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Please stop killing the word 'emergency'
8 years ago
While I've been browsing the front page most of last week in boredom, I noticed a peculiar trend going on. I have seen the words 'Emergency Commissions' every single day for the past week or so, often from different people. That's okay and all, but what's been bothering me has been the very... questionable nature of some of these 'emergencies'. search for 'emergency on FA by 'date' in 'descending' order, and you'll see several dozen submissions in the last week with everything ranging from 'Emergency selling my character', 'Emergency adoptables', 'Emergency YCH', or my least favorite: 'Emergency auction'.
I never want to be called the one to overreact, but unless there's a sudden tragedy befalling every person with something to sell, this recent buzz word is attempting to prey on the innate kindness and sense of community within every person who has money to spend, here on FA.
I've seen 'emergency' pictures being sold at starting prices of $40, with no discernible discount to speak of (can't name names, ToS), and that just makes me think these are just regular commissions or sales, but suddenly it's more urgent because there's a nondescript 'emergency' that means people have to buy something they wouldn't have otherwise wanted to before some vague deadline, out of some perceived notion of pitying the person trying to unload what they can. One person even described their 'emergency' as needing only one sale of their YCH. There are far better methods of obtaining $50 quickly than trying to appeal to strangers online in the hopes a single one of them gets a large art piece. Small, quick pieces (sketches, headshots, coloring existing pieces) with a discount tend to draw in sales quicker because more people can afford them, but these 'emergencies' seem dead set on spearing entire whales by having one or two people bear their entire supposed cost, oftentimes with no 'safe' amount or idea of what the emergency is.
To me, an emergency would be like the situation that brought me to Mississippi, where I left my father and stepmom, who were basically going to work me to death for my dad's winter plumbing work, to tell me I would be kicked out regardless come spring. I would have hitchhiked across state lines if I needed to, at great risk to myself, but I was helped by people I owe my life to in order to get here safely. An emergency does not entail buying the latest game release, not having food until you can receive a proper commission, or being short on paying a scheduled bill. These things need to be planned out, and falling short on your responsibilities is NOT an excuse to try and get the community to cover for you through pity.
As a final word, yes I know not EVERY emergency is a fabricated one, but with the recent uprising in 'emergency this' and 'emergency that', I beg the ever important consumers in the furry economy to be wary. Before contributing to an 'emergency' advertisement, do not immediate be guilted or drawn into pity unless you KNOW what the emergency is and how much the person needs. It's possible for someone to only need $20 to cover their sudden expense, but pull in $200 in commissions related to the 'emergency'. Don't be dragged into buying something you wouldn't have otherwise paid for, or at a price that you wouldn't otherwise buy it at, just because you feel bad for someone's situation. Being guilted easily is a trait that can easily be taken advantage of, and the one thing it should not take from you is your hard earned funds.
I never want to be called the one to overreact, but unless there's a sudden tragedy befalling every person with something to sell, this recent buzz word is attempting to prey on the innate kindness and sense of community within every person who has money to spend, here on FA.
I've seen 'emergency' pictures being sold at starting prices of $40, with no discernible discount to speak of (can't name names, ToS), and that just makes me think these are just regular commissions or sales, but suddenly it's more urgent because there's a nondescript 'emergency' that means people have to buy something they wouldn't have otherwise wanted to before some vague deadline, out of some perceived notion of pitying the person trying to unload what they can. One person even described their 'emergency' as needing only one sale of their YCH. There are far better methods of obtaining $50 quickly than trying to appeal to strangers online in the hopes a single one of them gets a large art piece. Small, quick pieces (sketches, headshots, coloring existing pieces) with a discount tend to draw in sales quicker because more people can afford them, but these 'emergencies' seem dead set on spearing entire whales by having one or two people bear their entire supposed cost, oftentimes with no 'safe' amount or idea of what the emergency is.
To me, an emergency would be like the situation that brought me to Mississippi, where I left my father and stepmom, who were basically going to work me to death for my dad's winter plumbing work, to tell me I would be kicked out regardless come spring. I would have hitchhiked across state lines if I needed to, at great risk to myself, but I was helped by people I owe my life to in order to get here safely. An emergency does not entail buying the latest game release, not having food until you can receive a proper commission, or being short on paying a scheduled bill. These things need to be planned out, and falling short on your responsibilities is NOT an excuse to try and get the community to cover for you through pity.
As a final word, yes I know not EVERY emergency is a fabricated one, but with the recent uprising in 'emergency this' and 'emergency that', I beg the ever important consumers in the furry economy to be wary. Before contributing to an 'emergency' advertisement, do not immediate be guilted or drawn into pity unless you KNOW what the emergency is and how much the person needs. It's possible for someone to only need $20 to cover their sudden expense, but pull in $200 in commissions related to the 'emergency'. Don't be dragged into buying something you wouldn't have otherwise paid for, or at a price that you wouldn't otherwise buy it at, just because you feel bad for someone's situation. Being guilted easily is a trait that can easily be taken advantage of, and the one thing it should not take from you is your hard earned funds.
Yea, its not an emergency, they're just trying to hit people up for money just to pay for something that they want, or else they blew their money on something they didn't need without first considering that they do have bills that need paying. I see that trend in this fandom a lot, people spending money like crazy when they get their paychecks and when it comes bill time, they're all like "Oh noez! Whatever iz I gunna do!?", and then we get these emergency commissions and journals.. hah.. if they'd just learn how to manage their money a little better and weight what is more important.. a new porn pic, or running water.. I mean, you need water, power, internet, all of that to really get anywhere in today's world. I do think that a new picture can wait, however that doesn't mean that one can't save up for it and commission it at a later time, but.. most folks are like "Oh look! So n' so is open for commissions! I want one! :D".. eh, but thats me, I generally don't like spending too much for the very reason of not having enough for bills.. comes from growing up poor, I guess.