probably.

Maybe...?
I hardly ever leave comments myself because I can never think of anything to say. That, and I'm just not that social of a person.

Sometimes. I think a lot of people don't know what to say. +Faving, or in Twitter's case, RTing and Hearting, seem to be instant and that's about all there is to it.

That said, I have some ideas brewing in the back of my mind to encouraging commenting on FA. Mostly easy stuff to implement, too.

Yo! I keep forgetting you watch and follow me just because you do.

I wonder if a check box on the comment line next to the commenter's icon could show FuzzyPantsMacGee has favorited this submission. It is already documented in the favorites listings and shows up on that person's favorites, so it is not secret. It would be nice to see the link between commenter and favorites.

Also, I really want to learn how to effectively draw Digimon.i love the belts and metal accessories they have at random.

It's always a question of how you encourage user interaction. I like your idea, in fact... I like it quite a lot. No idea how our database would respond to that, but it's definitely something I'm going to bring up.

I also think about comment reactions (giving a comment ratings) to encourage to contribute and get those kinds of little clicks of praise. Things that reward users for contributing to the site who may not be able to contribute artistically. However, one of the problems that always comes with that territory, and the first question you have to ask: "How will this be abused?"

It's definitely high up on my list. Artists like feedback, users like feedback. Trying to find a great way to reward ALL interaction on a community like this is a challenge, but I do have ideas.

EDIT: And you SHOULD be drawing Digimon. They're a national treasure!

Hmm, like titles some forum sites use to encourage feedback? Often they have under the user icon how many comments they have left. Quickly shows a veteran or very active member. I do not know if I actively pay more credit to those commenters, but my eye does see it and my mind registers it. I have found myself close to so e title goal and working towards it.

But yeah, empty comments are just noise.

You could try implementing something similar to Facebook's Reactions, where you can 👍 like a comment, ❤️ love the comment, 😆 find it funny, 😮 show that you're surprised or impressed, 😢 demonstrate sadness or 😡 show you really dislike the comment.

Yes, that's a great idea! I think if there are a lot of those kind of extra things that's good! I don't know if we want to include any frowny face items though if we're wanting to encourage comments. It may discourage some people. I feel like it could give trolls negative attention too.

"...and the first question you have to ask: "How will this be abused?""

This is why we can't have nice things. You have to consider the malcontents and brain damaged jerk-offs, as Microsoft recently found out.

We're working on a plan, actually, one that may come to fruition sooner rather than later. Abusable, but within reason. Pros definitely outweigh the cons, and it's something we can easily take away from people who decide to try to game the system.

Being pro-active on trying to make interesting incentives. =3

Usually I can't think of anything beyond "nice art!" and I bet that gets old.

Relevant comments are hard. Artists want feedback, not mrrrrry stuff. I try to see what I like like about a piece and note it. I want to see what 'works' for people in a picture.

It does not help when a person art floods, which reduces comments per piece.

I am guilty of not commenting as well. Bad roo!

I will start keeping a closer to your art, roo. that is a promise i can keep.

Things like this are what I think about, like... would having a flag on submissions that says "Feedback Wanted?" help? And maybe a list of criticism levels (e.g. "No feedback, thanks!" to "Go easy on me." all the way to "I can take it, bring your worst!"

That sounds like a good idea. I like leaving comments, but often they're of the "cool pic" variety even though I know from experience, although its nice to get a comment like that, often you want to more, so being able to flag something as wanting comments would be good, especially if someone was trying a new technique or style for example.

Good roo! Have some mint! :)

See, I'm not remotely an artist or art critic... I usually can't tell you WHY I like a pic, or what I like about it. And even if i could, It would not be "educated feedback".

You'd end up hearing me speak like Scotty(or Data, TO Scotty)... "It is... It is... It is green."

"Fascinating."

I feel as though I don't have much to say that's a variation of "that's cool". Figure it gets redundant?

I don't know what to say in comments and the words I have to express that I like some art would feel way too repetitive. I have that problem with art I commission too, I like something I get but what do I say? I feel like I should say more than something like "Awesome I really like this!" but I'm not sure what else to add and it gets really repetitive after a while.

its because overall use of FA has been going down.

