I can no longer in good conscience be part of a community which is supported by pornographic ads and banners.  This has continued to be an issue for me, especially for the past few years, but when I came in by "the front door" today, I was absolutely disgusted.  I'm fairly certain that my complaining (because I have before) or my leaving will not change the choice of ads/banners Renderosity chooses to display.  Pornography using real models is demeaning and immoral, in my opinion, and because the models are computer-generated doesn't make the display a lesser issue for me.  Pornography is reprehensible and a destroyer of lives- of children, adults and families.  There is no gray area- no middle ground for me.

My friendships here mean a great deal to me, and I apologize if I'm letting any of you down.  I will miss so many here, but several consider friends have my email addresses, and I have yours.  Please keep in touch.  I have especially been concerned about our friend, Dirk Monteny.  Please let me know how he's doing, if you know.  For those of you who don't have my email addresses, you can write to either fractalinda@yahoo.com or lindalmcc@gmail.com .

All the best to each of you.

Linda

I understand exactly what she means and am sure that so many of us are sadly missing her wonderful living fractals.  There is so much beauty to be found elsewhere that could be used -take the pick of the huge playground that is Renderosity in fact.  I have often wondered why the human body is permitted to be degraded so in these advertisements and why more people with much more influence than I have not spoken out. 

Linda you are absolutely right.  Renderosity needs to get a grip on this.  I feel realy sad for the sickos who, not only design the images, but the lame brains who rush to view them.  I wil miss you and your wonderful images.  I am still using your gradients.
Very best wishes
Jack Casement

It would be nice if we, as the users, had a checkbox to exclude nudity from our views on the banners.  The market folks who sell their wares could have a rating on what was allowed to be seen by who when they are logged on.  That way, we wouldn't have to worry about our children, grandchildren, neighbor kids, etc. seeing what they should not.  Bunny

You will be missed!!

It’s a shame that for a talented artist that you seem to be unable to differentiate between reality and this fake stuff. This is by far not even close to being pornography, so I don’t see where you’ve gotten the idea that the front page of Renderosity has what you claim plastered on it. Yes there is computer based images of barely covered female forms but that is it. That – is not porn – Porn is the sexual act taking place so everyone can see it happening.

Too bad the difference has eluded you – Render (and I do not work for them BTW) hasn’t displayed any “Porn” yet – at least none from what I’ve seen. Course I’m not here all day long also not every day, so I might have missed it if they (Render) did. If I did miss the porn then there obviously was not anything to miss because that is something we can all do without seeing for sure!!

Quote - I can no longer in good conscience be part of a community which is supported by pornographic ads and banners.  This has continued to be an issue for me, especially for the past few years, but when I came in by "the front door" today, I was absolutely disgusted.  I'm fairly certain that my complaining (because I have before) or my leaving will not change the choice of ads/banners Renderosity chooses to display.  Pornography using real models is demeaning and immoral, in my opinion, and because the models are computer-generated doesn't make the display a lesser issue for me.  Pornography is reprehensible and a destroyer of lives- of children, adults and families.  There is no gray area- no middle ground for me.

My friendships here mean a great deal to me, and I apologize if I'm letting any of you down.  I will miss so many here, but several consider friends have my email addresses, and I have yours.  Please keep in touch.  I have especially been concerned about our friend, Dirk Monteny.  Please let me know how he's doing, if you know.  For those of you who don't have my email addresses, you can write to either fractalinda@yahoo.com or lindalmcc@gmail.com .

All the best to each of you.

Linda

Dear Linda,

Sorry to see you go, but, hey, well done for taking and sticking to a view.

Whilst technically one of the respondents (Amaze Me) may be correct in his/her definition of porn, the sheer volume of prurience -- "1. unusually or morbidly interested in sexual thoughts or practices.  2. exciting or encouraging lustfulness; erotic .... Collins English Dictionary)  -- on Renderosity is a damned shame. The depiction of the naked human form in a tasteful, artistic manner can be (is) pleasing, but a lot of the awful, tasteless, unartistic nudity (and violence!)  placed on Render,  in advertising or uploads,  is not.  It is simply for titillation or exploitation.

Sadly, it seems that there is a majority out there who want this mind-numbing trash. With my tongue firmly in cheek I have a couple of times posted non-sexual,non-violent work under the false flag of  "Content Advisory" -- and wow, how the viewing figures shot up!! Not the comments/ratings, just the viewings. Tells its own story!

