This is mostly based on my own observations and may or may not hold any salt, but i kinda feel like theres this huge lack of engagement over all within the art communities everywhere online, perhaps thats one of the bigger reasons why it feels like its falling apart (not counting the AI threat because we know thats a whole can of worms in and of itself sahdfhgh). And perhaps its not truly anyones fault (or maybe it is idk), but it also seems to have created this self perpetuating cycle.

We work hard on something and get very little engagement in return, it doesnt necessarily have to actually be sales if your'e the commissioning type, but like there's barely any recognition of the works themselves these days other than an empty like, maybe a re-post if youre on that kind of site, perhaps this in turn leaves the artist feeling too drained and defeated to be able to have the energy or will to engage in other peoples work themselves and the cycle keeps going. Maybe its algorithms playing a part too depending on what site your'e on.

Like i get it though, that life kinda sucks for everyone right now but i am also coming to the realization that the cycle is only going to break with our concious effort put in to do so. Not just silent faving / likes / shares, but also leaving a kind comment every so often on the work that you see that you like, you have no idea how boosting in morale that can be.

All that being said i know i am guilty of just blindly faving and sharing, myself, but the realization seems to have just hit me today that i too am doing this, so from this point forward im going to try to do a little better about leaving a nice comment on the things i really like when i can, perhaps if all of us can muster up the energy to do the same we can get back a little bit of the community that seems to have imploded on itself, yeah?

idk like i said im just doing some late night rambling lol.