The-Roleplayer

Inverse scaling:

The method of determining a character's or characters' standing(s) within their own verse/series by means of comparing their own feats and statements concerning their capabilities and/or limits to other characters.

Crossverse scaling:

The method of determining the capabilities and/or limits of a character when put in a neutral setting against the rest of fiction.

Today, I wanted to post something regarding this topic. It is another aspect of fandoms that likely can lead to disagreement and drama, depending on what is being generalized. Honestly, perhaps we all need to learn about what generalizing is and can do, acknowledge it in a civil when it appears, and even work to prevent this habit that many people have fall into. Perhaps doing so could help stop others from unintentionally provoking drama within fandoms. 

At the moment, I have two types of generalizing in mind that results in bad affects for fandoms. I’ll explain them under read more in a bit.

What does it mean to generalize when it comes to a fandom? Basically, you are making a general statement or opinion about a larger group (aka – a fandom) when you really intend to speak about a smaller number of people within that group.

As an rper, I’ve only been active in a handful of fandoms, those few being considerable small when compared to the bigger fandoms around Tumblr. Many things can happen to make all types of fandoms toxic. However, I have noticed that one source of conflict is actually when people generalize fandoms. Generalizing can lead to, if not directly cause, drama between people.

This is a habit that a lot of people, myself included, have. We generalize very easily; especially when we’re commenting on things that are debatable, that are negative, or we are speaking about certain people but decide to use the word ‘fandom’ over calling said people out via by name.

The more generalizing becomes controversial or negative, the less we should use it. There will always be bad results, even if some people might not be vocal on their own opinion when they get generalized because they happen to be in a fandom.

Tumblr is a social media website. My intentions for pointing this out is not to sound like a broken record, but to acknowledge that this website is something that can be accessed from anywhere in the world. 

Our world is full of different people. This means that there will always be different point of views on Tumblr. A lot of things (culture, believes, race, even our individual identities and ages) can shape the people that one may encounter and interact with on this site. Just like anywhere else on the internet. 

Not everyone will always be respectful and polite, keeping in mind that other people may not be like them, or hold back their own opinions. 

But not one person should ever send anon hate to any other user on this website. 

Tumblr has provided an anon option on the ask system. This does not mean anyone should be free to abuse the option of hiding who you are just to hurt someone else. 

Anon: is an acronym, abbreviation, or slang word used in place of anonymous. 

Anonymous:  of unknown name; whose name is withheld. Lacking individuality, unique character, or distinction. 

Honestly, I do not see where anon, or even the word anonymous, allows someone to hide who they are just to send hate. 

Anon hate can be many things. Attempts to coax someone to hurt or kill themselves. Using rude, disrespectful, and/or negative context words. Bullying or lying about a user for some reason. 

Anon hate is wrong. 

This world is full of monsters and hateful anons are just another type. Anon haters are humans choosing to be inhuman, to hide who they are, in order to prey and hurt other humans.

Why do I say prey? Several reasons. It is a choice to follow/unfollow a blog. It is a choice to go to a blog’s ask. It is a choice to use the anon feature. It is a choice to send a message to a blog. 

If someone intends to send anon hate, then they are choosing to contact another person with the intention to harm that person. 

A lot of us will always be strangers to each other on Tumblr. Some of us become internet friends. It is bad enough that some users will send hateful things even without using anon. But strangers and/or friends hiding who they are to send hate is crueler.

If you have nothing but negative things to send to a user, do not abuse this site to hurt them. Your message, anon or not, will always be read by a human being. You are going to hurt another person, regardless of your thoughts or intentions. 

My previous post [here] was my attempt to explain how art theft happens on the roleplaying side of Tumblr. It has already been reblogged with commentary by others. A non-artist pointed something out that I want to explain.

I am not an artist. I can understand where this person is coming from when they talk about providing references for commissions from artists. However, they explain how they provide these references, which still follows under reposting and art theft since they only source without asking permission to repost. 

Reposting without permission.

Permission removes a lot of the trouble when it comes to art that is not yours. 

Asking an artist for permission and getting their expressed word (if they allow it) allows you to freely repost their work.

This is the safest way to do repost art without getting in trouble. Because reposting art (to share it or even use it as a reference for commission) means you are taking art from one website and posting it on another.

Not all artists want this to happen, especially without knowing about it.

It may take time for an artist to get back to you. From days to even months. They can be busy or they might not speak the language you speak. So never think not hearing back from them means you can repost and just source their work.

Sourcing does not count without permission.

Sourcing =/= permission.

Sourcing does not always provide where the original images can be found.

If you find an artwork on (Tumblr, DeviantArt, Twitter, or other legit sites that artists use) - then you have a better way to contact that artists for permission.

If you find an artwork on a more questionable site (i.g. Pinterest or We Heart It) - then you need to try and google search for where the original image is. Sometimes this doesn’t work, but that doesn’t mean you can just repost and source.

On Tumblr, it is very easy for people to remove the sources. So what you post could potentially be reblogged where the source is removed. And Tumblr allows most to trace posts back to who posted them (as long as the blog that reposted is not deleted). Thus, you can be in trouble for reposting stolen art (since you didn’t ask for permission) and putting everyone else who reblogged from you in trouble.

Ask this: Do you think it is worth the trouble when you can just ask for permission, even if you have to wait to hear back from an artist?

Reference for commissions.

I’m no stranger to this. A couple of my art friends have been kind enough to draw things for me based on refs that I provided via linking them to where I found my ref.

But there are safer ways to provide references without reposting!

A point in the commentary of my other post was that a lot of people do this. Sadly, they contribute to the problem of art theft when they repost art without getting permission first. Their actions are still wrong and seen as stealing, even if there is a source.

