There Are Some Seriously Disturbed People...

[teddy_radiator]

On deviantArt. I have just seen the most offensive case of abusive, threatening and bullying behaviour directed toward one of my dear friends, sempraseverus. I know that dA is one of the most hypocritcal, screwed-up sites on the internet, but it honestly frightened me today. These two people were literally circling her like a shark, calling her names, threatening to get her banned,  openly plotting against her on one of her own comment threads...I tell you, it was like something you'd see in a flim. Completely disturbing.

I asked to be re-instated on dA just to be able to comment to my friends how much I love their art and to just try to encourage them as much as they encourage me, but this literally made my blood run cold. There are some seriously nasty pieces of work out there, and I find it disturbing that they are so gleeful about how they bully and taunt someone. I'm glad I no longer have anything posted there, and I won't post there again.

My artistic friends, be so careful. There are too many people out there who, rather than try to build you up and encourage and inspire, live to tear you down and hurl abuse, and that's what this person was doing - hurling abuse at Sempra, for no other reason, it seemed, than just because she could.

Comments

[mimimanderly.livejournal.com]

This is why I don't post there anymore. All the rules and all the good little Nazis that enforce them.... Rules are anathema to creativity.

[droxy.livejournal.com]

i know. i can't begin to tell you the nasty thoughts of revenge i have.

sempra is a sweetheart and the warmest person.

this is just bull shit. it's wank. it's nasty.

At least our sempra is here on LJ.

[pennswoods.livejournal.com]

WTF!!! I'm angry on her behalf.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

...and now they're turning their guns on me for defending her! WTF is going on??? Gone crazy from the heat, I guess...

[pennswoods.livejournal.com]

This person's desire to police the artspaces of the internet is disturbingly pathetic. I suppose that trolling and harassing artists with extremely literal interpretations of rules can be considered a creative act, but clearly one with very little social value.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

You always say the most beautiful things. I admire your pretty logic all the time!!

I wish I could think of such lovely things to say in the midst of being lambasted.

[eoforyth.livejournal.com]

I'm sure some people hang about making comments in places like DA because they know if they acted like that in person they'd get slapped and kicked out on their arse.

[reg-flint.livejournal.com]

That make my cold pragmatic blood run colder than theirs and attempt to get THE ABUSERS banned.

And I'm quite sure they're utterly bitter wenches who would shit if someone did it to them.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I posted one comment, directed to Sempra, and they all turned their guns on me! Remind me again why I thought it would be fun to get unbanned by dA? Dang, there are some nasty, nasty people there.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

That Seraphim girl just lambasted me! I got into a bit of a pissing contest, but dang I hate to see that kind of smug, self-righteous wank, oooohhh. One of them was at least talking about it in a reasonable tone, saying that people who use words like that do it because they know that 'words can't hurt'.

I feel like I'm in some sort of alternate universe where the good guys are carved out of cream cheese.

I tell you, the exchange and it's smut can't come soon enough!!!!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Unbelievable stuff! Honestly, it's all a bunch of immature, little insecure jerks that could benefit from a right good slap. Smug, self-righteous, horrible jerks. I mean, we're talking borderline psychotic! Jeez, I'm done playing in that sandbox. I'm staying over here where my friends have some decency and sense.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Kat, you wouldn't believe it unless you saw the comment thread. I mean, some seriously disturbed people out there. Psychotic. I'm through with dA, seriously. I'll enjoy my peeps here and play in the sane sandbox (well, sane for us!)

Seriously, the smug self-righteous berks. It will make your blood run cold. I've tried to call Sempra tonight to see if she's alright, but she's out - probably enjoying herself away from these nut cases.

[reg-flint.livejournal.com]

I have an ancient dA account. I'll consider deleting it as an act of affirmation, for Sempra. I'll beyond consider it. Who needs the BS? Definitely not a sensitive loving soul like Sempra.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I'm already thinking the same thing. These people are psychotic - I mean, hack-into-your-computer crazy. Just now, my internet access started doing weird things. I'm probably paranoid, but I'm asking Droxy about it.

