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"Thanks for the Watch" explanation...
14 years ago
LOL I really didn't think this needed explaining, but apparently, it does.
Why do I remove them? Because I saw an artist post a journal telling people that if they saw "Thanks for the Watch" they'd remove them as fast as they saw them. I stopped and pondered about it for a bit, and realized, that for the most part, I agreed with the artists stance on the removal of them. I really don't do it to be an ass or conceited.
The reasons I don't keep them cluttering up my shouts, is because... I see it as an unwritten automated response mechanism on FA. It has no real meaning. Someone see's someone watched them and they immediately go shout "Thanks".... why? Why not shout something less automated, less like every other shouts out there? I feel sorry for galleries I run by and the entire shout page is filled with "Thanks for the watch"...... It means they were spammed, or no one felt like leaving a real comment. I'd rather have real comments visible for people to read. Something with more.... substance, depth, meaning, background, etc.
I admit I've removed a few shouts that had more to them than just "Thanks for the watch" but all in all I decided that the core of the shout, was just that... "Thanks for the watch" with extra padding trying to look obvious at typing it, but also typing just a tad more.
A friend made a few points that I can see, but don't necessarily agree with. He said alot of the people who write it, just want to be noticed, and start a conversation. Well... if that's the case, go shout something actually signifying you want a conversation, not just a drive by thanks. He also said that people who do it, probably are pressed for time and that's all they have to give while trying to friendly. I just don't see anyone who can only type that, even bothering with clicking to the page, typing the shout and hitting submit ;p. Though I suppose it makes sense that a few may be like that.
I'm not saying praise the characters, art or such, I'm simply saying I don't want those cluttering up my shout page. I also don't go around thanking for watches, primarily because when I do find time to do such, I'll comment on art in the gallery. I don't do watchbacks, as I already have lots of art/journals to sort through each day. So I apologize if that's a bit selfish. Sometimes I will toss a note, but mostly it's just comments on journals/submissions.
As to the whole starting a conversation reason..... I've had people try to start conversations in notes, and that really doesn't work well at all. I in fact, still have a bunch of notes that are awaiting me to reply to them :(. I already have tons of people in my messengers, so I'm not handing those out. And while I'm strongly contemplating going to a real email account for art/business, if I post it up, it's not going to be there for meeting new people.
I do most of my people meeting at cons, AC and FC. AC may be coming off my attendance list due to it's ...... size, cost and issues. More of the people I know already go to FC, many do both. I also tend to meet people in streams while I'm out artist hunting or simply watching artists work.
I'm not trying to be a hermit, but when people try to reach out, I really do feel bad when it takes me weeks to months to respond, or I have to reply with busy right now maybe later, and later never comes.
So I'm NOT saying don't send notes, and I'm not saying don't shout, I'm just trying to explain why I remove "Thanks for the watch". I think shouts are really a waste of coding on the site to be honest. Though some people put them to good use. A really under/mis- utilized function.
Yay another TLDR journal......
Why do I remove them? Because I saw an artist post a journal telling people that if they saw "Thanks for the Watch" they'd remove them as fast as they saw them. I stopped and pondered about it for a bit, and realized, that for the most part, I agreed with the artists stance on the removal of them. I really don't do it to be an ass or conceited.
The reasons I don't keep them cluttering up my shouts, is because... I see it as an unwritten automated response mechanism on FA. It has no real meaning. Someone see's someone watched them and they immediately go shout "Thanks".... why? Why not shout something less automated, less like every other shouts out there? I feel sorry for galleries I run by and the entire shout page is filled with "Thanks for the watch"...... It means they were spammed, or no one felt like leaving a real comment. I'd rather have real comments visible for people to read. Something with more.... substance, depth, meaning, background, etc.
I admit I've removed a few shouts that had more to them than just "Thanks for the watch" but all in all I decided that the core of the shout, was just that... "Thanks for the watch" with extra padding trying to look obvious at typing it, but also typing just a tad more.
A friend made a few points that I can see, but don't necessarily agree with. He said alot of the people who write it, just want to be noticed, and start a conversation. Well... if that's the case, go shout something actually signifying you want a conversation, not just a drive by thanks. He also said that people who do it, probably are pressed for time and that's all they have to give while trying to friendly. I just don't see anyone who can only type that, even bothering with clicking to the page, typing the shout and hitting submit ;p. Though I suppose it makes sense that a few may be like that.
