I spend way too much time in the gallery, less then some, but more than most, I suspect. I learned early on that the day isnt long enough to look at all the work posted. I bypass the nudes unless something else in the thumb catches my eye, thats not what Im here for. By the time I decide to make a comment on something its either because I think its excellent or my limited knowledge has noticed something, or Ive had to much wine. LOL Do your work because you enjoy it, the rest is extra. Gary :D

"By the time I decide to make a comment on something its either because I think its excellent or my limited knowledge has noticed something" -- those are 2 of the reasons I comment on things :) But now you've left me to guess why you commented on mine ;)

Art is strangely conceived, many people are under the impression that a certain structure would be how all art should be viewed. There is a large amount of sway on this site for people to view postings that contain nudity. If you look at the most viewed section for a majority of the galleries it is quite easy to guess that it is the nude that people will look at. Your point is clear and I agree with your statement here and in the forum. Art, be it writing, painting or rendering is accessible for every one of all ages. It is there to be enjoyed and criticised. If you enjoy it, do it and please share it.

Bravo. Surely a sentiment voiced many times before.. and yet the poularity merry-go-round continues to turn.... Yes, "art" is subjective, and who am I to comment on the perceptions of others? But the Top 20 and the like rarely introduce some of the new and dazzling work of those setting out on their chosen means of expression. Sadly... I feel I'm waffling on and nothing will ever change sigh

Good piece hun. And you speak the truth as always.

I'm with Kipling on this - I treat praise and blame as equal impostors. I prefer one comment sincerely meant to dozens given as reciprocation. I can't comment on the Top 20 in any Gallery, because I never look. However, if other people choose to court popularity I'm completely unconcerned. It's simply a harmless conceit on their part, and does me no injury. For me it's very simple ... if somebody has something to say about my stuff they should feel free to comment [positive OR negative]... if they haven't, then don't. This is the criterion I use when deciding whether, or not, to make my comments. Your piece was worth a comment [imo] because it was interesting.

thanks everyone

I comment on others works because I want too I look at some art out of curiosity and all sorts of reasons. I think to myself I am usually choosey and when I comment to people's works, that comment is a well thought out comment. It might not be right, but it was and is thought about before posted. I don't believe I have ever just posted a comment that was not first written in my word program. I like to think about what I am going to say and how, as I like to insure I say it with the proper intent and as I learn to write it becomes evident to me I need practice with doing this appropriately. Sometimes I don't comment, and that is because I don't know what to say and if I do have something to say and do not comment it is because I don't particularly at the time know how to say what I want to say, and maybe I am not quite sure if I understood fully what the writer writes or the visual artist is presentingSo I will wait attempt to understand it better on my own time as also to get a better perspective when I see others who have commented. Although I don't comment to others work for praises to my own. That should be evident by my work and the amount of views I get to most of it. I have never been popular here, but I still really enjoy myself here. As others have said, do your work for you, and be glad someone views it at least that is the way I feel about it (I understand you wrote this because others spoke about someone you know or met poorly and you feel they did nothing wrong as you now feel that attitude to be wrong. That is honorable thing to do, so I have nothing else to say either way on that particular situation one it is not my place, two I have very little information in the first place, and again to one it is not my place.) Back to me and why I comment and how I feel about others who comment to my works Heck, I often freak a little, as get all nerves, and stuff when I realize someone has viewed and commented on my work. Not because I don't want the comments, because I do appreciate them so much But it is because I am shy and unsure of myself often. My own personal insecurity I suppose you could say. I teeter back and forth from out going to very shy. Anyhow, I too believe the majority of people here comment because they want too, reallyand to me as long as we are enjoying ourselves, or learning whatever our reasons are for participating That is good enoughit is not my place to be judge and jury to who is fake and who is real this is an online atmospherewe only know what one is willing to show anyway and no one really can be for absolute sure whether any of us are real or not, we choose to believe or disbelieve, that is our own individual choices...for now that is me. The writing was and is interesting, as for now I chose not to take sides except for my own and others can believe it to be fake, or not if they choose, toothat is their choice. P.S. As for the hot 20 list, For the longest time I never even noticed it, and now that I know it is there, it does not bother me if I don't make it, for to me it does not make or break me, I write and do visuals because I want too as with my comments, rating or votes. Thanks you for sharing your thoughts and writings Cara Mae and have a beautiful day!

