Rant 

265 creative works found

• 

  Rant
  by David Spencer

• Why Artists Hate "Photographers" 101
  by DrayeArt

  Now, before all you real photographers come lunging at me with pitchforks and fiery torches, I want you to take note of the asterisks on …

  Now, before all you real photographers come lunging at me with pitchforks and fiery torches, I want you to take note of the asterisks on the title. My beef is with the shutterbugs who flood these sites with everything they think qualifies as photography. I’m talking about the one’s who take pics at their kids birthday party, their dog or cat rolling around on the grass, the rustic old shack down the road, their wife or girlfriend stepping out of the shower(or some other equally unerotic pose), their vacation photos, etc. These are the one’s who take a picture of a bird on a wire, 10 different ways, and post them all. One shot of the old barn isn’t good enough. Why not take 20 more, get it from every damn angle. And post them all. How about the macro shot of the flower, always a banal treat. Oh, and don’t bother with that pesky focusing. Don’t want you to get slowed down. Now, I’m sure I’ll get replies like “Well, there’s just as many bad “artists”. This may be true, but it takes a lot longer to make a bad painting or drawing than it does a bad photograph. And you only can post one version of bad art. It matters not, because the bad art will never be seen, getting pushed out by 50 more bad photos. True, there are some serious photographers on these sights, one’s with knowledge of lighting, composition and color. One’s who have their own darkroom and equipment. One’s with serious commitment to their craft, and a discerning eye for what worked and what didn’t. But even their work gets buried under the schlock. If some of these digi-dummy’s would use more restraint and discrimination with their choices, maybe it wouldn’t be so hard to see the forest for the trees. If they thought to themselves “How can I put a fresh spin on this subject?” or “Should I bother, it’s been done to death?” , these sites would be a tad roomier. I made the mistake, when I first joined, of putting a few of these members on my watchlist. Now, I’m inundated every morning, with a new barrage of photographic excrement. I even tried taking them off the list, to no avail. It just keeps coming, like some Twilight Zone episode starring Pauly Shore. Moral of this story, is that I pick and chose after I see the work, now, and that the best place to show these pics, is at your next Christmas party. Digital cameras, the slide projectors of the new millenia.

• Rant: Throw enough mud and some of it will stick
  by Jo O'Brien

  Throw enough mud and some of it will stick. A mantra of sorts that I live by. My art is not for everyone, or even for most people. Someti…

  Throw enough mud and some of it will stick. A mantra of sorts that I live by. My art is not for everyone, or even for most people. Sometimes it offends, shocks, upsets, arouses, inspires or invades the senses. I don’t consider that a flaw. I consider that an achievement. And I’ll put it all out there and see what happens. It sounds tacky but if it reaches only one person in a hundred, I’ve succeeded. I don’t care what the other ninety-nine people think about it. I just don’t. My concentration is fixed squarely on the person who ‘gets it.’ I’m happy to keep making art for that one person if it means I get to create the ideas and images in my head. To do anything else would be to sell myself short. If you are offended. Good.

• humble beginnings
  by Christopher Ewing

  I think every photographer has pretty much the same story, when asked, how did you get into photography? All the answers are the same ”...

