Years ago I had a friend that did some consulting work for Will Vinton Studios, the experts in Claymation that once did something called "California Grapes." Spending some time there in Portland with the actual artists of the company, and also with a number of artists that worked both on their own in and around the city and as contractors to the studio I can say that as a whole they were a fun but really odd bunch. They were at once leaders in technology -perhaps geniuses- where art grabbed them but also Luddites and often fearful of computers where they did not pertain to art. Similarly outgoing and vocal and even egotistical where it pertained to art and art techniques, but also very private and retiring on many matters.

I can see how some of those artists would embrace a Facebook type approach that Rendo seems to be pushing. I can also see how some of the quirkier perhaps more genius types would vehemently denounce it.

I see humor in this this thread which so far to me is a bit of a mirror of a bigger real world community that I once briefly experienced. If Renderosity does not like the negative comments in this thread they are probably ailenating at least half of the community, regardless of age. By the same token, by starting this thread Hope may be engaging about half of this community.

I'm not at all into the Facebook approach (do not equate with my genius comment), which is a complete turn-off, though I've offered you a bit of personal information here in the spirit of the thread.