I'm reposting this from the Comments section on the suggestion of erosarts

Please read it thoroughly before you decide to rip me a new one!

I'd like to thank all the Deviants who have thanked me for the watches and faves that I gave them. I confess that I am a total lurker and that I rarely comment; except that when I do comment, I want it to be meaningful and sincere. Not just "Wow, she's sexy!!" or "I like the colors!"

Constructive criticism, appreciation, encouragement(without being patronizing), a simple "Thank You!" are all good reasons to give a shout-out, IMHO.

*warning-RANT*

That said, I've gotten a few comments from people who are either just sending out random shouts because they want a holla-back OR maybe they are trying to drive up the traffic and page-views to their page.

I just want to say;

I comment for the reasons I explained above.

I visit others when they visit me or when they might have something I might be interested in.

I fave deviations because I like them and find them worthy of remembering and mostly because I feel they really do represent the best work of an artist I like.

And lastly, I watch and "friend" fellow deviants because I want to keep track of them and their work.

This isn't Facebook or MySpace; I'm not trying build a "network" or count "friends".

IMHO, Deviants should be artists who work on their art first and not go courting followers. It's nice being appreciated, but it ain't everything.

P.S. I've just read what I wrote and it seems a little mean and petty if you take it the wrong way; please don't. I want what I say to be sincere, meaningful, constructive, and something that the reader will consider at length. If you read that part, Thanks!

BTW; I'm watching/friending over 800 Deviants and there are only 14 who are watching me. I have under 2800 pageviews. I find this interesting but it is really of no consequence to me. What this tells me is that there at least 14 deviants who may(or may not) return to see what I have posted or faved. I like to imagine that they are doing exactly what I do; checking out what I like because they share my tastes, much like I check what others fave because I respect and like what they fave.