Hi ya'll, I hope this is the right place to post this.  (I'm not sure who to address it to; I guess Rapunzel or Bikerbraid.)  First, let me say that I'm not trying to criticize in any way.  I love the way this site is designed and run, and it's very family-friendly altogether.  But when you're reading a thread and you scroll down, there's a painting of a nude lady (L'Etoile Perdue by William Bouguereau) on the left side of the screen.  I do appreciate the fact that this kind of art can be beautiful, and I know it's just a backside, not-very-graphic shot.  But sometimes one of my young siblings will glance at the screen and see the picture,and they're like Whoa, what's THAT?  Well, little brother, it's art... :-[  I know you're very busy and may not have the time or inclination to change the pic.  If so, is there any way I could block or mask it from my computer screen?  Thanks so much!

I have had people make comments too...and they are adults. >:( I guess they think I am looking at a porn site or something.  ::) ??? :-[

you ought to be kidding right??? luckily i never posted the paintings i paint !   ::)

i think the paintings on this site or nice, decent and very harmless that is and i would miss them if they were removed.
my honest opinion ~¤ ducks ¤~

I love the paintings on this site, too.

If people can't make tell the difference between porn and classic art *shakes her head*

I find the paintings on this site very innocent...heck, even many commercials are more sexually implying than these.  ::)

*duck behing styg*

I will bring this up with Susan to see what she thinks.  We certainly don't want to offend or cause problems for anyone.  

Hi everyone!  I'm sorry if anyone feels offended by the classic art that is displayed in the LongLocks Boutique, that certainly is not the intention of LongLocks.  That being said however, the art is most defniitely *fine* art and very much a part of the design and "feel" of the site.  I tend to agree that people of *all* ages should learn to appreciate fine art in all its forms, even if it should happen to depict the beauty of an unadorned human body.  Perhaps had those people who so offensively accuse any LongLocks visitors of viewing smut had been more exposed to the cultured arts in their past, they would more easily ascertain the monumental difference between the two.

I do have a suggestion if it really is a problem for anyone, however.  You can easily change your browser's settings to display only text.  How to do this in your particular browser may vary from mine, I use Netcaptor which is built on top of Explorer.  The command to display pictures can be turned off in Netcaptor in the Tools/Internet Options/Advanced window.  Once you leave the site, you can just as easily change the setting to display photos again.  Good information to know for anyone who has children at home, as the Internet certainly *is* overrun with images and sites that most decidedly are inappropriate for kidlets (and any adult with even a modicum of propriety).  I am certainly of the opinion however, that LongLocks does not by any means fall into that category.

wrote on Jan 30^th, 2005 at 3:57pm:

If people can't make tell the difference between porn and classic art *shakes her head*

I know that it's art, and to be appreciated.  IT's just not the kind of art that's easy to explain why I'm looking at it on the Internet.  (This particular piece, I mean; in general I like the style of art on this site.)

wrote on Jan 30^th, 2005 at 3:57pm:

I find the paintings on this site very innocent...heck, even many commercials are more sexually implying than these.  ::)

*shakes head* what this world is coming to... ;)


wrote on Jan 30^th, 2005 at 3:57pm:

*duck behing styg*

Don't worry, you guys, I'm not going to shoot. ;D

Oops, simul, it took me longer to write that last post than I thought!  Thanks for the suggestion, Rapunzel, and no I'm not offended by the art. :)

I like the painting too. I just don't understand why someone who passes behind would even think it is porn or that I would be looking at that kind of crap.  >:( Some people always want to make a big deal out of things and in my case THEY NEED TO GROW UP! As BraiderSC said  "what is this World coming to" when people look for something to sqwak about!  >:( I'm all for keeping the artwork, I like it, anyone who doesn't can look the other way!  ;D

Autumn - I believe BraiderSC was actually referring to children whose time to grow up has not yet occurred.  Let them be children - it is their right.  (How I wish I could return to that innocent time).  However, if a young person does walk by and see the picture and comment on it - you take the time to explain the picture and its artistic composition and relevance.  When we educate children, they will learn to understand the difference between art and porn.

As another suggestion regarding that particular picture and placement - you can "slide" the whole page to left so that the left-most panel is "off the screen".  This would allow you to view the messages without worrying about scrolling down, making that picture visable.

~¤ scratches head ¤~  i don't think i was ever offended or baffled by nakedness as a kid ... on the contrary, there were tons of other naked kids on the beach and who hasn't ever seen their parents naked (small house aha)!? maybe it's just me, but times seem to have changed for the worse.

It's not just you.
I've never been offended by lack of clothing or cover either, maybe embarrassed on occasion, but not offended.
The art on the this site (on the forums in particular) doesn't bother me at all. It's all very tasteful and classic art and if anything it adds to the character and feel of the site. I've always thought the art here was a nice touch.

I also find the site art very tasteful. .... Lah, I take a very liberal approach to the human body anyhow. But I'll admit that I am embarrassed if an innocent bystander sees the site art. Or I'm more embarrassed by the fact that someone sees me visiting a site devoted to HAIR! Gods forbid people should be so obsessed about their HAIR! ;D

Anais

Now, that doesn't embarrass me at all. ;D In fact, I'm sure the people around me wish I would hush about hair for a while. They're probably tired of me talking about it...

wrote on Jan 31^st, 2005 at 10:54am:

Autumn - I believe BraiderSC was actually referring to children whose time to grow up has not yet occurred.  Let them be children - it is their right.

 ;D Kids need to grow up in their own time and stay children as long as possible :) but I meant the adults  that are so childish and immature that a little nudity 'freaks' them out...need to GROW UP.  ;) ;D

Though I also find the paintings depicted here very beautiful (most in part to an underlying hair envy, I'll admit) - ha ha...

My sis was here with her two sons - age 11 and 8 - and asked that I not go on the site when they were in the room.... Well, considering they'd be here for 4 days (and I don't think I'd survive 4 days without long locks)  ;D  my solution was to cut a piece of heavy card-stock paper just wide enough to cover the left hand side of the screen and taped it to the top of the computer - It acted as a 'screen' the the image to respect my sister's wishes, but allowed me to still view other photos, avatars, etc myself.

quick, easy - (and a low tech fix to the technologically challenged) ;)

nightowl

My work actually blocks access to this board - even though it lets the rest of the longlocks site through.
The only reason I could think of was the picture, as it lets through all the other forums I visit.

However, I definitely have no problem with the picture either - just with the stupidity of the software filtering our web access :P

It's probably for the best anyway - I waste enough time at work as it is ;)

wrote on Feb 2^nd, 2005 at 8:49am:

My work actually blocks access to this board - even though it lets the rest of the longlocks site through. The only reason I could think of was the picture, as it lets through all the other forums I visit. However, I definitely have no problem with the picture either - just with the stupidity of the software filtering our web access :P It's probably for the best anyway - I waste enough time at work as it is ;)

I think a lot of workplaces have firewalls that block access to most types of forums.