Welcome to the RAGING classified_fu Guide of Rage on Living (with Etiquecy!) in the Art Forum (AF) of Gaia!
Guise, I really was not gonna post this. I really wasn't. But then every time I go back to AF, I feel the all-powerful rage about the n00bness build-up and boil over again.
The following are annoyances that stand out with golden brilliance every time I trudge into Gaia's AF. Maybe I'm just being overly sensitive about the whole matter, but....Some people just need to learn mannerisms.
Warning: If you are sensitive and faint of heart, I warn. Stop here, and go watch some MLP. They pass on lessons about life in general much more nicely.
Actually, just don't take this seriously (yet do). It's full of cynical and stuck-up humor. Proceed if you dare...
For Buyers:
Once a buyer, always a buyer. Love art too much, hands down. You with me? All right. Cool.
Let's just get a few things straight for the wannabes.
•SAY THANK YOU.
EVERY culture has a way of saying thank you, am I rite? No? Well, those cultures must be thriving in countries with population 1! If such is the case, you poor, hapless soul, use the internet to learn how to say thank you in over 100 languages.
Oh lord, this is borderline common sense, but I'm going to expend some effort into explaining it for the AF Grinchs anyway because (can you believe it?) THEY ACTUALLY EXIST.
Why do we say thank you, kids? Because it's manners. How would you feel if you gave someone a special cupcake you made especially for him/her, and s/he just took it without even having the decency to say thank you? Well, I don't know about you, but I'd feel like I was at my first job all over again. SH*TTED ON.
Excuse number one: "But I am thankful!"
It's the damn internet, people! We do not see your smiling faces behind the screen as you ROLFCOPTERSOEPIC spasm about your awesome arts. What we do see is a big fat NOTHING. NO "THANK YOU"? WELL, HMPH.
Excuse number two: "Well I paid the f*cker already, what more do they want?"
Wow, really? You been going to Chinatown far too long, brother.
This ain't no convenience store where you buy your four dollar lunches and dally the hell outta there faster than diarrhea splorges out the @ss. This is Gaia, and Gaia is made up of people, albeit slightly insensitive people, but people nonetheless. Still don't understand what I'm talking about? God, take a sociology class because I'm certainly not giving you a full blown lesson about people for free.
Excuse number three: "I forgot/didn't have time!"
IDGAF.
(I actually had an absolutely lovely costumer who said thank you almost immediately upon receiving art.
A few days later, SHE RETURNED, SAYING THANK YOU AGAIN IN CASE SHE FORGOT THE FIRST TIME.)
Lesson summary: Say thank you no matter what.
•TIP THE ARTIST, ALONG WITH THE SET PRICE/BRIBE
I know you have that extra gold. And if you don't, well, when you do get it, surprise the artist later on with a trade labelled "that extra tip I didn't include". It's not awkward at all. In fact, it says that you really do appreciate the work they did for you.
It should not even occur to you how sh*tty the art you ordered is or how expensive it was in the first place (on a side note, no one knows how to price their art to begin with anyway). The artist took some time out of their week to draw you something for virtually free (GAIA GOLD DOES NOT EQUAL IRL CASH) Sure as hell takes a lot more work than playing a session of Booty Grab too.
Also, don't tip 1k for something worth 20k+. Do the math why don't you! Besides, what do you think sending 1k for 20k+ sh*t says?
Personally, I grit my teeth when I don't get no tip. Like those super nice waiters who don't get tips and eventually get cranky as f*ck.
Lesson summary: Just give that extra gold.
•DO NOT SAY, "I'LL TIP IF I LIKE IT"
Okay, this brings me back to my point about ALWAYS tipping. But I'm going to elaborate because I see so many points to b*tch about here as well.
Okay, I get the logic behind this.
If I were to say this, then the artist will totally feel like working on my stuff even more than everyone else's. Amirite? AMIRITE? IS THIS NOT RITE? Oh, okay. Lemme try again. If I say this, the artist will love me more surprised
O Allah. O mighty Allah. Do people even realize how insulting that tiny little statement is? Just think about it for a moment. If said person ends up not tipping, s/he is obviously saying s/he didn't like the commission. In fact, said costumer don't even like the fact that s/he wasted all that gold in the first place! It's implied from the very beginning: your art's a little incompetent, unless I pay that extra!
