Sta.sh
***IMPORTANT***
Before you read the following letter that I have written to dA, please take the time to familiarize yourself with the situation at hand. Some people might think that it is a trivial matter – in a sense it is as these are merely features on a website – but it is the principal behind the actions that matters.
A world famous electronic musician recently released a music / digital art montage on DVD. I have nothing against this musician himself – in the past he has done some wonderful work and I will admit without reservation that I have several of his CDs. Recently his DVD was advertised through a top journal on dA – this musician even became a member of the website. But why? DeviantART is not a place for music files – that was decided early on. So what does this artist have to offer for the community?
Recently he was subscribed ‘till hell freezes over’ – a status reserved for select staff members. He was also given the ability to customize his journal with graphics – a status reserved for select staff and administrators. Individuals who have been on this website for years and who have devoted a countless number of hours / dollars don’t even have these simple privileges. When news of this broke out in several journals around the website the subscription was changed till 2030. What is his journal used for? It’s an advertisement for his DVD! Zing! Placed below the journal (to the convenience of the dA user) is the website for the product. Zing!
I’m sorry guys, but I’ve sat on the fence for far too long when it comes to this website. When something pops up that concerns people I voice my opinion but then I start to play favourites with everyone in an effort not offend anyone. Not any more. Please read the letter below and spread the word (you can copy the letter if you wish or link to it) if you feel deeply about the issue at hand. Remember – it’s not the features – it’s the principle.
The Letter
Dear Angelo,
My name is Evan McMaster, and I have been a member of the deviantART community for three years. Without deviantART I wouldn’t be taking photos or have the appreciation for artistic mediums that I do now. Photography has become a central pillar of my life; I plan to use it in my future ethnographic studies under the belief that visual aids compliment the written word and vice versa.
Much of what I know about photography and artwork in general comes from deviantART. That is a wonderful gift and it has been my goal over the past three years to pass that on to others. Artwork is something that everyone should experience / practice at some point in their lives. The creation of deviantART has allowed for a unique online community to form: where space and time are compressed and international barriers are dissolved as artists from around the world interact and learn with each other. How often does that happen?
Being a senior member has aided my goal – I was thrilled to be awarded that particular status after two years of hard work and since then have taken on my new leadership role with great pride. I enjoy helping out others in any way possible – by either answering questions directly, or pushing them in the right direction. It is rewarding to know that I’ve helped (in any way / amount) with the artistic schooling of others as those before me helped with my artistic schooling. I’m sure other senior members and older deviants feel the same way – being recognized for hard work and devotion gives one a sense of purpose and pride within a community. This recognition shouldn’t be handed out on a whim; it must be earned. The recipients must stand above others as community leaders – role models for the next generation of deviants.
Since 2003 I have invested roughly $630.00USD ($700.00CAD) in the website. This money has been spent on subscriptions, prints accounts, and artwork not only myself, but other artists. As a University student that amount of money is quite large, and despite the fact that it was spread over the course of three years it still adds up. I will never question my expenses as I feel they have made a change in the lives of others. This is one of the many ways in which I express my belief that art is important. Art is universal, and it must be shared.
I feel that I am more than deserving of a lifetime subscription – I would love to be a member of MyArt-Space till hell freezes over. I would also cherish the ability to customize my journal with fancy graphics (as others are able to do). I might not be a world famous electronic musician, but I have my merits. I have my merits, and so do the countless number of senior members, long-standing deviants, and community enthusiasts on this website. Any feature that helps spread the awareness of artwork is a good feature right? Is it not an investment in the lives of future artists? That is what this site is about, right? I could also address you as a business man and state that such a feature could work as a key selling point for potential members. More money? No problem!
But let us not worry about the principles behind such a request – we can work the details out in private and keep the rest of the website out of the loop. Even if a subscription till hell freezes over isn’t possible we can aim for 2030. I’m only 24, and another 24 years seems like an eternity.
