back to the gold standard at last

Jamie, under normal circumstances, I would not bother with a response to your comments. You have expressed your opinion of me publicly and I wish to return the favor. You sat as a PR person, wrangler and judge in pageants that selected Post 6 models. You were fully aware that the winner would be required to pose nude for Post 6 and as I understand, was present at some shoots. After 98 pages, you became the very first model ever to pose clothed. This choice may not rise to the level of hypocrisy, but it certainly reached the level of betrayal in multiple ways.

The true irony of this exchange of comments is that I elected NOT to comment on the current post (Tizzers Foxchase). But Tenshi Vielle decided to comment, Justine Babii decided to comment, and now you. I sent a copy of my response directly to Justine, rather than to post it publicly. Each time I would think it would be my last response on this page, someone else pops up with a comment. Any others?

Personally, I think the far more important question is, when was the last time a Post 6 girl showed her toenails??? Why is this being censored? Today, no toenails, tomorrow no knee dimples…where will this outrage end?

Again, I thank Taylor for putting the time, energy and commitment into this vital issue and I’d appreciate everyone recognizing her for the heroine she is.

>You responded to that with an IM stating that it was your belief that “a public forum is not the place to discuss.”

The log I have says this…

[9:50] Taylor Barnes: I really appreciate your comments, I think it would be better if we had a conversation in private rather than displaying them in public forum. Despite what you may think, I am not angry with you, it is a bit more complex than that. When you have the time let me know. Thanks

[10:01] Justine Babii: hi taylor! sorry i was on the phone!
[10:02] Taylor Barnes: no problem
[10:02] Justine Babii: i agree, a public forum is not the place to discuss differences

I think it is totally lame that you have decided to use our IM as a basis for your statements here. But if you are going to, I would suggest that you use full quotes coming from the correct person. Please tell me this was a misstatement and not an attempt to further mislead the people who would read our comments here.

After your post during Graciana’s week I offered an apology for having hurt your feelings. You responded to that with an IM stating that it was your belief that “a public forum is not the place to discuss.” We had a long conversation via IM after that, and I was of the opinion that we had agreed to disagree. I can publish the chat log from that conversation should you have forgotten.

You can then imagine my confusion, and disappointment, over the fact that a week later you again felt the need to post to a public forum your unhappiness with the changes in Post 6. I have not responded in part because it’s quite clear that there will be no pleasing you, but also because the comment section for Post 6 should be a celebration of the models, not for this silly drama.

I have not asked people to speak for me, though I do appreciate their efforts. I will say that I thought that what Wocking said was mean spirited. I will also say that I think that your use of “the archive” to attack Tenshi is also mean spirited. I was taught that in debate you should stick to the topic, not attack the person making the argument.

This is my last response to you on this matter in the comment section of a post 6 model, as I do feel bad that Natalia’s moment in the Herald spotlight was blighted by this. You made that promise too and then broke it. I won’t.

Should you want a public forum to speak from, I offer you the opportunity to publish on SLebration.com, a blog I edit. You can write an editorial about the travesty that has befallen Post 6, or about the nature of pixelated nudity, or whatever topics you want. You can publish one essay or several. You can start your own Post 6 column there and begin the tradition anew. I feel that this is another generous offer from me to you, despite the fact that I was not in any way associated with either the Herald or with Post 6 when you modeled, AND the fact I’ve never even met your avatar in “person”.

The part of this that I find most galling is that you yourself have admitted that you don’t read Post 6. You had no idea that Marilyn was taking a break when I invited you to join the official group. If you are going to designate yourself as the keeper of a tradition, you should at least keep up with the program. (I can publish that conversation also should you have forgotten it).

I have offered an apology, I have offered you the ability to participate in anything the Post 6 models may do in the future despite your shabby treatment of me, at your suggestion I have even offered to let you play Post 6 photographer while I pose nude, and I have now offered you a place to publish your ideas. I think I’ve been far more generous than you have here, especially given that you don’t actually read Post 6 anymore.

I like the fact that I am giving the models a choice about nudity, and the models seem to appreciate it also. Your other concern, about featuring only well-known avatars, is not correct. I have featured several “SLebrities” here, yes, but I’ve also featured several “regular peoples” and will continue to feature a mix of people, famous, infamous and not famous, as long as I’m doing this column. I say this because it seems that the only way to make you happy is to go back to the way things were, which I won’t do. I’ve offered you several alternatives, the ability to publish on SLebration is the last one, so either take it or resolve yourself to being unhappy. (Also, before you complain about Tizzers as a model, let me point to your well-worn archive and remind you that the Herald’s Jimbo Quality once posed for Post 6, so there is precedent from Marilyn’s era for humorous or off-beat models).

I would like to leave you with a snippet from our conversation on Saturday, September 8.

[11:06] Taylor Barnes: ok, as one model told me, things change. I made a mistake of believing that this tradition was so entrenched, that it would never change. Thanks for your time and good luck. I wish we could have come closer in our views.

It’s now fourteen days later. Why is this conversation still going on?

And this, where I was discussing when I would allow you to be the photographer while I pose nude for Post 6, which was, i should add, your idea.

[11:10] Justine Babii: I’ll IM you closer to the date and if you’re still burning to make this an issue I will be happy to accomodate.
[11:13] Taylor Barnes: no, that is okay…it would only further damage the Post 6 tradition, and would be viewed as a side show. But thanks

Don’t you think you’ve accomplished the “side show” now Taylor?

I look forward to reading your thoughts on SLebration.

Thank you for reading,
Justine Babii