Earlier: "... I think it would be a bad idea to close such a controversial issue prematurely ..."

Peter Blaise responds: I'm lost to find a definition of the word 'controversy' that would be informative on the appropriateness of any time frame for any actions or decision making process, see Google [define:controversy] for a start. It's a throw away word that means nothing as far as I can tell. I believe any situation can be accurately defined and acted on without clouding it up with "... has it reached 'controversy' level yet? ... then we must take decelerated action!" ... which means what?

Q: "Would you please delete pictures I don't like?"

A: "No."

What controversy? Because the asker asked twice? Or with emphasis? Or using hot words and threats that make some of us feel circumspect?

Q: "Would you please delete controversial pictures I don't like, or bad things will happen?"

A: "Still no. They're only controversial because you don't like them, by definition of the word "controversy"!"

==

However, if someone has some criteria to propose on the when or the conditions under which any "issue" can and should be closed, please dive in. How about something measurable, like, "Take the next step after 10 days." Or, "... after 10 votes."

As of Thursday, December 6, 2007 14:06:32 pm EST, at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Deletion_requests/Inappropriat e_cartoons there are 15 votes to keep the challenged images, 100% agreement.

In other words, we all agree: we want no racism censoring commons.

'nuf said?