#sites offer

[genericpuff]

Tbh at this point you should just make your own webcomic app/website because it would probably be 100 times better than whatever going on with webtoon right now.

hahaha it wouldn't tho, sorry 💀

Here's the fundamental issue with webcomic platforms that a lot of people just don't realize (and why they're so difficult to run successfully):

Storage costs are incredibly expensive, it's why so many sites have limitations on file sizes / page sizes / etc. because all of those images and site info have to be stored somewhere, which costs $$$.

Maintenance costs are expensive and get more so as you grow, you need people who are capable of fixing bugs ASAP and managing the servers and site itself

Financially speaking, webcomics are in a state of high supply, low demand. Loads of artists are willing to create their passion projects, but getting people to read them and pay for them is a whole other issue. Demand is high in the general sense that once people get attached to a webtoon they'll demand more, but many people aren't actually willing to go looking for new stuff to read and depend more on what sites feed them (and what they already like). There are a lot of comics to go around and thus a lot of competition with a limited audience of people willing to actually pay for them.

Trying to build a new platform from the ground up is incredibly difficult and a majority of sites fail within their first year. Not only do you have to convince artists to take a chance on your platform, you have to convince readers to come. Readers won't come if there isn't work on the platform to read, but artists won't come if they don't think the site will be worth it due to low traffic numbers. This is why the artists with large followings who are willing to take chances on the smaller sites are crucial, but that's only if you can convince them to use the site in favor of (or alongside) whatever platform they're using already where the majority of their audience lies. For many creators it's just not worth the time, energy, or risk.

Even if you find short-term success, in the long-term there are always going to be profit margins to maintain. The more users you pull in, the more storage is used by incoming artists, the more you have to spend on storage and server maintenance costs, and that means either taking the risk at crowdfunding (ex. ComicFury) or having to resort to outsider investments (ex. Tapas). Look at SmackJeeves, it used to be a titan in the independent webcomic hosting community, until it folded over to a buyout by NHN and then was pretty much immediately shuttered due to NHN basically turning it into a manwha scanlation site and driving away its entire userbase. And if you don't get bought out and try your hand at crowdfunding, you may just wind up living on a lifeline that could cut out at any moment, like what happened to Inkblazers (fun fact, the death of Inkblazers was what kicked off the cultural shift in Tapas around 2015-16 when all of IB's users migrated over and brought their work with them which was more aimed towards the BL and romancee drama community, rather than the comedy / gag-a-day culture that Tapas had made itself known for... now you deadass can't tell Tapas apart from a lot of scanlation sites because it got bought out by Kakao and kept putting all of its eggs into the isekai/romance drama basket.)

Right now the mindset in which artists and readers are operating is that they're trying way, way too hard to find a "one size fits all" site. Readers want a place where they can find all their favorite webtoons without much effort, artists wants a place where they can post to an audience of thousands, and both sides want a community that will feel tight-knit. But the reality is that you can't really have all three of those things, not on one site. Something always winds up having to be sacrificed - if a site grows big enough, it'll have to start seeking more funding while also cutting costs which will result in features becoming paywall'd, intrusive ads, creators losing their freedom, and/or outsider support which often results in the platform losing its core identity and alienating its tight-knit community.

If I had to describe what I'm talking about in a "pick one" graphic, it would look something like this:

(*note: this is mostly based on my own observations from using all of these sites at some point or another, they're not necessarily entirely accurate to the statistical performance of each site, I can only glean so much from experience and traffic trackers LMAO that said I did ask some comic pals for input and they were very helpful in helping me adjust it with their own takes <3).

The homogenization of the Internet has really whipped people into submission for the "big sites" that offer "everything", but that's never been the Internet, it relies on being multi-faceted and offering different spaces for different purposes. And we're seeing that ideology falter through the enshittification of sites like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. where users are at odds with the platforms because the platforms are gutting features in an attempt to satisfy shareholders whom without the platforms would not exist. Like, most of us aren't paying money to use social media sites / comic platform sites, so where else are they gonna make the necessary funds to keep these sites running? Selling ad space and locking features behind paywalls.

And this is especially true for a lot of budding sites that don't have the audience to support them via crowdfunding but also don't have the leverage to ask for investments - so unless they get really REALLY lucky in EITHER of those departments, they're gonna be operating at a loss, and even once they do achieve either of those things there are gonna be issues in the site's longevity, whether it be dying from lack of growing crowdfunding support or dying from shareholder meddling.

