As you know, I sell my mice on eBay. Today I had a HUGE bump in views - but only of one of my pieces. It was the Pope. Then I started getting questions "from potential buyers."

One question "Is this mouse REAL? If so I shall pray for .."
Another "R U crazy to reduce the Pope to this?"

My first though was immediately reply with some snappy response. Some of my thoughts: Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to ask a question about my art. I'm really encouraged when people write to me - it inspires me to create more. Oh, and thank you for your prayers, they are greatly appreciated. We no longer use the term "crazy" because it has bad connotations, the term is mental illness and yes I have been battling with it for some time. Making this art is the only thing that keeps me sane.

Of course, I didn't end up responding. I don't need to fuel the fire. So I rant here instead.

It's obvious to me that some religious group found the listing and said "HEY EVERYBODY THIS IS REALLY OFFENSIVE YOU MUST LOOK AT IT NOW!!!!" Why, why do people feel the need to go out of their way to look at something they already know is going to offend them? There should be room for everyone. I don’t go out of my way to show people things they don’t want to see, but some people really want to dig and find things to point out that they don’t like.

What’s my point? That’s a good question. I don’t really know. I want to make my art and know that not everyone will like it. They don’t have to look. I do worry about people imposing their moral values on me, instead of letting me choose my own values.

Tirade end.