Don't pay it back. Pay it forward.
Hey, folks. Zero Kirby here. I'm sure you've heard the common adage, "Pay it forward," which means basically, if someone does a good deed for you, do a good deed for someone else. There's even a book and a movie about the movement.
Whoa, key word right there. Movement. The attempt to cause a change, through yourself and others.
This is the Feedback Movement. We're trying to get something done here.
I'm sure you've been to a forum or art blog and seen, that while the artists are very good, they drop off the map fairly soon. Why is that? They're really great! You'd think that people flock in to say, "Hey, dawg, that's some pretty sweet stuff you've got there!"
The problem is, nobody's doing this!
Let's try another example. Perhaps the artist is actually atrociously terrible, or just needs some help fixing a few things. Someone will come along to help. Right...?
Guess again, bucko!
Okay, maybe I'm being a little inaccurate. Yeah, there are the people who really do comment on art and other independent works. As long as they do it constructively, I salute these fine people. They're trying to help others see the faults in their work, or just say, "Hey, man, this is cool," so that the worker will continue to do what he does.
Problem is, not enough people are doing it. That's what we're here to change.
This will involve your help. Oh, don't worry. This one won't hurt. It's really simple, actually. May be a little time-consuming, but if you're surfing a forum, surely you must have a little spare time.
The next time you're on, take a look at the art board or independent works board (you know, stories, fanfics, games). And then, click on a topic. Take a look at the work in front of you. Surely, you must come up with something to say. Something like, "Cool stuff, brah," or, "You might want to work on the physics," or, "I wonder what's for dinner?"
Aside from that last one (unless of course, the work in question involves a mystery dinner), post what you're thinking. It has to be constructive (a simple "sux lol" is not constructive but destructive), and related to the topic at hand, but otherwise, you've got free rein.
Artists and game makers like myself know what it's like to be ignored by the general populace. However, our attempts to make ourselves known, to get attention, are usually seen as spamming and the like, or simple ignored like our art. It's time this stopped.
All you other ignored artists and game makers out there, you have to join in this movement too. After all, if you won't comment on others, why should anyone comment on yours?
People need feedback in order to improve or continue what they do. If they continue to go on - ignored, never getting any support or criticism - then they themselves will begin to feel unimportant, ignored - nothing more than a footnote at the bottom of the page. And they will stop what they do, regardless of how well they're doing it.
This is the Feedback Movement. We're here to liberate the pleas of the ignored and make sure everyone gets the attention they deserve.
Finally, make sure you advertise this page! Do it subtly, though; we don't want any complaints of a "rising advocate of feedback" from any forum admins. Put it in your sig, or merely say, in an ignored topic, "Hi. I'm with the Feedback Movement, and I'm here to comment, because you deserve it." This will make them feel special. Perhaps your example will inspire others.
But never ask them to pay you back by commenting in your own topics! Have them pay it forward to other artists and independent workers.
We won't get anywhere by paying things back. After all, if we pay it back, how will we loan to someone else to pay back?
Give some feedback and pay it forward.
Zero Kirby, wishing you ignored artists and workers the best. Don't stop, whatever you do.