Respectfully yours,
Evan McMaster
Before you read the following letter that I have written to dA, please take the time to familiarize yourself with the situation at hand. Some people might think that it is a trivial matter – in a sense it is as these are merely features on a website – but it is the principal behind the actions that matters.
A world famous electronic musician recently released a music / digital art montage on DVD. I have nothing against this musician himself – in the past he has done some wonderful work and I will admit without reservation that I have several of his CDs. Recently his DVD was advertised through a top journal on dA – this musician even became a member of the website. But why? DeviantART is not a place for music files – that was decided early on. So what does this artist have to offer for the community?
Recently he was subscribed ‘till hell freezes over’ – a status reserved for select staff members. He was also given the ability to customize his journal with graphics – a status reserved for select staff and administrators. Individuals who have been on this website for years and who have devoted a countless number of hours / dollars don’t even have these simple privileges. When news of this broke out in several journals around the website the subscription was changed till 2030. What is his journal used for? It’s an advertisement for his DVD! Zing! Placed below the journal (to the convenience of the dA user) is the website for the product. Zing!
I’m sorry guys, but I’ve sat on the fence for far too long when it comes to this website. When something pops up that concerns people I voice my opinion but then I start to play favourites with everyone in an effort not offend anyone. Not any more. Please read the letter below and spread the word (you can copy the letter if you wish or link to it) if you feel deeply about the issue at hand. Remember – it’s not the features – it’s the principle.
The Letter
Dear Angelo,
My name is Evan McMaster, and I have been a member of the deviantART community for three years. Without deviantART I wouldn’t be taking photos or have the appreciation for artistic mediums that I do now. Photography has become a central pillar of my life; I plan to use it in my future ethnographic studies under the belief that visual aids compliment the written word and vice versa.
Much of what I know about photography and artwork in general comes from deviantART. That is a wonderful gift and it has been my goal over the past three years to pass that on to others. Artwork is something that everyone should experience / practice at some point in their lives. The creation of deviantART has allowed for a unique online community to form: where space and time are compressed and international barriers are dissolved as artists from around the world interact and learn with each other. How often does that happen?
Being a senior member has aided my goal – I was thrilled to be awarded that particular status after two years of hard work and since then have taken on my new leadership role with great pride. I enjoy helping out others in any way possible – by either answering questions directly, or pushing them in the right direction. It is rewarding to know that I’ve helped (in any way / amount) with the artistic schooling of others as those before me helped with my artistic schooling. I’m sure other senior members and older deviants feel the same way – being recognized for hard work and devotion gives one a sense of purpose and pride within a community. This recognition shouldn’t be handed out on a whim; it must be earned. The recipients must stand above others as community leaders – role models for the next generation of deviants.
Since 2003 I have invested roughly $630.00USD ($700.00CAD) in the website. This money has been spent on subscriptions, prints accounts, and artwork not only myself, but other artists. As a University student that amount of money is quite large, and despite the fact that it was spread over the course of three years it still adds up. I will never question my expenses as I feel they have made a change in the lives of others. This is one of the many ways in which I express my belief that art is important. Art is universal, and it must be shared.
I feel that I am more than deserving of a lifetime subscription – I would love to be a member of MyArt-Space till hell freezes over. I would also cherish the ability to customize my journal with fancy graphics (as others are able to do). I might not be a world famous electronic musician, but I have my merits. I have my merits, and so do the countless number of senior members, long-standing deviants, and community enthusiasts on this website. Any feature that helps spread the awareness of artwork is a good feature right? Is it not an investment in the lives of future artists? That is what this site is about, right? I could also address you as a business man and state that such a feature could work as a key selling point for potential members. More money? No problem!
But let us not worry about the principles behind such a request – we can work the details out in private and keep the rest of the website out of the loop. Even if a subscription till hell freezes over isn’t possible we can aim for 2030. I’m only 24, and another 24 years seems like an eternity.
Respectfully yours,
Evan McMaster
This news article is not (mainly) about money. It's about dedication to the community.
