ThatSolarisGuy

I will no longer be paying for a CORE membership, nor will I be using this site for any further artwork.  I'm debating whether or not to completely remove my account in general, but if anyone still follows me here, I feel it's fair to give an explanation as to why.

Weeks ago, another user I formerly followed (whom I will NOT name) posted a poll with a list of female fictional characters, asking voters to choose which one they wanted to rape.  I found this grossly appalling and filed a complaint.  Today I received a response from DeviantArt telling me that "just because I find it offensive personally, doesn't mean it's against DeviantArt policy."  That's a fair point.  My anger then shifted to "why the fuck isn't that against policy?"  Rape is illegal.  It's a horrible, reprehensible, evil and vile act, and to even court the idea in even a fictional context has no place in a site like DeviantArt in my opinion.  Deviations depicting explicit sexual acts, erect male genitalia or erotic (non-artistic) nudes are prohibited, but soliciting rape opinions is not?  I understand that DeviantArt has their policies in place, and this is not a 'screw DeviantArt' decision or a 'rally against them' post.  This is me finding that policy personally unacceptable and withdrawing my financial support of the site and refusing to use it further as a result.  

I understand there is an abundance of fetish-related artists and works on DeviantArt, my page has involved that kind of material almost exclusively.  But there is a clear line between a fantasy representation of a fetish and outright asking who the best victim of rape would be.  That is a line I personally feel has been crossed in this situation, and the dismissive, almost reprimand-like response I got for having the gall to question it has led me to this conclusion.

I won't automatically assume anyone who uses this site is awful, nor do I think a majority of the management of this site is corrupt or even malevolent, but I can't support a site with this kind of policy.  So, after 13 years, I'm closing down shop and ceasing any further payment to DeviantArt.  And if this journal gets removed, censored or if there are repercussions against my account for posting it, especially given that I did not post screenshots of, quotations of, or reveal the participants of the correspondence regarding the offending deviation or the individual that posted it, I'd say that pretty soundly justifies my outrage.

I'm done giving money to people who take it and run.  I've had about eight or nine commissions in the last year that I paid for in full, in advance, from pretty high-profile professional artists, that never got done.  I don't hassle or harass them, I go weeks or months in between notes, and all I get are excuses.  I'm angry, but I won't publicly share the names of these 'professionals' because my frustration isn't justification for drama, and I'm not so petty as I'd want to take a shot at them.  I wish them the best of luck in their profession, and I hope they used my money for something good.  But that's the last cent I'll send for artwork, because I'm not going to gamble my hard-earned dollars for something I may or may not ever receive.  Sorry to the artists that have been professional and honest in their business, but I'm done.  I will no longer be commissioning anyone for anything.  I'm just done with it.