Animation Source Forums

Well well. Now we finally appear to be making some headway. Beneath that abrasive veneer, I detect (I think) a desire to TALK about this, and maybe try and reach an understanding. If I am right, then maybe we can begin taking steps to undoing the damage that has been wrought on Balto Source from ALL of us arguing (and we are ALL at fault for arguing). I'm going to go on that with my response. If I misinterpreted your intent, then at least I still know where I stand. And you are perfectly welcome to share THIS e-mail with Steet, Dark_Wolf, DrewTheWolf, Greykitty, and whomever else if you so desire. I would be happy for them to see what I've written here, so they know my REAL point of view on this, and not what they THINK is my point of view. Regrettably, I may have to get "long-winded" here. It's the only way.

If you will re-read my first post EVER (and even subsequent ones in that thread I created) in Balto Source, in the fan art forum, you will see that there are two things that I DO, in fact, sympathize with the artists on (and I put it in freaking WRITING, so I don't know what more you'd expect):

a. Those who took art without asking ARE, in fact, wrong for doing so.

b. The artists have every RIGHT to be upset, even angry about that.

c. Those who took the art, and then callously removed the artists' signatures or, worse, altered the art (or both), are clearly in the wrong.

Where we clearly differ, and it appears we differ PASSIONATELY about this, is:

a. Your "final solution" to the problem (bullying, cajoling, threats, trash-talking, and blanket condemnations...they're in print, and some of it is on record in e-mail exchanges).

b. Your apparent point of view (and that of a handful of the other artists): ALL the "thieves", who took the art, did so maliciously and with the intent of HURTING the artists. And that the situation is exclusive to MySpace (something you people apparently revile).

c. My very REAL point of view: that, while there may well indeed have been some people (MySpacers OR otherwise) who took the art with flagrant disregard for the rules, and the feelings of the artists (even after apparently being, at first, asked politely to remove them), that there were also those who simply have shared the art around (as you now know), not realizing it belonged to anyone on Balto Source, or who didn't know that the taking of the art, without asking, was wrong. CASE IN POINT: I had no idea, up until one of your friends messaged me on MySpace to explain, that the picture of Balto and Jenna's pups, that you did, was yours (because I got it from someone who had either removed your signature, or she got it from someone else who did...yadda yadda yadda). When I was asked to remove it, I did it that very same day, qualifying it with an explanation. And after the one day that I grew FURIOUS at the tactics of your cadre, that piece of art has been gone. Totally. (Incidentally, Pample's video, which I have on my profile, also came from another MySpacer, whom I asked permission to use. When I found out it was Pample's, I went to her page on Balto Source with the intent of e-mailing her to ask her if I could keep it there. When I found no contact info there or even on her Deviant Art page, I asked Steet to help me find a contact point for her. I have an e-mail of RECORD to that effect, which I'd be only too happy to provide. To date, I have never heard back from her.)

d. Your obvious point of view, and that of the others in your cadre, that I came to the Balto Source forums with the purpose of a) defending the thieves (the record of which shows TOTALLY otherwise); b) starting a flame war. In fact, it was - primarily - DrewTheWolf, Dark_Wolf, and also Greykitty and yourself who first met my posts with hostility, which gradually increased to where DrewTheWolf and Dark_Wolf were openly and actively flaming and ganging up on me (again, it's an undeniable matter of record). And those two...Drew and Dark, have used those same bullying tactics on ANYONE (Silver Snow being a perfect example) who said anything counter to what you people believe (or who maybe even tried to point out the flaming going on).

e. My point of view that you artists (and I have seen it in your words, and especially in those of Drew and Dark) INSIST upon respect and maintain a "holier-than-thou" attitude towards the other Balto Source members, and everyone else. You maintain the attitude that you DESERVE that respect, and that the rest of the Balto Source community should be THANKFUL...no...they should be GRATEFUL that you artists are making your art available to them. That they should "look but not touch"! (Again, as any judge might conceivably say: while it may well be wrong for people to take your art without first asking permission, you assume that risk when you place it on the internet, where national and international law have a very limited reach.)

f. The inference, by one or more of you, that I am also an art thief. In fact, beyond the Pample situation (in which I already described my efforts to contact her), the "Balto's Love" story that I posted in one of my blogs, which belongs to Balto Source (AND MySpace) member "Aljan", was done with his permission and blessings, BEFORE I posted it! Because I was ON Balto Source, looking over stuff, and found that story (before it was the top fan fic at the time). I had liked it so much, I wanted to post it. Knowing that it was Aljan's, I asked his permission by finding him FIRST. And he and I quickly became friends. That is MY approach to doing things.

