Some of you might have noticed that I've yet to say anything with regards to °jark's unexpected departure from staff. This is, of course, intentional; I've wanted to maintain a low profile.

I do have something to say now, and I do so because it needs to be said and not because there seems to be a bandwagon for saying something about the situation.

Here's what it boils down to: if you want to ask questions of the administration, I wholeheartedly encourage that. I was always open to dialogue with folks while I was on staff and, while I might not always have been able to provide an answer for one reason or another, I think that's a good way to keep the link between community and company alive.

I say ask away! You may even get some answers. You might not. I'm no longer in a position to provide much insight into something like this for anyone, but it's always worth trying.

However, there's something very important that people need to internalize: every staff member, whether they're paid or or volunteer, has that staff symbol for one common reason. They want to help do something good. They want to contribute to something great. You can believe whatever you want about how certain individuals want to try to make DA into some kind of cash cow, but take my word for it - there's no one getting fat and wealthy off deviantART. In order for me to work for deviantART while I did, I had to sacrifice the health insurance and benefits that I had at my probably more stable previous job. There are stories all over the DA journalscope of the sacrifices that people have made to work on DA, and that's no bullshit.

Secondly, remember that the company does not "control" the community. Yes, everyone here is free to pack up and leave. But you're not going to. If you could simply pack your things and leave something like deviantART, then I have to contest that you never loved it in the first place. Yes, °jark is a co-founder and his place in the community is indomitable, but the deviantART community is more than one man. As individuals, we are transient entities existing here within the spirit of the DA community - and that spitit cannot be changed by the company no matter how hard anyone might try. The reaction to this entire incident is proof that "the man" can't "keep you down."

So I think it's wonderful that you are concerned. I think it's great you're getting involved. And though my own outlook might be more pessimistic than yours thanks to my being jaded, I sincerely hope your attempts at a dialogue with the company ultimately prove fruitful. If you feel what has happened is unjust, then by all means, use the voice that you have been gifted with.

Remember that the goals of the people who are chosing to remain inside the company are not so different from yours. If you are directing your energies against them by attacking them and giving them grief because they haven't given up on trying to do good works, then your energies are misdirected and it is a monsterous discredit to yourself to do such a thing. If ever your actions waver from seeking a productive and fruitful dialogue, then you are being mislead. If you feel a cause of action in what has happened here, you do not do it justice by name calling, taking sides, and trying to look at the picture in black and white. As with all things, I'm sure the truth is somewhere in the shades of grey, so don't be trying to evaluate anything in monochrome.

Lastly remember that regardless of whether someone like °jark has a position in the company, he has a position within the community. No one can change that except °jark himself. So many people are focused on the individuals involved in this - deviantART is not a story of individuals. It is a continuing creative spirit that is comprised by the work of many, many individuals along the way. If this ever becomes about titles or credit, then it is a petty thing that is unworthy of the spirit of DA.

deviantART is not a place for politics. It is a foundry where the dreams of the future are forged. And I, for one, am eager for the blazing egos to come to rest so that these plains might be fruitful for the arts once more.