Animation Source Forums

Now that's quite reasonable. Well said. Just remember that just because MySpace is the current victim being maligned by the press, because of a few unpleasant and even tragic events, does not mean that MySpace itself is bad or that it only happens there. At various times in the past, AOL was the target, so was ICQ, and various others. And remember, the press can blow things out of proportion to create compelling headlines (to generate sales and awards, and to compete with other press entities) and can be manipulated by government agencies, or governments themselves. And some press entities are loyal to certain political parties in certain governments.

I am very tired now..but maybe I'm crazy,I would like if this MySpace thing won't exist anymore!

What does it matter what people are using their MySpace account for? In fact, the original purpose of MySpace, according to its own advertising, was to help small unsigned bands get noticed and pass around their music to teenagers and college students. That has since expanded FAR beyond those parameters. People mistakenly think it's a haven exclusively for teenagers. Certainly, the majority of MySpace members ARE teenagers. However, there are literally MILLIONS of MySpace members, and several thousands of them are adults...and not just college-aged adults either. There are people who are in their 30s, 40s, 50s and yes, even 60s on MySpace. It has become a true internet community. And like any such thing, there are all kinds of people there. There are countless numbers of good people on it. And there are also con and scam artists, thieves, predators, pedophiles, cyberbullies, porno pushers and so on.

But as I said just before this, that is hardly exclusive to MySpace...either on the good end OR the bad end.

What? You mean the discussion about art "stealing"? I think this is a very relevant discussion! We need to talk this out, so that it can waylay further conflict between artists and certain MySpacers! But if you mean MySpace itself...freakin' good LUCK trying to get that (or any other) internet community off the internet! Come on! LOL!

I totally agree with Evo. Although people may ask the artists permission (which i still have yet to receive, myself) MySpace.com is a site to keep in touch with real friends and people. It is NOT a role-play site. What I don't understand is why people don't just RP on a Balto RP site, what it was created for.

Yes! I agree with Cat and everyone else!!

Cat...let me preface this again by saying that I have NOTHING against you. I love your artwork, and I am an ally, to a degree, in your fight to preserve the sanctity of your art and your control over it.

That being said, I wonder whether or not you could show me where, in the MySpace Terms of Use, it says that "(MySpace) is NOT a role-play site...(but) a (place) to keep in touch with real friends and people." And I wonder, again, what this bug up some of your butts is about the fact that people role-play on there?! There are so MANY role-players, covering every conceivable milieu (not just the Balto cartoons). Not to come off hot (and I really don't want to argue), but what the hell is the big deal here??

Can we stay on topic please?

The big deal is that art theft is wrong and we do not wany anyone even if its roleplayers thefting images or 'taking them without intentions of art theft and not notifying the artist.'

No no. See, you are obviously not understanding what I said. I am bothered by the fact that some of you people are being petty about picking on people who role-play on MySpace. There is no cause for it whatsoever. There is no written or unwritten rule about where people can role-play. What THIS amounts to is simple: anger about the art issue reflected as condescension about those who role-play on MySpace. Period.

Balto Source doesn't appear to have been a place for that, initially, either. But some folks probably thought it'd be nice to have a place for that in the forums. It is no different on MySpace, or in any other internet community. So I think you, and anyone else expressing a condescending attitude about MySpacers (whether they role-play or not), need to relax and stop acting like children.[/b] (To wit: "Ooooh! Grrr! That ******* MySpacer stole my art! Those MySpace people need to get a life and stop role-playing on MySpace! Because no one is supposed to role-play on MySpace! It's only okay to do that on Balto Source! Nyah nyah nyah!") Gimme a ***** break already. Pffft!

Roleplaying is not my problem is the the art thefting accidential or intentional. Everyone has different views if you want to keep 'arguing' about roleplay on 'myspace' go ahead. Its a pointless thing to argue about and this is abuot the stolen art not the 'roleplaying'.

Why would you even bring this topic here in the first place? I don't see how this is going to benifit any of side of this.

First of all, Drew...if you read all that I have said in response to everyone (especially Cat), my whole point of BRINGING this here was to try and bring a happy resolution to this issue (of some MySpacers taking art without asking, and perhaps even ALTERING it, and some ARTISTS trolling about on MySpace looking for them so they can take them on). It sprang up recently because of the three artists (from here) who have been trolling about on MySpace (now just one, apparently) trying to see who has their artwork, so they can then confront them. Confrontation is something that leads to flame wars. And I think NO ONE wants that. And trolling is stupid. There are more appropriate ways of handling the problem. Which is what we have been talking about here.

I have been the one trying to point out that discussing the merits, or lack thereof, of role-playing on MySpace, is IRRELEVANT to this discussion! But there have been a few people on this thread who keep going back to picking on MySpacers simply because they DO role-play on MySpace. Like it or not, I'm offended by that. Because it's something I do. So I responded.

Do you understand now?

Simply standing around doing nothing isn't going to work most of the time when people do confrot people who are taking art they are kind about until they 'thefter' starts to madly instult that artist.

I think now you can see why I brought this all up then. I am trying to take steps to help. Positive steps. Rather than just "standing around". I know you meant the artists when you referred to "simply standing around". But there are many of us in this one way or another, and with one point of view or another. And rather than see a growing animosity and hostility be fostered by what has happened thusfar, I kinda thought that doing what I have (including talking to individuals outside of discussion groups) would have had a more positive effect.

If it's unappreciated by the artists, as I can only assume you're implying, then I'll disappear, and we can allow this growing conflict to reach epic proportions. I seem to forget that many of the younger generations in our world today (I'm in my 30s, and was a teenager in the 80s...before the days of the internet) seem to think that conflict, hostility and confrontation, and vitriol, are de rigeur. And that being kind and benevolent, and trying to work towards peaceful resolution, is weak and annoying. (And I'm a conservative person!)

Well whatever steps people are taking I think it would be best if the myspaces were temporarily removed or frozen until all proper credit is given to the artists or the art is removed.