The Great LJ Debacle: Interview with vikingcarrot
As promised, my interview with vikingcarrot.
The same rules apply as last time, I only changed things to removed off record comments and one or two of my comments that didn't further the conversation. None of vikingcarrot's words have been changed or edited in any way.
sailorcelestial: First things first, would you please describe the picture in question?
vikingcarrot: It's a smutty artwork of Greyback/Draco, involving Greyback anally violating a very distressed-looking Draco, who is ambiguous in age. He could be anywhere from 15 to 20, according to my art style. Draco's completely naked and spread for the viewer, and the real cincher is that he has no pubic hair, which I'm sure went down just swimmingly with LJ Abuse.
sailorcelestial: So, what went through your mind when you saw what was going on with LJ, all the new policies and everything?
vikingcarrot: My initial and constant reaction was 'oh /shit/, I am so screwed'. I know my art style, I know I draw characters that look really young, because it's the way I like to draw. I was frankly amazed I didn't go down with ponderosa121 and elaboration - I used to be pretty notorious for chan and non-con in my corner of fandom.
sailorcelestial: So having escaped the axe, you thought it best to go through old posts and clearly state ages? That's the impression I got from your LJ post.
vikingcarrot: I did. I deleted a few outright - ones involving school uniform, since that there is an instant indication of underaged action. I locked down a few ambiguous ones I wasn't sure about and wanted to decide on later - ones from Smut Wednesday, since they didn't even link anywhere any more. The rest of the ambiguous ones I put age statements on, to try and protect myself. The other handful didn't need to be touched as they were clearly involving legal-aged characters, due to body hair or horrible crack-filled old-man pairings.
sailorcelestial: So, you thought the ones you clearly marked as of age were safe, right?
vikingcarrot: I thought they would be - I was feeling cynical about the likelihood of being struck regardless, and it turns out I was right.
sailorcelestial: I want to make sure of this: The Fenrir/Draco piece, was this one locked down, or was it open?
vikingcarrot: I locked it down 5 days before the sending timestamp on the LJ Abuse email.
sailorcelestial: Was this piece posted on pornish_pixies, or was it jsut in your private journal?
vikingcarrot: pornish_pixies. There was a link to the post on my own journal, but the image could only be found on pornish_pixies.
sailorcelestial: So it was locked down and located in a community that had recently been locked down as friends only. What do you think about speculations of a mole on the pornish_pixies community?
vikingcarrot: It seems somewhat likely - and it wouldn't surprise me at all. pornish_pixies has always been the most well-known HP smut community on LJ, and its member base is made up mostly of very well-known writers and artists who often tend to the darker side of HP. It makes sense for someone wanting to weed chan out of the HP fandom or fandom in general to park themselves in pornish_pixies.
sailorcelestial: Do you think it most likely the mole is from LJ Abuse, or some fanatic group like WfI?
vikingcarrot: Either some vigilante group, or some obsessive random individual not officially 'with' anyone at all. LJ Abuse seems to like to turn a blind eye when it suits them. I can't see them bothering with an active campaign.
sailorcelestial: Because they aren't "actively searching for violations," someone is doing it for them. Still, it seems a little crazy of LJ to go after fanart and artists, but not stuff that actually violates their ToS.
sailorcelestial: Last question: How do you feel about all this, in the end, and will you be leaving LJ over it?
vikingcarrot: I'll remain at LJ so long as I'm not suspended, due to the non-fandom friends - but should somewhere better crop up, like the new clone people are talking about creating, I'll migrate there as well in order to keep all the fandom networks. I just wish LJ would get their act together and leave fandom alone, since we're not harming anyone.
sailorcelestial: Okay, ACTUAL last question: Is there anything else you'd like to say that I didn't cover with my questions?
vikingcarrot: Mm, the speculation that Warner Bros. got given the report to then file it to LJ Abuse is mere speculation - I suspect it was the case due to when it occurred, but it could have referred to any number of things. So that side of it is purely idle speculation, and in the end it doesn't make too much difference anyway.
vikingcarrot: And that would be it. :B
sailorcelestial: All right then! Thank you very much for agreeing to do this!
Anyone wishing to see the piece in question may go to vikingcarrot's website. Which, of course, I can't link to here because I'd be linking to "child porn" and I might get insta-banned.
I wanted to do an interview with femmequixotic, however I haven't heard back from her, so I have to assume this means she's turned down my offer of an interview.
Also, if anyone knows where ponderosa121 and elaboration may be found on GJ, or any other journaling site, I'd very much appreciate it.