g. The obvious effort, by your cadre, to paint me (in the eyes of the rest of the Balto Source community, and Steet, with whom I had previously had a pretty good bit of communication, and NO issues) as a troublemaker, a flamer, and the cause of the rapid deterioration of the Balto Source forums. (NOTE: That is not only patently ridiculous, it is hurtful. I did not attack ANY of you until you first attacked me. I CAME there with the sole intent of wanting to help. I wanted to help you especially. Because I had learned of all this through the girl playing Kiona. She told me of her communications with you, and how they had fallen apart. She said she felt that posting the art wasn't a big deal. I encouraged her to remove it until you two could patch things up, and she could secure your permission. Do you doubt tha? I can provide the messages I sent her for PROOF. She agreed. But I found, later, that she had reposted the art. That's when I came to Balto Source...with an altruistic desire to generate communication which would lead to resolution...which would benefit EVERYONE. I did NOT start a flame war, nor was it ever my intent. YOU guys fired the first shots. And I don't back down from a fight.)

So...now you know where I stand. Now, allow me to wrap up, and offer some suggestions which might benefit ALL of us:

First, a wrap-up: you already know that Steet has banned me from the forums, shoutbox, and message center. This was because you all convinced him that I was trying to start a flame war. He clearly indicated to me that the bunch of you (though I do not recall his naming names) were angry with me for starting a flame war, and that he had no choice. You've all so convinced him, that now he's angry with me. He never was before. And so people STILL are talking about me (albeit less than before), and I cannot even defend myself (even politely).
You already also know that there are people on MySpace AND OTHER FORUMS who have possession of your artwork, and are not likely to remove it. That is not my fault. On MySpace, I have TRIED to get them to comply with the rules of Balto Source, and also make peace with the artists. But I am only one person, and I am not a teenager. Many of them feel YOU people are being overprotective and unreasonable. That is not my opinion, but I cannot change theirs. I shouldn't have to bear the punishment for that. Some of those people are also members of Balto Source. I know this for a fact. They've simply kept their mouths shut in the forums so that they don't stand out (or they haven't been to the forums). So those people continue to enjoy the benefits of Balto Source, where I have been locked out (AND offended and humiliated by Steet's banning of me). I didn't deserve that.

As to working towards fixing the problem? I suggest:

1) The bullying, hatred, flaming, threats and so on HAVE to stop COMPLETELY. Not only on Balto Source, but also on MySpace and elsewhere.

2) I am willing to do what I can to further convince those (that I know of) who have taken artwork (yours or others) to remove it from their profiles PERMANENTLY. I may have practically no power or influence on Balto Source, but I have plenty among the Balto character role-players (and some of the wolf character role players) of MySpace. Because I am acknowledged as THE BEST and most accurate role-player of Balto there is on MySpace. And because I take an active role in things there, rather than just hanging in the background. I will also remove any blogs on my page referring to this mess, and will post a blog that will speak to a peacemaking process, and the effort at resolution. There will be no further bashing.

3) You folks need to do what you can to convince Steet to lift his ban on me (though whether or not I'd be willing to immediately return is questionable...I don't take insult and humiliation lightly), and you also need to participate in the effort to put a STOP to the flaming there. And repairing the damage done to my reputation among the other members of the Balto Source community who think I'm some kind of flaming monster.

4) If you're ever going to get the more stubborn, younger members of MySpace, at least, to do what you want, then you need to tell your friends who are trolling and spying to stop doing it (and delete any profiles they created for that purpose)...AND you need to have EVERYONE stop confronting them with hostility and aggression. You KNOW no one will ever respond positively to that kind of approach. They'll just get defensive and tell you go to screw yourself.

5) You and the other artists should be putting your work back up on Balto Source. With Steet disabling the right click/save as option, NO ONE can take anymore art without permission of the artist. So I don't see where taking the art down was at all productive. In fact, if anything, it was punitive to those who don't deserve it.

Now...a smart person would respond to this by continuing the process, and working towards resolution. An idiot would react defensively and with more vitriol, and refuse to cooperate. Which are you?

This thing NEEDS resolution. Be smart. I am willing to take steps if you are. The steps I mentioned above. And I think you and the others need to take the steps I mentioned above with regard to each of you. I am willing to work with you (ALL) if you are willing to work with me. I'll even eat a little crow...but ONLY if you each will also...for the things you are responsible for. And don't tell me you're not to blame for anything, because you, Drew, Dark, and others are NOT blameless.