This is dedicated to all the designers who endure the harsh, sometimes thoughtless criticism from people grabbing the freebies, gifts, free tutorials and hints ... the people who somehow think they have the right to tell you that you're not good enough to get paid for your work but then fuss at you if they can't download just one portion of the six free kits you've given them that week at no cost to them.This has occurred frequently and for too long, in my observation. Today, I'm specifically addressing the complaints arising from a gift that Susan Darter (Raspberry Road Designs) has recently given and yet been pummeled for her efforts. Or when the digital friends of ours who take so much time and effort to direct you to these freebies get criticized because their website listings take too long to load. OMG.
People, think about it!!!!! Where else on the planet can you get so many beautiful, creative things for free, that give you and your family such joy and such a lasting memory of so many treasured times.
There are many of you who are consistently gracious to take the time to give a message or even a simple "TY" is appreciated. But it's still mind-boggling when only one-half of one percent of the people who download take that time -- much less buy the kits, as those Susan has on her site. Her work hasn't changed except to improve, and she has always been generous -- staggeringly so. For her -- or anyone -- to experience this kind of behavior and, frankly, this lack of class, is absolutely appalling.
Guess the anonymity of the internet makes you feel safe to do your bullying, does it? You know who you are, even if we don't. But think about this, too: we always have to ultimately answer for the consequences of our actions, or inactions as the case may be.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to the faithful few who are always so kind, thoughtful, sweet ... and appreciative. I'd do gifts of word art any time for these special dears. :) Although I can't speak for all the designers, I suspect most feel the same way.Have a great Tuesday,
Melanie
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24 comments:
Mel... Thank you for posting this! I subscribe to both your blog and hers, as I told you before, I read everyday as long as I am near my PC... I may not download but that has NOTHING to do with the quality just that I have so many freebies and kits I have bought when I could afford them that I don't download usually unless I have an idea how I will use it (my 180 gig is pretty full).
I stop giving away my freebies on my blog for the same reasons, so I started a yahoo group, same stuff started happening so my group is pretty much dead too... I just don't care to share anymore... I even had people tell me that if I need a thank you then I am doing it for all the wrong reasons... well, I did it because I loved to do it... God made me a giver but a TY once in awhile would have been better than nothing.... and nothing would have been better than the complaints :)...
People don't realize that it takes time to do freebies and all it takes is their time for the page to load and the downloading time... then MOST can't bother taking the 2 seconds to type "TY"... it just boggles my mind.
OK nuff said.. I think
oh... BTW...
Thank you for this one!
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. I realize everyone goofs occassionally and forgets to say "thank you" but to criticize those of you who are so kindly sharing your talents with us...well anyone who would do that is beyond belief. Thank you for the latest of your wonderful gifts to us - I especially love the creative one - visions of layouts using this oneare already tumbling thru my mind. :D
Thank you. You really called that one. I love your stuff and Susan's stuff. I have learned so much from ya'll. Where would I be without you? Stuck in a quagmire with no creative juices flowing thanks for the inspiration. I feel like part of a loving community when I see everyone rushing to lift up those who have been hurt. Makes me wonder how many times I slighted someone by not writing my appreciation. Sorry to those.
I love your work and the work of Raspberry Road and many other designers and IMHO people like the ones you describe have no right to your beautiful work! Please know that for every grump you get there are 10 grateful scrappers out here!!
I do appreciate all of your talents! Thanks...
Good for you! I agree... and it's by talking about it that maybe we can get these bullies to do a little soul searching and cut their nonsense out.
Thanks for the awesome WordArts!!
Gina :)
Gurl, whenever i see you post a wordart like the one in digifree today, i know something disturbing has happened. So true that often we are not as thankful as we should be fore the gifts we received, not only here but everywhere. Where this particular brand of rightful entitlement comes from, i can only guess, and that the person did it anonymously is just cowardly. Just think, if you put your NAME to it, we might respect you a little more, and know that YOU needed HELP with what you were trying to accomplish. How OFTEN we blame the giver for our inability to make good use of tools. It would be funny if it were not so sad. I hope that Susan will be able to let this slip away soon. You were not a meanie. Your "joy" is fabulous, and i love your blog header. Where the heck have i been that i didn't see that!
Blessings to you, Mel. Glad to see that your keel has evened.
Hi, thanks for sharing your quote and I gotta say I love Raspberry Road designs, she´s been so generous giving out her freebies. For what I read so far she´s been critized is that right? It´s so unffair, she is one my favorite designers and I´m sure a lot of people appreciatte her stuff.
Well, that´s it. Thanks again for sharing.
Melanie,
I am glad you put your 2 cents in and I was not offended at all. WENCHEDGRAFIX aka Kristine just endured some nasty filled comments/complaints this morning and posted a note that if they do not stop, she is pulling all freebies and blog.
There does seem to be a run on all the wonderful great blogs especially this month.
People really need to grow up and stop complaining for something that is FREE....good grief. And I also feel that if you don;t like what the person is writing on their blog or their language/etc...then don't read it. IT's called FREEDOM OF SPEECH and it's their blog to do with what they feel.
