I personally was not offended by Oscar's picture, since I think I understand the tone in which it was posted. In my view, it was not meant to offend anyone or kick up a stink on an otherwise civil forum.
Now, I don't mean to pick a fight with you, benzapp, but how can you say Oscar's "personal opinion is really irrelevant" and yet expect the rest of us to honour YOUR personal opinion that Oscar's picture was distasteful or disrespectful? Obviously, everyone's sense of what is distasteful or offensive differs, because each of us has been simmering in a unique cultural/social 'stew' since birth. So perhaps we should just honour the genuine intention behind a forum such as this, i.e. it is to be a PUBLIC space that is democratic and non-hierarchical (at least in theory) where we can ALL share our views freely without censorship. And I know some of you will come at me with arguments about having to restrict certain people's liberties so that this democracy can function, but honestly, is that a teneble position in the context of an INTERNET forum? Isn't the internet supposed to be one of the last bastions of freedom of expression? (Well, maybe I am naively shutting out all the webvertising and neglecting to think of the corporate encroachment onto this wonderful global network...) Benzapp, if posts like Oscar's could 'get you fired' then perhaps you shouldn't click on them while you're at work? Or immediately click on something else if you see something here that offends you? Personal freedom, personal choice. Just my two cents' worth...