Exactly what I was going to say. After all the troubles FA has had in the past, alot of people gave up on it and moved onto DA or Weasel or Tumbler these days. I even notice when I post new art I get commissioned , I hardly get the feedback I used to back in the day.

plus with all of the other social sites out there, its just another catalyst for people to move on. spreading one's self thin.

I would like to believe that, but tbe same phenomena is happening on DA and Weasyl as well. I watch folks there and the comments have dropped overall, which is why I was curious if we are seeing a shift in the fandom again. Maybe people want to party more, or are more into other things than checking out art online or getting commissions.

For example, art shows at cons used to be big deals. Pieces could go for $200-1000+ in auctions. Today cons could drop them entirely and not be missed that much. A shift in the fandom's interests have made art shows less important.

Maybe streaming is a factor?

I do not know. Every art site I visit, including non-furry ones seem to be changing. Even technical forums are dwindling.

As I wrote in another comment, I don't think it's a shit in the fandom, but how people are using the internet. I know some artists who have quit using FA (and FN, Weasyl, and other sites) and have decided to stick to twitter. They don't care about galleries, comments and more. They just like the easy of dropping their art up, getting some favs, moving on.

FA is more of a forum and gallery based site, so we have to consider adapting to how people are contributing, commenting and encourage them to give feedback.

Sort of like squishing together Reddit and Twitter together. You need X, but also need Y. How do you make them work?

Journals take time to open up, compose and post. I have found myself not updating my journals unless I had something real to post.

I would like a Twitter like field for the artist to do quick posts, much like the shout box, but more like Snap Thoughts of things I might say that do not warrant a journal.

Heck, I would like to have my Tweets duplicated here. It would definitely encourage me to comment more in real time what I am doing. And FA fans of course want to know I just finished up my laminated badge print order of 768 badges for BLFC, or that my hands are going to be SOOO cramped after cutting them all out. Okay, maybe you don't want to see that, but it is a peek into the daily life that journals do not cover.

I see your point there. perhaps its an issue of over saturation. As time has gone on, artists, fursuit makers and writers have been honing their skills and getting better. 15 years ago it was a bit easier to show appreciation and be a fan. Now with so many talented folks out there due to fandom growth, it would be quite hard, as a fan. to show appreciation via comments. a 'like' button or something similar here on FA would be a fine option for those wishing to show appreciation in a faster, more streamlined way.

My thought is sort of like a Facebook-esque "reactions" tabs for comments. It's simple, to the point and offers some variety. And perhaps artists could have a unique reaction to use when people respond to their content.

sure, because in the end, we all need our dopamine fix. however we can get it, whether from views, comments, likes, hearts, stars, blue diamonds, shares... its become so necessary.

snerk.

Would it be possible to setup user specific reactions in comments? Kinda like stickers? So users could customize their own set of reactions and then drop them into a comment on the fly. That would provide many artists with a new avenue for commissions and would promote commenting more.

Telegram style sticker responses? For comment purposes? HMM!

I would like to think showing up to your stream and vying to be on your wheel would count as a ego-boost-pellet, perhaps not. I show. sometimes I don't like the theme so I don't ask to be on it. I still watch what others get done.
It's not without foibles, One of your Skype participants a month ago was so rude as to eat crunchy things while on the air.
So I was listening to you take comment from the chatroom and be interrupted by CRUNCH, CRUNCH. you might not have heard it, but the microphones were picking it up way fine. Still, I showed up the week after, just to watch you make art.
Hope that is a small boost to you, at least....

Yes, you made your point on that subject multiple times in that stream and others. It might be worth contacting me separately privately on the issue in the future.

I had hoped you might comment on people going to your stream. Does it not make you happy when the chatroom fills up with folks wanting to see what you are doing?

I remember you are painting an MG cause that's your favorite car. what ever became of that?

I can imagine you painting a roo on the side of it, calling it a Boomer Cause it goes so fast.

I'm very interested in seeing that MG when he finishes it.