  I think every photographer has pretty much the same story, when asked, how did you get into photography? All the answers are the same “I have always had a camera in hand, finally decided to make a go at doing it professional because I love it” / I know when I first picked up my camera at the age of nine, I loved it, had it with me all the time. It wasnt until many many years later til a friend finally convinced me to make that HUGE step in allowing anyone and everyone to see what I have shot and go “pro”. I always took the kind words of friends with alittle grain of salt when they would compliment my shots. I knew deep down I didnt quite have it right. I didnt “feel” I had done all I could do. I also felt they were being “nice”, and didnt want to hurt my feelings. So I basically shrugged it off for many years. Thanks to the internet, I had the capability to finally allow more then just friends to see my world through my eye in photograhy. So I finally took that step. / It was a huge step for me, at times I can still feel the butterflies in my stomach when I added a new shot, or even bring out a old one for all to see. Will it be a hit? Is it good enough? Will the public like it and want to buy it? Hell I still feel that way! / So many questions go thru one’s head when they put themselves out there with a passion they truely believe in. / I wont ever forget the very first time someone actually bought something of mine. WOW the rush I got! It just didnt seem Real. I went back a few times, checking out my account status and sure enough, I had finally Sold my work. I never really thought MY work would be good enough that someone I didnt know would want to buy it. I thought about my friends who had said I should take it more seriously from years past, and occassionally I do feel the regret I didnt get into it professionally then. Especially now when everyone has a digital camera and has become instant photographers. I’m here in a world of massive photographers from all over the country, trying to make a living off of it! Which means to me, I need to Learn and produce some of the best shots I possibily can. / The thing tho, it is in my blood, shooting, recording history with this little piece of equipment called a camera. Working on something that is artistic or different. I used to be intimidated by those photographers who had all that expensive gear, and fancy set-ups. At times I would hold my little film camera in hand and think to myself. Hell I can accomplish the same thing with this, as they can with that. But I would still find myself shying away from them, going off into my own little world. I think thru the few years I have openly put my work out in the public. One of the main things I will always remember and that is where I came from, where I started. I still get shy when I am around someone who wants to buy my work. I get sweaty when I am trying to get them a print of the shot they want, making sure it is as perfect as it can possibily be. So many times I feel the words “thank you” isnt enough as they happily go off with MY work!! To this day I still cant find more words to show my gratitude and honor. / I have met quite a few photogs, from all different levels, newbies, mid-ways, and the so called pros. Some have made an impression on me, some I dont ever care to see again. The ones that made the biggest impression on me, where the ones that were just like me, still humbled someone finds their work good enough to buy and show off in their home. The one’s who have snubbed their noses at me due to them having better equipment, or maybe had a few shows, or they are known in their town or known well thru the internet didnt impress me at all. Actually they made me realize exactly what I do NOT want to be as I progess in this field I have chosen. It doesnt matter if you have a throw away camera, or the multi dollar equipment on if you can produce an outstanding shot or not. I think one’s attitude has a lot to do with how successful they are, not what type of equipment they can buy. We all know better equipment does help, but it shouldnt ever change the attitude we all had when we first got started. / The humbleness and gratitude should be the same whether we are just starting or have been in it for 20 or more years. / You dont have to go to school, have a lot of money for high dollar equipment to produce some outstanding work. It’s all in the “eye”, it is how you see things, how you react when someone critiques or compliments. Its all about learning to use the equipment you have and making it work. / No one in this profession should ever lose that humble feeling just because they have improved. There will always be newbies behind you. One should always remember at one time, THEY were newbies. That is something I wont ever forget, the fact I too was once a newbie. Many have helped me, given me tips, they still do. I am like a sponge absorbing all information and tips. I use the input and incorportate it for what works for me and my situation at hand. When I see some people ranting and raving about quality, it really tears me up. It actually pisses me off. No one ever started with the perfectly focused shot, or the perfect exposure. We all started out not knowing a thing. It takes practice, it takes someone helping you along, it takes some honest good feedback, and of course a pat on the back does help build confidence. But we must all learn to listen to what we got Wrong, how else can we improve? In my case, and others who have progressed, Id like to see more helping out the newbies. Instead of ranting and raving about one’s quality of work, help that person. It could be a simple fix, something that person was clueless about and very grateful for the advice. / I had made a pledge to myself years ago when I started on my first public website with so much competition. I wouldnt ever be one of the ones who complained about another’s work. Hell if anything I would rant and rave about how a program used to help a shot is abused with oversaturation on colors or contrast. That is where a rant should be, the abuse of photography…not the learning. The reason I wrote this journal is because of a few forum threads I read. I immediately flashed back to a site I was very happy to get off of because of things just like this. There were more people that had improved and now felt it was their duty to point out flaws instead of helping fix them. / So photographers, even tho you have advanced and you’re more popluar due to your good work. Dont ever forget where you started from. Just because you might be able to buy all the top of line gear, your attitude and humbleness shouldnt ever change. Remember how YOU got started, and where YOU came from. Things YOU had to learn to improve. / But the thing you need to learn the most..is to stay humble, pass on what you have learnt, help someone out instead of spending time complaining, in time your own work will lack that flair. Helping someone in turn helps YOU, helps you remember where you came from, helps you stay sharp on techniques to use…remember….Pass It On. I am hoping that all that read this journal, will remember where and how and what they got started with. If it pissed you off, well to a degree I am sorry, but then to a degree I am not sorry. I hope this journal will make you think of how you might be treating someone who is willing to learn. I dont think there will be one person that does read this, can say..they didnt start out the same way as myself and so many others. / As I tell anyone who is beginning or mid-way, or even pros…. / practice, practice, Practice..and just when you think you have it ALL down…..... Practice some more!