Like I say, it doesn't seem to be an issue in our gallery because we don't get a fraction of the submissoin the Poser gallery gets, so everyone tends to get read and commented on in here, but I have a lot of friends who post in POser and that's where the biggest prob seems to be...

I've never looked at the Poser Hot20 but I'm not surprised that it is a source of controversy. I have looked at Terragen, Fractals, Bryce, etc. and the same thing is going on in them as well from time to time. Seems to be the main bone of contention around here. I've been in them and I've been criticized for it, and there's been times when it's quite a while between visits, but it really doesn't mean anything one way or another. This is one subject that's pretty much guaranteed to start some long conversations, both here in the comments and in the forums, which I really try to avoid! As a non artist and self professed "fart" I say good luck to all, it's a never ending and ultimately futile struggle. I do think I agree with you though, you can't believe everything that everyone says.

I have never looked at the poser Hot20, either. I don't like the Hot 20's at all. That is where, IMHO, all the trouble starts. I will say that I am sick of people critisizing me because of what or who I vote for. It isn't anyones business. Not yours, not ANYONES. If I choose to vote for every single person who posts, it isn't anyones business. I don't, but that isn't the point. All of the dissention comes from jealousy over that STUPID HOT 20. I could care less. Why can't we just be KIND to each other, people!!!

I'm reminded of a somewhat rude saying one of my factory workers told me when I was young and thought I knew it all. He said, "Son, opinions are like rectums - mine works, and so does yours". WINK.

ROTFLMAO, Brian... that's a phrase I've never heard, but be sure I'll use it at some point :):):)

HAHA TallPockets, that's funny. Cara - This is so true....I really have nothing to add, this says it all! I do have to add that I'm a little sick of backslappers.....WOW, for some images...I just don't know. :) Awesome poem!

Thanks Rachel :) Curious, is it a problem in the fractal gallery too? IM me :)

LOL!!!!TallPockets, that just about sums it up. BTW, what's the HOT20 anyway? LOL!!!

hahhahahahhahahahha ;)

Very early this morning I edited my suggestions to add this one: "For all items in the Hot 20, if ppl click on them to view the full image have a button that says "Vote to REMOVE", that way, ppl can have all their friends and aliases voting for them, but the honest ppl could have a say by voting against the images in the "Hot" 20... giggle" Because I really think (reflecting on it now that I HAVE had some sleep) it could help the situation :)

I actually have you down as one of my favourtie artists but haven't been able to catch up with all your stuff just lately. I really enjoyed reading this piece because it is so true. I've read and looked through the Poser forums and galleries, checked out the Hot20 and a couple of times posted in the forums that went straight over everyone's head. When it gets down to it, people will do what they want to anyway. I used to do a lot of fractals and posted many in my gallery, gathered some very nice comments from some rather talented people but never got too many views. So after going through the Poser forums I decided to make a point and start posting semi/nudes in my gallery to see the reaction. Some I've clothed, others are not and guess which ones get the most views? I've proven my point to myself more importantly but I know that no matter what I put in the gallery, people will either be sheep or be honest. Sometimes I've noticed that all those comments tend to contain traces of the comment posted directly before, albeit phrased a little differently. But the point is clear! Sorry for the ramble but I figured at least in here people just might listen. I love reading your stuff cagewench, don't ever stop. It's refreshing honesty. :o)

Shemia: that comment made my morning :) Thank you :)

No one should care whether I go to the trouble of voting for every single individual who makes a post. That is not the point, however, since I don't. Jealousy over that slope is at the root of all this discord. Really, it doesn't matter to me. People, why can't we simply be kind to one another?