After thinking day alter day about my stay here, in DeviantArt, I’ve realized there are some general problems affecting not only me, but a great part of the community. I’m not talking about technical problems, I’m talking about social problems. Behaviours that make us feel uncomfortable with other fellow-deviants, and make them feel uncomfortable with us. Situations created by us, that shall be solved by us. No one of us can change other’s mind, but we can improve our community individually, being better deviants, and also, better people.

I’m not here to tell you HOW to be a good deviant, neither a good person. Cause I cannot. I’m not a psychologist or guru and won’t pretend to act as one. I’m here to share conclusions I’ve obtained from my personal experiences, and other deviants’. You’re free to consider them valuable or useless. The only thing I can guarantee is they’re based on real facts.

Here you have some of those conclusions, I really hope this helps:


1. Consider others' efforts just as yours.

This can seem to be pretty easy, though very few people practise it. Humans tend to consider their personal matters just as the efforts they do as the hardest ever. Of course, it’s understandable, since you live your life, and no one else's, but that doesn’t mean is ok. It’s a common error that can hurt people deeply. When you look at a piece you have to go behind the simple colours or lines. You have to look at the piece’s soul, appreciate the time and effort the author’s put in it. Don’t ever think a piece is just “good” or “bad”. It’s never that way. A professional artist can do a fast doodle that looks much greater than a week's work by an amateur. Does that make it better? Think about it. Think about which one has more story, more hours, more pain and joy behind. Think about which one has more soul. Consider this as a form of empathy, a curious virtue not seen very often.


2. Speak only if you have something valuable to say.

Don’t let yourself go. Stop. Take a minute. If you really have something to say, something you need to share, and you think is going to be valuable for both the author and you, then comment. Share it. Don’t be afraid, because it will be appreciated.
But, if you only want:
-To humiliate the author;
-To show everyone how awesome you are, and how poor is the art you’re commenting;
-To be between the first group of people commenting, considering it like a way of becoming popular(very usual in pieces and journals of popular artists), and;
-Things similar to those 3 I wrote up;
Then, don’t write a single word. I promise you writing it wont cause nothing but trouble. Think. You’ll disturb not only the author, but the whole community. You’ll become the problem, instead the solution. I’m almost sure you don’t want that.


3. Be mature, polite and reasonable.

As an extension of the last conclusion, if you decide you need to say something, always make sure you say it in the right way (I’m not referring to typos, grammar mistakes, etc). Be polite, expose your ideas and reasons in an accessible way, give details and all the further information that you consider apropiated, feel free to give your opinion always in a respectful way. No one will condemn you for giving a respectful opinion. They will if you judge without thinking, you’re rude, you insult, and a long etc that nobody wants in their gallery just as YOU don’t want it.
As I say this for people commenting, I also have something to say for those receiving comments. For sure is disturbing to receive rude or disrespectful comments. Paying back with the same coin is not a solution. It only turns things to worst, changing a simple comment in a whirl of rudeness. Keep yourself calm. Keep your good manners. Keep your head held high. Don’t lose yourself.
Sometimes, you can even be annoyed by reasonable comments that show you you’re in the wrong way. Don’t worry! Everyone make mistakes, take the critiques as a way to improve, not only in art, in the whole aspects of your life. If you accept your mistakes in a constructive way, you’ll reach your goals faster, and you’ll end up being proud of yourself, and, more important, you’ll be prepared for harder critiques in the future.


4. Don’t think you’re better than others (but preserve your dignity).

Or you’ll end up alone, sad and completely useless. It’s that hard and also that true.
-Alone, cause no one likes egocentric people. Being egocentric is, in many ways, a form of being disrespectful.
-Sad, cause this rejection you’ll realize after a while, it won't exactly be paradise.
-Completely useless, cause once you think you’re better than the rest, you are immediately restricting your skills and knowledge to their current level, being unable to improve, not just as an artist, also as a person.

Of course, the perfect point is none of the extremes. You cannot allow others to trample you. It’s your duty to preserve your dignity. You’re part of this community. An important part just as the rest, don’t never think pageviews, or popularity makes others better than you are. That isn’t and wont be NEVER truth, no matter what people say. Don’t make distinctions, and don’t let others do it.


5. Don’t turn to drama with every single problem.

People don’t want to read in your journal how you are complaining about the spot that grew in your nose this morning. People will pay attention to serious troubles, but they’re not here to waste their time with irrelevant nonsense. And don’t yell at me that it's not irrelevant to you. Before doing it, try to figure out what the other person would think. Empathy, remember?
Also, if you learn how to afford alone the little obstacles your life put in front of you, you’ll become stronger, you’ll gain admiration, and more than that, you’ll gain self-confidence.


6. You don’t need to spread the word.

Spammers are welcomed nowhere.
Neither people who’re always talking about themselves, their virtues, and their reached goals.
Let your fellow deviants discover for themselves what you’ve done, what you’re doing and what you’ll do. Improve without saying a thing. Be humble. People will show more interest on you if they notice you’re not the one who is always lecturing about the glory on your acts. If you’re silent, they’ll ask. If you talk too much, they’ll get bored.


7. Be honest, be happy, feel comfortable. And try to make the rest feel like this too.

I don’t think I have to explain this statement. Be honest in order to be happy (lies wont make you happy, nor the rest, they’ll make you feel pathetic sooner or earlier and will hurt you and all your surroundings). Be happy with your acts, and you’ll feel comfortable, you’ll be satisfied and people around you will be the same. Happiness is contagious.
On the other hand, don’t let your personal matters affect the rest in a negative way. Be enough strong to give support and courage to those who need it, even if you’re the first needing it so bad. Being generous is one of the best virtues a human can owe. A privilege.


8. Always decide by yourself.

Listen carefully, pay attention, understand what the others try to transmit to you, but don’t forget you’re the one making a decision. Don’t let the rest make it for you. Even if you’re under pressure you need to know how to think by yourself in order to choose the right choice. It doesn’t matter if you make a mistake, you’ll do better next time. Don’t take nobody’s word as a universal truth. Inform yourself, search other sources, until making a final decision.


These are just a few tips. Everyday I learn something new, and if I think that I can contribute in any way, then I have to. I just hope this helps someone. And also, I’ll be MORE than glad to hear your opinions, ideas, experiences and conclusions. I’m not here only to share. I’m here also to learn.


_{Thank you ^ctJemm for editing the whole text, correcting all the grammar mistakes, giving advice and for finding such a great title.}