See that's what I'm talking about. That screenshot was definately not worth the loss of 3 (and potential more) respected and contributing members. No offense to any visitors but I would have rather lost many visitors, than Thave lost A&CLWoods & Boopish.
I may never have have talked to them personally but I recognize and respect their input to the community.

Po', don't do anything rash. We don't need to lose any more people over one silly screenshot. CLWoods will read your response, I'm sure, and will understand. She's seems the kind of person who will not lose friendships over piffle and correct misunderstandings, even if she doesn't return to WC.

It's alright Po. I sent you an email. No need to worry about it.
Now PLEASE, stop all this arguing. This thread is not about me, Troy or Bet. This thread is not about the screenshot being pulled for not being covered enough. It is about a screenshot with a person in a come hither pose that looks no older then 13. It is wrong to have put it up. No matter how you argue it or what you say, truth is truth. Those of you who can't understand that by now, never will. I appreciate everyone's kind words, but this is not what this is about. Please, do as Boopish has already asked and lock this thread. The purpose and meaning of it has been lost in the arguing and no longer serves it's purpose. Please.

clwoods is right, this thread has strayed very far from the original problem.  I'm closing the thread before things deteriorate any further.

Those leaving are not welcome back. I am setting their access to visitor. They should remove their works and be gone.

I will not tolerate elitists who would try to force their viewpoint at the threat of leaving. From here on out, I will personally expedite anyone out the door who pulls that kind of tactic.

If you can't have a discussion or a debate without the threat of  "pulling your work" then you are not welcome in this community. There will be no exceptions.

I will be going through this thread further and changing access to visitor of those who have said they are leaving. Because if they are leaving, then, go and be gone.

I warned people when WC2K7 launched that I was going to no longer tolerate a bunch of self appointed elitists trying to bully the rest of the community or the volunteers who moderate. The day of the elites are over. They can go to some other site and lord of its population with their demands.

 

The following users have been set to visitor and will not be returning:

TAWoods and CLWoods. Perhaps they'll find some other site where they can bully others into meeting their demands.

A community that can't rationally and calmly discuss an issue without people resorting to trying to get their way through coercion is not a community I would want to be part of.

Those who want to leave because we don't instantly capitulate to their demands but instead (gasp) wish to discuss it should leave.

 

 

I'm confused. Was the screenshot pulled by admins/frogboy, or was it pulled by the author? In either case - does anyone know why?

It was pulled for not meeting the requirement that the background be suffeciently obscured by windows to prevent it from being reused elsewhere.  There is an updated version that addresses this issue in the moderation queue.

It was pulled by admins because the wallpaper wasn't obscured enough as stated in the rules, not because of content.

Okay, I'll go out on a limb. I'm not trying to be a smart a**, but since it wasn't answered previously, how does this apply when using transparent widgets, objects, media skins and other transparent items or transparent effects?

That is how the author had his desktop set-up..customized to his liking.

Going WAY out here on this limb, but still NOT trying to be an a**.... To me, the literal translation would then be that we have to customize the desktops to your liking and/or guidelines. Which means we may not be uploading a desktop that is customized truly the way we use it or like it, which I thought was the point of SS. To show off our desktop set-ups and often inspire others looking for ways to set up or even clue people in on what is available in the skinning community to customize with.

Now I am on the tippy tip of the limb...but I have to wonder if this is why the SS was pulled or the best 'diplomatic' solution.

I think a lot of us may have been in err in our response to the SS. I would like to think that no doors have been 'permanantly' closed on anyone's part and that there is room for one and all to make amends and forgive and forget.

All you have to do is open notepad and have it cover enough of the desktop to make cutting the wall out.

But having said that . . would the people who left be happy if the lady in question's rear or face was obscured?  Probably not.

It's a sad time for me when I return here after ten days to find that three artists, people I had grown to admire and whose latest work I'd always been eager to see, have left and taken their work with them. I'm shocked and amazed that an unknown contributor who posted a wall, of little quality, could have created this amount of mayhem, anger, sadness and upheaval. The chain of emotional events that followed here have led me to examine and question my own behaviors and involvement in online virtual communities and forums. I'm still working through the event that led me to be absent from here for those ten days, the passing of my father, May he rest in Peace. Life's all about changes, and the choice whether or not to grow stronger with them. Cheers to everyone who stood up on their hind legs for what they believe in.

all my condolences my friend

seldomseen

You have my condolences too, and my thoughts. 

Mine also Seldomseen.. Hope your doin Ok.   

seldomseen,

My condolences also. You and your loved ones are in my thoughts and prayers.

I'm deeply moved. Your thoughts mean more than you may know.
He was 92, I'm 65. Feels like that little pac-man's gobbling along right behind me, now. Makes you kind of think and take stock of just where you are on the timeline. In all recorded history, we just get a blink here and we're gone again. "life's but a poor player...who struts and frets his hour upon the stage...and then is heard no more". Kinda bleak-sounding, but it has occurred to me lately. My son's Cub Scout Motto, "Do Your Best", sounds good. So does kickin' ass and takin' names!
"Plus la change", eh? Ride the wave when it comes. (note to surf-rats: "Outside!!)

What you want is absolutely fair, as long as we follow YOUR beliefs.

Well.

Goodbye.

Seldom....i'm very sorry for your loss....your in my thoughts and prayers. hope your doing well...talk to you soon.

Seldomseen.. I'm very sorry about what happened. My condolences also.