You have clearly explained how sarcastic you are. Therefore, you are very sarcastic.

I came to the conclusion based on Confused’s and Gaurav’s post. It was only later that the i saw comment all over the place (in your’s vulturo’s, confused’s and gaurav’s post) that i saw there were enough people on both sides.

I also said, “I’m pretty sure there are those who think the pics were indeed necessary.” Now I do know that there are many who think what you did was right. Thats exactly what I meant.

I admit I made a mistake in estimating the number of people on both sides and coming to a conclusion. That was before I read Vulturo’s post. That was before enough reactions came in.

And I am not taking any sides. I am still divided over victims’ rights vs right to expression issue here. I respect your opinion as well as others equally.

“Or is that the result of an SMS poll on Aaj Tak conducted by a certain blogger who presumes he’s on a vantage point about everything?” This was not called for.

Shankar, how did you come to that conclusion? Or is that the result of an SMS poll on Aaj Tak conducted by a certain blogger who presumes he’s on a vantage point about everything?

Surely, you are upholding all the ethical and moral values of this world!

Thanks!

Cheers,
HP

- “Blogs often provide commentary or news on a particular subject… …some function as more personal online diaries“…”The modern blog evolved from the online diary where people would keep a running account of their personal lives.”

Exactly my contention…Blogs are diaries and not Forums with like-minded members. If Shivam felt that the pic would make a difference to his content, that his right to expression.

I agree with Confused that he has as much right to disagree…maybe as a separate post in his blog as done by Vulturo. When he did it on DP (though contributors can add a detail or two, have a mind of their own, etc etc) especially with just a statement that he agrees with Gaurav, I felt something weird…cos, lemme repeat, Gaurav’s post is a personal attack on SV more than anything else. So does Confused share the same personal views on SV as GS? and again I insist G’s choice of words about a fellow blogger defenitely IS NOT among the best that Indian blogosphere has to offer. and GS in his update clearly states about his history of resentment again SV. not very Bloggish, in my humble opinion. And I feel, strongly, that GS in his post is questioning someone’s Fredom of Expression.

Confused>You sound so patronizing when you say “Good Gesture”. Maybe I’m not one of those intellectual bloggers and may have got it wrong. You, (by agreeing to GS) made it look like SV has committed a major crime by offending the sentiments of HIS readers. And when he removed the pic from his blog, you appreciate him..sorta “good Boy..dont eat more than 2 chocolates” or more like “Hey Good Boy, you changed your blog from X to U, thanks for doing what we liked”. I find that distasteful and worse than arm-twisting someone.

Now, now, I wonder what some of you would say if some Video or Photo blog decides to post a note about The Massacre.

As a general rule, when DP contributors link to something, they can add a line or two detailing their pov. Thats all I did, when I said that I agree with Gaurav. It is up to reader’s individual judgment to decide whom they want to agree with.

I have linked to Vulturo’s post too, even though I don’t agree with it.

One thing I forgot to add. I do not represent DP, whatever I write are my individual views. I am quite surprised that according to you, criticizm is the same as censorship!

Thank you for drilling sense in my head.

Imagine this-

Girl- I need help!

Photographer- No, I gotta take pictures. I need to shock the world. Can you give me a better close up while you die?

I hope, with all your senses intact, you would be able to understand.

Donthecat,

Its actually quite funny what you said. You took offense to me trying to influence Shivam? What exactly is that supposed to mean? Did I force Shivam’s hand? Or threaten to break his neck?

Yes, that is Shivam’s blog, and he is free to write whatever he wants to. And I just linked to his post, I reserve the right to disagree. Is that not my right? How does that take away Shivam’s right to free speech? Kindly explain…

By and by, we all write to influence, otherwise we will write diaries.

Shankar>The girl agreed (for the picture to be used) much later after it was published… published publicily several times w/out permission. It was used for anti-war propoganda widely before the girl was traced several years later. The permission then became a formality and a value-added tool in the propoganda. Again, it was still the picture, more than the recounting of the actual incident by that girl, which made more impact.

Sometime, mere words cannot convey the extent of a barbaric nature of a crime. It requires gruesome horrific pictures to portray . For exmaple…the pictures of Nazi C camps…Sometimes it requires to hurt the sentiments of a few intellectual individuals to get the real picture across to the normal millions…

Exactly why I say that Shivam has not done anything wrong by posting those pics.

What really Confuses me is the link to Gaurav’s post, which has nothing to do with the crime, but is a personal attack on the style and content of another blogger. His words “Shivam Vij, who could not have fallen from my estimation further than he actually has” indicates a pre-determined prejudice rather than a level-headed analysis of Shivam’s content. His choice of words about a fellow blogger defenitely IS NOT among “the best that Indian blogosphere has to offer”.

Confused>I think an appreciation of Shivam removing the pic (which I’ve seen and therefore comment upon) is in bad taste. Gives one a small suspicion that DP is trying to influence bloggers on their choice of content. Sounded like “hey, we thank you for your gesture in allowing us to censor your blog”

My two cents. Period.

Secondly,
I imagine a conversation between the girl and the photographer

girl: help me!
photographer: do you give me permission to send your picture to the media of the world? It will be used for anti-war demonstrations!
girl: yes, I do.

IF you do have _any_ sense left, you will realise that any such permission was sought and given much later.

Yes. Please also refer to Shankar’s last comment.

I am not upset that i was not under fire I wanna know if I was wrong or how was I correct. I might make a similar post (in my blog or elsewhere) in future, and obviously I want to follow a code of conduct that doesn’t offend many. However that doesn’t mean i write for others. If I can convey the same idea offending fewer people, I would rather choose that. In your blog you say nothing is wrong with posting such a pic. I’m waiting for more opinions.

Confused,

Just read you comment that you object to just one photograph that Shivam had posted. I had missed the “one” part when i read your post (my mistake). As I have not seen the pic, I can’t comment on it.

DontheCat,
The girl in the pic you are talking about has agreed to use the pic for anti-war promotions. Not too many issues there.

What is your point, again? They don’t condone but condemn? Sorry, don’t understand.

I asked you about 12 hours ago, do you think it was appropriate to put up that photograph? You have gone around in circles but still refuse to answer it.

Btw, did you notice I had linked to Arnab’s post? And btw, I didn’t see you writing too, unless of course you blog with a different name.

cheers

Shankar,

Admittedly, photographs are a grey area and as Saket said in his post, they can add value to the point. But my problem(personally) was with one specific photograph which Shivam has taken down. I submit, there is no comparison between that and the landing photograph you linked to.

The photo of a naked girl running with the mushroom cloud in the background after US n-bombed Japan…

You guys think we should start a campaign to get it banned cos it could hurt some sentiments ?

Sadly, this Gaurav who made the limelight protesting against freedom of expression is the one who’s disgustingly questioning another’s blogger’s thought process and FOE. And Gaurav calls Shivam an “attention-seeker”? Heehehe…

I still dont understand what this contro is all about. I don’t Shivam from Shinola, but I dont find anything wrong with his post. I’m sure he didn’t photoshop these photos, they are obviously available officially and have been featured in the MSM and a few online news sites. So why all this hue and cry against him? Maybe something as simple as better site hits ? Or did it hurt sentis of folks who are intellectual enough to condemn someone for heading an institution just b’cos he sported a pony tail?

Aw… come on guys, stop trying to change the desi blogsphere into a Forum with like-minded members. Let the Bloggers write what they want- for or against, high or low, intell or crap…

For Blog’s sake, just let them BLOG