Can you guys work a little harder at not being offended? My post was not offensive in any way. The person In the picture looked like a child. I laughed about it. I did not say any of you looked like children. I did not laugh at you. We really need to get past attacking one another. If you're truly offended by something that you know clearly wasn't meant to be offensive, I would suggest a simple PM.
I understand that you didn't mean to attack any of us directly, but I don't think it's too much to ask that people of smaller stature not have their relationships compared to those involving underage minors. You may not have been aware that your comments could imply that and no hard feelings there. I just figured I'd bring it up because yes, it did offend me a bit. I didn't mean for it to be a huge deal as you often ask for topics to not be discussed when you feel like they encroach upon discussions that don't end well or that you disagree with, so I figured you would be understanding about me bringing it up out in the open. I didn't mean to personally attack you and I'm sorry if it came off that way or if you felt offended that I stated my disagreements publicly. I'll try to message my concerns privately next time, but honestly I thought a PM about it would make it seem like more of a serious issue that a quick discussion over the boards couldn't handle.
This is just like saying, "I am drawing Rodin's statue. Since the statue belongs to Rodin, then my drawing is not mine". In any case, it does not belong to the next guy who pass beside me.
Reposting her screenshots is just like reposting any fanarts or fanfics made. All of them are made with a clear disclaimer... All characters, lores, subjects etc belong to Bioware. That does not means they belong to another fans. IMO only Bioware can claim "these shots taken by Melissa (and other works made by screenarchers, fanfic writers & fanartists) belong to us". No other fan can do that. I am sorry to say that I reposting any of these works is a form of theft.
Very well said! Obviously fanartists know that the characters they're drawing or editing don't belong to them, but they definitely poured in time and creativity to convey something beyond what the original writers and artists did which has to amount for something even if they don't stand to benefit financially from it.
And even Bioware is supportive of fan endeavors - just look at the Fan Creation contest that just ended and their efforts to credit each artist and cosplayer by name and a link to their site in their Weekly fanart showcase. Using the excuse that the characters don't belong to the fanartists is a poor excuse in the case of Bioware series' when it's clear Bioware actively encourages individual fan endeavors and expression.
Edit: Oh oops, sorry. Didn't realize a mod came in to address this x_x
Editx2: Double oops. Sorry again. I need to learn to read all the extra pages that showed up since the last time I read the thread before responding. LOL. sigh