Xinxinix 2022-04-14 12:45:43

"You could say something here. It might be the start of a beautiful friendship."

I'm sorry you feel that way. I've been in a rut, too, ever since reaching a real low in *real* life, but I don't think the point of anything is to gain a following.

If you truly love what you do and why you are doing it, it will come back, eventually (hopefully.) If not, then at least everything in the future will be easier to mentally manage by comparison.

Thank you for being on NGP way back when, and I wish you the best on your future endeavors, Havrylo ^^;

It definitely feels like there's a universal lull going on right now.

wavetro 2022-04-14 13:57:45

Welcome to the club. Thought I was the only one who unintentionally got into a creative hobby just to feel like I belong somewhere, although I don't think the time you or I spent up to this point was a waste- there's always the lessons you've learned and the people that DID appreciate your company.

Even though we've never talked before, I'm glad you're being more honest with yourself: despite how vibrant and inviting a lot of online communities are, you don't have to force yourself to do exactly what they're doing just to be accepted by them.

Also, the reason why you didn't find success on Newgrounds is because you were basing your value on the site for the completely wrong reasons. Hell, I found numerical "success" on the site and still wanted to quit making my videos in the end!

Hope you keep searching for what you truly enjoy doing like I currently am too

Chdonga 2022-04-14 16:12:45

It is what it is
Good luck with whatever you wanna do in life

GenericAnime 2022-04-14 19:11:10

Trying to make it can be a fools errand. I have the drive so I think, but I falter more then I'd like to admit. it's best to just create and post on all the platforms. Maybe you can inspire at least one person that's all that matters. Just don't quit and do it for yourself.

All of this wasn't for nothing. JustRigo and I were having a big fight when you posted about the stuff we made. When we read it we were able to mend our friendship. Maybe it's not millions of fans but you helped 2 people out here and that's more then I can say for myself.

as we slip into our 20's and glide into our 30's just remember why you make art.

OviManic 2022-04-14 19:15:47

I’m sorry things didn’t work out for you here.

What is it about the artist culture here that irks you?
I’m just curious, and I wanna know if I’m missing an important detail about it that I shouldn’t.

EugeneDoesArt 2022-04-14 19:43:41

I've been feeling some of this too tbh. NG had a bit of a honeymoon phase back in 2021. But that eventually faded.

As a dude that daydreams about "making it big", I've had to acknowledge that the likelihood of that happening isn't very big. But what keeps me going is making stuff I can look back on with satisfaction. You gotta focus on that cuz audiences are fickle, but your achievements are something sacred to you.

It sounds like that "one passion" was something you were missing on NG. Either that or the honeymoon phase ended and you realized it wasn't meant to be. Happens to the best of us.

Hopefully this departure will give you time to figure out what matters the most to you.

DesertSage 2022-04-14 20:11:02

Happy trails, then. I won't be tossing the server out anytime soon, that's a guarantee. I won't be pushing it here, it's not my place to do so.

Hope you soar like the dreams you carry, in making them come true.

Yomuchan 2022-04-14 20:14:24

We used to call it internet necrosis for a joke. Doesn't seem so funny now...

Well, whatever you are working on, I hope you find it rewarding AND fun. Take care out there.

BecomeTheFridge 2022-04-14 21:13:15

I honestly hope for your success. That's a bit cliche to say since I genuinely wish that for most people, but I mean it all the same.

Apologies for the long, probably unwanted ramblings below:

While I disagree with the idea that Newgrounds is a "hollow shell" of what it was before, I do agree that finding the same success here as the big names of yesteryear is not as feasible anymore. That sort of success isn't impossible but definitely needs to be found through different means.

From my view, having been around this site as a viewer for over 10 years (since about 2008), there was a time when I lamented the growing "obscurity" of NG compared to Youtube and other platforms. But now... I feel that NG has matured rather gracefully compared to a lot of other sites that competed with it during the 2000s.
Most flash movie/game sites are either barely recognizable, are practically dead (Stickpage, for example... as much as it pains me to say), or have completely ceased to exist.
NG, however, has managed to maintain at least some form of steadfast community, even when a lot of its legendary users have moved onto greener pastures. That's not easy... Especially not after 20+ years of a chaotically evolving internet landscape.

I don't say this to try and win you back, because I don't want to hamper your newfound quest for success.

wavetro 2022-04-14 22:22:23

@OviManic I think it might be the huge buzz of the 2D art community accidentally creating an image of "all artists love to draw, animate, and design characters" or something, and I can see how it's isolating if you interact for the first time and you're not that keen about Drawpiles or anatomy or painting or whatever. It's probably the dominance of one specific type of art that seemingly sets the standard for creative communities, when in reality there's actually more than one way to be creative while still being accepted

OviManic 2022-04-14 23:03:12

@wavetro I admire character design, but other works like environmental design is definitely not something that should be ignored; however, you might have a point in regards to how often they show up. I explore the art section on a daily basis and about 90% of pieces are character pieces. Finding excellent environmental pieces here are pretty much striking gold.

