It's been said, but I'll say it again. It's not the TOS, but how it is enforced, which is at any old whim of any mod.  Everyone here know's I've certainly made a stink about it, but I'm still here, much to the dismay of some.

Seems you want to have it both ways. It's all freedom of speech for those guys who post the anti-American stuff, but when I complain, it's "buy your own wsebspace or post it somewhere else".  Thanks you, finally, you have shown exactly what I'm talking about.  THAT is the double standard. I respect your right to allow anything you want. But please stop saying your even handed when you're not.  You have just proven my point. I am not calling into question YOUR personal partiotism. I don't know you. But, you know, if you allow your country to be defamed and you scold those who defend it, what is that? 

Quote - You can think what you want, but, I can tell you right now that there are many of us on staff, myself included, who are DAMN proud to be Americans.  I DON'T like the Anti-American rhetoric I read sometimes, but, you know what?  So long as they don't commit libel or violate the TOS, they're free to say what you want.  Your images were removed for TOS violations.  Not because what you created was contrary to anyone's opinion here.  You can keep on trying to paint us as the bad guys, but YOU, wizardtim, were the one in the wrong who got your images removed.  Don't like it?  Want to post those images?  BUY YOUR OWN WEBSPACE OR POST IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. 
We never said you can't CREATE it.  You just can't post it here.

MS

MorriganShadow, I know my images weren't banned because they were political, just because they were the wrong viewpoint.  I know you guys have to tow the company line to keep your jobs, but the company line is a double standard. THAT is clear.  I know being anti-American is real popular in most parts of the world now, but it shouldn't be here. It is. You guys have the ability to find any post with my name in it. If you would do that, you would find some pretty nasty insults directed at me, whose authors went unpunished. But I don't expect anything but more of the same denials and excuses. 

MikeJ, you are right. The Soviet Union seems to be a good analogy.  Seems the people who run this site are unaware of the reputation they have in other reaches of the online world. Yes, there is a vast online world outsider this site. So long comrades.

One more point. (I hate that I can't just edit my last post). I come here for the art. There are some amazing works here, and there are some very nice people here. But the frustration of what I've been complaining about is real, and it's based on real events. It's sad that the ones in charge dismiss my concerns.  I hope I am not banned for voicing my frustration, but I have always believed when a wrong has been done, it should be corrected.

I knew if closing it came from me, the idea would be rejected. But the facts are: Political discussions often lead to personal insults, which has happened to me. TOS HAS been selectively enforced, in favor of one view.  Many of the works of "art" there are first and foremost not art, but statements. Just look at the series where people are represented by circles. That is hardly art. It is a way for someone with an ax to grind to crank out opinions and insults quickly. The gallery in question attracts those trolling the web for a place to spout off, and I feel has been abused by these trolls.

It's unfortunate that only one view is sanctioned here. And that is the truth.

Quote - Just browsed through the first 18 posts in the genre. I found 2 or 3 that are clearly anti-Bush, but definitely not anti-American. The others are far more general in nature, some were decrying abuse or stalking, others were about pollution. Issues that are important everywhere in the world, statements that apply to America as well as to every other country.

The United States are the biggest player in the world. The most influential. So it's not surprising that its actions and policies are the most critiqued. I'm from a much smaller country, and whatever our government does, it just doesn't have the same impact, the same visibility. As long as the US are the leading power in the world (and I hope that will be a LONG time to come - though I do not agree with many of the current administration's politics, I shudder at the thought of some other countries becoming the world leaders!) it will bear the brunt of the critiques. A fact of life.

As xonocostle said, the fact that the posts you don't agree with are allowed to stand means that Renderosity does its part in upholding one of the pillars of democracy, the right of free speech.

So I invite you, wizardtim, to counter with your own art and statements. I will probably not agree with many of your views, but that doesn't matter in this context. USE the freedom that you have.

