Slightly dramatic title, but I was going for something catchy. Sue me.

Before I start my rant, I'll just say that everything's been goin' okay here in Brazil, I've been doin' some fun stuff, but not so much that I really want to write an entire separate journal about it. So, without further ado, here we go (warning, this could get long, but please read till the end).

If you're like me, and you come onto deviantART through your profile page, you have probably realized certain changes as to what's written underneath the part where it tells the amount of time you've been on this site.

Subscriber? Not anymore. You're a premium member now. You're special and godly, and dA loves you. Or rather, they love what's in your wallet. Either way, they feel like you should be praised and exalted for forking your cash over to them. That's the best way to make sure you keep buyin', right?

Non-subscriber? Guess what? You are now the lowly lower class of dA. You have "Needs Premium Membership" written on your page, which translates to, "Is not special, is broke, and should get a subscription or be given one". This subliminal message is meant to make you look unimportant if you do not buy a premium membership. It also makes you look like you aren't as much of a deviant as the premium members, but are lowly scum.

Gift giver? Prepare to have your inbox flooded with requests from beggars to buy them a premium membership, because guess what? Your name is permanently plastered onto the page of the person you gave to! And this also means that anonymity is no longer an option, folks. Don't mind the recognition? Fine, but realize that if a person bought your gift receiver a subscription- excuse me, premium membership- before you did, your name will not show up on their page until the one they were bought before expires. And realize that you do not get a choice either way as to whether or not you are recognized, unlike a journal feature.

Pissed? You're not the only one. More information on this matter can be found in this news article.

Now, I'm really annoyed at this not only because it separates subscribers and non-subscribers, but because it shows us just how desperate dA is for money. And it tells us what we know, but wish weren't true: everything is about money. I'd like to be naive enough to believe that dA's "sense of community" will prevail, but I've never been much of an optimist. Let's face it, it's all about money. "Sense of community" don't put food on the table. I mean, how many times have you seen a site or any other business change for the worst despite what its members and customers said? I'm sure you can think of quite a few examples. What makes you think dA is any different?

For now, spreading the awareness is all we can do. And while I'd like to say, "keep hope alive", I'd also have to add: don't get your hopes too high.




Wouldn't it be lovely if they could prove me wrong?