And yet, I would argue that’s how it always is in Newgrounds since the early days (character-centric), and I don’t mean this as neither a fault nor a compliment. Characters and fan art of said characters are always the focal point of all media the users here make. It’s very unfortunate that other types of work here get the dimmer end of the spotlight, but seeing how “characters” is Newgrounds’ bread-n-butter, I can’t hold any objection against it.

P.S: I was about to say “, but other works like environmental design is [nothing to scoff at]”; but apparently, that’s a negative thing to say according to Google! Scoff means to mock or insult, so I’m saying “nothing worthy of insulting”, which is good, right? But then the sources with the phrase claiming the opposite says “reverso” on it, so… By god, what is wrong with this search engine?!

TapathyWR 2022-04-14 23:28:19

I always liked the stuff you made, so I'm sad to see you go. I understand your frustration, though I don't really agree with it entirely; I can certainly see this being a difficult place to grow a following, but I also don't think a following is all that important. I suppose that depends on why you create. Is it solely to impress or inspire others? Do you thrive on feedback, and the rush that other people seeing what you've made provides? If so, maybe you need another place, sure. I always saw art as for the artist. You should strive to create for you, at least that's how I've always seen it.

I understand though, the frustration. I want other people to read my writing, to hear what I say. If that's your goal, then this place can get very frustrating.

I wish you well. Enjoy your next chapter!

wavetro 2022-04-14 23:28:40

@OviManic Yeah the same bread-and-butter thing goes for Twitter and a lot of other art communities at large: it's almost all characters

Ickicky 2022-04-14 23:37:37

Never feel like you can't post on NG because you have to "Interact with it" in some capacity. It's still Everything by Everyone. Best wishes on where you go and whatever you end up doing.

OviManic 2022-04-14 23:38:19

@wavetro That actually sucks!
I wonder how would that can be remedied. There’s gotta be some way to attract viewers into other types of work.
I could’ve sworn abstract design is popular on Instagram, but since here and YouTube are the only places I visit frequently, I’m not sure that’s the case.

Gimmick 2022-04-15 01:03:11

Well if you're leaving because you feel like you're spending too much time on this site that could be put to better use elsewhere, then that's a fine reason that more people could stand to follow on every site.

Perhaps I'm misinterpreting something, but reading the sentence

> I'm mad at myself for thinking any of you could ever be my friends

makes it sounds like your raison d'être on Newgrounds was entirely transactional and self-serving. I get that a lot of people are frustrated with lack of "success" on this site (and likely others too, because that's just how numbers work), but it still feels like I'm hearing the quiet part being spoken out loud.

Gimmick 2022-04-15 10:25:53

@HavryloThePigeon Ah gotcha, that completely changed the meaning. Good luck with your future endeavours!

MellonSnow 2022-04-15 13:56:15

Oh man, i'm so sorry to hear you've been feeling this way! D: But i'm glad that you've decided to be more honest with yourself and to act accordingly, it'll definitely save you a lot of stress.

All i can say is: fuck striving for a following, fuck having to try to climb that muddy slippery hill of misery. You turn toward whatever direction that feels right to you, no matter if it's online or in real life. I hope you find the connections to people close by who will nourish that flame of inspiration and creativity in you and whom you can nourish in turn.

Recently i visited a comic festival where i sold my work and seeing actual people picking up what you've made, talking to them, seeing them enjoy what you do felt like such a relief. It felt real. So i understand what you're saying and i wish you best of luck out there!!

SaucySaucepan 2022-04-15 15:10:19

I'm sorry to hear things played out this way but I truly hope this pivot in your life will bring a healthier and happier outcome. I definitely agree that trying to focus on followings and numbers can bring unhealthy perception on creating content, and I would be lying to say I wasn't taken aback by many others behavior regarding this subject as well.

That said I believe this can be a great change, where hopefully you can make real friends and real connections. While trying to have an online presence is fine, and even enjoyable at times, real life should always be a priority and I'm glad to see you're really trying to reshape your aspirations around that. For example, I actually get commission work but it's all been exclusively from IRL. The internet is definitely not the be all, end all. That said I legitimately appreciate your efforts and I've met some cool people because of it. So thank you, sincerely. I wish you the best of luck.

NeoBlueRose 2022-04-25 13:55:21

Dang
Well, I hope you find whatever makes you happy in life.
Wish you the best.