Wow. There's a word for the degree of this rudeness. Help me out here.
Anyway, let me get this straight: You want professional stuff, you go pay real money for the hard-hitters on DA. You don't come onto Gaia to stomp on the meek prides of beginners and hobbyists.
Also, amateur or professional, artists are not robots. They do not spout pretty art at your command without expending any efforts. Neither are they all-seeing prophets who know EXACTLY what it is you be wanting, even though you pretty much said "artistic freedom".
Which leads to my next point.
Oh Allah, I was looking in forums the other day and someone posted page stretchers of how she wanted her avi drawn. Down from the pose right to the detail of the knee, she wanted it exactly like in the pictures. And the artist wasn't honestly that fantastic, but...Well, some cases are exceptional. I understand actual clients doing this for professional artists who rock the house on resemblance. But...Ugh. This is just. I don't even know how to organize my thoughts on this.
Okay, I got this in the bag. 1.) You're asking an ametuer artist for too much. 2.) Respect an artist's style and artistic ability, and 3.) GTFO AF.
Lesson Summary: Don't be such a demanding spouse.
•CREDIT THE ARTIST
.....It's the proper thing to do. Honestly, I only give credit if it's art I received from someone on Gaia, so others could get in touch with that artist as well.
SO, awesum arts time yah? Postie in the siiiig, joooouuuurnaaaal, beep-boop-bop... Done! Here it is: [x] All seems g-------.
HULK SMASH!!11!1!1!
NO. NO IT DOESN'T.
You forgot to put the artist's name down! I shouldn't have to explain this! It not only benefits you in the long run for many a reason you can make up yourself, but it also benefits the artist him/herself. 'sides, it feels horrible to see your work out there and you're not even given credit, as if some ghost made the thing and not a human being. If anything, at least rename the art with the artist's name so that when you upload the link, the url will have the artist's name in it.
Okay, if you forgot, fine. Can't help it, I totally understand. Especially if it was old art you received when you were still n00b (you'll see what I mean if you look in my own OC journal entry as I link to various art. I was such a stupid n00b, I can't tolerate looking at my former n00b self in the mirror.)
Lesson Summary: Give credit where it is due.
For sellers:
I really recommend Djubre's Guide. After reading that, you'll feel enlightened.
•DON'T HARASS YOUR CUSTOMERS WITH PRETTY BLUE UNDERLINED WORDS
Don't you dare post [x] [x] [x] [x] [x] [x]LINK LINK LINK LINK LINK LINK LKINKASLKAVOHDV. If you do, I'll jump off a bridge and come back as a poltergeist to re-write this stupid journal with your name written all over it in BOLD, FAT, CAPITAL LETTERS.
A lot of us, including myself, are lazy f*cks who don't give a sh*t to click on more than two of those provided links unless you're really good, which, based on experience, I doubt many of you are. Really, it's just a game for us buyers. This lesson ESPECIALLY applies if all you're going to provide is one sample, which is puny as a pea. Just post the image directly!!!
Scenerio: BUYER: "Hmm...I wonder which one of these babies is the good-looking sample *click*...Ooooh poo! Looks like I didn't choose right!"
Go read Djubre's guide and learn how to do it right. The guide is old, but still applies.
If anything, have at least two direct samples already posted, or small thumbnails of them, and then post the Spartan horde of links for those very much interested. Capiche?
AND OH ALLAH, FOR THE LOVE OF F*CKING ALLAH, IF YOU POST A LINK AND IT'S NOT EVEN CLICKABLE TO BEGIN WITH, JUST GTFO AF AND GO BACK TO MYSPACE OR WHATEVER MONSTROSITY IT IS YOU CAME FROM.
Lesson Summary: Don't hide your art behind walls of links.
•DO YOU ACCEPT THE REQUEST OR NOT?
