Whilst checking my message centre, I have recently been noticing a very interesting ratio with regards to the amount of faves compared to the amount of comments. These numbers are drastically different to one another.

What piddly amount of effort would it take to leave a comment on the work in question? Just to let the artist know exactly why it has gained the level of respect from you to be in your faves.

I realise that as an artform, the emoticons are probably the single most faved works on the whole website, and they (the half decent ones anyway) take a lot of hard work and earnest concentration to create. Its pretty shit when you've spent days, sometimes weeks, working on an animation, only to have it recieve a couple of comments saying "cool" or "cute" and about 30 or so faves with little or no comments to back them up. I sometimes wonder if people aren't just faving them to decorate their own userpages, or for easy access when they need said emoticon for MSN again.

I know there are those who do comment when they fave, and comment even without faving (i'm not trying to say a fave is necessary) and they comment constructively. This is a great help to the artists, as it helps them see their work from all aspects, not just their own. These comments are greatly appreciated by me, and i'm sure they are by you too.

When I receive a fave with no comment, I make a point not to go to their page and thank them for the fave, because

a) I have nothing to thank them for, and

b) In a way, giving out faves are an ingeniously crafted way of boosting one's pageviews, and if pageviews are all you are here for, then I have no time for you.

User pages cluttered with "Thank you for the fave" comments, do nothing but give me the impression that all the user does is give out faves.

There is also another creepy individual that I have encountered on a few occasions, and i'm sure many of you have too.

The dreaded...

Fave Bomber

This shuddersome section of society fave almost the whole of your gallery, whilst sometimes (although rarely) adding "cute" and "cool" comments here and there, seemingly to cover their asses. For God's sake people, if you are a fan of everything in a person's gallery, then give them a devwatch already!, its what it's for!

In the case of the fave bomber, I like to go over to their page, and thank them for the hundreds of faves, and also ask them politely if they could possibly add any constructive comments to back themselves up with. Usually laced with a subtle sprinkling of sarcasm.

The last one I encounted replied and told me that they were too busy to comment at the time. Somehow they weren't too busy to indiviually fave each and every one of my deviations though. I still to this day have received no constructive comments.

*motioncity182 has brought a rather useful stamp to my attention, and I feel that it should adorn many many more journals site-wide. People should strive to make this place what it is supposed to be... a place where artists come to show their work, better their skills, and share their opinions.