Matt Penfold

This is a sad day :(

this is just poisonous and unforgivable…. racism and pornography and religious bigotry are all just peachy keen and all fine and wonderful here…. but one woman who stays true to her priciples and it’s lets find any old excuse there is to get rid of her….. this sux so badly I just can’t believe it…. it’s almost a facist act

They were just biding their time waiting for an excuse….it’s the biggest load of shit to happen here in a long, long time. The inconsistency with which RB meters out itsdisciplinary actions is just mind boggling.

A disheartening revelation, I did not know Helen well but have been aware of her political and social stance.

I highly doubt an explanation will be forthcoming, given the discretion button has been pushed.

As for the use of profanity that cannot possibly be the cause

I often swear on here like a sailor…

NO! NO! NO!! This can’t be! Do we know of any reasoning behind this decision? Was it her own or was her account deleted by RB?

yes Marion… can’t have rampant intelligence and an ethical response to the world catching on…. blimey bring on the kittens and pass out the nembutals …. what a crock of shite

This is such a sad day for Redbubble,,, Helen was and still should be an intregral part of this community,,, I learnt so much from Helen,,, and it is not right that she has been removed.

“ RedBubble reserves the right to review and if necessary remove any content from the website or to cancel your account at its sole discretion, either because that content breaches this agreement or any applicable laws, or otherwise.”…... This is what RB clearly states

I have thought however that discretion is about good judgment. And for this to take place surely an invite for a discussion to understand Helen’s point of view is necessary to reach a point of discerning. We are to be reminded that this was on her work …..

But as this did not occur it will forever leave many wondering if this was just a back door way of getting rid of Helen. It will always smell of such and nothing to do about sole discretion.
Re-thinking what we have done and wanting to find a different response is I believe part of showing the sort of discretion that builds communities.

It’s a frigging disgrace! Not sure that I can add much more to has already been said – I agree with you all! But I do want to add my name and voice to the protest!

THIS DECISION SMELLS OF APPEASEMENT!!! BRING HELEN BACK!!! NOW!!! THIS COMPLETELY SUCKS ON EVERY LEVEL!!!!!!!!

WHAT CAN WE DO!!!!? I AM FUCKING ANGRY!!!!!!I WANT A STATEMENT FROM RB MANAGEMENT CLEARLY STATING THEIR REASONS FOR CANCELING HER ACCOUNT!!!!!!!!!!

Im disgusted matt – Helen emailed me – and copied me in on what was said… its totally fucked up…. sad day here at RB if you ask me…

Been there….......this is so wrong !

Disgraceful- change the name of the site to “Repbubble”............

Shocked… and saddened. I may not always agree with Helen’s viewpoint; but she is a smart, bold woman who stands for what she believes and can tell you exactly why she does. How could anyone not admire her? Can’t imagine what happened to result in this.

There is more of them than there is of us – I am afraid it is only going to get worse

Disgusted and appalled at her treatment….no way did she deserve this and as Ive stated elsewhere..it a load of BS on RB’S part.

The way this has been handled by RB has definitely shown a great lack of good judgement. The fact stands that Helen was constantly harrassed and had a hate campaign waged on her the whole time she was here. The person to whom the “fuck you” comment was directed played a long term part in that campaign. For RB to take that one incident without taking into account the big picture takes the whole thing right out of context….she should not have had her account deleted, there should have been dialogue. RB took the easy road….
Peter can also say what he likes about consistency in applying the guidelines…the credibility of that statement leaves a lot to be desired.
I have begun to shut down my own profile, in hibernation for now, but will begin to delete shortly. The way this has been handled by RB has definitely shown a great lack of good judgement. The fact stands that Helen was constantly harrassed and had a hate campaign waged on her the whole time she was here. The person to whom the “fuck you” comment was directed played a long term part in that campaign. For RB to take that one incident without taking into account the big picture takes the whole thing right out of context….she should not have had her account deleted, there should have been dialogue. RB took the easy road….
Peter can also say what he likes about consistency in applying the guidelines…the credibility of that statement leaves a lot to be desired.
I have begun to shut down my profile, in hibernation for now, but will begin to delete shortly.- RB is fast losing it’s appeal (which once encompassed a sense of fair play).

Apologies for the double post in there, no idea how that happened!

Shock and horror to say the least…....I guess everyone should be looking over their shoulders now ! I could think of a few…..

Admin were wrong in this instance, and over reacted.
Otherwise Helen would have had an opportunity to explain or defend.
And the other party would have been treated the same.

Looks like truth and reason lost out in this one…
when the bubble bursts, what are you left with…...?
(nothing)

Read “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood for a peek into the near future. Written some 23 years ago, this future is well in place by now. The keepers of the morality are just tools, fools more to be pitied than anything. Unhappy bastards…

I want to get in contact with some of these people who dislike the views that Helen expressed.
Nobody likes a hidden enemy.

If this is how ‘rules’ are applied, then none of us is ‘safe’ here any more….
Kallena xx

I was a Sailor for 17 years, and I’ve never used swear words on RB, there’s just no need for foul-mouthed profanity. Would any of us swear in front of our 90 year old grandma? There are some people who use this site who wince and cringe when they see profanity. Anyone can use swear words, but there’s just no good reason to do so. We’ll all be safe here on RB, if we just abide by the simple polite rule not to use profantiy or attack individuals. Now, I’ve set myself up for a flameing:-) ahhhhhhh. I do feel for Helen, and would have prefered that an opportunity for public apology been offered to her, and a promise not to use those terrible words again. But I respect RB’s decision and wholeheartedly think this site is marvellous.

I had no idea this could happen on RB; I mean the judgemental attitude and action. But then, like many, I’m not good at reading or keeping rules. To me language is a living vibrant, ever changeing means of expression and communication and should be free from shackles. But my early years were in a country town, where the locals used very colourful language indeed—which of course I picked up and loved to use—shocking my sweet proper granny who would give me small change (something I never had) and had a little coloured box and every time I used a ‘naughty word’ I had to put a coin in it. Didn’t stop my love of colourful language at all. Its a bit like our shock at seeing a naked body—ridiculous—we all have one if we’re lucky enough to be alive.