"Please stop trying to herd cats. " Topic

Marc, if you are referring to my post then you need to read what I wrote and not what you thought I wrote.

Weasel has it again. You should write an advice column!

For me, I found the pictures posted by both Bill and then Cyrus to be inappropriate and left me wondering why they would even look for such images on the internet let alone post them on this forum. To my mind both images (showing combination of model, costume and posing) are clearly sexual and just because people dress that way in public in some cultures, or at private parties in the western culture in which I inhabit, does not make them any less sexual images when presented here.

Presumably Bill and Cyrus think that pictures of under-dressed, very very young looking Asian women are 'cute' and it's only those of us who feel they were inappropriate on a forum such as this who have filthy minds, and are wrong to attach any sexual connotation to them whatsoever?

Interesting that, as far as I can work out, most of the critics are British, whereas in my experience it's usually Americans who are more 'sensitive' to profane language, 'wardrobe malfunctions' or similar naughtiness.

Trying to actually summarize American attitudes to sex would require an entire encyclopaedia :-)

American culture, as expressed through mass-market media, is both furiously fascinated with sex and deathly afraid of it.
It's super interesting.

I can't comment on other cultures than the Danish and the Americans since those are the only places I've lived. In Denmark, it's very matter-of-fact unless things changed dramatically.

For me, I found the pictures posted by both Bill and then Cyrus to be inappropriate and left me wondering why they would even look for such images on the internet…

Someone mentioned "cat photos," which reminded me of Catwoman, so I did a quick Google…

To my mind both images (showing combination of model, costume and posing) are clearly sexual…

Wow, I strongly disagree.

Presumably Bill and Cyrus think that pictures of under-dressed…

The picture I posted has a young lady fully dressed, though perhaps you object to the skirt length?

…very very young looking Asian women…

This just seems borderline racist to me. Are you suggesting that pictures of fully grown Asian women cannot be posted, because a Westerner might think they look underage?

…are 'cute' and it's only those of us who feel they were inappropriate on a forum such as this who have filthy minds, and are wrong to attach any sexual connotation to them whatsoever?

You seem to be objecting to pictures because you "imagine" someone else might find them titillating.

If you think it is all about that image, then you are entirely missing the point. I was objecting because they were entirely inappropriate for a wargames site that has already had more than enough controversy associated with paedophilia and sex related topics. It's bad enough that wargamers have this stereotypical image to the great unwashed (aka the general piblic) of socially inadequate middle aged men with b.o. problems without pouring bloody petrol on it.

It's not because she is Asian, it's because she 'looks' underage. I work with predominantly Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese students (plus about 40 other nationalities). I am well aware of cultural stereotyping and in particular how they can appear much younger than they really are. It's not about that. It wouldn't matter what nationality or ethnic origin she was, it's about the association of that sort of imagery with wargaming which provides the very fuel to encourage criticism.

I am resisting very hard from swearing at the blinkered attitudes here. Its not a suggestion that anyone here is in any way sexually-orientated deviant (and what you may do in your own time is of no interest to me) but the inability to think before posting (and worst still by the editor of the site itself) that draws this site, and the whole wargames industry, once again into shadows of disrepute.

I don't particularly care what you think about it Bill. I care that these pages are openly accessible to the general public and that we should be taking social responsibility for our hobby (which is already deemed to glorify war) in keeping it as far as possible from such controversies.

DeepH – what?

But yes, still think those pics were cute and acceptable in the thread. On a Naps the thread maybe less so. But I'm relaxed about them

Ah deeph – it was john and doug I was replying to. John I will shake hands with at salute and agree to disagree but amicably. Peace

"Borderline racist": what complete twaddle. Geoff puts it far better than I could – it's all about how young the girl looks, not her ethnicity. There are plenty of 'fully grown Asian women' who do not look like pre-pubescent school girls, just as there are plenty of 20-something 'Western' women who appear much younger than their actual age.

The photo you posted was, on balance, less open to criticism than Cyrus's (subjective POV, I know) but doesn't it give the wrong impression to casual visitors – what sort of photos might be acceptable if a thread casually mentioned nuns, I wonder?

"Imagine".. No, not at all, I'm quite SURE that a proportion of the readership, given its demographic would definitely have found those photos 'titillating' – not a criticism, just an observation that a significant minority of middle aged men everywhere DO get a kick, for whatever reason and whatever kind, out of looking at pictures of provocatively dressed 'cute' young women who look younger than their years. It's the same reason the NSFW forum is so popular with some.

Now I'm off to paint some toys – where did I put those Hasslefree Bunnygirl Footballers?

I cannot figure out if Bill really believe what he is saying or is just doing this to keep the hit count high and people returning to this site.

If the latter, I would say it is very much the wrong sort of hit count.

And, although it's not been mentioned, does he know the play on words behind the picture of the cat with flippers and scuba gear?

Casual visitors-really !

OMG

I care that these pages are openly accessible to the general public and that we should be taking social responsibility for our hobby (which is already deemed to glorify war) in keeping it as far as possible from such controversies.

