Controversy on Facebook

Good morning all,
I was wondering how you would all react to the following situation.

I have recently been working on a project about anxiety and depression. I have been posting images taken by me of myself to show the darker side and trying to explain how it can feel as sometimes i think images can explain things better.

I recently posted a picture of self harm and this has now started people kicking off. I have had 2 requests to remove the image via message on my page and someone has reported to FB that they are concerned about me:

I think the obvious solution is to delete your facebook account.

I don't think that really resolves the issue? I would then need to post them elsewhere and surely the issue would be the same?

Apologies. I misread the title, and your intent. If facebook is not the problem, what is? Does it bother you that others are concerned about you? Does it bother you that others think there is anything to be concerned about? Does it bother you that you are getting requests to remove the images? Does it bother you that facebook is getting involved?

Perhaps facebook is the wrong medium for your expression? (I don't know; I don't use facebook.) Have you looked for different/better places to express your art?

I think my main concern is that people are mis-interpreting the work. I use social media a lot and have never sheen / heard of this happening, I'm amazed people are finding this so offensive.

Facebooks 'friends' concept is messed up. As a real friend I certainly wouldn't tell FB about my concerns about you. So, no reason to take this too serious. Additionally, publishing pictures of self harm is certainly controversial - so expect reactions of all different sorts. If you don't want to deal with that then don't publish such pictures.

good point. i guess i cant please everyone. i just want to show the world aint always sunshine and fricking lollipops

If you are using FB to show people that "the work aint always sunshine" then you are certainly choosing a more shocking way to do that. Having a stream of happy pictures of nieces, graduations and puppies licking peanut butter being interrupted by self-harm pictures will offend quite some people.
Not that I think there is anything wrong with that - I agree that this is part of life. However, don't be surprised that people react to that!

urbanfreestyle wrote in post #18203788
I think my main concern is that people are mis-interpreting the work. I use social media a lot and have never sheen / heard of this happening, I'm amazed people are finding this so offensive.

Thanks for the update. I think that has always been a problem with art. How people interpret your work is beyond your control. If you are going to be public with your art, you have to allow for any type of reaction. Requests to remove it from your (FB) own space seem like reaching too far. Would those same people request you remove similar art from your own home? My basic reaction to art is: if you don't like the work, leave the museum. If you are honest with yourself, you must admit that not all work is appropriate for all venues. Nudes and pornography are artforms; neither belongs in a childrens' museum.

That said, you can't stop people from being concerned about you, and your art. Perhaps there are more appropriate venues than facebook. A quick search yielded this site:

http://www.self-healingexpressions.com …onthroughphotog​raphy.html

Perhaps there are others. Or maybe local art galleries/dealers could help you find a more welcoming environment for your work.

Thanks for the replies, I did keep the work to a specific album so no chance of viewing it unless you click on the album.
and my page is a collection of all subjects so not so sudden haha!

I will try to contact some local art galleries and see if they can offer some space.

urbanfreestyle wrote in post #18203791
good point. i guess i cant please everyone. i just want to show the world aint always sunshine and fricking lollipops

Exactly why I don't use social media.

Absolutely no controversy on FB here.
I scrolled through OP "all pictures" on FB. I gave up on massive load of cars or horses. This is how I see OP FB page, cars and horses. I went to check albums as well. Same, cars and horses.
I assume, most of 1500+ "friends" are into this, cars and horses. And this is what is going to happen if you are going from cheesy cars and horses photography to something darker and deeper emotionally under new album where it isn't cheesy as cars and horses majority of pictures.
No controversy, you just have to understand what if you build your "friends" list on cheesy pictures of cars and horses, some of them will be offended by pictures of something very different and disturbing.

cheesy?

perhaps better to put these different shots in my portfolio then?

I looked at some of your FB. Lots of stuff that is not my style, but that is my issue, not yours.

One thing to note: I saw your comment about feeling more comfortable in a foreign country, where nobody know you. That resonates with me, big. My family continues to be amazed (I'm almost 60), that I still consider myself the best company I've ever had. My wife is much the same. We are two peas in a pod, who for the most part, have little use for the rest of the world.

Some people think it is strange that we are both nurses. I love taking care of people. So does my wife. We get enough of other people at work. At home, leave me alone, please.

Glad to hear you can relate to that one.
I have worked abroad a lot and always felt more comfortable there as i can be who i want to be, or just be me, not what people think i am.