Perhaps the best resolution of the problem would be some kind of restriction on prurient advertising (it already exists on postings) -- but hard economics knocks that idea on the head!
Worse still, you'd have all the bleeding-hearts crying shame, personal liberties etc.  As well as the old cry that one man's meat is another's poison.

Wasn't it Andy Warhol who said, "Art is what you can get away with ." ???

Best wishes,    Red (Bloodnok)

Linda, I will miss you, and..
YOU ARE SO RIGHT  !! it is a continuous anoyment for me too, when I visit renderosity

and the same issue goes for the art-charts

juliette

Guess what?
A check of the Charts shows:

Mo**st viewed .............. about 90 percent ** Content Advisory

most commented ..........       only 5 percent Content Advisory

Seems you don't need to be able to write  to appreciate most of the trash that's posted!

Which is a crying shame since other than the soft-porn content this IS a superb and friendly site.

You are right of course. I posted a simple Julia fractal the other day, with the rider that it contained nudity.  It received 99 views almost immediately.....many many more than my usual images.....

too bad that nudity, and with that the poser-software-works dominate renderosity.

I am sad too that Linda decided to log off here. Her art is fresh, wonderful and heartwarming. So, it's a real shame we won't see her work here again.

Your point is very well understood, and I don't have much interest either to see all those private parts shown in uploads and ads. But then: sex sells - a very simple, ordinary thruth. Look around in the real world and you'll find that R'osity is just a mirror of it. Another point is: We have the possibility to upload our art work for free. Would we be able to do so without these advertisments? Renderosity staff needs a breakfast too :-)

Don't chastice me, I just see it from a different point of view. No rose without thorns ...

Best regards,
Andrea

you have a good point here Tropsie
juliette

Attached Link: Color Bakery

I've long considered you a dear woman and have also admired your work. How sad that you are going to miss out the enjoyment of sharing that work, and the friendship that goes along with it, because of the amateurish images from which Renderosity makes its living.

I am not a lover of porn (even though I strongly defend the right for it to exist, as long as it is nonviolent and non-children oriented); further, I think most of the Poser crap here is more of a result of hormones than they are any real talent. But I would ask you who you are hurting. Renderosity will sail along, raking in cash from their overwhelming specialty; and nothing will change...money drives the site, and a site this size needs lots of money to run. As a person who runs her own business, I am not unsympathetic to doing what you have to do to pay the bills, if it also results in a greater good. Renderosity can certainly claim providing a greater good.

On the other hand, you will be cutting yourself off from an arena you clearly love, and from people for whom you have undoubtedly grown affection. Who wins? Certainly not you. Who loses? Your friends, admirers of your art for sure, and you as well...but not Renderosity.

There is anti-virus software like Kaspersky that blocks banner ads if you configure it that way. That means if you come straight to Fractals, you never have to view another porn ad again. Isn't that a better, more practical, solution? Actually, it's a pretty easy solution--so easy, in fact, that you might want to look into it.

You did this before, Linda, and you came back. That tells me that this place is meaningful to you, and gives you pleasure, friendship, camaraderie and a million other benefits. You announced it on this board, too, instead of just quietly heading for the door. So let me be the first to try to talk you out of something that you will miss, and tell you that I think you are making a mistake. I would suggest there are ways to solve the problem without leaving. I would suggest, too, that leaving a place that inspires you to create, share and bond with like-minded others  will do more damage than viewing badly designed nudie ads that offend. Just my opinion, honey.

Mindy

Hope that you're still reading this forum Linda, 'cos Mindy above makes some very valid points. Why cut off your nose to spoil your face?
As you know, I am not a fan of the gratuitous soft porn and violence that plays too great a role on Renderosity BUT it does offer me a free space to post and view the art I like --- and I have learned to simply blank out the trash.
Your fans and friends miss your input!!
Red

Mindy's answer, I think is so very important for Linda, that I consider to copy the text and send it to her with personal email.. what do you think ????
juliette

Hi Juliette,

Yes. Do it. She may not after all be still reading this forum.

Red

thanx Red, I think I wait until I know the opinion of Mindy
juliette

It's fine, in fact, I sent her a link myself :)

Dear Jenny, Jack, Bunny, AmazeMe, Juliette, Andrea, Red and Mindy:

I want you to know I have read each of your responses.  I appreciate your thoughts, opinions, concerns and well wishes.  Thank you for your understanding.

First, I would like to apologize for letting any of you..or anyone here at Rendersity..down.  In retrospect, I may have done things differently, though my choice to leave would have stood.  Mostly, I'm concerned about friendships, hurt feelings, etc.  The art is secondary to that, from my perspective.  Besides leaving in a bit of a huff, I deleted my entire gallery, when I didn't consider how it would leave some holes in Weekly Window presentations, favorites, etc.  That was selfish of me, and I'm sorry.