• Cyber Stalking and Bullying
  by Jo O'Brien

  ^My usual disclaimer: This is just my opinion folks. I’m not legal advice, a psychologist or even particularly well read on the topic. Al…

  My usual disclaimer: This is just my opinion folks. I’m not legal advice, a psychologist or even particularly well read on the topic. All this stems from personal experience and keen observation. It’s unfortunate, but some people see the internet as their chance to behave like complete idiots, total sleazes or to rocket off their opinions to people who just don’t care. And some people seem to think hiding behind an alias and making rude comments online is actually a ‘good’ way to pick up chicks. These people can seem completely childish or stalker-ish or predatory. But they only have as much power as you give them. Jo’s Golden Rules for dealing with creepy, irritating, clingy or irrational people Rule One: Take the log out of your eye first / Did you just write a provocative political rant and now people are giving you a piece of their mind? Did you call someone a nasty name, or make an inflammatory comment? Did you ask for a critique and didn’t like what someone said? While freedom of expression is one thing, consequences to your actions is another. You may not want to admit this, but if you give people the irrits, or flaunt your saucy bits all over the place, some people will want to exercise their freedom of expression too. Yes, there is a line where it becomes unreasonable or wrong, but consider where this line is as a first step. Rule Two: Ignore them / If they bubblemail you, don’t reply, if they comment on your stuff, ignore it or delete it without a mention. Nothing drives an attention seeking person to boredom faster than when they can’t get a rise out of you. It’s like what we say to little kids at school “If Jimmy is calling you names, you just walk away from Jimmy and don’t look back” Childish behavior calls for childish measures. Rule Three: Report Them (but keep ignoring them) / The only thing less fun for these sorts of characters is when they are not only getting zero attention from you, but also have the authorities on their back. Bullying & harassment is against RedBubble’s user agreement and can be reported to admin using the links provided around the site. In fact, most sites with a social aspect have similar policies and reporting procedures. Don’t be afraid to use them. Ongoing serious stalking or threats to harm you are matters for your local police. If anyone indicates that they know where you live or are coming to get you, the local police will be much better equipped to protect or advise you than a website administrator on the other side of the planet. Rule Four: Prevention is better than cure / Use websites for what they are intended. In this case RedBubble is a place to share your creativity and connect with other artists. It’s not a dating site, reality TV experience or personal ranting blog. Behave online like you would face to face. And be aware of what personal details your are making available to the whole world. Useful Links / How can I protect myself against cyber stalking? / Risks on the Internet / How to Ignore People

• Casualty of Depression
  by dimarie

  Your eyes have lost their lustre, / Your smile I see no more, / Your lack passion for all around you, / Your depression is eating my soul…...

  All writing images poetry and lyrics copyright dimarie painter / 637FE-46E2D-C4743 Some people who are very dear to me are goin thru the depths of depression… / as much as I will be there for them, and do all i can… / sometimes i feel i am a bit of a casualty of their despair… / my own feelings and pain and issues are pushed aside, kept hidden, so as to give them what they need…. / I cant be there if i’m focusing on my own issues… / but sometimes it all gets a bit much / but we will get thru it / no matter how long it takes… edited to add…. / I understand depression, and its power… / those of you who know me, will knhow of my own depression that I have had since i was a child…and my utter contempt for my own depression, and denial and defiance of it that i go thru daily to the point where quite often i can come across as quite positive…full of life. / Its usually an act…to a degree…. / no words i speak are lies, i mean all of what i say, i see the good in all things, and its thru this that i have been chewed up and spat out too many times to count / and i have forgiven some of those who did wrong onto me / but others i havnt been able to… / this despair of my own, is always brimming just under the surface / always there waiting for me to get knocked down even slightly so it can consume me… / and so it does sometimes / but then the highs of life will kick in and i feel so great and truly positive and i have love and smiles for everything…. / nothing is really that bad…. / not lack of funds or food… / or peoples shitty moods / or dealing with all the past… / but it doesnt last / its never strong enough to coax my loved ones out of their own despair / and at times i have to leave / breathe / because their despair is contaminating my happy delusions… it threatens…no it does…take the sweetness out….. / and they see it…they see me breaking… / and it kills them / and that kills me / and its such a bit if a twisted mess / But i am resolved to be there for them / be there to the end