I don't think it's a usage thing. If anything, usage has gone up somewhat, but how people are using the site has changed. Both users and artists have become accustomed to Facebook and Twitter. See content, like/heart/RT and move on. The general concept of the internet has, to some degree, become more consumption based.

That said, we do want to encourage commenting and feedback, and are trying to promote that.

Along these lines, as far as interactions, what if FA were more closely linked to streaming as well? Maybe a tag that indicates if an artist is currently streaming? Like a button you can toggle on FA that displays an icon on your user info block in comments and on your profile page, saying you're currently streaming and displays the URL for said stream when they click on it?

I'm really behind on my commenting. I want to do so on a lot of art I fav, but it takes quite a bit of effort on my part to think up and type up a response, and I can't put some quick "koo!". And lately, I've been coming home exhausted. Same reason I have not responded to some notes yet or re-posted some of the art I've gotten. But if comments are important to you, I'll try and make that effort.

Flinters, you've been on FA long enough to know about seasonal ebb and flow as a factor in FA engagement. Most schools have been 'out' for a while now, so students are relaxing outside, laughing at Trump and drinking heavily. Wait by your water bottle for the Food Pellets of Fall (and know you are loved.)

Do you receive more comment pellets for your more adult work? Does it seem the sick, twisted, disgusting, deliciously delightful fetish spank material gets all the attention? Many artists have journaled that their beautiful 100 hour landscape gets no comments, while a fast hand sketch of something sexual gets all the love. It like the audience is offering feedback, trying to tell artist's something.

I couple of furs I talk to told me they never comment on anything anymore because they either get backlash being told they have no idea what they are talking about

or they get told they are being creepy perverts for commenting on a picture of giant tentacle sex orgy.

idk people are strange and I know I don't comment on every piece you draw but I do love all of your art I have a big soft spot for ya

A lot of the reason why I don't comment on every picture or artist I look at or follow is because I often browse in large batches. Sometimes, it's just clicking through my faves or the categories. Sometimes I'm doing it just to clear it, sometimes it's because I'm vaguely busy and distracting myself. Sometimes it's for porn.

Honestly, I have been a furry for something like 15 years now. I know that even back in the early days of my fledgling furry adventures people were a lot more communal, communities tended to be more tight knit, and as a kid floating between the end of high school and college I had a lot of free time to just be on the internet doing nothing but socializing.

These days, I don't rightly know what to say anymore. I see some good art and I think, "Nice art." If I comment on a picture with "Nice art," I'm sure the artist will appreciate it. Some of them will, at least. Some of them might lose their damn minds and come unglued because their art is more than nice, or why couldn't I have left something more meaningful or critiquing. Maybe it's because I'm not a critic - I don't know what you could do better, I'm not an artist. I just know what I like and that's stuff that I like.

Realistically, there are hundreds if not thousands of artists out there and I might only like one or two pictures from them. Commenting on every single picture that I've ever seen would take an immense amount of time to attribute nothing more meaningful than an upvote on the picture. It's not really a productive use of time and I've begun cutting a lot of frivolous content from my life. I am old. I want engaging conversation and discussion and if that is about furry art or fetishes then so be it. Comments are often not the place to have these types of conversation because an artist will probably not have time to respond to it or engage in lengthy diatribes.

So, to be entirely frank, most artists don't interact with the comment section on their pictures or galleries in a meaningful way to make commenting seem worthwhile. If I hit the "watch" button that means I like your art. If I fave something, it means I liked it enough that I want to refer to it later. If I comment, it's because I want to talk, to say something, and commenting is a one-way street 99% of the time.

Its a mixture of things...but I think it boils down to

People don't really know what to say anymore.
That is the BIGGEST thing not just because people don't literally have anything to say...more so that they may say the same thing that others will say like "Cool" or "Thats awesome" or "Sexy" and whatnot. And more people are seeing how robotic and boring that sounds.

