(Alright... I wasn't allowed to post in Tech and Features or Community Relations, so I hope I find the right place for this article.)

In response to new features: The dA community stands up to preserve itself and deviously denies further separation between general members and subscribers. Gift givers express dislike for violation of their privacy.
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Within the last 48 hours, deviantART started to display the names of members who give gifts to other deviants on their pages. dA also gave subscribers the name "Premium Member," leaving the community in outrage, both subscribers and non-subscribers.

Why non-subscribers?

In addition to updating the profile pages to display the names of gift givers if one has received their "Premium Membership" from another deviant, members with no subscription have the words "Needs Premium Membership" displayed in their recent activity box.

Many feel that they have been made to look like charity boxes and that dA has gone too far with pushing the purchases of memberships. Most are perfectly fine with being regular members and do not wish to have subscriptions donated to them.

Gift Givers?

Gift givers want their privacy back. Being advertised in such a way presents the danger of beggars, who might harass them to receive subscriptions. I have talked with a few of them. They said that they enjoyed being anonymous and many thought that just being thanked was enough. They fear that donating subscriptions will make them appear to be attention whores as well.

After doing some research I found that some deviants get really angry when they are given free subscriptions, saying that they don't need them and going on rampages. This might pose a serious flaming threat to the givers.

However, it was VERY interesting to find that some deviants enjoy the new features. They wish to show off their generous donors. The donors are perfectly fine with this, but they say that journal features are enough because their donations were gestures of kindness.

There are also those who like to have their names displayed on their pages and believe it gives them due credit. But they would never force the exposure on them.

How about just subscribers?

They are equally enraged. Speaking on a personal note, I updated my account from my photography account and I didn't expect my page to change a few days later, making it look as if I did not purchase my subscription myself.

Other deviants feel as if the community is being torn apart. Regular members are being made to appear inferior to others. They want to feel like they are a part of the community. Subscribers as well. They want their privacy if they ever decide to donate a subscription and they feel bad for their fellow deviants who are now wearing the "leashes" with their donors' names attached.

Those who have had their subscriptions donated also want equal exposure for MULTIPLE gift givers. Only one giver is displayed until the subscription paid for runs out. For some, it is a matter of years. They also fear that EVEN WITH EQUAL EXPOSURE this might become an advertisement problem, with deviants donating subscriptions simply to have their names plastered on the pages of others.

The Effects?

Well, we have already seen the first. The community is outraged and forum topics are receiving hundreds of replies, many within the first few hours of posting in the forums.

Deviants in the forums are discussing the possibility of dA loosing a lot of money over this. If deviantART, Inc. wants to make this about money, it surely will be. Gift givers have already hinted that they may never do so again. Subscribers want to have no part in being separated from their fellow deviants. The community is eagerly anticipating the results of their complaints.

I'm so proud of the community effort going on there!

Please visit and vote in my poll: [link]

And voice your opinions here and in the forums: [link]

If you are unaware of what's been going on please visit my journal for pictures and explanations: [link]

If you are a supporter of the resistance I encourage you to show it through journals, linking to this article, artwork, anything but violence!