Many people spend weeks and months of their time here on this page. They found clubs, start projects, donate prices for competitions, write news articles, help other deviants, become staff...
Everything because they spend effort into deviantArt. They do it for the community and for arts therefore.
If a person which never has been a member of this page before suddenly appears and gets granted rights normally only available to dedicated, long term, reliable members, that's simply wrong.
What bugs me in addition is that all these exceptions are only made because of publicity for a product. It's about selling that DVD which is spoken of.
If the person had shown his/her dedication to the community, after getting exceptional rights, I might have understood it in a way. But it's not the case. This person is looking at dA as a gratis advertising space and it makes me angry to see him/her being supported by the dA administration.
Second, If you felt that "it's all about the art", you wouldn't give a flying fuck about a title as trivial as "Senior Member" or some filler graphics in a journal. If you're here for the art, then that's what you should focus on. If someone's really interested in your work, they're not gonna be phased by an extra picture or two in a journal, and if they are they're a shallow nit witt who's not worth your time anyway.
Thrid, This is an INAPROPREATE way to present your argument. First of all, for your own self respect and that of Angelo's, you should have handled this matter in PRIVATE. By bringing into a public throughfare and in other words attacking the site's management you're not only discracing the site, you're descrasing yourself! Sure you've got hordes of dumbass idiots (the same that marched for Jark I'm sure) by your side, but I can guarentee they're mindless masses without capability of creating an opinion of their own. I'm not sure about you, but that's not a following I'd care for. But hey, who gives a shit, you got your moment in the spotlight at someone else's expense and now you have the pageviews/support you deserve!
Kudos.
The staff tend to ignore letters they don't like, I've found. Every legitimate question is completely ignored, so long as it's one that they don't want to answer. Open letters are far more effective.
As for being "about the art" - no, it's about respect. When only staff members got to use CSS journals, it was a HUGE thing to be able to use. After it was given away to a new member, it really gave people doubts about how things were working out. Members who'd been on the site for YEARS couldn't do this - why could some new person get it, just because he was famous? THAT'S the reason for this letter.
Again, you're talking as if the Staff here obligated to answer your questions in the first place. You seem to have difficulty grasping the concept that DeviantArt is not a democracy, no one has to answer questions if they don't feel the need to. Staff members aren't required to explain their actions, especialy to whiners such as `londonxpress or yourself. The point is, this is a PRIVATELY owned and opterated website in which the owners CHOOSE to allow ungreatful individuals (like the author of this post) to use their bandwidth for personal gain while at the same time asking for NOTHING in return. YES you have the option of buying a subscription, but no one forces you to. That having been said, the site is allowed to be run and operated as those owners/appointed staff see fit. No where in the DeviantArt policy to they say they promise to appease everyone and it's a fact of life. The world will not always function the way you ish it did. Get used to, stop complaining and learn to cope.
And, in otherwods you're saying, If it's easier to publicly attack someone in a baised fashion and attempt to turn the masses against them, then it's justified? Wow, this comming from a person who talks about deserving respect.
Okay, so you're saying that one person deserves more features than 99% of the site simply because they made donations? Yes I'll admit donating that amount of money is a very noble thing to do, but at the same time I emphasize the fact it was a donation. When one donates something, they don't expect something in return other than a pat on the back and some praise. Also, who is `londonxpress to make demands or assumptions? We don't know if the new member did something special or paid an extreme amount for those "special features". The point is, we don't But rather than going on to bitch fit about an issue as trivial as "special features", he should worry about the important things...like art?
This isn't about respect if you ask me, it's about "Hey, THAT PERSON got a new toy and that's not fair! Surely I DESERVE a new toy as well, and I'll throw a tantrum until I get it"
The staff doesn't have to do a thing. However, there's no reason for them not to. Why NOT let users have as much freedoms as possible? Why NOT let users use CSS to decorate their journals? The staff relented here - now senior members can change their journals as they please. This letter has no purpose now: it did before.