Mindy, I've spent the day thinking about what you wrote.  You are a dear person for caring enough to "try to talk me out of something I will miss."  You make some valid points.  Problem is, my family and friends- most particularly my grandchildren, want to see my images.  I don't want them exposed to the sleazy ads..when they would be more likely to come in the front door rather than use a direct link to the fractal gallery..and, even then, possibly be confronted with Poser ads I consider objectionable..whether or not they "more of a result of hormones than they are any real talent."

I realize how a site/community this size needs money to support itself, and I know that sex sells.  I, too, believe in choice.  Renderosity's choice is to continue to support itself, in part, by featuring  these ads.  My choice is to not expose myself or my family and off-line friends to the ads.

I have missed so many of you, my friends, here at Rendersosity.  I've missed the comraderie and the ease of traveling about the community.  I've missed being able to view your work..and to post mine. :)  The Kaspersky option sounds like a good one for my computer, in any event, Mindy.  Thanks for the suggestion.  Unfortunately, family and friends would need similar software to be able to view my work.

When I left Renderosity, I searched for other communities in which I might feel more comfortable, insofar as the ads go, especially.  I found one called RedBubble that is based out of Australia.  The art community there has a few fractal groups, and, though the fractal art overall doesn't come near to matching what is here at Renderosity, I've been enjoying perusing the different media, particularly the photography and paintings- watercolor and oil.  I've begun to build a gallery there, in case any of you are interested:
http://lindamccarthy.redbubble.com/

No ads bordering on pornography, though there are groups one can join that feature nude images and the like.  I choose not to join them..and am not confronted on a daily basis with sleazy ads/material.  It's been an enjoyable experience, so far, anyway, and I've met some nice people there.  Not that I'm advocating such a move for anyone else. we, each one of us, need to make decisions that are for our best, in the long run.

I do appreciate the ability that I've had over the years to participate on Renderosity; to be able to view, comment on and be inspired by thousands of pieces of artwork, as well as post thousands of my own images.  I've so enjoyed and appreciated the wonderful people I was able to meet here.  Some of you have stayed in contact, and what a treat that is.

Farewell for now, and thank you again for caring.

Linda aka fractalinda

Linda---

Why not continue to post in a "family friendly" place for your family to view your work (either the site you mentioned or open up your own website), and continue to post here simultaneously? Not sure I understand why you can't do both.

Mindy

Dear Mindy,

There comes a time when one needs to stand up for the principle rather than give in to an argument that seems to make sense.  In my personal life I don't allow certain materials in my home.  I don't want them on my computer, either, regardless of whether or not they are in my face everyday.  I'm not trying to be a self-righteous prude, but this stuff I object to is garbage and has hit me where I live.  Through sad experience with one of my own children, I know how destructive it can be.  I know I'm being a bit obtuse- can't provide details, but the decision stands.

I wish everyone well, but right now I can't stop thinking about our friend Dirk and what he's having to endure.  Now, that is a matter of grave importance.

Logging off with love,

Linda

Linda, I hope to see you coming back at the xenodreampix yahoo group as well as to the UF-list
your redbubbles pages look wonderful ( thinking of joining there too)
hugs from me to you !
juliette

Dear Linda,
Just read your message, and, frankly, found it rather moving.

Must try the Redbubble site because funnily enough my main problem with the sleaze on Rendo is also the embarrassment of inviting friends and family to view my postings. I always have to warn them about the tacky stuff  and rely upon them to blank it out.

Well done for taking a stand and sticking to your principles!

Red

I will miss You and Your gallery, Linda! :(

Hi Juliette!  Thank you for stopping by the site and for your kind words.  I may go back to Xenodreampix, but not to the UF list.  Too much to keep up with, especially since my Dad has Alzheimer's and I'm traveling north to see him as often as I can.  Hugs, Linda

Hi Red, and thank you for your encouraging words.  Let me know if you set something up at RedBubble.

Hi Carl- I miss you and everyone here.  Thank you, my friend.

One correction to my last posted message.  I was searching for communities, but hadn't found any that I liked.  A very good friend from here pointed me to RedBubble.

Take care, everyone.

Linda

hi linda, went off to see you at the bubble, hope to visit you again over there soon.
already missed you here.
monica

Hello Linda,
I've tentatively put a few images on Bubble, but so far am finding it none too easy to navigate around.
Red