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Hello. I thought maybe this was a little off topic for this forum, however some comments about my pics and others make me want to know why some pics are offensive to some and why you think so?

Ok, lets please try to keep this debate civil.

I like to photography my knife collection. One comment on one of my photos asked about my 'fascination' with knives. The tone of the question (in my opinion) seemed to be questioning my mental stability. Hey, only my wife can call me wierd

I have gotten no other public comments like that, but I have recieved a couple of emails wondering how I could put up pics of 'knives'.

I have also seen a couple of other folks put up photos of firearms. There have been comments made on how they are offensive, or they cannot be 'rated' because the person looking at them is offended that a gun photo is being shown.

It strikes me a strange that some people are offended by simple objects, or 'worried' about people who own them. One poster refused to rate a members gun pic because he 'hates' guns. Let me explain why I think that is unreasonable.

I think most members here are from USA. I do notice however that many of our friends here are from Europe. Well, here in America we also have those that despise guns, and think those who own them are nuts.

Many people in America cry for gun control, restrictions on the size of knife that can be carried or an outright ban on all of them. However these same people are also the ones who wish to give forgiveness to violent criminals and want them to always "have another chance to be a productive member of society".

So often on the news you hear of a person who has murdered, raped, kidnapped or assaulted an innocent person (adult or child). Many times when the criminal is caught, it is discovered that he has been arrested many times before for the same crime, and released on parole and has been pronounced "rehabilitated'. Once released they waste no time preying on another innocent victim. So why is it that the same people are so willing to condemn an object, yet so quick to forgive a person who continues to misuse it.

I have a friend from Denver Colorado. He has been telling me how the city government has been going through a lot of trouble to write and pass a law restricting blade length on knives. However they have a fairly high crime rate with many of those crimes being commited by repeat offender who were 'given a second (or third or fourth) chance.

So, do you feel that it is simply easier to despise an object than a person? Is it easier to simply take away everybodys guns and knives because we dont know how to punish the few who mis-use them?

I welcome all members thoughts on this and look forward to an informative discussion on this. Thanks very much.

Also, keep in mind that most gun or knife collectors are somewhat like me in regards to the hobby. As you can see in my album I have a few knives. I have NEVER been arrested. I have NEVER comitted a crime. I am a law abiding, peaceful family man. I work, pay my taxes, love my wife and kids (and our 4 cats and 1 dog), and live a calm and enjoyable life.

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Well I think the problem people have of you posting knife pics and the other person who posts gun pics is that it appears you are glorifying these items. That causes problems because some kid gets on here and sees this and in a kids mind it is kool (intentionaly spelled this way as in the smokes, get the connection?).
I am NOT for gun control, nor am I for banning smoking (heck I smoke). But I do not see any value in todays society of having these photos where kids can view them, it just sends the wrong message to their minds. It's not just this site, I can think of several others as well.
I also think that these sites need to eliminate certain other photos so that the younger learning photographers from school papers can use the sites. As it is they cannot and they are missing out on a whole new experiance. School software will not allow them to access these sites

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Although I'm from Europe, I'm for gun control and I'm against forgiveness to violent criminals I don't feel that pictures of knives and guns are offensive (at least not to me).

However, it's not the subject itself which may be the course that one feels offended but its the way the subject is displayed.

Not only pictures of guns and knifes may offend people. For almost every subject you can find someone who feels offended.

If you have the feeling that your picture might offend (a lot of) people, then don't put them in your gallery or at least give an explaination what this picture is about.

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I look at it this way.. Someone will always be offended by something.. so OH WELL!... Everyone is entitled to like what they like and dislike what they dislike.... Posting pictures of knives being used in wrong ways or guns would offend me.. but it is stillt hat persons' freedom to do so.. If they find the pictures offensive then they can skip them.. As for kids viewing them.. well.. as long as the parents' are taking the time to raise their children correctly then there shouldn't be a problem or issue by seeing pictures of a knife oir a gun IMHO... Everyone's taste is different.. that's one thing that makes Photography and Art such a wonderful thing.. it gives the viewers many ways to see things through many different eyes... Ever hear the saying what is one man's junk is another man's treasure (or something like that).. Just be a bit open minded and if you don't like something then move on to the next shot.. Just my 2 cents!

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I've known Richard for a few years. He has taken photographs for me in the past of my knife collection for display and sell. My skills as a photographer are incredibly lacking, so I asked Richard to help me out.

I honestly fail to see the problem with any pictures he has displayed. Is a knife worse then someone photographing a hammer, a screwdriver, or a tape measure? NO. Knives and firearms are simply tools.