And, in otherwods you're saying, If it's easier to publicly attack someone in a baised fashion and attempt to turn the masses against them, then it's justified? Wow, this comming from a person who talks about deserving respect.
How is his letter biased? He says that it's unfair to give a completely new person more power than users that have been active for five years. Other people agreed. That's why the news system is set up like Digg now; the staff thought that a democratic system WAS a good idea, after all. And they respected this writer's wishes, didn't they? So it's a matter of respect after all.
This isn't about respect if you ask me, it's about "Hey, THAT PERSON got a new toy and that's not fair! Surely I DESERVE a new toy as well, and I'll throw a tantrum until I get it"
Some people should really think before they write. That's not what this is about at all. This is about "I was on this site for 4 years, and never got this. This guy's been online for a week, and he got it for no reason other than that he's well-known. Isn't that unequalizing the normally even system of dA?"
Okay, so you're saying that one person deserves more features than 99% of the site simply because they made donations?
No. I'm saying one person does NOT deserve more features than 99% of the site simply because he's a published artist.
I see your point: however, the problem isn't what you think it is. I took the time to write to you because I DON'T care about those features. However, I don't want somebody getting lifted above the crowd just because they're more well-known than me. Let the system that dA's used for years run its course.
And yes, this letter IS baised. First of all, it was written and projected it as a direct assult on the management rather than a constructive peice in which solutions were addressed. Also, the author belitted and pointed fingers are specific people. Both the you and the author didn't look at both ends of the argument or you'd understand the concept I've been toosing at you from the last few comments, so yes I DO consider this article baised.
And no, the author's whishes wern't granted out of respect, but more so to appease a whiner that would otherwise continue to bitch until they got what they wanted.
And okay, let me rephrase my summary of the article after having been given your take:
"I was here first, I deserve the new toys"
There is no system of equality, and there dosn't need to be. THE SITE IS OWNED AND OPERATED BY A FEW INDIIDUALS, IT IS NOT A DEMOCRACY. How many times do I need to repeat myself? I'm getting tired of saying it, so you MUST be tired of hearing, yes?
And for the record, I've been on this website for Three and a half years. I'm damn greatful for the opportunity and hosting Deviantart has provided, and I'm happy with that alone. Anyone here for the ART wouldn't be having this conversation in the first place.
Some people should really think before they write
The best advice is your own.
This comming from someone who's here for the ART...
I don't want somebody getting lifted above the crowd just because they're more well-known than me.
Because artists need freedom of expression. And because there's a feeding order on this site: senior members come before all but staff. I don't care about subscribers: this is about senior members.
The staff dosn't have to do ANYTHING more for you than they see fit, and they're not obligated to do so either.
No, but they should. Adding in CSS for journals is a small thing, and it's a nice thing to do. As I said: the fact that they DID this should say something.
Both the you and the author didn't look at both ends of the argument or you'd understand the concept I've been toosing at you from the last few comments, so yes I DO consider this article baised.
I'll admit I'm a Jarker, not a Spyed-er-whatever. Still, I think that the point this journal makes is a sensible one: why promote the new over the old?
And no, the author's whishes wern't granted out of respect, but more so to appease a whiner that would otherwise continue to bitch until they got what they wanted.
I'd like to think that the staff is just a nice bunch of people. That's what I think.
There is no system of equality, and there dosn't need to be. THE SITE IS OWNED AND OPERATED BY A FEW INDIIDUALS, IT IS NOT A DEMOCRACY. How many times do I need to repeat myself? I'm getting tired of saying it, so you MUST be tired of hearing, yes?
Democracy, no. Kind monarchy? I'd hope so.
Anyone here for the ART wouldn't be having this conversation in the first place.
I stopped using this site for ART: it's why I'm using my new account rather than my old one. To be frank, there's no support here. My artwork gets more comments from f***ing FACEBOOK than it does on this site. That's really sad. My writing goes on a few smaller sites, and I get twice as much feedbak from them. This site SHOULDN'T be like that: I still like this site to much to admit that it will never get better. So I come on here, and I try to help.