#not like the crafting recipes which might be personality locked but they’ll just give it to you

[timemachineyeah]

I think in the next Animal Crossing, you should have to earn your control over the environment. And I don’t just mean working to get terraforming, I mean, like, earning it before getting to decide where other people’s homes are and stuff.

Idk, the deserted island is fun but I kind of hope in the next one we’re back to being a new face in an already established rural community. And you can still progress to moving absolutely everything on the map and decorating each square foot and flower to your liking, but, like… these other people have lives of their own.

I like knowing a rando isn’t gonna move onto my carefully curated flowerbed and ruin my path, but I don’t like how much the villagers in ACNH feel like fashion accessories rather than neighbors.

[kostevysen]

Okay so, this is going to be one of my longer, more detailed posts. No, I don’t have anything personal against the previous anon (from this post), this is just me, and myself inside my head after thinking about it for a little bit. No, I’m not angry or upset that someone called me out for not giving the right/correct credits to my banner, honestly, I must applaud anon, who knows how many more weeks it would have taken me to notice?

TLDR: Kost goes on a long ramble about Traditional and Digital Art Theft.

(Though I would be very thankful if you’ll read through everything that I have to say.)

Anyway, let’s start.

To begin, let’s talk about Traditional Art Theft. And before anyone tries to get clever—no, it’s not like taking a pencil from a classroom or borrowing a book for a little too long. Traditional Art theft is on another level entirely. We’re talking about stealing someone’s time, effort, and, really, a piece of their soul. Dramatic? Maybe. True? Absolutely.

So, what’s the big deal? And I know I will repeat myself several times in this post. Why should anyone care if some rich person’s fancy painting gets nicked out of a gallery? It’s not like they’ll go hungry, right? Well, here’s the thing—art isn’t just for the rich, and it’s not just some “thing” on a wall. Art is personal. It’s an expression, a story, and sometimes even a protest. When someone spends weeks, months, or even years on a piece, pouring in every ounce of their energy, only to have it stolen—well, that’s not just robbery; it’s a complete disregard for the artist’s voice. That’s why I don’t support it. Not now, not ever. Even if I had accidentally committed such a deed, it is my duty to spread awareness, both for my misdeeds and to support artists of all kinds.

You see, when people steal art, they aren’t just taking a painting or a sculpture. They’re snatching away the artist’s ability to control their work’s legacy. And yeah, maybe the artist already got paid, but think about it: art doesn’t really belong to one person after it’s made, right? It’s shared, experienced, meant to inspire or provoke. Theft takes that away. The whole point of art is to be seen as it was meant to be seen—where the artist intended it, in the space they designed it for, under their terms. And if you can’t respect that, do you even get what art is?

Now, some people might say, “But isn’t art theft kind of romantic?” You know, the old heist movie trope, with the stealth and the tech and the thrill. No, it’s not romantic. It’s selfish. Every time a piece goes missing, the public loses access to it. Think of the paintings that sit in private collections, locked away from everyone. Those works were meant to be seen, discussed, maybe even argued over. Art can spark revolutions or quiet someone’s soul, but only if it’s out there. Keeping it hidden because you felt like taking it? That’s downright petty.

Onto what you’ve been waiting for, Digital Art Theft. Something I’ve accidentally done somewhat, and I’m not afraid of saying I am sorry for it.

Digital art is something that people seem to think they can just click, save, and claim as their own. Like it’s a recipe they found online or a song lyric they can throw into a caption. Spoiler alert: it’s not. Digital art theft is real, just like traditional art theft, it’s damaging, and I don’t support it either—not even a little.

People might think, “It’s just pixels, right?” Wrong. Digital art may not be a canvas you can touch, but that doesn’t make it any less valuable. Artists spend hours crafting these pieces. Just like traditional artists, they’re putting their skills, creativity, and vision into something that ends up on a screen. It’s not just a picture—it’s their work. And when someone comes along, screenshots it, reposts it, or even slaps it on merch without permission, it’s like slapping the artist in the face.

What’s worse is that digital art is especially vulnerable. Unlike a physical painting, which takes a lot of effort to steal, digital art can be copied with two clicks. That ease makes people forget (or ignore) that this is someone’s livelihood. And similarly to Traditional artists, digital artists often rely on commissions, views, and likes – metrics that help them get noticed, get work, and grow their audience. Stealing their art isn’t just disrespectful; it’s actively damaging their ability to make a living. Imagine working hard to get noticed, only to have someone else post your art on their page without credit. Suddenly, that work you put all your time and energy into is getting someone else’s likes, someone else’s comments, and they didn’t lift a finger to make it.

Let’s talk about credit, too, because some people think that a little “credit to the artist” makes it okay to repost. Here’s the thing—it doesn’t. Artists don’t just want credit; they deserve control over where and how their work is shared. A lot of digital artists post their work with watermarks, signatures, or specific dimensions. They set these boundaries because they want to protect their art. Taking that away is like ignoring the “Do Not Touch” sign in a museum and handling a priceless artifact just because you want a closer look. It’s selfish, plain and simple. Use your common sense to think about it.

Digital art is everywhere now, and that’s amazing. But with that visibility comes responsibility. If you like a piece, appreciate it, share it (if the artist allows it), support the artist, maybe even commission something. But don’t just take it. Digital art may exist on a screen, but it’s just as real as anything hanging on a gallery wall. And if we don’t start respecting it that way, we’re going to lose a lot more than just pretty pictures. We’ll lose the artists who create them.

So, in short, here’s why I don’t support art theft of both traditional and digital art– it is selfish, it is disrespectful, and it is harmful to everyone. Art is meant to be shared, appreciated, and experienced, not locked away by some entitled thief who thinks they know better than the artist who made it. If you can’t respect the work, then maybe art just isn’t for you. Because at the end of the day, every stolen piece is a loss for all of us—one less chance to connect, one less story to hear. If we don’t start respecting artists and their art, we risk not only losing amazing artwork but the artists themselves. Because why would anyone keep creating in a world that takes what they make without giving anything back? And if that doesn’t make you think twice, then maybe you need to check your own values.

Thanks for reading, I have no qualms if this blows up, this is my discussion, with myself, my head and a few different mutuals. If you want to send me hate (anon or whichever, once again, I'm not talking about the anon who made me realize my mistake in the first place) or argue about it, go ahead, I won't stop you, but be brave about it and explain why. You don't have to show yourself, you don't have to reveal who you are or feel embarrassed about it, you just have to be brave and explain. I won't mind. I appreciate criticism, I appreciate being called out for an honest mistake, or in my words "a silly little mistake I wouldn't have noticed without someone calling it out". Trust your gut feelings if something feels wrong, it can make a difference.

Please, check out this blog post, it holds a place in my heart.

Thank you once again for reading this. Have a great day/afternoon/evening!