The problem:

Is your inbox flooded with messages of +favs and "Cute!", "Cool!", "Nice job!" and "I like it!"?

It's all too familiar to many of us, and many deviants are finding it increasingly frustrating.

Do you long for something more? An inner desire to know that someone took the time to sit down and appreciate your work from a deeper level, perhaps.

Well, you're not alone.

The Solution is here:

1. Comment to those who do not
Next time someone +favs your work without commenting, instead of the generic "thanks for the fav" reply on their user page, start a meaningful conversation with them, displaying sincerity in your appreciation of their attention to your work, and just how much it means to you to have their support. Go to MORE effort to speak to these deviants who did not comment, because they didn't know how to approach you in the first place. You have the power to teach them.

Why?
Quite often the reason why people don't comment is because they're not sure how, or they have never received useful comments themselves. So, I ask you to lead by example. You may even like to pick a piece out of their gallery and give a meaningful comment (if you're not sure how, just state what you like about it and why, and what you think they may be able to improve on). This will demonstrate how you wish to be treated in the community, and how you wish for others to be treated.

2. Adopt a new deviant
Just think- a new face in the community may never know the power of good guidance or support on DA and you have the power to change that. Think about who your best DA friend is here, and imagine that you have the power to be that person to as many people as you want to, new or otherwise.

3. Give give give
What goes around comes around- remember that next time you look at someone else's work. Treat those with the same respect you wish to be treated with. My grandmother saw this concept as a "circle of giving", rather than a give and take relationship between two people. Build a community that you are proud to call your own.

4. Treat others as you would in real life
If I showed you some of my art, as a friend, would you smile and walk away? I doubt it. You'd more than likely sincerely try to appreciate it, and be happy that I've wanted to show it to you. Why should your principles on DA be any different?

6. Provoke thought

Let's look at this scenario:

Deviant comment: "Cute!"

Reply: "<insert your "aw thanks so much! with random happy happy emoticons" XD here- this should not change>. What do you think is cute about it? I know I've got a lot to learn, and I'm not so sure about <insert part of the pic you'd like them to look at closer>. Hmm what do you think?"

or: "Thanks so much! That's so kind of you to say so! I think it's cute too, and was really happy with how it turned out! What in particular do you like about it? If you can help me by going in to more detail, then I can use your feedback to make my stuff even cuter in the future! Thanks ^^"

Of course in doing this you have to actually open yourself up to critique for a while, which can be really hard. You also run the risk of some of those old watchers thinking you've gone cooky in your commenting style, but the biggest gain is that people will actually begin to stop, think and be more appreciative of your work.

The fact that you've gone to the effort to personally ask for their guidance or explanation will make them sit up and think "woah, this is how I am expected to comment." and you might be pleasantly surprised with how they comment to both yourself and others in the future. Try it with a new or unnoticed deviant- be the first to comment on their work in depth and see what sort of response you get.

Remember, for every comment, you have the power to change the way that every single person reading that comment conducts themselves in this community.

The End