Artists are trying to explain why this is wrong. Conflict often starts because not everyone can explain this in the best ways for non-artists to understand completely. Especially when non-artists bring in other elements such as paying for commissions.

It’s simple. No one (artists or non-artists) should repost work that is not their own without permission. Sourcing does not count without permission given by the original artist. 

Otherwise, if permission is not given, anyone reposting art regardless if they source it means they are stealing that art which does not belong to them.

Here is one major way you can provide a reference for an artist without reposting the art.

Give the link (aka the source) to the artist that you are commission from.

Also, if you have a habit of just posting onto Tumblr, make use of Tumblr’s link function. You can take the link and post it instead of the artwork itself.

Last words.

I’ve mentioned that I am not an artist. So I want to say this to other non-artists, since I saw that this point was used as an argument against my last post. Maybe you can understand from a common ground.

Keep your views on commissions and how artists price their artwork separate from the whole of art theft and reposting. 

Honestly, they are two different topics. They are not the same thing.

You should not be using commissions and prices to explain why you steal art (in the form of reposting without permission given by the original artist) to provide ref for the art that you are paying for.

There are other ways to provide refs without reposting. There are ways to get permission if you want to just share art and help promote the original artist.

So, yes, I said in my other post that it is unacceptable to repost art even if you source it. Because source =/= permission by the artist to use their art for reposting or anything else.

If a non-artist is willing to take the time and effort into budgeting for commissions, then they should understand that another person’s art that they use for reference had a lot of time, effort, and possibly money put into it, too.

Art theft, in general, is a prominent problem that many artists face at some point.

There are a lot of posts on Tumblr that detail this problem already. Yes, I have seen the common view as well as a few ‘fine-line’ opinions on the matter. But for this post, I’ve decided to talk about art theft when it appears in roleplaying.

Where do we see art in roleplaying?

Everywhere. Literally.

Art appears in many ways on Tumblr. It can be sketches, doodles, or full images posted for characters or fandoms. It can be gifs or icons to use in threads. It can also be the images that appear on each blog. From the blog’s dash icon, to sidebar, to the theme and pages.

There is a difference between using official art and fanart or fan-edits.

Official art comes from works that appear in the different types of media (i.g. anime/manga, tv shows, or promotions). While a lot of official artwork might not be public domain, it is commonly accepted for people to use it for graphics, icons, or even gifs.

To put it simple, using official art is not viewed as stealing. However, fanart or fan-edits are viewed differently than official art.

Fanart and fan-edits (edits of any original art) are not protected legally as official artwork is. Artists and many others hold all fanart and fan-edits as being the property of the person or people who create them. Thus, no one should take fanart or fan-edits for use without expressed permission of the creator.

How is fanart and fan-edits stolen?

Reposting on Tumblr without getting the expressed permission from the artist. There will be some people who say sourcing the fanart makes this okay. However, no one should ever assume this! If you have not spoken to the original artist and gotten their permission 100%, do not repost fanart that is not your own, even if you plan to source it.

Icons. Roleplayers liked to have small images of their face claims to help express their muses in threads. However, I want to explain this in two parts.

Part 1: Many muns will go out of their way to customize their own icons for many reasons. Maybe one mun wants to stand out with their unique images. But a big reason is to prevent anyone from just using their icons. Depending on how the icon is made, a lot of time goes into making these small images. From specific sizes to editing to adding watermarks. The more customized a icon is, the easier it is to tell if someone takes and uses it without permission.

Part 2: Icons made from fanart. This kind of relates to the ‘do not repost fanart without permission’. If you do not have permission from the artist, then you are stealing their art when you make icons from it. Icon making often involves re-sizing and altering an image. So, essentially, you are butchering someone’s fanart for a small images that you are going to be reposting often (if it’s used for roleplaying). Just don’t do it if you’re not going to have permission.

Fan-edits. I’m not sure if this term is used by other people. I phase it to stand in for things made from official artwork that doesn’t really fit as original fanart. This can be icons, graphics, or just altered official images. Treat this as you would treat fanart. Someone does take the time to create fan-edits. And, yes, they can get upset if someone else uses these fan-edits without the creator’s expressed permission. So just don’t take anyone else’s fan-edit for icons or any blog image unless you ask the person who made it if you can.

Respect the artists.

Do no steal fanart or fan-edits.

Do no repost unless you have permission. Sourcing does not count as permission.

Do not use fanart or fan-edits if you do not have permission for: icons, dash/blog icon, sidebar, theme, or pages.

If you disagree with this, then consider talking to different artists. See their views and opinions on the matter. Imagine if you created a fanart or fan-edit and someone took it without asking you.

Pro tip: Never vague post about a roleplayer or a fandom.

Tumblr is a social media website that is accessible throughout the world by all kinds of people who come from different places and backgrounds. No one is going to have the exact same point of view, reasoning, or opinions as you.

So it is very easy for someone to misunderstand or misinterpret your words when you vague post on someone or some fandom. Honestly, even if the devil is in the details, do not be afraid to use those details so you don’t end up generalizing what you are talking about.

If you don’t want to generalize or use use details, then do not vague post at all. You can avoid making things public and risk provoking others.

If you really do need to vague post (because, yes, everyone has these moments) then consider using a personal blog that’s private or go to a vent blog that is not associated directly with anything.

Fandoms, and some roleplayers, will be toxic.

It can be very unhealthy places and people to be around. Especially when drama erupts because of one simple vague post. The moment things get public, the more likely augments and hate will raise. 

There is a new glitch going around Tumblr. I’ve witnessed it on my other blogs and heard of it from followers. There is a way to prevent this glitch from removing all previous comments of a post that you want to reblog.

I believe you are talking about the gif from this meme on my friend’s blog. She answered a similar anon here.