Quote - There's really no point in discussing the theory. Plain fact is that we're living in a phase of extreme puritanism [snip] In a phase like this, you simply can't expect a small company like Rendo to sacrifice itself on the altar of Heroic Freedom. They must operate within the existing limits. And all of us who derive some pleasure or income from the continued operation of Rendo must understand those limits.

I understand those limits. I will respect them. But have you heard of a professor called Timor Kuran? He has a theory about how "phases of extreme puritanism" and other large shifts in what people in general appear to think come about, how they are sustained, and how they lose momentum. "The hidden complexities of social evolution" he calls it. We all place different value on expression, on social status, on conformity. Expressing how you really feel about something gives you certain benefits and leads to certain social repercussions. The benefits of expressing your true feelings - like the fact that you like to ogle naked girls in lewd poses, for instance - is mostly that it makes you feel good to stand up and express yourself and to speak truly. And then there might be the odd external positive effect, like someone sending you a couple of such pictures to your PM box or something like that... The social hit is self-evident. We all know how "coming out" (in some respect) can affect your social life, if you come out on the side currently perceived as "dirty" or "in the wrong". This means that many won't express themselves truly. They surrender themselves with private truths and public lies. It might be something as innocuous a 46 year old Texan housewife who privately enjoys using a vibrator for masturbation. When the topic comes up, she will frown and call such things "unnecessary" and "perverted". In fact, forty Texan housewives might all agree, if asked in public, that such things are positively disgusting, despite the fact that they all privately agree that a little time alone with their vibrators is a nice way of relaxing on a thursday evening. Such social constructions and shackles surround us everywhere. They sometimes fall like dominoes, when someone dares speak out. Probably, that is what happened around 1989 in eastern Europe... But I'm not asking Renderosity to be a figurehead for 3D-CGI porn that looks suspiciously like underage material, like some modern Larry Flynt. I merely want to bring the topic of "apparent age", facial beauty and 3D up to discussion, and see if it leads to an interesting discussion. Where better to do it than here, where people are confronted with the issue on a daily basis? //Wikman