After the editorial I posted yesterday in which I tried to explain you that people from both sides (those who want pageviews and those who hate this thing) are overacting around posting journals and crap like this all the time screaming out loud and making a drama out of it - I'm posting today the truth.
Which truth? Read further.



a.Popularity and pageviews.

Popularity vs. bad art

_{When will you people understand that, firstly popularity doesn't match necessary with 'good art'?
Popularity is usually coming because of your active on-line life here.If you're a someone who uses chat rooms, forums and all this community stuff you will indeed be more popular then a someone that doesn't. Why? Because you will attract people to your page. They will wanna see just who you are maybe nothing more! But a click is a pageview.}


Popularity vs. good art


_{There are cases when someone does good art and the pageviews that this person has reflects the value of his work.
How?
This person is a member for a long time, enough time to make his name known, to grow and develop as an artist.
Take as example .
This are popular deviants because of their art. Not especially because their activity. Which means they are good at what they are doing.And keep in mind: They are not popular just here. They are known because their name is sort of a 'brand' already.}


Popularity vs. trends

_{Some of the deviants that join deviantART or some of the old deviants that wanna gain popularity will think that if they copy a known artist and will post similar works they will be as popular as they are.
How can you call yourself an artist if all you do is copy and paste someone else idea?
It's hard to be original and known at the same time - but think of this artists you admire.
They made it in time, putting effort in each work. Adding that something that makes that work looks the way it looks and you are admiring that artist especially because of it's unique style.
And now think of you - will you get admired for this if you're copying? No!}

Step out of the line and be creative. If you are good - people will see and know this for sure. Maybe not today and not tomorrow. But you can't be good over night. In time you will be a known someone.



b.Dramas

1."I don't care about pageviews" drama

_{Ok.
You are here because you wanna make art and make friends and be part of this community. You don't give a damn if you have 1,000 pgws or 100,000 pgws.
Then I ask you: Why do you keep telling this to us?
A someone who doesn't care - just doesn't care!
That someone will never mention something about this - especially because that person - doesn't care!
When you're posting journals saying this the only thing you do is showing us that... you actually care.
You wanna gain attention, you wanna let people know this thing by screaming out loud so they can say "Oh look. (S)He doesn't care about pageviews. How nice!"
Well let me tell you something - It's not nice.
Because this thing has become a trend. I'm seeing almost daily journals in which someone is speaking about this.
And this thing comes because of a frustration not because of the "I don't care" feeling.
So instead of telling us how much you hate people that are pageviews addict - open your Photoshop or grab your camera and do art. Because that's why you are here, that's what you keep telling us.}


2."I'm tired of dA" drama

_{Another drama thing.
When you start seeing that you don't have the same popularity and people coming to your page - you want to leave.
Why?
You're saying that you deviantART, that people don't appreciate your work as they should, they are mean, evil, they are telling you ugly things (the drama has to be complete) and so on and so forth.
Firstly - you can't be everybody's darling. Even if they really tell you ugly stuff, keep your head up. It's not nice but it's not a reason to leave either.
And if you don't have the same popularity it's maybe because of your no activity or maybe actually because of your art.
Look over your gallery and be frank: Did you grew with your last 10 deviations or did you post the same thing and same idea but in different colors?
Don't judge the other before you judge yourself. And be sincere! At least with you.
Take a break, relax, do something you like and don't take this website to serious. You need to have a real life also.
So don't be an on-line drama queen or king because after all you wanna be known because of your art not because of your complaining.}


Popularity signs.Really?

Wacthers

_{Watchers are no signs of popularity at all.
I have almost 900 watchers (I checked this to be sure) but I have only 20 - 30 people that actually watch me. As in posting comments to my work, faving my work.}

So what's the point in having watcher if they just watch you and that's all?

Favorites

_{In my opinion a is a silent comment.
Some will give you a fav because they are on a hurry, because they see you have enough comments and won't bother themselves to post one.
A is still a compliment. Is a sign that people like your work. That your image is in someone else's gallery - Favorites Gallery.
I appreciate every favorite I receive even though I don't have time to thank everyone.}


Comments

_{Comments are rarely given but it's also a sign that people like your work.
Even if the comment says only "Nice work" - that's how it is.
I know we all want to receive feedback - more consistent comments with advices or things like this. But be pleased with a short comment too. It's a sign that your work catch someone's eye and that person is telling it to you.}


So as a conclusion.
deviantART is an art website. It's something that you have on-line.A gallery in which you post your work.
As an artist - you have to be an artist outside of it too.
Your clients - if you have them - they are those who have to appreciate your work not a certain watcher.

Make a difference between an art gallery, a community and a real life.
This is how the drama should stop.Once and for all.