Would someone please explain to me how photographs of knives and guns are glorifying criminal activity to kids? Has he posted pictures of stabbings or gun shot wounds? No, he has simply posted pictures of tools from a hobby he enjoys and collects.

I am not known as being politically correct and I have the bluntness of a hammer to the crotch, so I am really working at containing myself on these friendly forums.

I carry a knife daily and have owned, used, and carried knives since I was 6 years old. I have owned, carried, and used firearms starting at the age of 10. My parents always taught me caution, safety, and proper use and maintenance. Never once I have used any of these tools for any criminal activity.

So again, I ask, what harm does a picture of an inanimate object do to the minds of a child? What do I find much more ridiculous? Parents who try and shield their kids from the reality of these inanimate objects. A prime time tv special did a test on kids raised in different environments concerning firearms. They had a non-functional, unloaded firearm in a toy box. The kids who were raised in anti-gun families where pictures of guns were forbidden were picking up the gun and pretending to shoot everyone in the room. The kids whose parents taught them about gun safety and handling made the other kids leave then gun alone and sent for an adult.

So, keep crying and whining about how offensive these tools are. The bottom line, they are just tools. If I lay a gun on a table, it will never shoot anyone, not out of anger, mental instability or even fun. It's a tool. Period.

JR

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Nice to see you here Nifer!!

Thanks everybody for your replies. It is noce to see the reasoning behind what people think instead of just little vague statements with no explanation.

I guess I dont see it as glorifying these items in a negative way. In my family our children are taught to respect such items as tools which like any other have proper uses and if misused can be dangerous.

As a knife collector I see them as a true art. I myself have never 'made' a knife, but I do know a few custom knifvemakers. I have read books on the subject and recieved personal demonstrations from makers. You would be amazed at the skill and artistic talent that it takes to make such a simple looking but very useful tool.

My dad has a hobby. He turns wood on a lathe. He can take a block of wood and make the prettiest bowls you ever saw. It is the same with a knife. A maker can take an ugly chunk of steel and with hours of hard work can turn it into thier own creation.

I guess it all in how you take it. It is shameful that there are TV shows and movies who in fact do glorify guns and knives as objects of pure evil and violence. I think if I see one more movie where some idiot holds his gun sideways and blasts a crowd of people I will puke. In my opinion only weak minded people see these movies as reality and cool.

Our use of guns consists of us going to a range with proper protective equipment, a review of gun safety with the kids and targets to be placed safely down range. It really can be fun.

For the record, my knife pics are here because it is what I enjoy. It is a difficult think to photograph. Most of them have different angles and they are polished. For a real challenge to see what I mean, take a butter knife from your drawer and photograph it. It is a simple object, but trying to get a quality photo of it will be quite an effort. I also enjoy the digital imaging aspect. Many of my backgrounds are my creations on the computer. It took me a long time to learn how to match backgrounds with the knives so they looked right...and sometimes they still look silly

My photos are never meant to promote violence. They are my attempt at creating a bit of art and something that people can look at and say 'wow, that sure is pretty'. Hopefully they will be seen as what they are, and I can send a message of my own that these objects are not evil and are not for violence. I sure hope that makes sense.

Note: Here is a knife from a friend of mine. He is a knifemaker that I have never met in person, but I have talked to him on mirc for so many years that I feel safe in calling him a friend. This knife recently won him an award at a custom knife show. As he says, he make usable art, not weapons.



Credit for the photograph gos to PointSeven Studios.

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Very beautiful knife! Obviously alot of work went into it!

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Well, the title of this thread is called "what photos do you find offensive". The discussion however is concentrated on knifes and guns and there are a lot more subjects which might offend people.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not offended by pictures of knifes and guns (displayed in the proper way they can be very beautifull).

There is a slight difference between the USA and Europe. Pictures of guns in Europe are generally related to criminal activities (owning a gun is not allowed to the common public). However, it's the viewer who makes the relation between the picture and certain criminal activities. As long as it is not the intension of the photografer to offend people, I guess no one will really be offended (at least not in this forum)

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As I do agree, the photo you took of this set of knives is pretty, because of the background you used, the knives themself look like they were made to attract the attention of the younger generations.. in particular teens.
That in itself is scary.
Just like in the past, how cigarette ads were geared to funny things that kids would relate to and get them to pick certain brands over others.

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Last edited by rct4905 on Mar 10th, 2004 at 11:25 PM

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quote:

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As I do agree, the photo you took of this set of knives is pretty, because of the background you used.....

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