Oh dear

[serai]

It looks like mucun has closed her slash site:

http://havens.sakura.ne.jp/ban/

Wonder what happened? Anybody here read Japanese? It looks like she left a note.



ETA: OK, I've been over to Rei's journal and read the latest on the brouhaha.

And I can say that I am now officially disgusted with this fandom. I suppose it's a branch of my disgust with this prudish, finger-pointing, dirty-minded culture in general, that can see some kind of twisted sex in a rather sweet image of affection between friends. God, people can be filthy sometimes.

Feh.

Comments

[serai1.livejournal.com]

And to be honest, I'M honestly distressed that a wonderful artist has now closed down her site because of the American tendency, in any situation, to insist on seeing things OUR WAY, and that any artist from anywhere in the world must conform to OUR STANDARDS. Because, of course, OUR FEELINGS and OUR VALUES must trump anyone else's. Did it occur to anyone over there that this was an artist from another culture, and maybe she has a right to express herself appropriately for that culture, regardless of what WE in our almighty moral superiority might think? Why should it? After all, we always know what is best, and failing that, we know what WE WANT, and that should always win.

No, sorry, hon. I'm not cutting anyone any slack here. I consider those reactions to mucun's lovely artwork to be selfish and ill-considered. Whatever was offensive in that picture was being placed there by the minds of those looking at it, and that may be all well and good for those who want to view the world as sick and dangerous, but I do not hold with the idea that a person has the right to walk into someone else's space and start decrying the decor. It's rude and childish, for one thing.

And it's punishing Rei for whatever past the complainers are reacting to. It's not her fault some people in America have problems, and I'm shocked that anyone would treat her as if she were some kind of criminal, when all she's done has been provide us with incredibly lovely illustrations for years now, free of charge or demand of credit. I've seen this happen before, Lindalea. Some paranoid with a stick up her ass comes along waving a cane at the pervert, a big fuss happens and the artist decides I don't need this shit, thanks, and jumps ship. And the rest of us get to lose out on beautiful work because somebody just HAD to whip it out for a toss. I'm sick of good artists being hounded out of this fandom, thanks. It's happened before, and excuse me, but I didn't shut up then either.

[ladysunrope.livejournal.com]

This is so well expressed and I totally agree with you. I'm at a complete loss as to why some Americans have this view about sex and feel it absolutely fine to insist others have it too. I'm English and would have had no problem with my children seeing that original picture but then I don't automatically see wrong when I see explicit nude pictures, or naked guys together and neither thank god, do they.
Rei has done some superb pictures and it hurts to think that she has been attacked by an anonymous poster who hasn't the courage to sign his/her name. I really feel for her.

[serai1.livejournal.com]

Thanks, LSR. There is a twisted sickness to the "morals" in this country that I find maddening. Combine it with the American tendency to self-worship and the results can be totally disheartening. Like I said, this isn't the first time it's happened in this fandom, and the whole thing just makes me want to deliver some spankings and send them to bed without supper.

[blackbird-song.livejournal.com]

Hear, hear! Very well put.

Catherine

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

I agree with much of what you say. I do however take exception to your saying "Americans" as though it's all of us who are like that. I have some hangups, but I don't think I deserve to be lumped in with all Americans. I'm an individual and make up my own mind about what I do or don't believe, and I certainly believe in the right of everyone to have and state his or her own opinions. Rei's work is lovely and heartfelt, and that's my, and only my, opinion because I don't speak for anyone except myself.

[serai1.livejournal.com]

*counts to ten*

To quote Doctor Hayward, "Dick, I did not drop you on your head when I brought you into this world. Don't give me cause to regret that."

Julie, I think you're a great person, and I sure can't remember you ever being the kind of asshat that we're talking about. I've made a general statement about an ugly trend in America, and you seem to have taken it personally and put words in my mouth. As you well know, I wasn't talking about you in particular, and if you're going to insist that nobody ever be allowed to use a generality should you happen to fall into the category being talked about, then you're going to run into trouble, since it's impossible to talk about cultural and social issues without employing these kinds of generalities.

Reading my post and comments here, what exactly makes you think that anyone would say, "Oh yeah, mews1945 is definitely one of them!" Since you don't go around bitching at others for their artwork, who's going to think I'm talking about you? And therefore, why do you feel the need to proclaim that you are Not One Of Them? Volunteering the information that "I am not a prude!" (or a pervert, or a thief, or a lawyer) rather begs the question, "And who exactly said you were?"

However, I do appreciate that you agree with what I'm saying, Julie, and that you wanted to be supportive of the discussion, and you have my thanks for that, absolutely.