Also a HUGE one if nobody thought about it.......people are fucking sensitive. And easily Offended.
Like...ok Ill admit that sometimes people can say too much....but there is some GREAT Porn made by some FANTASTIC artists here in the furry community, but god forbid somebody say how sexy the art or the character is, its seen as "Creepy" and "Sexual Harassment" And then people start getting blocked and scolded by artists they admire, and it can be very crushing. Especially when said artist makes a journal about the person who told them how Hot the image is.
Like i said, I understand some people might go too far and say......what they would do, and how they wish that was them...stuff like that. But now you really can't say anything. So now people just don't comment.

Politics here and there have been popping up, with the current Culture change, and the new President, and stuff going on in the news, you say something thats against the grain, or if you happen to have an opposite opinion and even offer your thoughts, your attacked for having a different opinion and not being like minded as the herd.
That just creates Drama NOBODY wants.

I guess another one is...you have some real art enthusiasts who like to TRY and be helpful by giving Critique and Constructive Criticism....but most artists that Hate that more so then appreciate it, and take it as an attack, and personally.


Those are my thoughts

Thank you for your feedback and thoughts. They were well presented and thought out. I appreciate it.

Furries are a bit delicate and can be easily offended. Much of society is that way.we have encouraged it I think.

I avoid politic discussions because it is very hard to talk about the subject at hand without offending the other person. I may not agree with your political position, and that is a *good* thing, for difference of opinion prevents stagnation. I separate political preference from the person with that position. Friends can argue and still be friends.

Unless you do not like mint, in which case all bets are off.

Society is becoming increasingly delicate and easily offended nowadays. Look at all the SJWs wanting freedom of speech abolished lest someone say something that offends them or someone-else. Or who need "safe spaces" because of [insert ridiculous reason here].

Like criticizing the President? That really seems to set people off.

Especially him.

That's one example. There are many others.

But for a less politically-charged answer, some people just don't feel the need to say anything, especially if what they would've said has already been said.

True, I know I have chosen not to comment on many stories and pieces art work because I had nothing to add to what had already been said.

I do honestly find myself lurking more and commenting less. I also find it interesting that this has been a lot of the same in my age group. When I entered this fandom in 2002, most everyone I met were my age- teens and young 20's. Now it's been 15 years and I find most folks my age comment less on here, interestingly enough.

In all honesty I enjoy commenting much more than other forms of social media. I really don't keep up with twitter or anything else much, try as I may.

Is depression on an upward trend? (googles) Seems so. Well, I know that personally my depression leaves me with less mental energy to formulate a relevant comment, especially since there are so many good artists whose works I enjoy!
Some days I feel over-saturated and it's the same with comics too, there are so very many out there! So many unique stories I have a hard time keeping track of them all! I enjoy watching streams even when I'm tired, though I may not comment much on those days, it's still nice to join a shared experience. Welp, that's about all I've got for tonight. Just watched the last four Samurai Jack episodes, enjoyed them all, but left a little unsatisfied by the ending.

I think I actually comment more now than I did in the past, though admittedly I've been making a deliberate effort to do so. The main barrier I've run into is simply not having anything to say. I'm also less inclined to comment on something that already has lots of comments or if I've received a large volume of submissions--even if they're not by the same artist.

While I realize it doesn't scale well when an artist is posting a lot or receiving larger numbers of comments, one of things that makes me more inclined to comment is when the artist regularly responds to comments, otherwise it sometimes feels a bit like just talking to myself.

Creators are just people, and really should interact with fans. They miss out on so e great people and experiences if they sit on their high pedestals.

Probably. Comments require you to think, unlike hash-tagging or faving. I personally try my best to leave comments on the work I like - and I try to do more than "good art" or "HOT!" comments. Which is harder than it sounds at times.

And you think its rough getting a couple of comments on a piece of art? Try getting one or two comments on an entire story series! Stories don't seem to be popular here, but oh well. I will still write what I want to.

Generally, unless I really have something to say, I rather don't. Just a "Nice" one doesn't seem to be much of a good idea -- I know I'd think them as noise, not signal. Especially since you can't even view them from the overview page, you only see "So and so commented on <this>" -- and have to click through and on. Then you see just a one word "Nice" there.

Hey bear, have not seen you in a while. I need to wake up a sheep and pester the ursine.