Your invitation is a bit late. When I first joined this site, I posted 3D art of a non-politcal nature. I had discovered Terragen and loved what I could do with it. Over time I wandered into other galleries. I saw posts that I disagreed with and posted images of my own, expressing my views. They were almost immediately removed. They contained no nudity, no profanity, only a conservative viewpoint. The reason given was TOS violations. That was clearly biased censorship, becaused I called into question people like Michael Moore and the Hollywood elites. However when posts from the other side insulted other well known individuals, I was told that they were not removed because of "freedom of speech".  

I hav also been personally insulted, in the "gallery" by others, and these comments were left up, not removed, after I brought these to the attention of management. So why the double standard? No one can tell me there isn't one here. Either freedom of speech applies to all or none, right? If you think I'm wrong, look at the galleries of those with the most anti-American posts.

My point is this, if you want an art site, have an art site. If you want hate of conservatives, go to moveon.org, but don't try to have a double standard and then claim you're open to all views. Why have a section that breeds hate? Why have a section that insults the nation that offers the owners of this site the freedom to have it in the first place? Geez, why is this so hard to understand?  

Stacey,

I stand corrected. You have always been fair. And I have not dealt with most of the mods here, but of the ones I have dealt with, you are in the minority. I will not bring this up again, and this will likely be my last post. I will visit from time to time, but as for being a part of this community, I feel unwelcome.  So Lampy and his buddies can run the site for all I care. They certainly control one part of it. So long.

Tim

Quote - tim, I dunno. it seems like things were alot worse in the old days (2002 and earlier). as to the galleries, the software is improving and users' skills are also improving. maybe looking for stuff one likes is better than trolling the galleries for things to scorn. my approach is that nobody's forcing me to click on the giant-boob images or the bondage stuff, so why spoil their fun?

I would rather see nice, well done art, than "things to scorn". My problem is, having been interested in current events for many years, I got sucked in to the current events gallery, and made the mistake of replying to some of the anti-American, anti-Christian posts that seem to be in the majority there. I admit, I didn't have to respond, but my responses were no worse than the posts. My responses were just not in line with the people who post there. That was my "crime". Since those people are not called for their outlandish comments, many of which are TOS violations, I don't bother to go there or participate.  But since the PTB tacetly approve of their anti-American rhetoric, I choose not to contribute here any longer, either by posting my art or buying anything else.

vexiphne, thanks for your comments. I don't mind sifting through sub-par images to find the good ones, but with the site being so slow, it takes lots of time, and life is too busy.  I just feel this site has degraded, not improved.  I find that sad, as well as how some like to attack others, and get away with it. There is one "gallery" here that seems to be "owned" by a few regulars, and anyone who offers different views are insulted. See above.

Lampy, you amaze me. You are the king of spiteful comments to anyone you disagree with. And it's interesting that "Yes I remember your xeonophobic, hateful and spiteful images. Fortunately the admins deleted them."  I haven't posted an image in 18 months. Unless you are here under a different name, "lampy" never commented on any. And only a few of the images I ever posted were political. None of those dealt with any issue regarding foreigners, so "xenophobic" isn't possible. And those, I removed. You seem to have a memory problem, friend. But feel at home. The mods like your point of view, so you can get away with anything.

TerraDreamer, I'll take your reply with the sarcasim with which it was intended, which reinforces what I said.  Thanks for clearing that up.

If you look at the original post, CNN is cited as the source. As the saying goes, "consider the source".   CNN has had problems reporting ALL the facts regarding their stories.  Before you panic, check other sources (not BBC).

Miss Nancy, what's your point? I am not certain of your getting at.

cobaltdream, The PTB do not care what we think. As long as the money keeps rolling in. Each of us as individual members mean nothing.  The only reason I drop in here is to view some of the artwork. I have purchased nothing for over a year, and will not support a site who cares nothing about it's members. Notice the silence from anyone "official".  It's a real shame, as this could be a great site, but instead, the PTB are content to ignore us when we raise concerns.

cobaltdream, I wouldn't hold out much hope that you, as an individual will make much of a difference. They didn't care about my opinions or complaints. BTW, I do spend quite a bit on 3D stuff. But none here anymore.