I'm not saying praise the characters, art or such, I'm simply saying I don't want those cluttering up my shout page. I also don't go around thanking for watches, primarily because when I do find time to do such, I'll comment on art in the gallery. I don't do watchbacks, as I already have lots of art/journals to sort through each day. So I apologize if that's a bit selfish. Sometimes I will toss a note, but mostly it's just comments on journals/submissions.
As to the whole starting a conversation reason..... I've had people try to start conversations in notes, and that really doesn't work well at all. I in fact, still have a bunch of notes that are awaiting me to reply to them :(. I already have tons of people in my messengers, so I'm not handing those out. And while I'm strongly contemplating going to a real email account for art/business, if I post it up, it's not going to be there for meeting new people.
I do most of my people meeting at cons, AC and FC. AC may be coming off my attendance list due to it's ...... size, cost and issues. More of the people I know already go to FC, many do both. I also tend to meet people in streams while I'm out artist hunting or simply watching artists work.
I'm not trying to be a hermit, but when people try to reach out, I really do feel bad when it takes me weeks to months to respond, or I have to reply with busy right now maybe later, and later never comes.
So I'm NOT saying don't send notes, and I'm not saying don't shout, I'm just trying to explain why I remove "Thanks for the watch". I think shouts are really a waste of coding on the site to be honest. Though some people put them to good use. A really under/mis- utilized function.
Yay another TLDR journal......
I agree, but at the same time, if you don't do SOME sort of thanks, some people with think it's rude... I try and respond with a compliment or something (when it rarely happens lol), you know something like, "Hey dude, thanks for the watch. I like your art/character/icon/whatever it is. <- it's a cookie i swear :3"
or something like that, but fleshed out a bit you know? But yea, the "thanks for the watch" messages get annoying o3o
They should just take the watch as more reason to work harder on whatever they're doing and please the people who like what they like.
The only upside to it, is that you were noticed, but when I think about it, how well were you noticed is not easy to tell.
The phrase is meaningless if you just automatically say it without thinking. It's nothing more than a draconian response. If you want to be polite, then personalise your message so that it actually means something to the recipient.
How can someone think you actually care when you don't even make a little effort with the comment?
All these comments do is clutter up the userpage. If anything it has the opposite effect of being polite, as now the user has the inconvenience of removing it.
You are over analyzing a simple and effect polite statement. And quite frankly, it makes you and everyone else that does it look rather dumb.
If you actually cared even a little bit you would make an effort with your comments. This is called being social, all you're doing is looking uninterested by making a throwaway comment that has no meaning.
I have nothing to say to a person that ignores half of my post though.
like, "hey people, this artist likes my art"
I've said thanks to almost every single one who has placed a watch on me. I'll browse through their gallery and read some of their journals before I do so, so if something catches my eye I'll fave it or leave a more appropriate variation of my shout. BUT I haven't had anyone complain so far.
It's not automated as I take time to visit their pages, so they're happy with it :]
Critique, I guess. But i think its better than the assumed message youre gonna check once you see a New Shout announcement.
Kind of works like people that do One-Word Comments on your art. "Cool", "Nice", "Sexy"..not ven bothering to leave other shit or even a period XD it irritates the fuck out of me and makes me not even wanna submit more stuff here if im gonna be 'glancecommented'.
"Damn you're watching! No way! When I first saw your suit I was like OMG! but then I saw your profile pics and stuff. Wo.. man! You are extremely talented. I thought I could do some sh*t.. But man! You make le look like a novice! Awesome portfolio BTW "
I usually try to put attention grabbers on my thank for the watch stuff. I wish I could respond to every watch and sometimes it sparks a conversation.
But you have to remember... Sometimes people are just shy and don't know how to find the words they want to say to show the appreciation.
I personally want to thank everybody, make friends with everyone, try to let that individual know that I am paying attention.
Sometimes even I get fanboy'd, even by teens. When teens fan boy me I smile. And try to give a responce. I may be late because I have sooo many to go through. But try. Usually, the person that commented just doesn't know how to say words the way we'd normally expect. You have to remember, not everyone has a solid mind, who knows, they may even have mental defficiencies. I normally think the simple 'thanks for the watch' put a smile on someone face. If I can give a smile or get a smile back, then it is mission accomplished
Here's a shout for you....
Thanks for coming over! I never imagined I'd meet you!
There you see! I put a smile on you're face without a real discussion