*chuckles* Maybe, maybe. I was watching a few of your streams, just too lazy to register, so could not make myself known :)

... Also, stuff kinda died out on Taps, not much happening like in good old times, people only seem to get naughty...

I think a lot of the interaction dropped from mucks and went to IM clients like Telegram, Viber, etc.

It's mostly one-on-one interaction though, and I noticed it dropping even before they really became popular. I mean, skype, AIM, YIM were around for like ever, but they suck.

Also, MUCK is an environment -- you have places, etc there... Meaningful stuff... So I dunno what happened.

I try to say something more than "Cool pic", but often have no idea what to say. For me it's a fine line trying to avoid doing the drooling fanboy thing and also say something worthwhile and often I just give up and remain quiet.

Of course one of the other reasons is I'm now watching so many different artists, that I'll often have over 100 new submissions at the end of the day, a bundle of them get pruned at the icon stage, some more make it to a big full screen look and then a few of those get comments, so I probably comment on the same number of pictures, but a far smaller percentage of pictures than what I look at.

People are lazy, they thing fav is enough!

My comments have been really crap lately.

1) Nice!
2) Cool!
2) Cute!
3) Love your work!

I feel like I'm just waiting your (and other artists') time with dreck like that.

I've noticed a big change in the site's meta in that time span. the people who are on now seem.....different somehow. it's like a chunk of the active users were silently whisked away and replaced. (though a small portion of that portion left not so silently ;) ). that could contribute

There is a visible drop in comments generally speaking for more than a couple years now. May be a newer generation accustomed to consume fast and forget, a certain fatigue for the old generation in commening submissions for years, too much artist and too much art around to see and follow... I totally agree with what you say about artist's ego, I miss that also, but as a simple watcher nowadays, I also understand this other side. That does not mean that watchers do not appreciate your art anymore, far from that. Hard to wistand, but we have to get away with it...

I've got a few ideas about this too... Sorry if they have already been said.

I notice a lot of artists posting "Butthurt Journals" and rants about how they HATE so-called "pointless" comments... "Creepy" comments... "Sexual" comments (even when it is an overly sexual artwork)... Or getting upset about critical comments, even when they ask for critique. I've seen the "You aren't an artist so what the hell would you know?!?!" response quite a few times over the years.

This fandom, in particular, has A LOT of hyper/overly-sensitive and unstable individuals, and a lot of people stick to just staying quiet instead of saying ANYTHING for fear of it being taken out of context or being seen in a negative way. That is one of the problems with text based comments, the reader and writer may be in two different mindsets and completely take said comments out of context. That's why I have to use emojis and ^_^ faces all the time.

So after those things, people are often "afraid" to make comments on that person's art and even other artist's art because they are afraid of "possibly offending", and it often has a ripple effect.

A lot of times, as I'm sure others have said here, people think hitting the +fav button is good enough to let the artist know they like said art, especially in this day and age when anything over 130characters gets mocked with "TL;DR". And after a while there is really nothing to say anymore, especially if someone else already made a similar comment. At some point people saying "Nice art" 20 times is no different than having the +fave button hit 20 times.

There is also the amount of art on this and other sites... If I don't check FA in a week, there may be over 1500 submissions just from the artists I watch. It'd take me a day or more just to find something to say for however many I favorite.

Personally I'll leave comments in journals and such more often as that is a more direct way to engage the community, so to speak.

Tl;dr








J/K :3

LE GASP!

My easily hurt feelings!

*curls up to sob in the corner and cut himself with a spork*

lol

^_^

I'm beginning to think so. I see how much work you put into your stuff. You deserve a comment saying how epic and cute your work is.

I just honestly never know what to say. I do love alot of your art and i think your style is amazing.
i just dont usually know how to get that across on a lot of your pieces.

Not just comments but favorites too..

Seems like a lot of furs just dunno what to say. I'm prone to that too and i try to not be that guy that may potentially bring the discomfort or what have you when i do comment. Its to the point i don't usually comment unless the subject matter is something I'm super into or im commenting to someone i know doesnt mind the odd "thats kind of weird" comment.