~~**Sailorcelestial**~~
The same rules apply as last time, I only changed things to removed off record comments and one or two of my comments that didn't further the conversation. None of vikingcarrot's words have been changed or edited in any way.
sailorcelestial: First things first, would you please describe the picture in question?
vikingcarrot: It's a smutty artwork of Greyback/Draco, involving Greyback anally violating a very distressed-looking Draco, who is ambiguous in age. He could be anywhere from 15 to 20, according to my art style. Draco's completely naked and spread for the viewer, and the real cincher is that he has no pubic hair, which I'm sure went down just swimmingly with LJ Abuse.
sailorcelestial: So, what went through your mind when you saw what was going on with LJ, all the new policies and everything?
vikingcarrot: My initial and constant reaction was 'oh /shit/, I am so screwed'. I know my art style, I know I draw characters that look really young, because it's the way I like to draw. I was frankly amazed I didn't go down with ponderosa121 and elaboration - I used to be pretty notorious for chan and non-con in my corner of fandom.
sailorcelestial: So having escaped the axe, you thought it best to go through old posts and clearly state ages? That's the impression I got from your LJ post.
vikingcarrot: I did. I deleted a few outright - ones involving school uniform, since that there is an instant indication of underaged action. I locked down a few ambiguous ones I wasn't sure about and wanted to decide on later - ones from Smut Wednesday, since they didn't even link anywhere any more. The rest of the ambiguous ones I put age statements on, to try and protect myself. The other handful didn't need to be touched as they were clearly involving legal-aged characters, due to body hair or horrible crack-filled old-man pairings.
sailorcelestial: So, you thought the ones you clearly marked as of age were safe, right?
vikingcarrot: I thought they would be - I was feeling cynical about the likelihood of being struck regardless, and it turns out I was right.
sailorcelestial: I want to make sure of this: The Fenrir/Draco piece, was this one locked down, or was it open?
vikingcarrot: I locked it down 5 days before the sending timestamp on the LJ Abuse email.
sailorcelestial: Was this piece posted on pornish_pixies, or was it jsut in your private journal?
vikingcarrot: pornish_pixies. There was a link to the post on my own journal, but the image could only be found on pornish_pixies.
sailorcelestial: So it was locked down and located in a community that had recently been locked down as friends only. What do you think about speculations of a mole on the pornish_pixies community?
vikingcarrot: It seems somewhat likely - and it wouldn't surprise me at all. pornish_pixies has always been the most well-known HP smut community on LJ, and its member base is made up mostly of very well-known writers and artists who often tend to the darker side of HP. It makes sense for someone wanting to weed chan out of the HP fandom or fandom in general to park themselves in pornish_pixies.
sailorcelestial: Do you think it most likely the mole is from LJ Abuse, or some fanatic group like WfI?
vikingcarrot: Either some vigilante group, or some obsessive random individual not officially 'with' anyone at all. LJ Abuse seems to like to turn a blind eye when it suits them. I can't see them bothering with an active campaign.
sailorcelestial: Because they aren't "actively searching for violations," someone is doing it for them. Still, it seems a little crazy of LJ to go after fanart and artists, but not stuff that actually violates their ToS.
sailorcelestial: Last question: How do you feel about all this, in the end, and will you be leaving LJ over it?
vikingcarrot: I'll remain at LJ so long as I'm not suspended, due to the non-fandom friends - but should somewhere better crop up, like the new clone people are talking about creating, I'll migrate there as well in order to keep all the fandom networks. I just wish LJ would get their act together and leave fandom alone, since we're not harming anyone.
sailorcelestial: Okay, ACTUAL last question: Is there anything else you'd like to say that I didn't cover with my questions?
vikingcarrot: Mm, the speculation that Warner Bros. got given the report to then file it to LJ Abuse is mere speculation - I suspect it was the case due to when it occurred, but it could have referred to any number of things. So that side of it is purely idle speculation, and in the end it doesn't make too much difference anyway.
vikingcarrot: And that would be it. :B
sailorcelestial: All right then! Thank you very much for agreeing to do this!
Anyone wishing to see the piece in question may go to vikingcarrot's website. Which, of course, I can't link to here because I'd be linking to "child porn" and I might get insta-banned.
I wanted to do an interview with femmequixotic, however I haven't heard back from her, so I have to assume this means she's turned down my offer of an interview.
Also, if anyone knows where ponderosa121 and elaboration may be found on GJ, or any other journaling site, I'd very much appreciate it.
~~**Sailorcelestial**~~