[severus49.livejournal.com]

I saw it, I was there around the same time. I can't see what she did that was so wrong... Sempra's artwork is classic - so she made a funny! I've seen people change the color or put stupid backgrounds on pictures of Rickman/Snape, and call it art, and no one gives a fuck *excuse my language*. So why did this upset this person so much? I felt so badly - this was a friend? At least that's what Sempra said, but I couldn't tell from this person's attitude.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Utterly unbelievable. I just got off the phone with Sempra. She's okay, but she's just shocked at the nastiness of it all. These people are acting like lunatics!

[severus49.livejournal.com]

Oh, if you see me over there, I'm Slytherin33. And Sempra was the first person I followed over there with ArtStack. I cannot get enough of her artwork. Maybe we ought to start her a website just so she has some place to post all her stuff without the shit attached.

[severus49.livejournal.com]

Let her know that we're all thinking of her, and hope she's doing alright. Sending positive vibes and loving thoughts her way. She might not be appreciated by some, but she's loved by all.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

That might be an idea - she was lamenting that she would like a forum where she could have her art in peace.

[kellychambliss.livejournal.com]

This is too bad. I hope Sempra doesn't really take her art down -- to do so would be allowing the nasty ones to have far too much power. But of course, it's her work, so she can do as she wishes. Still, I'd hate to see all those excellent Severus portraits go. There are far more people who love her art than there are people who hurl abuse. I wish she could just feel as if she could ignore them. Of course, that's easy for me to say; I'm not the one being attacked.

[darklotus1211.livejournal.com]

I know you were banned from DA over artwork that was considered to be an underaged person having sex with an adult - and some of the comments made to sempra covered this and I finally had to say something on the subject.

I'm sorry if I sound quite dense here - but the HP books are set in the UK, yes?

The age of consent in the UK, Wales, Ireland and Scotland is 16, REGARDLESS of sexual orientation or gender. To be clear, this is the age that a person can legally have sex with any person over the age of 18.

However, in UK and Wales, if person A (over the age of 18) is in a position of trust over person B (under 18) then it's not on - so as long as Snape is no longer his/her teacher, there's really no breach as I can see it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ages_of_consent_in_Europe

I know that DA is a US site, but even in the US, the age of consent varies from state to state, and ranges between 16 and 18.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ages_of_consent_in_North_America#United_States

I'm not making any moral or ethical stance here, simply stating the laws as they stand, so I really can't see the legal problem as they argue it.

I don't see anyone being charged, or having their work pulled from DA or other sites over, for example, Arthurian, Ancient Roman, Greek, Egyptian etc tales or artwork in which girls of 13 and 14 are married to adult men or are sexually active in other ways, or in the series I'm currently reading - A Song of Ice and Fire, where girls of the same age group are sexually active with adult men.

I don't see George R.R. Martin being charged with kiddie porn, nor Marion Zimmer Bradley, for example, for her book The Mists of Avalon.

Shall we rewrite such a basic part of history and even current laws to satisfy the current social mores? How far should these sites take it?

It may be disturbing for some people, but that doesn't make it illegal - and that seems to be the argument these sites seem to be using.

So much of fanart and fan fiction is in the 'what if' category, and/or extrapolation that it all seems very hypocritical on the part of DA and other sites regarding this rule.

I know it's an emotive subject, and certain lines perhaps shouldn't be crossed for the sake of titillation, but I can't see how sites like DA can have double, triple, quadruple etc standards regarding this.

This is about art (supposedly) for heaven's sake!

I'm considering doing a post on this subject - I'll more than likely get flamed, but I think it's a subject that needs to be pondered and discussed - hopefully in a rational manner.

Edit - I've just done a post on this - I've repeated a lot of what I've said here, and a few extra things - I just thought it was a subject worth putting out there.

[howlingmojo.livejournal.com]

Wow, some people cannot get over themselves, can they? I took the liberty of checking one of the "Haters" profile out. And you were right. Troll to the max. Sad, sad people, that get a kick out of killing other people's generous spirit and creative goods.

Wank. Utter fucking wank. Shameless!