• 

  George Carlin Rant
  by millytant

• 

  Garden snail
  by Lenny La Rue, IPA

  Snails have always drawn my attention either as an irritant, a curiosity, or a slow moving, funny-looking, walk sliming transient. Moving from place to place can’t be much of a burden if you’re never far from home, can it? Even if the house is a one-bedroom, no bath fixer-upper. But you can also look at snails as the first RV’ers, traveling all over the place with all the conveniences of home but stopping every night to hook up somewhere new for dinner. What’s the buzz with the eyes? Are they REALLY helping the critter see “over” the terrain? Or do they just look upwards to find food overhead? I know that they don’t seem to watch with their big foot steps cuz they will walk right into a line of salt as if it wasn’t even there and THAT’S not too bright. Maybe they need eyes on the top and bottom of those stalks to avoid “going green” without reducing pollutants. What does it feel like if you’re a snail and you walk on salt? Does it feel like acid and fire or like you’ve turning into a Mr. Bubble and someone is blowing your parts into horrid, green circles? Either way, it’s got to be a mind-altering experience. Or do snails not have minds? After all, they don’t exactly exhibit a lot of breath in their chosen behaviour patterns. Crawl, eat, crawl, sleep. Crawl, eat, make more snails, crawl, sleep. Repeat until you walk over line of salt. But the most strange thing of all is how much snails love a brewski. Obviously, born alcoholics, they can’t resist an empty cat food can filled with even the crappiest beer. And they don’t just get drunk; they drink until they fall in and drown or pass out and drown or just drown. They even try to bogard each other’s beer and 20 of them can drown in the same 1 inch of flat Coors.

• 

  Piscean Ramblings....
  by dimarie

  / Piscean Ramblings…. the poetry - Piscean Ramblings Scatty piscean, / Where is your soul… / Gone off swimmin, / Into the cold… / Trippa piscean, / Your heart it is bleedin, / The truth you’re not seein, / Their souls are sold… / Foolish piscean, / Where is your sense… / Its all just a game, / Life its complex… / Tragic piscean, / Too fragile for this world. / Unless you tap in, / To that dark part of you… / Dangerous piscean, / Unpredictable at best… / Slave to your addictions, / Obsessed with your quest. / Pallid Piscean, / You so need some sun… / Embrace the daylight, / When tomorrow comes. / Maternal piscean, / You cant help them all… / Better to opt out, / And not share the fall. / Sensual piscean, / Static to the touch. / One taste of you, / And he loves you so much. / Gentle piscean, / Rage hiding well below. / Ruled by your emotions, / It is startin to show. / Passionate piscean, / Your heart it is bleeding. / But the world its not needing your love… / The world is not needing your heart and your soul, / So please will you bring yourself in from the cold… / Vengeful piscean, / Powers worth heedin, / But not really worth wreaking, / on the world. / Injured piscean, / Your bruises are healing, / Its now time to forgive and forget it all. / Shake it all off and stand up tall. / Loving piscean, / Crying piscean, / Crazy piscean, / Your one and your all. / Psycho piscean, / Emotional piscean, / Drained piscean, / Look out you dont fall. / Rambling piscean, / Ravin piscean, / Trippin piscean, / Stop thinking…. / No more. the work details / all done in ps / mixture of my own photographs / and public domain pics.. / poetry written by me. / can also be found here Image only without text is also available / Piscean Soul thankyou for taking the time to view my art and (hopefully) comment… / please have a look at my other artwork… / hope you enjoy! :) /

• 

  ranting
  by easternHeroes

  ......

• 

  Crazy Rants
  by Meagan Kenny

• Cycles
  by JenniferB

  *For those whose necks don’t r…

  For those whose necks don’t rotate who are unable to read the muse above ;-) Cycles spinning around and around like dirty laundry Patterns repeating themselves like old fashioned ‘70’s floral wallpaper Memories best left to die all which have been told except one which will never be told and the present is just something I want to unwrap myself out of. The future… who knows? I’ve started a few poems and songs but I haven’t been able to finish any of them… My brain is on pause mode, it feels like someone else is holding onto the remote control lately and I want them to press the play button but they keep me on pause. I hate feeling controlled either in close proximity of someone or remotely. People don’t come with ownership papers like cars or Titles and Deeds like property or Contracts like collateral or Licenses like dogs ...And a silent, unwritten emotional agreement is only valid if both people honour it equally investing an equal amount of energy, time and commitment to it because it isn’t actually written anywhere or signed the feeling just floats around in the atmosphere until eventually it disperses and disappears completely. Wow… That image came out looking kind of big! I think I’ll resize it…

