Shop so not to offend FSM.

Currently working on the Hobbycraft 1/32 Thud. I finally have the tan and Med green paint applied and may try to wrap up the paint job this weekend.

Scott