Remember: If what you want to say wouldn't be appropriate in PUBLIC, then it's not appropriate online.

Sounds like the environment you’re trying to maintain is one that many watchers are not used to encountering on this platform. What you’re doing is completely reasonable and understandable, and I wish you success. I’ll personally try to keep all this in mind when I go to comment on your stuff.

It's definitely not the norm, but something that should be more encouraged. People who are 'used' to overstepping boundaries or not considering them at all often see this behavior as 'censorship' when in reality it's just making your own environment more comfortable. People can say whatever they want, but the artist can also hide whatever they want. Freedom on both sides is important- especially when over the years you've given everything a 'pass' because 'it's the internet, it's gonna happen.'
I've learned too many times that this only encourages the behavior and can attract the wrong types of people.

Thank you for understanding, and tbh, if someone is at all worried about coming off weird, that means they're at least a few steps ahead of the leagues of people who don't question themselves at all.

To be fair, people who do this are probably unaware that they’re overstepping boundaries because they’re not often established. And also, many artists probably have different boundaries. But it’s hard to tell because few say anything about where theirs are. So I guess, just try to keep in mind that when people do stuff like that they’re probably not doing it to be malicious.

Oh no I'm very aware that people are unaware, haha
This journal is more my way of saying 'I know you don't mean it maliciously, but just know that me hiding things is also not malicious.' Since people take hidden comments very personally sometimes, like it's an attack on their character.
It's simply 'I don't vibe with that on my work, sorry.' and nothing beyond it. But, unfortunately people don't like being told 'no don't do that' so it's still gonna offend/hurt people whether I mean it to or not.

I had to do this for so long, so often, that I now just disable comments on all my submissions.

Which really sucks because it should never be driven to that point. :\ It's like having to install an electric fence around your house because people won't stop breaking in. People shouldn't be breaking in.

I went down your list and had every single one of them happen to me enough times that I just didn't feel like dealing with it anymore

owo curate me daddy *murrs and nuzzles u and respects ur boundaries*

Praex I'm going to LAUNCH you into the SUN
/s

Noted!
Not that I do these things anyway I think, especially because I actually read your profile stuff and got a feel for what's acceptable and what's not, but in case I ever got the urge to post something obnoxious, I'll know it especially frustrates you.

I appreciate the consideration XD The fact that you at least scope out someone's general environment first before interacting is already steps ahead of [most] of the types this is directed at.

I mean, I've gotten similar tone-deaf crap on my works (one of the reasons I so rarely use my fursona), so I try to give out that consideration to others.

i only recently started following your work, but good luck curating a space comfortable for you! kink art in the furry fandom is in this weird open space where a lot of people can forget many artists still have boundaries, and its not a complete sexual free-for-all even if an artist is comfortable sharing nsfw art in the first place. ive been seein more artists put their boundaries down tho, hopefully more folks will be understanding and respectful in time

It's definitely a hard environment to create- but not impossible! I feel the sooner and clearer you put down your boundaries, the better off you are in the long run as it runs off most of the people that don't respect you. And then the rest that stick around out of spite? That's what the block button is for.
I'm very glad to see people more vocal about their boundaries- helps start to normalize this behavior. Makes this behavior seem less like 'being uppity' and more of a basic respect thing- which is good.

i think youre very right. im still struggling with that boundary, ive stopped sharing a lot of my nsfw art in the past years bc some people can be really inappropriate about it :( but im super glad to see ppl who do care. its helping my confidence!

Yeah it's especially bad in kink/nsfw environments because by nature, it's very emotionally and sexually charged. That's why I believe more normalization of 'this is a PERSON posting this, don't say anything you wouldn't say in public in front of strangers' is good.
I'm sorry to hear that, but I hope you can curate a more comfortable environment for yourself!

I think people have a bad tendancy of pushing their perspectives and overall desires upon artists and some not in the best light. It makes one wonder if this is how they act irl or if they behave themselves irl and whatever they are doing reflects their true nature. One can only guess. But at the end of the day, all any of us can ask is simple respect of boundaries.