On a side note I totally need to hit you up at some point. You are king of roo tf tgs and I've been dieing to know what its like to have a pouch. <3

The danger of having a pouch is fellas trying to put a joey in there.

"Happiness is having a full pouch."

Oh that's not really a bad thing in my opinion. I've always loved the pics youve done of your character making roo ladies of folks and the few i seem to recall where he got to break in the new roo ladies. Might be fun to see him make this spotted hyena into a motherly shaped roo. =)

That is a good mentality to have. XP

Think also a lot of artists don't like negative comments and instead of replying to them, either ignore, hide the comment, of even delete the art and re upload to remove all them, then block those that leave negative comments. So people might be stopped by those artists that act that way, cause they think all artists are like it.
Or could just be due to bone idleness.

I honestly do try to comment a good bit, as I had done in my previous account. I regret that I can't comment on every piece that comes through my queue.

Honestly, we should have like... An RPG Level system which awards users EXP and titles and the like for being courteous to others, giving comments, and not causing drama.

I'd also think a system like that, if well implemented; could tie lots more people together. People could look at their levels and say "Huh. This guy seems kinds neat." And hit that watch button just for being themselves.

I am surprised we don't have upvotes or something like that on comments.

Usually, I just leave it at favoriting a piece, unless I have something worth saying, and it's not possible to take it as "mean", "creepy" or worse.

This is a good idea. We're all ego driven, not just artists, and so if people could get upvotes on comments they'd be more likely to do it..

I'm really big on 'fave and run' as I go through my daily submissions. Laziness and sometimes just not knowing what to say that is relevant besides...oooo I really like this....are my main excuses. Mostly laziness, I'm sorry to say. But, yes, I have noticed it in myself. I comment much less than I used to.

I actually never used to comment on things until recently. Some times I resort to the awful habit of, 'That looks awesome!' or 'That's super well done!', but I do actually use commenting as a way to help my social skills and I try my best to say more than just the generic things. I try to point out specifically what I like about the art piece, and if I watch the artist enough, I try my best to even compliment any changes or just style perks that I like about that artist and kinda encourage them to do more of it.

Recently I learned that commenting was a good way to interact with people, where as I was simply favoriting submissions before. But when I started commenting, people started talking to me, and I also gained traffic towards my own art and my page in general. I think a lot of people don't realize that you can use commenting as a way to socialize. And while i'm not the best artist, commenting and socializing has inspired people to come and get art from me which has been super amazing and has done me a lot of good with my art skills.

But in short, I enjoy commenting on peoples stuff! I don't have time to comment on EVERY piece I see, but the ones that really stand out are the ones I spend time saying something to.

And comments like these make me visit your page and look through the gallery. It's good cross promotion and ways to meet people.

What IS your character's species? Sort of a dragon fluff canid hybrid that is adorably cute.

The one in my icon is a dutch angel dragon! She is my secondary fursona. My main one is a timber wolf. C:

the commenting and counter-commenting is what I like to call "networking". like out there, it's who you know, and how well. someone is looking for a comission of thisandthat, and looks for the right artist? poke them this way. artist could use more traffic? comment, fave, draw fan-art or trades. :)

and then you meet them in real, at a con or wherever. and maybe find out there can be way more, like a friendship. :)

I've noticed this too, that people seem to fave something at 20x the rate of commenting on it. I am kind of the opposite, I'll comment on something if I have the slightest urge to say something, but only +fav if it really, really tickles me.

Apart from not having anything to say, do artists really value comments? Barely anyone responds to them. And knowing Im just throwing my words into a dumpster doesnt really increase my motivation to write anything. Im slowly trying to make my way as a photographer and I cant imagine not responding to every single comment I recieve. Simply enough because its polite and its the least you can do to make the person feel welcome. Furry artists dont seem to give a damn about that in general. I wonder if its because furry fandom in general is ridden with different degrees of social awkwardness of because furry artists are used to the fact furries come kneeling infront of them asking for art.

There is a different level of professionalism at work. It does take time to mature in the fandom to the point where you know what is expected of an artist.

I tend to leave feedback when something strikes me about something that needs saying. Don't tend to be a feedback user whom leaves...