• 

  Don't look now!
  by ToastedGhost

  MUST BE VIEW LARGE! This rant has been published before on RB but thought it went well with the image (This a rant and must be read with rage! (Written in the UK about the UK)) No revolution sparkle / the dried up embers of enthusiasm / stick like shit to a blanket / chocking all reason / slaying imagination in its wake / Universities, once the hot bed of political unrest / now march to the tune of the fat cats / Training executives / to become corporate killers / Reality plays virtual / as the ghost of ideology / rattle down poll station corridors / whilst sofas / slowly suck the life force / from couch potato voyeurs / mesmerized by the black box / black hole / of all consuming consciousness / as they vote in their millions / to evict some previously unknown halfwit / from the BIG BROTHER HOUSE / All gloss and no content / yet were content / content to live in a country where 40,000 homeless people walk the streets / content to live in a country where 6,300 people take their own lives each year / content to live in a country where 6,00 women are raped / and over 850 people are murdered each year? / You still content? / Hear my disent / but just to make yer feel secure / or rattle your paranioa / just remember this / we are constantly being recorded by over 300 cameras per day / At home / At work / At play / Big Brother is watching you!

• 

  Selfishness
  by Mark Gardner

  Abstract of the Monument Square Metro in Newcastle

• 

  Fuck It Smiley
  by Rajee

• 

  Concrete Bed
  by Tim Souter

  Here I am smashed out of my head, Laying around on my concrete bed Note: I’m not making light of the homeless situation in Sydney. / This man was on a rant at random passers by and then just abruptly sat down / and fell asleep. I was sitting right near him. I upped the contrast and underexposed it a little in lightroom.

• 

  The Rant
  by David Stuart

• Something about memories, secrets, past, present, future and who really gives a fuck anyway?
  by JenniferB

  The internet is a strange place, for many, like myself, it becomes a safe place, a place of refuge, warmth and protection, the life we re…

  The internet is a strange place, for many, like myself, it becomes a safe place, a place of refuge, warmth and protection, the life we reveal to others is portrayed on snapshots, tiny colourful glimpses of the entire picture, cryptic messages carved on the damp. cavernous walls of poems, stories and prose. Away from the internet we live, breathe, fuck, fight, earn a living, pay off debts, owe and feel obligated to people, in general we complicate our lives, more often than not, taking the easy road simply to please other people, keeping the peace to avoid conflict and confrontation. Life itself becomes a metaphor for codependency and we let others who depend on us suck the life force out of us. In taking care of others we lose ownership of ourselves… Our identities fall into the messed up, murky mosh-pit of everyday living. Some people have precious memories to look back on, images in the back of their minds that bring a smile to their faces causing them to sigh and shake their heads from side to side… Other people recall only painful nightmares and the memories that make them smile are far and few between. I think it’s important to remember that today’s experiences will one day become tomorrow’s memories,they’ll become the movies and photographs we replay in our minds over and over again… We can only change and shape those images by adding newer, happier ones to the album, and that can only be achieved in the present, by the things we do today. Wouldn’t it be great if we could put our memories through photoshop, edit, soften and enhance them? Ah shit, I’m just rambling, I haven’t written fuck all in a while and this is the only way I can get my mind back into gear… Creating letters and words out of my thoughts, that are unfortunately, due to a cocktail of mood stabilising chemicals, pretty limited. Sometimes I have to shut everything off, hold everything back, breathe everything in and close everything down in order to open myself up and let it all out. On those days it can seem like I’m non-existent… But I’m still here, just behind your computer screens, feeling and thinking, but saying nothing. We all have our secrets I guess…

• 

  Disarming Hones-T
  by Gregoryno6

  I suppose I’d be less than honest if I said that this wasn’t aimed at the Father’s Day gift-buying demographic… / It all came about during breakfast at a local cafe. All the copies of the newspaper had been grabbed already so I was reduced to looking through the latest issue of Wheels Magazine. Found some nice pictures of the Bugatti Veyron, along with this line taken from the article: You can, if you’re so restrained, drive it only as fast as a Pagani Zonda. A what? I asked myself, and it pretty much went from there. / Incidentally, if the bogan slob who bought a takeaway coffee at Bellisa Cafe in Bedford this morning happens across this, I’d just like to say PULL YOUR PANTS UP YOU REPULSIVE LUMP OF MANHOOD. Somewhere, it’s possible, a parallel universe does exist wherein hairy male arsecrack is a welcome addition to a meal. This ain’t it, and when I looked up from the magazine to see THAT from three metres away you damn near killed my appetite. / Get a haircut, too. You’re way past your teenage rebel years. / I’ll be getting along now. I have to replace the hard drive in this computer.