I am just heartbroken that some of my favorite blogs/designers are getting hammered. If I could create stuff like they do, I would. I depend on the freebies and purchased items for my digital scrapbooking.
Thank you for defending your fellow designers.
Love your stuff too!
Thank you! I was really disturbed by the treatment of Raspberry Road and the same that many other wonderful and generous designers receive. Whatever happened to common courtesy and appreciation of gifts? This is such a giving and friendly community and to see a few bad attitudes try to spoil it is really sad. With all the freebies, charity projects and tutorials and such that are shared there should be far more thanks and none of this childishness. It is sad that some so called adults still act so much like children.
I am new to this whole freebie thing and can't figure out why you all are so generous! I always say something... even if it's not much. I can't imagine someone complaining about a freebie... But you have to realize that's humanity for you and it's not always pretty unfortunately. Just lean on those who are greatful for your generosity and ignore those that don't.
First, thank you so much for all YOU do for the digiscrapping community. I don't understand why some people are so thoughtless and cruel. I am not a designer, but certainly appreciate all the time it must take to design something and then freely give it. The best I can say is there are miserable takers in the world and I do feel sorry for them. They obviously have no joy in life.
Second, I love this WA - it is SOO true and we should all be thankful for the true friends.
Melanie, thank you so much for your post...people are so rude and mean when they can hide "behind" their monitors and it really hurts my heart....complaining about things that people take their time to make for us for FREE or for a minimal fee (where else can you buy scrapbooking stuff that you can use for eternity, over and over again?! definitely not in paper scrapping!), or even being mean to people about HOW they blog?!...sigh...I guess the comfort comes in knowing that there are still decent people, REAL people in the digi-scrap community that are true to form and don't hide behind the anonymity...people who are grateful and wonderful and generous.....thanks so much for your post (and your word art is FABULOUS...I got here by way of digifree.blogspot)
TY and I totally agree with your assessment of the rude takers!
Thanks so much for the WA and it is so true!! I am also saddened by such rude and hurtful people. I think that you are totally correct when you said the Internet and being anonymous makes people think they can say whatever they want. Well let them start their own blogs and keep their meanness to themselves. I really do feel sorry for people like that, how terrible it must be to live in their world.
Preach it, girlfriend! ;-) You are right on the money.
When I read about this on Susan's blog I was so MAD I could barely type. I can't imagine anyone having the guts to criticize what is given freely from the heart. I adore Susan's work and while I collect her lovely freebies, I have, also, bought from her store where the kits are so cheap she is practically giving them away. I love her kits as I love your word art.
I hope knowing that there are those of us that always say thank you and show our appreciation makes up for the weirdos out there that don't.
I always think to myself that if someone quits because of weirdos then they have won in a way.
Thanks for the lovely word art. I hope and pray that you, Susan, and all the others that share their time and talent know in your hearts that most of us are very appreciative of all that you do.
I am new to the digital scrapbooking community, but for someone to criticize a give-a-way is unconscionable! Either here or at Raspberry Road! ( Which I absolutely love!) I believe that these few people speak from a place of hurt and jealousy and only wish they had the talent, drive, and intiative that the designers I've been seeing online have! For you designers- do what you love, for as long as you love it, and don't let anyone take your joy away from you! And, we will be forever grateful for the talents you share with us! Whether as freebies or in a store!
Boy do I agree. I don't design and I don't do actually scrapbooks, but I use the kits in tags and my digital scrapbooks. The "Gifts" are exactly that and you wouldn't accept a present and not say thank you, but then thinking on it...these hairbrained people probably don't say thank you then either. I went through all that and still do when I give my tags away...don't like the color, don't like the subject...don't take the give away.
Sooooo, that being said, let me Thank all of you, each and every designer, blogger, anyone who gives and gives with or without the benefit of pay....you deserve more than a slap in the face for your hard work and efforts.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Hugsssss
I totally agree. I always leave a lil thank you because I know those simple words mean so much. Without free gifts from people like yourself I would not be able to do the hobby I so enjoy.
Hugs to you my friend and thank you
Well, I see I am really 'late to the party' here, but I have to agree with what's already been said. I am unaware of the Raspberry Road situation. I DO know I have that one bookmarked! As I roam around in digi-blog-land, and am new at this, I have been so impressed by the community shown. No matter the country, or style of the individual designer, people seem to be really supportive of each other's efforts. I'm sad that some inconsiderate person has chosen not to appreciate the good will that is so apparent to everyone else visiting the various blogs. Not to mention that it's a FREE labor of love! Well, all I have to say about your post is "Well Said!"
i agree with what you say! not getting comments (or at least the fact that numerous people downloaded my stuff and not even half would say thanks) was the reason i stopped making scrapbook freebies. i havent done freebies in about 2 years or so now. anyway, though i will say this again later, i want to say ty for what i have taken thus far. i love your stuff and i have downloaded numerous things. (so far 92 things- but to say thank you 92 times may be tiring lol. so ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty .. and well u get the point.
ty so very much for these. i agree people dont take the time to say thank you. i went over a year and did not make or offer anything. i started doing stuff again and still... i get the same thing. except this time its worse.i have offered tons of freebies on my blog and yet i think i have maybe 4 people who said ty. it sucks!
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