So what can we do?

We can learn how to take our independence back. We don't have to stop using these big platforms altogether as they do have things to offer in their own way, particularly their large audience sizes and dipping into other demographics that might not be reachable from certain sites - but we gotta learn that no single site is going to satisfy every wish we have and we have to be willing to learn the skills necessary to running our own spaces again. Pick up HTML/CSS, get to know other people who know HTML/CSS if you can't grasp it (it's me, I can't grasp it LOL), be willing to take a chance on those "smaller sites" and don't write them off entirely as spaces that can be beneficial to you just because they don't have large numbers or because they don't offer rewards programs. And if you have a really polished piece of work in your hands, look into agencies and publishing houses that specialize in indie comics / graphic novels, don't settle for the first Originals contract that gets sent your way.

For the last decade corporations have been convincing us that our worth is tied to the eyes we can bring to them. Instead of serving ourselves, we've begun serving the big guys, insisting that it has to be worth something eventually and that it'll "payoff" simply by the virtue of gambler's fallacy. Ask yourself what site is right for you and your work rather than asking yourself if your work is good enough for them. Most of us are broke trying to make it work on these sites anyways, may as well be broke and fulfilled by posting in places that actually suit us and our work if we can. Don't define your success by what sites like Webtoons are enforcing - that definition only benefits them, not you.

[strongermonster]

one of the funniest news things in canada that always tickles me is the ongoing war between magic mushroom shops and the police.

this is the absolute height of humour to me right now

[unproduciblesmackdown]

the interlude in rotk of frodo exerting all effort against the strains of woodwinds to drag himself a meter or so further up mount doom

[goodold-fashioned-killerqueen]

born to draw block people making out... force to draw houses....

[kay-selfships]

it’s called ✨curating my online experience✨

[valtsv]

How about the possibility of you moving to an actual web blog if tumblr ceases to exist?

i'll look into it

[thesilicontribesman]

Cycladic Figurines of Ancient Greece, 4th and 3rd Millennium BCE

Most of the marble figures were sculpted in the Cyclades during the late 4th and 3rd Millennium BCE. The sculptors used simple tools, like obsidian for cutting and emery for polishing.

Found in settlements and tombs, these figures may have served as representations of the dead, of gods and goddesses and their followers or as offerings and amulets.

When the figures were first discovered, some still bearing traces of painted decoration, they were generally considered crude and ugly. Later in the 20th century their simple form influenced artists like Picasso, Modigliani and Moore.

Ashmolean Museum, Oxford

[carnivalcarriondiscarded]

How tf did that get there-

this is the second time i've seen your art on Pinterest-

wow! that's Theft, and not the good kind! while we're on the topic:

kindly refrain from reposting my art <3

[incognito-cactus]

pops instructing his boy on how to build his new saber after lopping off his hand and yeeting his old lightsaber into the abyss

[wingedarrows]

"Marcille is dying"

"This ain't about her"

[unrealcosima]

I think at the end of the day, one of the most impressive things about gap (and many Thai shows in general) is that it's on YouTube, for free, for the whole world to watch. That's it. They just created this dream show on a decent budget and then uploaded it on YouTube, with subtitles, not geoblocked, and if you have access to the intenet you can just watch it. No subscription, no demands.

It feels a bit surreal in a world where you're asked to pay for services and then watch your show fast and get everyone to pay as well and also watch it fast or you won't get any more of it.

But Thailand is giving me some of my favorite and fondest media memories, and is doing it completely for free. Bless them.

[divine-misfortune]

some people just dont like reblogging. Be happy with what interaction you get or we will stop even liking.

....my brother in christ do you just not realize how much time goes into writing? People out here will work full time jobs and use what little free time they have to create things to share with you for absolutely no payment whatsoever. I think asking you to reblog isn't that big of an ask. It supports the people who make the things you read and shows them that people appreciated their effort.

"Some people just don't like reblogging" that's the entire point of this website though. Why be on tumblr if you're not going to use the literal main feature of it?

"Be happy with what interaction you get" I never said I wasn't grateful for the love I do receive, I've said it before I'm grateful for people liking my posts. I'm allowed to be frustrated though. I'm allowed to be upset when I write a 3k fic and maybe get 20 reblogs on it, because I put time and effort into these things and if you go back and look at the notes on that previous ask you'll see other writers sharing this sentiment.

Do you not see the issue here? That the people lovingly creating and sharing their work to you don't feel valued?

