#horrifically familiar with how awful the internet can be to creators of any kind

[shinesurge]

I have to say, so far everybody's tone has been SO chill and I'm honestly kind of shocked that I wasn't kicking a hornet's nest here, but the responses I wasn't ready for were the ones who read this post and assumed I haven't been catastrophically chronically online for over 20 years and am not also a veteran internet creator myself lmao. I have NEVER gotten those kinds of notes before, I'm sort of fascinated that so many people have taken the time to gently explain to me what a callout post is. Like I'm serious, if I were just a little more of a grandpa y'all would be doing a great job educating me, and it's probably doing some other folks some good.

altho i guess this does unfortunately posit the point that anyone who would think this stuff must be desperately out of touch or has never dealt with this kind of shit themselves, which is. maybe not a great indicator of where the creative zeitgeist is.

"im inspired can i use this character concept for my own work"

"im broke can i download your $0+ file for free"

"shipping is expensive can i try to make this thing in your shop on my own"

guys please stop directly asking creators this kind of shit i am going to eat glass