Update: Sooo, $chix0r tells me that... it's impossible to remove the "Given by:..." from my page because I gave the sub before the anonymity feature was introduced. What is up with dA and these stupid irreversible changes?! So yeah, that goes for everyone else too. It's PERMANENT.

Anyway... nice to know the new feature is there. Gotta give the staff props for that even thought we've already been told that they really don't care what we have been complaining about here: [link]

NEWSFLASH: We don't want our names displayed! The CUSTOMERS are PISSED OFF!!! GOT IT?

Update: I posted a second news article here: [link]
[Edit#3] According to the same staff member from before, this WHOLE THING happened because they wanted to see how the community would react. Well, we certainly are reacting. They said, however, that "News is news" so they aren't really counting it as feedback? And their definition of feedback is a note to a staff member. So, if the staff wants notes, give them notes. I'm not because I feel my article was enough a summary of feedback from the community and myself. But feel free to contact them I guess.

I asked them nicely to put out an FAQ or their OWN article sometime soon to solve the scared new members problem. I shouldn't have to assure THEIR members that they DON'T NEED a sub when their profiles say otherwise! [/End Edit]

Update: Support in the form of ART and best of all... NON-VIOLENT responses~ sent to me by our fellow deviants I'm not going to make this an art feature journal, just some examples of community spirit!

[link] [link]

Updated list of links: +new news article!

[Edit #2] OK! Let me clear some things up. Don't get me wrong. I tried to be as professional as possible about that article in the news. Very few people have shown objection to my posting it. (Though objections are to be expected) But I was only summing up concerns into one neat article.

But THIS IS MY JOURNAL. It is a bit angrier than the news article. I wrote it BEFORE the news article Go read that if you want the soft version.

I tried to be polite but encourage deviants to speak up. I'm exhausted from responding to comments as well so if I seem a bit delusional when I reply... well that's why. So, I hope that article's responses will back the admins up, saying that "This is what we, the deviants, want." And that they consider change. And that it will not be a waste of their time. That is all.

One admin did tell us that there WILL be a better privacy option for gift givers but there hasn't been any feedback on user status. So, the community remains concerned and we will voice it. [End Edit]

Update! Hey guys, the article is on the most popular list but at the BOTTOM! We need more deviants to fave and comment so more people will notice it! Link to it in your journals! = D This is going well!

[Edit] News Article: [link] Also, my pageviews have shot up unexpectedly due to this issue so my "Thank you for 11K" will be late~ Sorry ^-^ [End Edit]
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July 11, 2009 Journal: I know that the majority of dA members spend more time on their pages than the forums so here's a heads up with going on.

There have been numerous commercial changes to the site in the past few days. Have a look at your page and what do you see?




If you are a "Premium Member" (ha..): You will see that you are NO LONGER a Deviant. Where your pages displayed "Deviant:" it says "Premium Member" and if you click it it links you to the sub renewal page. And if someone donated your "Premium Membership" it displays the giver's name. (Yes... no longer a deviant and no longer a subscriber)


If you are not "Premium Member": Your profile says "Needs Premium Membership"

I saw some of these obnoxious changes coming while I was trying to get my sub for the summer. I just wanted 3 months so I could have a nice journal that I could post pics and feature artists I like. Make polls and what not~ It wouldn't be the first time I had a sub, so why not?



^ Please not that this is a recent snapshot, not taken at the time I purchased a sub.

And when I was on the sub page with my dad he got really defensive about using his credit card.

A) There wasn't a "3 Month Sub" option like I remembered...
B) It gives you the price and says your card will be charged every so often AUTOMATICALLY.
C) [Edit] ^ Hmm, that was before... I logged out and went to my other account and I see the option. But I don't remember it and my dad didn't see it. But yeah this screen cap is NEW. Not taken at the time.

And according to this poll ([link]) 50% of deviants are still in Middle and High School so they will be using credit cards with the assistance of an adult who would be skeptical of things such as this. I would also apply that to the 26% are college students.

My dad got up and walked away from me.

I am not kidding.

He told me to find the 3 Month Sub option. So, I logged into my photo account and chose the option to give myself a subscription from there. I would have had to wait for a response if I chose to inquire about the possibility of choosing the auto 3 month option and canceling the recharge. (But who wants to do that anyway?) I figured it was the same thing without the hassle. dA gets our money, same amount either way, everyone is happy. Or so I thought..

The first thing that bothered me was the fact that it said I was purchasing a "Premium Membership." WHAT?! I went ahead and ignored it...

And now there are these new changes.



That's right, subscribers are now GODS! (Or no... PREMIUM MEMBERS ARE GODS!)

If you are not subscribed apparently dA thinks you NEED to have one and are there for inferior to subscribers. (ahem... PREMIUM GODS!)

If you are a gift giver, your anonymity is no longer respected but broadcasted to the ENTIRE world so beggars can come ask you for money! 8D

If you give to other deviants-- Oooh! There's a bonus! You get to plaster your name right at the top of their page to steal their page viewers!!!

Now... some people wish to have the option of plastering their names everywhere. Problems include:

-The receiver feeling obligated to submit to their "owners."
-The giver feeling bad about wanting more exposure (or maybe not in some cases. I have found people who want their names to be there)

These new features need to be GONE. They have appeared really withing the last two days but they started a while ago. Please keep yourselves updated with what's going on by visiting the forums. dA might be having a money crisis like the rest of the US but dA should be about the community as it always has and NOT just the people who can afford CSS!

Deviants need to send this journal to everyone they know and help with the resistance in the forums! We need to show dA that we are not happy with this and want to preserve the sense of community that we have!

My Poll on the subject: [link]

Forum Links:

1. [link] (Premium Godliness)


2. [link] (Premium Godliness)


3. [link] (Deviant Poorness Exploit)

Help us keep these topics bumped!!!!!!!!!!!!!!~

News Article I Wrote: [link]
News Article by Cyantre: [link]

~Tohru

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