"We will stop even liking" okay and then nobody creates. Will you be happy then when the Fandom is dead in the water because of it?

[prettyiwa]

Every so often I see anons in mutuals’ inboxes not understanding the deal against empty blogs even if there’s an age, or about blogs that don’t reblog and it just reminds me of how quickly we forget and how quickly we cycle through toxic phases in this community. It's partially because it’s ever-growing with people from Reddit and Twitter and Wattpad writers and everyone else not listed.

It comes and goes in fucking waves so it’s easy to miss if you aren’t here for it, but every handful of months there’s some mass post going around where a writer has been informed of or found their writing (and others') stolen and reposted on another site (9 times out of 10 it’s Wattpad) with the poster taking credit. So often that account and plagiarizer is traced back to an empty blog that’s following all the blogs it stole from. Sometimes they’ll even leave a like that serves as a bookmark so they can come back and steal those words for fake internet points.

Like. For people who have been subjected to that kind of theft, there’s anxiety and distrust that remains. For people who watched it happen (especially time and again because it’s multiple times a year), there’s that voice in the back of their mind when they see someone with a blog that has a header of “Kayleigh (19) Just Reading!!” and nothing else.

And so either these anons who don’t understand why they can’t “lurk in peace” genuinely do not know about the cycle that happens here or they do not care for the people writing the stories and HCs and drabbles they passively enjoy.

Regardless, it only contributes to that growing feeling of being yet another source of quick and convenient consumption and not an actual person sharing their passion with people who might like it.

[colferpics]

Description: He lit up the small screen as Kurt Hummel in the mega-hit show "Glee," and now he's lighting up the literary world with his diverse young adult novels!

Actor, singer, and best-selling author Chris Colfer joins Sophia to talk about the grueling and challenging process of being on Glee, what terrified him about playing Kurt, and his struggles with perfectionism. He shares how writing became his escape, and how it kept him sane throughout his time on Glee!

Chris also reveals he would love to tackle Broadway someday, offers advice for those who want to break into the industry, and discusses the inspiration behind his new sci-fi book, "Roswell Johnson Saves the World!" available in bookstores now! [published June 13, 2024]

[misogynyarchivedisabled]

The Misogyny Archive is online!

Misogyny Archive is a website where you can report any man who is known to indulge in misogynistic behaviour. You can choose multiple categories, from verbal, online, sexual, violent, spiritual. There’s currently 25 categories listed, with descriptions of what all of them entail. You’re also able to contribute information, that would help other women recognize the misogynist, and give them an option to make informed decision regarding this individual.

Our hope is that, by reporting the men we know to be dangerous, misogynistic, potentially violent and sexually predatory, by linking their locations, we could start drawing the lines between the anonymous assaults, anonymous stalkers and attackers, and figure out which men are most likely to be behind them. Women are encouraged to report and describe anonymous predators as well, and it’s possible some of their descriptions will match with those whose names are already reported!

The website is meant to be a resource and a database used for women to be able to make informed decisions, stay safe, be protected from the known predators, and aware of what men in their life are capable of doing, behind their backs. We also hope it will help us catalogue, track, analyze and keep track of the number of misogynistic crimes, and their severity, and give more detailed picture of the dangers we currently live in. This is up to the reporters, and depends on how used and utilized this website is!

This project is created by Inna, the developer, who worked for months to create the database from just an idea. We worked together on figuring out the fine spots, covering the questions of backups, security, functionality. We’re both excited to have it finally up and running, and we hope you’ll go and report everyone you can, everyone you feel you are safe from. Because as much as we’d love to, we can’t make a website only women can access, so if someone you’re reporting could guess it’s you, and try to take revenge, don’t mention him by name, or wait until you’re completely safe! The site is only working to protect women, for as long as it brings no women in danger.

I also want to note that giving the identifying information is optional. If you feel safe reporting only the crime, do it. If you feel safe only reporting the location and what happened, do that! You can always make a new report later, when it’s safe.You will never be asked to identify yourself.

[historysideblog]

Online History Short-Courses offered by Universities Masterpost

Categories: Classical Studies, Egyptology, Medieval, Renaissance, The Americas, Asia, Other, Linguistics, Archaeology

How to get Coursera courses for free: There are several types of courses on Coursera, some will allow you to study the full course and only charge for the optional-certificate, for others you will need to audit it and you may have limited access (usually just to assignments), and thirdly some courses charge a monthly subscription in this case a 7 day free trial is available.