Then why not ban all pictures of women? That would, indeed, be "as far as possible." After all, someone might think that some wargamer was looking at a woman with a less than pure thought in his mind.

It just seems silly to me to ban pictures which are not actually objectionable, but which someone might have a mistaken idea about.

Context matters.

Why do we end up discussing this so much? Let me use the conservative tactic here; thou doth protest too much.

Perhaps you are angry you needed to take a cold shower while the rest of us moved on to more knee jerking psychotic reasonsto argue….

BTW where the devil does pedofeelia come up on here? Thats reaching a bit. Sorry that 30mm miniatures dont have proper ID!

BTW where the devil does pedofeelia come up on here? Thats reaching a bit.

Back in the times of the Old Ones, one of our members made a certain comment. Some people – many of whom already didn't like him anyway – thought he crossed the line with what he said. As moderator, I said he did not. Much flamewar ensued, resulting in the departure of the old Current Affairs board.

There was also the case of the wargamer and rules designer who was accused in the Philippines of videoing underage girls. He went on the run, but was still accessing TMP. I gave information to Philippine law enforcement about his location. He was captured, but the case never went to trial – the key witness "vanished." Was he guilty? Was he set up? Did he bribe the witness to disappear? Where is he now? I don't know…

@ John the OFM – where do I send my nickel? :)

John T

That would, indeed, be "as far as possible."

That is obtuse to a Microsoft level.

Where are the lines, because I am becoming increasingly disturbed that you don't have any.

What, lines crossed on a general tmp board – the outrage.

I remain impressed…

I remember those days Bill but to bring it up now, well I see that as witch calling and cheat fighting. That was a really long time ago, too for someone to imply it happens here.

Dirty fighting is mostly my point.

Where are the lines, because I am becoming increasingly disturbed that you don't have any.

If you think the rules should be stricter, feel free to propose a new forum rule on the TMP Poll Suggestions board.

It's not about rules, it's about common sense and relevance.

Geoff that cat photo and was appropriate some of us felt

It's not about rules, it's about common sense and relevance.

Relevance is that it was a discussion about herding cats, and someone mentioned cat photos, so…

Common sense is that it's a picture of a young lady in a cat costume. Nothing more.

I'm not sure I even understood that sentence.

However if you think this is really just about 'that photo' then you are missing the point.

Common sense would have been not putting it there in the first place and creating what you knew damn well would be another controversy.

Common sense would have been not putting it there in the first place and creating what you knew damn well would be another controversy.

It's a manufactured controversy, in that you are trying to make it a controversy. If you just sit back and relax, it won't be a controversy.

The mere fact that this conversation is taking place is evidence that it is controversial

Only because you are trying to make it a controversy. There are plenty of conversations on TMP that do not represent controversies.

Unfortunately there are far too many that do.

And this is not one of them.

+1 no controversy for me – harmless fun photo

It is controversy to me.
And it matters more so to me firstly thinking about the recent history of TMP and secondly because our esteemed editor started it.
But as ever it will end with the deadly words: "start a poll about it".

I painted these "Cat people" 6mm Felids from the CinC SEM line …

I'm probably more inept … what do you want others to stumble-poll about?

It's not going to work. What would the question be? And what options would you give? How would you define what is acceptable and what isn't? The Editor and some other members have already shown that they are quite happy with photos that others find objectionable.

Don, I don't know why you are obsessed about kat girl photos. What I actually said was:

If you think the rules should be stricter, feel free to propose a new forum rule on the TMP Poll Suggestions board.

Talking about general rules about posting photos on the forums, not just about kat girls…

Fundamental issue:

The Editor … already shown … quite happy with photos that others find objectionable.

If the leader cant see the issue…

Still amazed that these photos are objectionable.

So poll away, but I will love to know how the poll will be worded to avoid upsetting EVERYONES sensibilities, as clearly we all have our filters set at different levels.

If the leader cant see the issue…

This is very simple. If you want to change the rules, make a proposal on the polls board and we'll bring it up for a vote.

What rules?

Keep going geoff – page 4 and counting

What rules?

The rules about posting pictures to the forums, what is allowed, etc.

Have we mentioned that asking a large group of opinionated, diverse people not to try to herd cats is a bit like … well … trying to herd cats?

The rules about posting pictures to the forums, what is allowed, etc.

Try as I might I cannot see any rules concerning what pictures may or may not be posted. Are there any? Can you point me to them?

I did find this;

What are the rules for posting?
Act like an adult, and remember that your audience includes people of all ages (including children) and from diverse cultures.

So who is the judge of what is acceptable for children and people from diverse cultures to see on TMP?

Dorks with extra pocket money for going to cons and making costumes.

Wow Rebel…judge much or are you just jealous that they have the money to do this???

Wow Rebel…judge much or are you just jealous that they have the money to do this???

As a dork without extra pocket money, yes I am jealous.

As a dork without extra pocket money, yes I am jealous.

Fair enough….lol…

WHY do you guys bite on Winston's bait?

I wish i could be as successful with trout or salmon…