My view is that art is about expression of emotions, and the expression of ideas is a different (not better or worse, jut different) kind of communication. I think the two types of communication are often confused, because they both can use similar media, although I believe that visual images are better suited for art and words are better suited for ideas.

Renderosity is an art community, and a great deal of the members are going to be more interested in investing the time they spend here on studying and critiquing art as opposed to sharing new or rehashed ideas. In all likelihood, those interested in pursuing those interests will do so at other websites at different times.

Yesterday I found myself at lunch with a group of conservative, reactionary women who were complaining about the volume and style of the music in their church. I tried to engage them in discussion about how they might go about compromising with other people in the church, and quite a conflict ensued. I realized later that I was proceeding under the assumption that they would be interesed in sharing my expression of thought on the matter, and engaging in debate. In fact, they wanted to complain about the issue and vent a lot of anger that, IMO was mostly irrational and self-centered. My mistake was that I assumed that just because it was an open forum, I knew what they wanted to do.

Anyway, I think that anytime an artist wants to create art that is emotionally charged, there will be controversy. If the artist also tries to communicate a message, often there will be active resistance in an art community, because the bulk of the community wants to study the art and consider messages at another time or in another contest. It's like going to a concert to see your favorite country singer and finding that his opening act is a rap group. It's not that there's anything wrong with the rap necessarily, it's just a jarring change from what was expected.

I also think it's very important to be aware that Renderosity is not just a public community by and for art enthusiasts; it is a commercial enterprise, subject to laws and business rules & practices that bind in many respects what it can do and what it will do. Regardless of the amount of freedom of expression we as artists and individuals have, no one is obligated to provide us with a forum for our views. We are all welcome to buy our own servers and design our own on-line communities.

Having the right to express yourself does not obligate your neighbor to buy you the soapbox; that's your responsibility that goes along with the right.

Jack