• Two Thoughts
  by JenniferB

  The other night I was brainstorming ideas and thoughts about Life, Death, Love, God and all of those other BIG unanswerable questions wit…

  The other night I was brainstorming ideas and thoughts about Life, Death, Love, God and all of those other BIG unanswerable questions with the amazing, wise and pholosophical Philosophy Lee and I came up with these two thoughts: / / People say they would DIE for the person they Love, when they should in effect be saying that they will LIVE for the person they love. / / True love… If it exists, happens when a person says “I will LIVE for you” / / Not / / “I would DIE for you” / / And more recently… / / I’ve physically died and been revived twice in my Lifetime and really… There was NOTHING to it. / / I know… Nothing too profound, but at least my Mind is beginning to kick-start itself into Thinking again and plotting words, so thanks Lee for the inspiration. :)) / / If I get any more spontaneous, quick ideas, I’ll jot them down in my journal to see if I can make anything more out of them some time. / / Sheesh… Cyber fucking is soooooooooo much simpler… ;) /

• 

  Clap Trap
  by GolemAura

  Watching political TV and went a little nuts. Made in Photoshop with gradients/emboss/patterns and a little sketch power of my own to guide.

• Solutions?
  by JenniferB

  Solutions Anyone?...

  Solutions Anyone? / / Background Info and Related Links / / I Love This Perspective / / I wont post any background info… There’s plenty of pages around that have already done that. / / In my view, closing accounts, removing sales or art and boycotting the bubble wont work, great in sentiment, but not so constructive in bringing about positive change or preventing the collapse of this community and website. / / There’s been many mistakes made throughout this ordeal, not surprising when people are feeling offended, hurt, under pressure and vulnerable, and by that I mean everyone concerned. / / I don’t want this great Community and Art Website to fall like so many initiatives I’ve seen collapse before it. / / For some it’s just a business, others simply an Art Gallery, and for others it’s a Family and Home. / / I’m sure one thing we can at least all agree on is that we don’t want it to crumble and collapse. / / So how about we all take a deep breath, quit focusing on the past and the mistakes people have made along the way, and start from this point on thinking about constructive ways to preserve the future of Redbubble and amend some of the past mistakes made? Yes… Maybe I’m just a fucking Liberal… Hell… I don’t even know what the damn word means, nor do I know the difference between Left and Right Wing, Republican or Conservatism. / / I’m agnostic when it comes to religion. / / Far too sociopathic to take sides in a debate on a personal level. / / And like most of you, I’m all for justice and fairness. / / But I DO know when people are hurting and lashing out, I think we’ve ALL got to start looking at our OWN part in things, instead of the mistakes or actions that OTHER people have made… / / For christ’s sakes, we’re ALL capable of impulsive, human error. / / Focus on building and reconstructing / / Not contributing to the Fall / / No???? /

• Is RB "soliciting feedback" on new policies and rules a "RED HERRING"???
  by DragonFlyer

  HI! / Many of you will be aware there has been somewhat of an upheaval across this website these past weeks regarding in general – the rul…

