Etiquette

[bladespark]

Is there some requirement on Deviantart and Furaffinity that I go and say "thanks for the favorite" or "thanks for watching me" when somebody does so? I see accounts that are just full of people saying "thanks" and it seems the done thing, but... I dunno, something about doing that just seems fake. They add something of yours to their favorites, and you automatically go over to their account and go "thanks," but it's not as if that means you're actually thankful or appreciative. And should you be? I mean yes it is nice and all, but... I put up my work for people to look at. Am I supposed to say thank you when somebody does? It feels more like... I created it, and put hours of work into it, and took photos of it and put them up, and that's my part, I've done all I need to. And then if you like it, then in thanks for my doing my bit, you go and add it to your favorites, and that's you saying you appreciate it. It just feels silly for me to then go and express appreciation for you expressing your appreciation. And yet though I really don't want to, I see everybody else doing it, and I wonder if people are going to think I'm rude for not.

Comments

[rahball.livejournal.com]

There's been discussion of this issue around the place. Some insecure people seem to think its necessary, but most people who turn out art in any volume, just can't keep up with all the faves even if they'd like to.

I think I commented at one point that actually *expecting* a high-profile artist to respond to you is like demanding that a movie star or famous author write back to your fan letter. It's really exciting if it happens, but if you're rational, you know they just don't have the time, they're too busy producing cool stuff for everybody to see.

I don't think the majority of people on the galleries will mind whether you say "Thank you for being a fan" or not.

The value of doing it is that the fan feels special and you might get into conversation with them and make a new friend (esp. good if you're on the galleries to find buddies and like-minded people). If you have time to go around socialising and commenting, you build up more watchers. When my partner was active on DA, he had a huge watch list because he was involved in things.

[koishii-kitty.livejournal.com]

I don't go saying thank you to every watch and fave...but I do try to make my rounds visiting the pages of people that watch me or responding to thier comments........
but even though I don't, I know artists that do and I find it nice. I have none of them feel fake eather.. it is just a nice recognition they give that they noticed you like thier art as an individual and not as a group..I think it makes it a little more personal.
It is also just common in some cultures...japanese, you say thank when some one else says thank you to you.

I think as the artist...we try to find our own ways to show our watchers that we apreciate them. for me it is visiting galleries, pages, and responding to comments.....for others it is a simple thank you for a watch or a fave.


(i ran accross your journal purely on a fluke XD. I was looking for information on PYO windstone dragons on the net and this came up)

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Heh, that's funny! Well, there's enough Windstone stuff in this journal. I'm rather crazy about them.

[catwoman69y2k.livejournal.com]

Well I dont think you HAVE to go over and thank someone for favoriting your work. Still, the shoutbox on each person's userpage is a good place to do it if you do feel grateful. I know I occasionally do that and its nice because no one HAS to favorite my art since I dont hold the expectation that people will be wowwed after seeing my stuff. So, when they do favorite me or offer some detailed feedback, I see no qualm in thanking them.

[kainhighwind-dr.livejournal.com]

I can sorta see why you feel that way, even though I personally don't find it sounds strange; it seems like a nice touch, for the same reasons rahball indicated to generate goodwill amongst your fellow members. Like saying thank you for receiving praise (they obviously feel your work has merit, and indeed, clicking the link to make you a Favourite is tantamount to saying "Great work! I think you're awesome! Marry me!!!", maybe just more, ah, subtly ;).

So, maybe instead of "Thanks for the favourite!" you can simply say---er---well, maybe you just need to make up a new tradition, like.... "Thank you, you obviously have VERY good taste," or something equally as witty. ;D

[gungho-squirrel.livejournal.com]

I personally don't do it. I find it silly as well. I appreciate getting put into someone's favorites- but it's not like my work ever stays on the main page of those people for long because those that do toss out favorites favorite a ton of people. I dunno. I think it's kind of dumb and lacking in any amount of actual appreciation. Like you said, it seems fake.

What I see it as is a friends network. If you're bouncing around being overly friendly to everyone that favorites your work, and people in turn are bouncing around every tiny thing that suits their fancy, eventually they're going to be watching and not just favoriting. It's all about pageviews and friends lists. Kind of like on MySpace...

[jilinn.livejournal.com]

The only time I have ever thanked anyone was when they complimented my work as well as adding it to their faves list and even then I haven't thanked every single one of them. I don't think either way is silly, it's just a personal preference. You're there to show off the wonderful things you make and it is your decision to comment or not when some faves something.

[springmoone.livejournal.com]

I normally thank for friends adds, watches and faves on dA and the whatnot. I feel like it's somewhat 'fake', but at the same time it makes me feel like an ingrate if I don't thank profusely. Sometimes I think I make new 'internet freindzorxes' when I fave. One of my good friends has twice the number of watchers and pageviews, but that's mostly because the's a favmonster.