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I'm enraged right now. It's 3:11 AM, and I'm sitting here screaming at the computer, trying to honestly help some random person on the internet. But I just don't get it.

On Skype tonight, I got a random message from some girl in Australia. Through conversation, she mentioned that she loved to take photos. Being a respectful artist as well, I asked her if she had heard of deviantART.com. She said "not really".

I told this girl about its features and its ability for her to expand her photography skills and learn more about whatever fields she might be interested in, as deviantART is the largest art website out there with a massive community behind it.

And what did I get? "lol" Yes, just a "lol".

I knew what was coming. I could see it from a mile away. After I asked what was "funny", she explained that she didn't need help, that she didn't need anything. She said this: "I do things my way. not some random persons. I choose how I want to live. I choose where I go. I chooose what I take photos of. I dont rely on others to get by. like some people do."

I couldn't help but thinking "what an idiot" the entire time I talked with her. I just can't understand people who turn down the chance to improve themselves or see great art or find inspiration or speak with other artists about things. Why do some people think they're perfect?

I guess I shouldn't be mad. I see this all the time. It's everywhere. Offline and online as well; it's, ironically, even on deviantART. I usually spend my free time after work going through galleries and leaving comments, and invariably I get a "It's fine how it is" or "I meant to do that" type of comment. No, the blurry off centered focus isn't fine how it is -- improve it next time; Yes, you might have meant to use the lens flare filter, but deep in your heart, you knew it was bad -- try other ways to make your photo unique.

Usually, it's a very unknown, average artist (at least going by the stereotypical artworks shown at all times when you click recent deviations) who says these things back to me. However, sometimes it's also the famous artist. An artist who either has 1 million page views, or is a professional, or both. I got a lovely comment from an artist who is regularly on the front page not too long ago that read "no thanks" to my criticism. What is that? Why are you untouchable to feedback from your audience?

Why are people so hostile towards suggestions for help? Who doesn't want help? Why do they want to struggle on their own? I just don't get it.

I have learned so much from deviantART, it's ridiculous. Thanks to deviantART, I learned skills which landed me a very interesting job when I was just 15. deviantART is an incredible resource, and I owe so much to it. Every valid critique that I receive, I have taken note of it and used it to my advantage the best I could; I have progressed greatly from when I started, thanks to the community's support, both through their comments and their art.

deviantART is the world's largest classroom. Open your eyes and you're bound to learn something new!

That is why I'm here.


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