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Artists that I really adore are leaving...I feel guilt.
12 years ago
General
In a way...I am actually kinda super proud that most of the artists I watch are in support, or are leaving.
That means that I adore lots of really good people, in my mind.
I understand though that FA has the larger audience, so some artists just can't afford to leave.
Others are supporting the ones that are leaving but can't/won't leave themselves for other reasons that are hard to articulate...
I know others are belittling the situation by calling it "fa drama" but...what they need to understand is...
Everyone's battle or mountain/molehill is different.
Some people take up arms for issues that another person just....doesn't understand why it's such an issue.
It's not because they're necessarily a bad person (-even though it may feel like that from the perspective of the person going to arms..-).
If the subject isn't related to them, or they've never experienced the problem then....they...have no way to wrap their minds around it.
For instance..
Body shaming. That's my fight. If someone starts talking about that kinda stuff around me I go from my usual shy self into flight or fight mode. I don't mean to...but that's MY fight. That's the subject that makes me go to war and I feel very strongly about it.
I've lashed out at people before who honestly just .....they don't have any grasp or concept as to why it's important to me. They don't know why saying " Should you be eating that?" sends me into a fury- heck, they think they're helping. HELPING! They think body-shaming HELPS.
That's because it's not THEIR fighting word. Y'know? Does this make sense? Is this making sense? I'm trying to explain it.
You might have another "go to war" word/subject that's different from mine.
(Actually...the subject for why people are leaving is ALSO one of my "them's fightin' words-subjects"...but there are people staying due to reasons above, and I do want to support artists who just CAN'T leave.)
I am...not sure what to do, to be honest.
I am torn for reasons I can't articulate. Maybe because I feel like I just made a little personal account, with which I've been rolling around in both joyously and therapeutically and I'm afraid to lose this incredible comfort zone...
I realize I don't have any excuses.
I'm not tied financially down by this place.. (I am a "little" artist. Meaning I only take very few commissions at a time...and no where near enough to supplement an income...)There are, however, artists that are staying (for reasons stated above) and I really enjoy their artwork...so..I don't want to NOT see their artwork, and support them...
BUT
When the subject matter is one of my "go to war" subject matters....I feel obligated to leave.
Like...
I'd feel very ashamed if I didn't leave. "How dare I not leave! It's a good reason! Your friends are leaving! You'd be going into fight mode if someone was talking about it in person!"
Course, I know that doing anything because you're feeling "guilt-tripped" is never a good idea EITHER.
I'm not sure if that's the feeling that I'm feeling or not yet. I have to figure that out.
So I don't know what to do at this point.
I'd like to say that , just because you find out your school principal is a terrible criminal, doesn't mean that you should abandon all your schoolmates... that's probably a terrible metaphor....
Would......would you guys follow me if I permanently went to Weasyl or DA? ( I already have accounts there but, y'know..)
(DA scares me tho.. They suspended my old account YEARS ago(for erect penis). Mind you, I DID do it on purpose because I was tired of all the glistening vagina (not that I don't like glistening vagina) but it seemed really unfair that aroused ladies were fine but OH NO PENIS. I'm a IF YOU SHOW ONE SET OF GLORIOUS GENITALS THEN SHOW THEM ALL!..okay..sorry soapbox.... I'm an equal opportunity genital-ist. ::nods sagely::)
I'd love to get your thoughts and opinions on all this but I realize that the admins are getting people in trouble and I don't want any of you to get into trouble.
I guess this is my fight anyway.
I have to think about it.
I'll let you know.
I'm a 'small' artist too, so me leaving the site wouldn't do anything except pull me away from the artists that won't be leaving whom I adore.
I do NOT approve of the situation, nor do I support any decisions made on anyone's side.
For me it's just 'Well this happened...it's bad..but if I just quit the website what's it gonna do beside there being one less person that really didn't effect the site in the first place.' So I'm just sittin' here, sticking around to see how this goes.
My personal stake in this is the fact that no one seemed to acknowledge the reason they're warning people, removing comments/journals/submissions, suspending people, and going as far as banning those who ignore warnings or had previous offenses is because since there's no legal charges filed against the person, if FA didn't do something about all the comments calling him X or X, they could be sued for allowing libel, even though it's against their ToS/CoC. They seem to be leaving alone comments and such that aren't directly CALLING the person those things, but expressing their opinions without finger pointing, because those aren't libel and the admins can't get in trouble for allowing them, so they don't care.
Honestly, I don't think you should have to leave over principal of people who share your opinion are doing it, you should leave if you really WANT to leave, or stay if you WANT to stay, and try not to feel pressured hun. >-< It doesn't make you a bad person for deciding you like the website, or you like the commissions, or you like the artists, or you like the community, or you like your friends that are here.
I'm staying here because I want to give back to those who support me by not just jumping ship when there's trouble amongst the users and admins. This issue is 4-5 years old, and if it didn't directly cause me to leave then, I can't really see myself leaving now.
And yes I would totally follow you on Weasyl, even if I'd be super sad to see you go from one of the websites. D:
fuck them, that's not their choice. If they don't like it here then that's fine, but no one should be pressuring you to stay or go. This whole thing is a he-said-she-said cafeteria food fight and neither side is handling it very well or maturely.You do what makes you happy, not what will make others happy.
I don't really like the other sites, even if they can be easier to use. I feel like I am noticed/followed more here than anywhere else. So I have the other accounts, but highly doubt I'd follow anyone.
So I'll be here, if anyone wants me. lol
I'm still staying, but respect everyone's opinions to do as they feel is right.
I'm sure the victim could feel like " Oh jesus everyone please just stop." Because this is probably waaaaaay more attention than they ever wanted it to get. ( I've been in their shoes, and ffs, I'd love any bit of that to stay locked away in a hideyhole somewhere. ) So I do feel very empathetic on that level. Instead of throwing a hissy fit, maybe it's best to sit quietly and hope for the changes, and not beat that kind of info around to dredge up bad memories for them. (Screw the accused's feels, though. It's not really for him. )