  HI! / Many of you will be aware there has been somewhat of an upheaval across this website these past weeks regarding in general – the rules and policies re expected behaviour and how they have been enforced. In response to this, RB admin and management are working really hard to put together as clear a statement re what is, and what is not acceptable behaviour, and what the resultant penalty for ‘overstepping’ any particular mark should be. Excellent!!! They now have an (apparently draft) document on this that is beginning it’s process of ‘solicited feedback’, firstly by having been assessed by RB staff, currently it is available to group hosts to view and comment on, and sometime (soon, I expect) it should be made available to the general RB membership to add their feedback. This is all a very fine, extremely difficult and confusing (due to the already extremely varied viewpoints expressed) and SLOW process. I have read the proposed new rules and guidelines pdf document I believe now 7 times, making notes as I go. On the whole, there are a few rather minor issues that I believe MAY be queried re how they are to be defined and enforced, but overall, everything is extremely clear and well set out. The earlier ‘rules and policies’ (when I finally found them) I ALSO thought were quite clear, well set out and defined. The one major difference between these 2 documents is that the new one allows for a ‘review process’ for those who wish to activate it, whereas there was no recourse to review before. / This is, in principle, a truly EXCELLENT addition to the rules and guidelines. So far – all fine and good and excellent??? Yes??? With, in my honest and truly thought through opinion, ONE EXTREMELY SERIOUS OMISSION WHICH IS BEING TOTALLY IGNORED AS EVERYONE (well – only hosts so far) RUSH TO AIR THEIR OPINIONS AND ARGUE OVER THE FINE PRINT IN THE NEW GUIDELINES – AS WELL AS ISSUES NOT IN THE NEW GUIDELINES AT ALL (LOL)....... The primary reason there was a great upheaval and huge anger and disillusionment throughout the RB community was NOT the ‘enforcement of any rule or guideline per se’. The primary reason for the huge upheavals and the extremely upsetting and destructive arguing in the forums over the past weeks was the PERCEPTION OF UNFAIR AND INCONSISTENT APPLICATION OF RULES AND GUIDELINES. RB management HAS ADMITTED that, since it’s not well advertised assumption of altered rules in February, it’s application of those rules HAS NOT BEEN CONSISTENT OR FAIR. Nowhere in this new document, or in any of the information provided to, or solicited (from so far only staff and hosts) does Red Bubble management provide ANY information at all on how they intend to implement not just this new rules and policy document (in whatever slightly edited form it may finally see the light of day), but also on how they intend to firstly make sure that these new guidelines and rules are implemented CONSISTENTLY AND FAIRLY, and, how they are going to be made to BE SEEN TO BE IMPLEMENTED CONSISTENTLY AND FAIRLY. If the previous rules were unable to be administered consistently and fairly – what reason does anyone at this point in time have to consider that the implementation of ANY format of ANY rules and guidelines will in future be able to be more fair and consistent than to this point in time? In my honest opinion – an EXTREMELY BIG HOLE in RB management’s response to the recent upheavals. I would hope this could be addressed well BEFORE any potential new rules and guidelines need be submitted to ANY feedback at all….. I welcome any and all opinions here on this – my statement of my opinion. However, I will not reply to any comments left here until, at the earliest – sometime tomorrow. / I am, at the moment, extremely tired. I have spent by far the greater proportion of the past weeks on RB policy and procedure issues, with virtually NO time to myself and / or my artwork. For the sake of my sanity, I am now, on posting this journal, going to turn my internet off, and concentrate for a bit on what I should be spending most of my time doing – my photography (as well as resting lol). / I resolve truly to not delete any comments here that may disagree with what I have written – I am interested in fair and open expression for all. / Cheers - / Kallena xx

• A poem draft (not quite creative enough to be called a poem yet)
  by JenniferB

  Not really a poem, more like just a few ideas about things to come back to and maybe work over into a more creative format some time, fuc…

  Not really a poem, more like just a few ideas about things to come back to and maybe work over into a more creative format some time, fuck my brain’s numb and my concentrations is screwed… Darn chemicals. Ah well… It’s a start I suppose. / I’m gonna jot poem ideas onto my journal every now and again to revisit when I’m able to string them into something more creative, so if it smells like shit, looks like shit… then it probably is! hahaha / / Untitled / / It’s not that / Environmentalists / piss me off / or that I think / their intentions / are wrong / it’s just that I think / respect / care / love / preservation / and / conservation / should begin / with ourselves / it starts / in the school playground / when the kid / who feels worthless / kicks / a can / instead of picking / it up / progresses / to the streets / where a whore / fucks a man / staining the sheets / discarded rubbers / and syringes / left to litter / the sidewalk / and then / ends up / in a foreign country / on a battlefield / where men / kill strangers / Bombs / left to maim / without thought / for life or death / no loss / no gain / dropped / in a minefield / blowing the arms / and legs / off children / and eventually / it all ends / with the death / of a Planet… / Teach people / to love / care / respect / and hug / themselves / and then maybe / some day / they’ll grow up / to hug / a Tree.