As a frequent buyer, I'm hopping from thread to thread, making offers left and right. Maybe it's a little careless of me, but what with all these temp shops springing like mushrooms, I CAN'T HELP IT! I need to know whether you're going to accept my request or not because if you are, great, I'll go and spend all my gold on you. If not, great, I know for certain I can go spend it elsewhere.
Some of us are pretty desperate for that occasional miracle that is good art. I, in particular, don't lay off until you give me a straight up decline (and I'm no p***y, you can just say something along the lines of "sorry, no thank you" wink . So I keep that amount of gold on hold until I get an answer. You can hear the walls crumble as I finally realize you didn't accept my request. How did I realize? You kept on chit-chatting with your friends and ignored all those other requesters as well.
But that isn't the real reason my walls crumble. It's because I could have spent all that gold on another guy, who is now gone because he was only doing a shop with a lifespan of two hours.
I admit, I used to be this way. "If I didn't send you a PM, you didn't get chosen." BAD. BAD BAD BAD. It sounds kind of arrogant, actually. "You're not worthy of my decline, I'm not even going to bother!" There are some exceptions, like those who do not come onto Gaia too often. But that's a tolerable situation and one that is pretty obvious to make out.
And hunny, I know it's hard to say no. I should know because I'm such a picky whore. But you gotta do it. Just gotta! Apologize if you must (which I recommend saying as well because it's nicer).
Oh, in fact, I've got someone waiting for a reply right now!
Lesson Summary: Just tell it like it is bro.
•"I'LL DRAW THIS ONLY FOR RL MONEY. HERE'S THE LINK TO THE PRICES. YEAH, ALSO, B*TCHES WHO BUY? THEY GET PRIORITY."
Well, this is actually a really personal pet peeve.
Scenerio: Ohmygod. This person's art is AMAZING. Whoah, holy Allah, I need to go---WAIT. WHAT? WHAT THEY HAVE SHOWN US RIGHT HERE ON GAIA IS AVAILABLE ONLY IF PAID FOR WITH RL MONEY, AND I CAN BASICALLY GET A PILE OF NOTHING WITH MY GAIA GOLD?
Sigh. As a buyer, I feel this is being really unfair. Personally, I'd love to invest in rising artists because I love them so much, but I just don't have the means to purchase things online. Don't tease those without the means to complete transactions online like that!
Also, it's pretty obvious you're using weak incentives to get people to buy your stuff for real money. Are you trying to be a corporate thug? Just post what you are offering for gold, and then provide your flaming RL commissions link for those who might be interested. Don't even mention you will do only so and so if you buy with RL cash because it actually turns some people off, like me.
And also, it should be common sense by now among buyers that customers paying with real cash always get top priority.
Oh, and also also, in case you extreme n00blets didn't know, you can't post rl prices of your art on Gaia because it's against Gaia's TOS and the forum Rules/Guidelines. Not only is it against TOS, it's absolutely unfair to everyone else. I've caught one too many persons doing this.
Lesson Summary: Don't be like Paypal.
•1G/25G, SEND TRADE~
Thanks to tipping posts, charging that much and asking for the person to send trade is an absolute waste of time. In fact, it's just pointless to begin with.
Soooooo....You're pretty much giving me free art, right? Can I just skip the whole start trade, accept trade, confirm trade shenanigans and simply tip your post? Or something? Because that is SO much easier.
If you want to use the trade system for tracking purposes, my god, at least charge, oh, I dunno, 500g!! Any amount, as long as it's more than the tip post thing (25g).
Lesson Summary: Don't waste our times with unnecessary procedure.
Conclusion
Well, I hope you guys could relate to what it was I was ranting about in here and didn't take any of it too personally. I'm just really tired of clicking link after link, only to find bleak disappointment waiting within.
Thanks for reading, please share it with the ignorant. :stubblerub:
Also, if you would like to contribute more (because these are only so many points I covered) please feel free to comment and I'll do my best to elaborate on your points.
inb4: umad?
'CUZ I AM. mad
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