[melusin-79.livejournal.com]

Not sure exactly what's going on here, but it's obviously some kind of troll attack. Sempra is so talented which is probably why they're acting like twats. jealousy, pure and simple.
Please pass on my good wishes

[justpinkpastel.livejournal.com]

That absolutely disgusts me. I don't know what sparked the issue, nor what is being said, but it is sad that people get their kicks by bashing others.

[andyissadangel.livejournal.com]

Okay, just read what all that fuss was all about. And I understand it like this: one person told Sempra the rules, and that one of her works violates them, and Sempra thanked her. And then other trolls come and start trolling Sempra's comment, and it's all about pissing contest instead of art. And art is what DeviantART is about, right? Okay... I agree with Sempra, she should just delete the account, because wasting any more money and nerves on such a site (that clearly has double standards) isn't worth it.

I'm sorry to see Sempra go, but at least she'll be here, on LJ. Thank god for that.

[andyissadangel.livejournal.com]

Actually, went over the thread agin. All the trolling began because someone dared *gasp* to defend Sempra. Sempra was just shocked that one of her arts violated the rules, and that someone called her on it. I guess that those trolls don't have friends to defend them...

And you, Teddy, you defended Sempra. Kudos to you, for actually trying to reason with idiots. Like someone once said: don't try to argue with an idiot, they'll only drag you to their level and beat you with experience.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure, but it is just hideous, really nasty A Clockwork Orange style stuff. Really the most offensive thing I've ever seen.

[hogwartshoney.livejournal.com]

Completely lurking here..... but what could she have done that was 'so bad' to warrant that kind of response?

You can inbox me if you'd rather not discuss it here ;o)

[darklotus1211.livejournal.com]

I understand that - but both Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley were 18 by the time of the last battle, and dA pulls stuff with them in it too.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Hey babe, don't even give these guys the oxygen of acknowledgement - it irks the daylights out of me to post something directed at my friends, only to have these rude jerks blunder in because they think they know everything. I just delete the message and ban them from replying.

I despise this rude attitude that says, 'because it's the internet and I'm anonymous I can just push my way into a private conversation with no manners at all.' These are the anti-creativity mob, and I despise their 'I know the rules and I'm superior' attitude.

I've stopped replying because, quite frankly, I wasn't talking to them. If they did that in real life they'd be considered one of the most boorish, obnoxious berks on the planet, but since it's the internet, apparently it's okay.

[darklotus1211.livejournal.com]

LOL - I answered him via my email notification - didn't realise the comment had been deleted.

I felt quite the wally once your LJ page loaded - talking to myself again!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I apologise - no, your comments were relevant and timely, and I wanted them there. After all, I was talking to my friends, not some know-it-all buttinsky trying to show off his intelligence.

You know, I've just gotten a better understanding of why Hermione irritated the crap out of Severus so much when she was younger! It also leads me to believe that these 'trolls' are about that same age, as well.

[darklotus1211.livejournal.com]

No apology necessary - I was having a giggle at myself, my dear!

Yes, I can often understand how Severus felt when she was about the same age as my son -

I noticed that a couple of them were around the 15-16 mark.

[deedeebug95.livejournal.com]

I am not sure what really transpired with poor Sempra. I can say this,it sounds like jealousy to me, the wankers harassing her are raged because they have no talent of thier own. A few bad apples WILL spoil the bushel. i feell terrible for both of you talented folks!!!

[grumpygirl73.livejournal.com]

Wow, I take a month and a half off from lurking on LJ & DA to get married, and look what happens. You can imagine how much time it took for me to figure out what was going on over there having been gone for the last 6 weeks . I'm still not quite sure what happened but I did take a look at the profiles of those bizarre people posting on Sempraseverus' page. I would bet money that at least 2 of those accounts are the same person. I was a mod & admin on a large bicycle forum and I learned to smell sock puppets a mile off.

I hope sempraseverus is reading this: Please know that you have the support of sane human beings that simply enjoy your art and are grateful that you are willing to share it with people you don't know. if you do choose to move your art elsewhere, I hope there will be a way to find you. Wishing you the best, Donna, donnambr on DA.