The posts have dropped off over the past year. Yes, not the drawing, just the posting. But there is a reason...

One thing I've noticed in my time here on dA: Folks are having a harder time understanding the concept of reciprocity. Maybe this goes hand in hand with the rampant lack of repaying debts in this country as of late, but it's conspicuous - at least in my own experience - that more and more folks of the past few generations are pretty damned autistic in this respect. It's the reverse of the Christmas Ethic: It's better to receive than to give. Or rather: They receive with no expectation to give.

It could be something simple asked for, like art advice or whatever, but I've seen it time and again here - taking, with no real thought about what can be reciprocated. Which one could chalk up to the anonymity and distance the internet offers - but then, why is it that whenever the same happens with folks outside of the Post-Modern American Culture, those folks tend to take it upon themselves to be thoughtful and repay the compliment or favor, usually within days, and more often than not in spades?  

Folks from other countries, or those parts of America which are so far removed from the general culture that they're practically foreign countries (the Aloha State comes to mind), I've always noticed that anytime they've received, they've been quick to return in kind. And more often than not, they're usually the ones to initiate the kindness - and I've had to fight that damned innate selfish linkhorn aspect of my own in order to repay the favor, sometimes at several months remove....

And we're drifting from the main point, which seems to be that deviantart has become a den for unregenerate debtors. Right, in any case... I've had nothing but great experiences on the art blog I keep, mostly with fellow artists - several gift or exchange packages to show for it at the least...

And it seems, an increasing amount of high school etiquette and conveniently forgetful folks here. Some bright and professional points to be sure, and to those folks I give much continued thanks and respect - but a few scattered candles in the dark still don't make for a well lit room (or community) to draw in.

And why indeed. No real mystery to it: On the larger scale of human affairs, other cultures have had their time around the block and have seen success and failure, and the more sober ones that understood that a debt repaid is not a debt outstanding have survived. Through wars or famine, they grasped the key reality that fidelity to family and neighbors tend to make for strength and sustainability in the long run.

Before we decided to spend our way out of debt via credit cards and stimulus, our culture had something similar as the predominant prime mover: The Pioneer Ethic (or more accurately the Quaker Ethic*, since they tend to shun the idea of encroaching on others) - the sort of frugality that made for canned goods and jars in the cellar, just in case the neighbors came knocking. One still finds echoes of this in families or communities that retain a strong or at least nominal tie to a historic Christian identity. Although the linkhorn tendencies creep up from time to time, it's suppressed successfully enough for communal BBQ's and Salvation Army's to run smoothly.

At any rate, any culture, community, or neighbor which lacks a post-modern pedigree tends to understand that simple concept of reciprocity. Probably because they understand the concept of responsibility, especially to others.


*Correction: The Amish Ethic. Quakers tended to encroach upon the rest of world via their Oats.