...as an entry. (Have done it on occasion, though.) After all, if I just wanted to leave tripe to represent that I have visited...

FIRST! (Oy...)

i don't post as many comments anymore, don't know why i just got sick of saying that something looks cool.

i also don't give feedback any more since it feels like im complaining and a lot of people take that the wrong way.

i also don't post a comment if an artist uploaded like 20 pictures, ill just assume he/she is uploading some big chunk for his own administration and isn't waiting for feedback/messages.

and lastly. maybe a little arrogant on my side but i often don't get a reply which doesn't really stimulate me on leaving a comment again next time. ( i realize the artist already uploaded free art for me to look at) (there are also exceptions, some artists seem to take time out of their schedule to reply)

I have noticed a severe drop off too.
I chalked it up to FA dying and me being a subpartist. Haha.

I do try to comment on people who regularly comment on my stuff. It seems like push/pull...especially if a question is asked or its more than a one word response. Good quality feedback does take time to type out after all. I want them to know their effort is appreciated.
You don't always need a complicated reason to like something, nor do you have to wax on about it.

Ex:
"I thought it was really tasty"
Versus
" I enjoyed the earthy flavors that the mushrooms lended to the dish. The way the creme sauce cooled the spices...."

Both are good feedback, one just gives you deetails.

From what I see in forums and all over the web, people are always happy to get/receive but are less likely to actually want to comment on other pieces themselves. Classic example is any kind of copy+paste survey.

I see that on forums a lot. There will be 10 pages of copy+paste surveys filled, but with nobody bothering to do anything but the "Me!" Part, what's the dang point? XD

Someone once told me comments are like oral sex and that you can't expect to get all the time without giving. The next time something inspires you, type a little something about it :) The artist will be happy for the feedback and you'll have just changed the "nobody comments" thing a little :)

"Ex:
"I thought it was really tasty"
Versus
" I enjoyed the earthy flavors that the mushrooms lended to the dish. The way the creme sauce cooled the spices...."

----

But the drawing was of a giraffe going at it with a mouse...

Was it the drawing of the two where the couple were discussing dinner in bed? A la Chinese takeout in bed then back to the main dish.


I'm probably not doing the watching correctly since I just bookmark pictures/stories that I like and only comment on a few. Usually I'm just lazy or like many above I can't think of anything else to say. If I do think of something neat/cool I'm really slow at organizing my thoughts and typing them out so they wander off so what I would write doesn't end up sounding cool anymore and I just erase before posting.

One question though, if I find an artist and go through their gallery or just a random picture that I like what's the time limit on commenting? I don't always look at gallery's even monthly. I don't go to many forums but I've seen "dead" ones resurface, to I guess the annoyance of some people. Though I guess it depends on what the subject is.

Anyway I like your art. I'll try to comment some time.

A Giraffe and Mouse eating Chinese; Fortune cookies have to be read in Bed! hehe

It's not just you, Flinters.

I'm also guilty of not commenting much. I've not much TO say. When I do, I will comment. Sometimes there's a batch upload, and I'll do a shout to cover thenm all.

Feedback has been a constant...problem?...though. I remember this same thing happening back in the 80's and 90's. Some artists are lucky in that they have a constant flow of ego pellets, as you named them. Others have less but are still fed. Others still have little to none and starve.

I also have little to none in comments. I do answer them, some I just leave because there's no answer that I can give. I wish there'd be more but as I said, luck of the draw. I've taken to looking at the Views. The numbers tell a different story. I have an average of 20-30 views on pics without comments. It means my pic was looked at, SEEN. I'll take that.

But comments are a much better coin.


-- Lia

Sorry if I've been lax in commenting lately, Flinters, but it's a two-way street. Many of the artists I watch and upon whose work I leave comments, seldom, or never, acknowledge their followers' comments. If they do, they are only answering the followers who support them on Patreon or buy commissions. I get tired of trying to think up nice things to say when I get ignored.

Not saying that's a problem with you, but it's becoming a trend.