The thing I've come to notice on that front is this:
It's not usually the initial overstepping that shows their 'true colors'.
It's someone's reaction to being told 'please don't do that'.
Someone's response to being told 'you're wrong' says more about their character than most other things, in my experience.
If someone oversteps my boundaries? Whatever, maybe they didn't know. But if they continue to do so or blame me AFTER I correct them, then they're not someone I want around.
That's just a lesson for life in general- always be careful of someone that sees you laying down boundaries and either says 'fuck you', ignores you, or somehow turns it into 'you're being selfish'. Those aren't people you want around.

I had my fair share of those sadly and what's worse is the ones who want to RP and are overly clingy and then get upset if you decline them and start acting out...I feel some people really need to grow the hell up. I mean sure we are here to kinda "get away" from it all here, but it seems for some that common sense, common courtesy, and common decency have become alot less common.

There's a depersonalization effect with the internet, as people often see you as a 'character' and not an actual human. There's a disconnect that makes it WAY easier to act out because of the anonymity of the web.

A sad fact in how some fail to distinguish the character from the artist (or otherwise) and act with reckless abandon. I can see how some people end up being depressed portraying a character and not looking at the person behind the mask.

Price to continue to consume art: be a decent fucking person and respect boundaries.

You got it, Boss!
But yeah, moderate your stuff to the best of your abilities! You're not just cultivating an environment for yourself, you're working to build a comfortable community around your art and your works, which is definitely a good thing!

I mean...that's entirely reasonable to me.

Some people like that stuff. Some don't. Respecting the difference is important!

Exactly! Plenty of folks who aren't bothered by that sort of interaction, but I'm def not one of them.

Yeah, none of these are really cool to do with someone's characters unless a) they know you well and b) some sort of trust has been established, which includes honoring of boundaries. (And some aren't cool to do no matter what).

For what it's worth, I instantly caught the mood of, for example, "Soft Saturday." I can tell the difference between a fetish piece and a gentle, SFW one. It's shocking how many folks CAN'T, or just are so wrapped up in discovering their kink that they try and force everything into that mold.

Man I so agree with all of this. Would you mind if I posted something very similar, if not mostly copy/paste what you wrote above in a journal on my page? I've been getting some REALLY weird comments lately, and you summed up everything so nicely.

If not that's ok too. :)

Go ahead! I don't mind. :3

Thank you kindly. I'm glad I asked!

Those weird horny comments throw me for a loop. I know I draw nsfw content, but I really hate when people overlook all of the hard work and just see "DICK!1 BALLS".

Ugh.... been getting so many of those lately.

Yeaaarp, it's a mess. Laying down Boundaries calmly but firmly is always the first step to remedying that, and then continuing to enforce it and not letting things 'pass' is the second step. Unfortunately the last step is continuous moderation and dealing with people that get angry when you tell them 'no.' It sucks and it takes a while but it's worth it for a more comfortable environment in time.

Seems perfectly reasonable! I'm sorry it got to this point, though. Doesn't help that there's no easy way to say "these are my boundaries, please respect them" and guarantee that everyone who comments sees it.

Totally get it, and I'm 100% behind you for it. :)

Gosh that one about unwanted interpretations hits close, as its one of the reasons I get hesitant about things personally

You’re doing good work enforcing rules like this

Your bringing attention to this is good. I’m rather new to being an artist on this platform, but I’ve been around for a while. I’ve seen other people bring attention to insensitive comments that cross their boundaries and have seen some act differently in hopes to avoid it. I, most of the time, am careful before leaving a comment.

However, with things being the way they are for so long, have left a few thoughtless comments before. It’s no excuse and I apologize if I left any on, your work. It’s not fair to me to represent myself like that on someone else’s hard work and it’s not fair to you to have to deal with it. And I just want to thank you for making a public statement about it, because by doing so you not only help yourself but also promote a better community for other artists.