Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions
Showing 1 of 176 conversations about:
AlexPk
7197
Community
Nov 6, 2015
bookmark_border
A community member
Nov 7, 2015
bookmark_border
AlexPkThx Alex for your considerate decision. I hope this issue will be helpful to carefully arrange new drops further.
tangkims
127
Nov 7, 2015
bookmark_border
AlexPkI also only saw it as an artistic design... this set is no longer as unique as it could've been
Asellas_Diel
26
Nov 8, 2015
bookmark_border
AlexPkThx Alex. I'm afraid that many Koreans used inappropriate words to this issue. It's absolutely indefensible. But it is a symbol of Japanese Militarism, so many of them with poor English took a little bit of aggressive words, unfortunately.
Thanks for your considerate decision once again.
Thanks for your considerate decision once again.
kbdobsessed
191
Keyboard Club Member
Nov 8, 2015
bookmark_border
AlexPkIt's outrageous to claim preemptively that any discussion of this misguided decision is spam. Deleting discussions about this is not only piling censorship atop the censorship you have already engaged in, but will also result in the discussion spilling over to other venues where MD won't be able to so easily wield the delete key.
thoumyvision
38
Nov 9, 2015
bookmark_border
AlexPkI don't know if anyone has drawn your attention to this, but that flag is not merely an historical symbol. It is currently the Naval Ensign of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Maritime_Self-Defense_Force
If I were a Japanese Sailor and keyboard enthusiast, I'd be pretty annoyed that the flag of my military branch was removed because some people complained.
If I were a Japanese Sailor and keyboard enthusiast, I'd be pretty annoyed that the flag of my military branch was removed because some people complained.
bearstampede
189
Nov 9, 2015
bookmark_border
AlexPk"...while interest checking ... this concern was never brought up and we only saw it as an artistic decision to put an easily recognizable symbol for Japan ... [d]espite the cultural and ethnic diversity of our office..."
So you saw it for what it was... what changed?
I'm sure the handful of people who became outraged only days prior to the drop's end seem disproportionately large; that's the nature of violent opposition. But people who truly appreciated this set along with the Rising Sun mod will not be well represented since it requires engaging in debate with the kind of childish mentality we all witnessed.
That's where you, Massdrop (or as a representative thereof), should have stepped in as the voice of reason.
"The Rising Sun is a cultural icon of Japan. The artist's choice to include this part of Japanese culture as an optional "mod" does not reflect the beliefs or opinions of Massdrop, nor was this Massdrop's decision. We facilitate and assist in the brokering of products which the community chooses through a vetting process requiring both a nomination and a commitment to purchase a minimum number of units. The community voted for the drop as a collective, and made the decision collectively (with overwhelming support). We apologize if any offense has been taken, but would like to remind the community that the set may be purchased without the mod, and purchase is entirely optional."
Period. That's all that needed to be said, but you failed to say it. Instead, you censored an artist and told your users what was good for them. By not speaking on behalf of the community's decision, you have both marginalized and jeopardized it.
Furthermore, you mistook the adult behavior of those who disagreed with your decision for complacency or even approval; the new bar for being taken seriously is apparently to behave like a child and spout racist rhetoric until satisfied. The community nominated and voted, period. Clearly, a lot of people are acutely aware that the Rising Sun's removal was utter bullshit insigated by the propagandist bigotry of the few. Your response to their cries for reprisal? Further censure.
I'm not being hyperbolic; you literally excised a part of Japan and its culture from this drop for no reason aside from some users claiming it triggered their delicate sensibilities. Were I Japanese, I'd see the removal of the Rising Sun as nothing less than Massdrop's tacit approval of a racist minority's inability to behave appropriately. In fact I'm NOT Japanese and the message is still abundantly clear.
I hope you reconsider in the interests of the community, because people aren't just upset over losing some stupid keycaps. You made a decision with lasting repercussions--one that doesn't bode well for a democratic community such as this.
So you saw it for what it was... what changed?
I'm sure the handful of people who became outraged only days prior to the drop's end seem disproportionately large; that's the nature of violent opposition. But people who truly appreciated this set along with the Rising Sun mod will not be well represented since it requires engaging in debate with the kind of childish mentality we all witnessed.
That's where you, Massdrop (or as a representative thereof), should have stepped in as the voice of reason.
"The Rising Sun is a cultural icon of Japan. The artist's choice to include this part of Japanese culture as an optional "mod" does not reflect the beliefs or opinions of Massdrop, nor was this Massdrop's decision. We facilitate and assist in the brokering of products which the community chooses through a vetting process requiring both a nomination and a commitment to purchase a minimum number of units. The community voted for the drop as a collective, and made the decision collectively (with overwhelming support). We apologize if any offense has been taken, but would like to remind the community that the set may be purchased without the mod, and purchase is entirely optional."
Period. That's all that needed to be said, but you failed to say it. Instead, you censored an artist and told your users what was good for them. By not speaking on behalf of the community's decision, you have both marginalized and jeopardized it.
Furthermore, you mistook the adult behavior of those who disagreed with your decision for complacency or even approval; the new bar for being taken seriously is apparently to behave like a child and spout racist rhetoric until satisfied. The community nominated and voted, period. Clearly, a lot of people are acutely aware that the Rising Sun's removal was utter bullshit insigated by the propagandist bigotry of the few. Your response to their cries for reprisal? Further censure.
I'm not being hyperbolic; you literally excised a part of Japan and its culture from this drop for no reason aside from some users claiming it triggered their delicate sensibilities. Were I Japanese, I'd see the removal of the Rising Sun as nothing less than Massdrop's tacit approval of a racist minority's inability to behave appropriately. In fact I'm NOT Japanese and the message is still abundantly clear.
I hope you reconsider in the interests of the community, because people aren't just upset over losing some stupid keycaps. You made a decision with lasting repercussions--one that doesn't bode well for a democratic community such as this.
Digs
44
Nov 10, 2015
bookmark_border
AlexPk>inherently opposed to the censorship of art and free speech
"I have currently pulled down the "Rising Sun" kit option for this drop." "Any further spamming on this issue will be immediately deleted"
>inherently opposed to the censorship of art and free speech
Thanks for the laugh.
"I have currently pulled down the "Rising Sun" kit option for this drop." "Any further spamming on this issue will be immediately deleted"
>inherently opposed to the censorship of art and free speech
Thanks for the laugh.
Related Products
Drop Refurbished
Like-new products you can trustDrop Rewards
Get $5 for every 500 points you earn! Learn more
Drop Keyboard Club
Become a member and expand your keycap collectionCollaborate With Us
For Brands & DesignersFollow Drop
I am inherently opposed to the censorship of art and free speech, but I understand that the sun with its radiating rays is synonymous to some as a symbol of oppression and violence. While interest checking for the keycap set, this concern was never brought up and we only saw it as an artistic decision to put an easily recognizable symbol for Japan. Despite the cultural and ethnic diversity of our office, the symbol only brings back memories of the 80's and those terrible headbands rather than a wartime reminder.
Thank you for reminding us that not everyone sees everything the same. However, this is not an excuse to use racial slurs or otherwise attack an entire nation of people. Any further spamming on this issue will be immediately deleted as it does nothing to further the discussion of this keyset or adhere to the policies of civil discourse.