This is probably one part of it. I know many artists are busy and some get lots of comments. After a while I'm sure the compliments and praise lose their meaning to some. But sometimes I go to comment and I feel it's just pointless to do so because I've been leaving comments on the artist's pictures for years and they've never seemed to even acknowledge a single one of my comments.

Yeah, I definitely feel I should be commenting more. I guess it's a combination of time constraints and amount of artists I'm watching at once. I will still often comment if I really enjoy a piece or I can relate to it personally but I'm definitely lacking in comments in comparison to favorites.

Naw... I think we just get busy.

Maybe or maybe you aren't comment worthy of course it could be just busy furs

I'm guilty of not commenting much. Until last year, I had a slow connection and was constantly trying to play catch up on my submission backlog. I usually let a 'fav' do my commenting because I treat them like, 'I like this. More like it please.' Since then, I've been exploring other sites and methods of communication (such as Telegram and Twitter) that weren't open to me before so my time here is still somewhat limited by that.

Even then, I don't add comments often though I can clear my submissions in a fraction of the time. Part of that is not knowing what to say that someone else hasn't already because I'm rarely one of the first to view the submission. Another part of it is I really don't feel qualified to speak about technical aspects of work that's made in a way I still don't really understand. I also work in circumstances where things within my experience are dismissed when management doesn't want to believe them. And I'll admit that even in text only, I'm still a bit shy.

I have been trying to overcome some of these things - be it in the chats I'm in or on Twitter or even in reply to a journal entry like this but it might be more difficult on art pieces.

This is speaking only for myself. I have no idea what anyone else might be up to when it comes to their web habits.

I should comment on the pics that just plain make me smile. Which are a lot of them here.

I know that I really Should comment on things I like, or such, especially since I love comments on my writing and photography. But I type them, reread them, think they sound creepy, delete them, and go hide from the internet in shame for a few hours, so it never Actually happens >.<

Somewhat ironically, after reading some of the comments here, I was tempted to pass this up myself… xD

…but really, a lot of what's been said here holds true for me as well; I don't really comment much anymore because I have a hard time coming up with anything to say that's unique or hasn't already been said. Hell, even on Twitter I have a hard time thinking of something to reply with that doesn't seem like I'm pointing out the obvious or focusing on something too much or being a bit of a creep.

The other thing is, as has been pointed out in earlier comments, the lack of replies. I'm no artist by a long shot, so most of the comments here that I get *from* others are in reply to something I've written elsewhere, and those tend to be rare; I get a bit excited just seeing that little "1C" notification on my page. xD

The power is yours to help change things. Interact with people. Ask the artist about a technique or subject. Maybe they will answer and that can introduce more topics and conversation. It's a good way to meet people and make new friends.

And that C flag on the account showing you have comments is a kick in the pants.

I don't always have anything to say; also there was a very frustrating life situation sucking all creativity out of me for like, 3 years or something... things have changed, are still changing so maybe I can comment more in the future. at least something meaningful or useful. or both.
I have even wrote short poems as comments once or twice... :) which the artist then added to their art descriptive text on DA, too. :)

I never got in the habit less I had an honest interest or question yet even I get excited to see the C counter go up a tick. It just feels a bit strange to comment something that doesn't truly add anything. I need to try and work past that apprehension.

I honestly have trouble bringing myself to comment most of the time. I've encountered a fair bit of negativity, sadly, where I've been attacked for leaving comments along the lines of "Nice pic" or "I really like this one". I'm told that since I can't say what I like about the pic, my comment is useless noise. I understand the desire for feedback and information to improve, but I'm not an artist myself and I never studied any sort of art theory. I can't point to things and say "The linework here was very impressive" or "I like the way the shading captures their emotion" or something like that. I just don't know enough. And I got fed up with the feeling like I had to defend my use of the Favorite button, like I had to prove I have the right to like something. I know that most artists aren't like that, but I had enough bad apples just sour the entire thing for me.

Plus, I'm rather introverted, so I'm not really used to just commenting for the neck of it. ^.^;;

This comment actually has good value in and of itself, and is very helpful. Thank you for your response and thoughts.

I think I can relate to this a lot.

People is just too used to "likes" and "Favorites", I blame Facebook.