Here's a sad, personal story:
A couple of years ago (has it been that long?) I made a big stink in this forum on this topic. It was a very tumultuous time for me. I went through several cycles of deleting every image in my gallery and then re-upping them. I was the top dog in the most commented gallery. I was told every day how great I was and I believed it. Generally speaking, it was good for me, but I also lost perspective. I started counting comments and watching the hot 20. I started to notice what everyone has already pointed out in this thread, and many other threads, and became frustrated and went through another cycle of deleting everything.
I didn't come to terms with this place until I learned these lessons:
- Above all, including art, this place is a community, it's a social gathering, a party.
- It's a free gallery and it attracts people who need to use free galleries for whatever reason. The images posted here are seldom viewed by outsiders. My images will never be found through search engines.
- Comments and the hot 20 are cool but they are also addictive to the point where they can become an obsession and a very bad thing.
- The only way (for me) to be happy here is to not take it too seriously. The game is real and people are playing it whether they know it or not. It's OK to play, but stay grounded. Never take anything about this place seriously, especially a 60 comment image.
- If you want help you have to ask for it. No one will ever offer it freely because they are afraid to offend you. You have to give them permission to help you on every image. By the way, sometimes people do help.
- Critical or helpful comments take work. That's why they are hard to come by.
- The turnover here is fast and furious. There is always someone new and always someone leaving and in the long run we don't know the difference. I know that's cold but it's true. It's also good to see new creativity and art, even if it does leave you in the dust.
Keith
Message edited on: 05/24/2005 14:47