Classical Studies 🏛️🏺

At the Origins of the Mediterranean Civilization: Archeology of the City from the Levant to the West 3rd-1st millennium BC - Sapienza University of Rome

Greek and Roman Mythology - University of Pennsylvania

Health and Wellbeing in the Ancient World - Open University

Roman Architecture - Yale

Roman Art and Archeology - University of Arizona

Rome: A Virtual Tour of the Ancient City - University of Reading

The Ancient Greeks - Wesleyan University

The Changing Landscape of Ancient Rome. Archeology and History of Palatine Hill - Sapienza University of Rome

Uncovering Roman Britain in Old Museum Collections - University of Reading

Egyptology 𓂀⚱️

Egypt before and after pharaohs - Sapienza University of Rome

Introduction to Ancient Egypt and Its Civilization - University of Pennsylvania

Wonders of Ancient Egypt - University of Pennsylvania

Medieval 🗡️🏰

Age of Cathedrals - Yale

Coexistence in Medieval Spain: Jews, Christians, and Muslims - University of Colorado

Deciphering Secrets: The Illuminated Manuscripts of Medieval Europe - University of Colorado

Enlightening the Dark Ages: Early Medieval Archaeology in Italy - University of Padova

Lancaster Castle and Northern English History: The View from the Stronghold - Lancaster University

Magic in the Middle Ages - University of Barcelona

Old Norse Mythology in the Sources - University of Colorado Bolder

Preserving Norwegian Stave Churches - Norwegian University of Science and Technology

The Book of Kells: Exploring an Irish Medieval Masterpiece - Trinity College Dublin

The Cosmopolitan Medival Arabic World - University of Leiden

Renaissance ⚜️🃏

Black Tudors: The Untold Story

European Empires: An Introduction, 1400–1522 - University of Newcastle

The Mediterranean, a Space of Exchange (from Renaissance to Enlightenment) - University of Barcelona

The Life and Afterlife of Mary Queen of Scots - University of Glasgow

The Tudors - University of Roehampton London

The Americas 🪶🦙🛖

History of Slavery in the British Caribbean - University of Glasgow

Indigeneity as a Global Concept - University of Newcastle

Indigenous Canada - University of Alberta

Indigenous Religions & Ecology - Yale

Asia 🏯🛕

Contemporary India - University of Melbourne

Introduction to Korean Philosophy - Sung Kyun Kwan University

Japanese Culture Through Rare Books - University of Keio

Sino-Japanese Interactions Through Rare Books - University of Keio

The History and Culture of Chinese Silk - University for the Creative Arts

Travelling Books: History in Europe and Japan - University of Keio

Other

A Global History of Sex and Gender: Bodies and Power in the Modern World - University of Glasgow

A History of Royal Fashion - University of Glasgow

Anarchy in the UK: A History of Punk from 1976-78 - University of Reading

Biodiversity, Guardianship, and the Natural History of New Zealand: A Museum Perspective - Te Papa

Empire: the Controversies of British Imperialism - University of Exeter

Great South Land: Introducing Australian History - University of Newcastle

Indigeneity as a Global Concept - University of Newcastle

New Zealand History, Culture and Conflict: A Museum Perspective - Te Papa

Organising an Empire: The Assyrian Way - LMU Munich

Plagues, Witches, and War: The Worlds of Historical Fiction - University of Virginia

Russian History: from Lenin to Putin - University of California Santa Cruz

Linguistics 🗣️

Introduction to Comparative Indo-European Linguistics - University of Leiden - Coursera version

Miracles of Human Language: An Introduction to Linguistics - University of Leiden

Archeology 💀

Archeoastronomy - University of Milan

Archaeology and the Battle of Dunbar 1650 - Durham University

Archaeology: from Dig to Lab and Beyond - University of Reading

Archeology: Recovering the Humankind's Past and Saving the Universal Heritage - Sapienza University of Rome

Change of Era: The Origins of Christian Culture through the Lens of Archaeology - University of Padova

Endangered Archaeology: Using Remote Sensing to Protect Cultural Heritage - Universities of Durham, Leicester & Oxford

Enlightening the Dark Ages: Early Medieval Archaeology in Italy - University of Padova

Exploring Stone Age Archaeology: The Mysteries of Star Carr - University of York

Forensic Archaeology and Anthropology - Durham University

Roman Art and Archeology - University of Arizona

The Changing Landscape of Ancient Rome. Archeology and History of Palatine Hill - Sapienza University of Rome