I received a comment today that kinda made my hair stand up a little:

"It getting Annoying almost all his stuff is just for patrons"
(Their name is withheld to protect their identity - I'm not here to humiliate them to their peers, I'm here to hopefully help you learn by example.)

My response was:

"Yes, and then it gets released for FREE in 3 months... ALL of it. Not every artist does that. Some put up a permanent pay-wall.
But because I actually care about my fans and don't want to encourage blatant piracy, I release my work publicly after my Patrons get the first chance at it. They need incentive and thanks for supporting my art.

I made this art because it's my job. Someone paid me to make this art, and you and the rest of my watchers are going to get to see it for free.

Patreon and people who commission my art are what pays for our food and our bills, and the only reason this art has a chance to exist.
So the next time you think about complaining on someone's gallery, remember that this isn't some 'chan' porn forum where you can talk behind an artist's back. I'm right here. You sent this comment to me to complain about me in the 3rd person, like people are going to agree with you and I'm not even here.

As a watcher, I'm glad you like my work. But if you fail to show respect for me, my Patrons, supporters, and other watchers, I will block you from future comments.
(Your comment was hidden to save you from backlash from my watchers)."



I am open to constructive criticism, I am open to complaints about work I was paid to do for you, and I always give the benefit of the doubt when something could be taken negatively... but this is just rude, entitled, spoiled, selfish, un-empathetic griping.

I see this sort of thing all the time on e621, u18chan, and other adult re-post sites. I'm not complaining about those sitess services, as they serve a purpose in our community just as FA does. But the comments and forum threads in these places are just that: over-entitled complaints about artists hard work. "it's not released fast enough", "it's not free", "I don't like the subject matter", "the art is garbage", "the artist is making money so it's a scam!"...
Just the most poisonous sickening human behavior... usually over something they're viewing/sharing for free (that was funded by a 3rd party or made in the artist's spare time), or pirated and viewing for free anyway. I'm not condemning the viewing of such material, but weather free or "shared without permission", complaining about it makes you look like a petulant, arrogant, spoiled ass.

Now, take one of those comments from one of those forums an have the balls to post it on that artist's gallery. Then phrase it in the 3rd person like it's ignoring the artist and expects a thumbs-up or agreement from the people on that gallery. This is beyond not-okay. Belittling an artist behind their back in a pirate forum is one thing, but to their face? Have you no shame, no respect for that artist? The person who left this comment wasn't some random passer-by either, but a watcher like you, which means they care enough about my art to watch it, but not enough about the artist to consider the impact of such a comment.

I'm not trying to start drama, and if I wanted to shame that person, I could have pointed out their username. I'm not that kind of person. I'm also not asking for sympathy or encouragement, as I've easily brushed off more hurtful comments in the past. This is about you. Reminding each and every one of you that you are good people and so are the artists you watch. We all deserve respect, love, and a little human empathy. Just try to think before you leave a hurtful comment. How would you feel if you were on the receiving end of that comment in the circumstances of that person? Just be the amazing people I know you're all capable of being.


Our flaws make us human,
Our empathy makes us people.
- Fox