Rules? Pffttt I don't need rules! I'm better!

Think you are above the rules? Think again!

This news submission focuses on the rules of DeviantArt, not only DA however, but also areas within DA itself, that being stock, gallery, forum and group rules for the main part.

First of all Gallery submission rules.  There have already been several news articles on this subject.. all with one main aim.  Making people understand that the guidelines for submitting a piece of work are there FOR A REASON!  Do not be surprised if your piece of work gets moved to scraps by the gallery director because you “couldn’t be bothered” to check the submission criteria…

Forum/chat/comment rules.  COMMON SENSE AND COURTESY!!  Get with the rest of the world and show a little respect for other people whom you intentionally surround yourself with on DA. (Nobody is forcing you to use this site!)  We all have feelings, we all get upset and we all have opinions, just remember that before flaming, being needlessly “critical” IE being plain nasty about somebody’s work or saying something that you wouldn’t like to hear said to you.

Group rules, (This is one thing that, of late is really beginning to get on my nerves.) What if I said…

Do not this piece, give the original artist credit they deserve!

Surely that piece of text, is telling a person not to do something, but what confuses me is why do people STILL these pieces? Part of me could understand if the original piece was not linked to clearly, but I have yet to come across a group gallery that does not provide a link to the original in the submission details! 30 seconds at the most to click it and and comment the original. Clearly its not all of DA who does this, but when I look our this groups gallery and see some pieces with 30+ s on, it does actually annoy me, and just think if it was your art, and your one of these people who fail to read the bit that says 'Do NOT this piece, I’m sure you would be angry.

Secondly, also relating to groups is where people do not fully read journal entries and miss out on half the information that’s there. Not wanting to seem rude here, but it really is annoying when people keep complaining that they are not listed in the member lists, especially when it states in the journal that if people have problems, they should note the group about it, and not leave comments on the journal. Is this a matter of people disregarding our attempt to make things easier on the whole, or are people just being stupid?

Come on folks, make sure you read the WHOLE entry, help us help you, and this goes for EVERY group, every journal!  Just take that little extra time to make sure!

Please note - DA does not officially recognise or have support for groups/clubs, please remember this before requesting group/club specific help from the helpdesk.

Now we move on to people ignoring stock artists' rules. Stock artists are artists too, and they deserve complete and utter respect for what they do. If you use their stock it doesn’t take much time to let them know, and for heavens sake, give them a mention in your deviation description. Its only fair, they are providing us all with something for FREE, the least we can do it give them their due credit. I already know of one stock artist who shut her account down, because people were downloading her stock packs, and she had alot more downloads that she has deviations being made. Don’t let this continue to happen, or else DA is going to lose ALL its stock providers, just because a select few can't be bothered to take that little extra time to say..

'Thanks to : dev..... : for their stock [link].'

If you can’t be bothered to do it, copy and paste the above, think of it as a template for you lazy people

I could go on, about using stock outside of DA when the providers state not to, and not checking to see if your need prints permission from them BEFORE posting a deviation with stock in it a print.

Remember to read each individual stock providers rules, they are not all the same!


I am not going to go into the general policies of DA, because I have already gone on quite a lot. If you are unfamiliar with those, here are a few links you might (or might not) recognise…

DA FAQ

ALL DA POLICIES

DA ETIQUETTE POLICY

DA SUBMISSION POLICY

DA HELPDESK (ONLY for when the FAQ and POLICY do not help!)

DA is a community, if we don’t pull together and show each other respect then its all going to fall apart, basically remember that 'courtesy is contagious' and all it takes it that ^little extra time, to give credit, or read stock/group rules.

Thanks for reading, and I hope that this entry makes some people aware of the problems that disregarding rules creates for everyone.  Feel free to link to this article in your journals and help spread to word!