Bravo very well spoken. I just got here and I'd hate to see so many of the people I've met vanish for that reason. This site is my zen garden, I come here when I am sad, stressed, angry, lonely (emotions I feel more frequently than I let on to many of my TEF friends). This place takes alot of that away and allows me to relax.

It's sad when people feel more alone here than they ever did in reality. Been like that lately.

Thank you, Lu.

I applaud you for saying this because I agree 100%.
I feel like the community has become... clique-ish. It's not the word I was looking for, but it's the only one I can think of right now.
I do shy away from things because I don't know a whole lot of people well and it's hard for me throw myself into something because I get sort of self-conscious about what I do and what I say. I just don't want to mess up. I don't feel the same level of comfort like I did 4 years ago when I joined. Even over the years I've felt left out because no one really commented on the things I posted which discouraged me so I'd just leave for a while and then come back. I feel like a lot of people are left out... but this inspires me to comment more because I know the feeling and I want to let people know that they're appreciated for what they're doing. ♥

I agree too, because I'm one of those, who you are 'criticizing' in this entry. It's hard for me to comment, and do not ask how hard it was to publish this comment. I just lack in communicating no matter where or when. And in textual communicating my worst problem is probably dah smileys. Also having problem that I scare that I annoy people with my words, because that's what I sometimes make to happen. But I can try to comment more if you like?

I say much yes as well.
Many people seem to be afraid of each other here and naturally they are clinging to the ones who they know will accept them, creating cliques. Everyone seems to wait for things to come at themselves without making effort to give it back.
Here's a lot of people with poor self-confidence, and I'm sure many feels unwelcome/unappreciated here at times. I hope this can be fixed with this. Tefc is full of wonderful people who all deserve to be noticed.

I was and am guilty of this myself, keeping to myself and the closest people I knew wouldn't kick me away. In truth I'm quite horrified of the people here. Or maybe just paranoid they don't like me and just wrinkle their nose if I reach out to them, and then are too nice to shoo me away.

But yes! We all need just a little more courage.
Thanks for posting this, Lu.

It truly is hard to approach unknown persons on this site. You never know if they already have something against you.

After this blog, I'll still promise to try harder.

Agreeing with this so much.
And yes, I admit I'm guilty of this myself too, never been too commenty person despite receiving so much in the past myself. Seen plenty of great, great art but suppose it's more easy to just move on and go see other things than step out of one's comfort - zone and take the step to let the person know you love their work.
Same with everything else.
It's the 'give and receive' kinda thing, I think. ;P

I see.

Narina: No, thank you. <3

personal experience: i'm one of those people who have been too scared to post on much of anything because i have a huge fear that i'm unwelcomed here, because, honestly, tefc can be full of cliques and i'm part of none of them. :\ it creates a very, very lovely atmosphere when people comment on nothing but their friends' bios, plots, etc. my fear's been a bit lessened over the couple of days, though.

anyway, thanks for saying this cicadia~
i'll try to get over my fear.

Hn, I thinking I just needed to hear someone say it. I need to work on being more of a Member instead of a Looker.
Thank you Cicadia.

Thank you for posting this, Lu.

That's a fair point you raise here, cicadia, and certainly something I've noticed myself even through the short time I've been back here (about, what... two? three? weeks by now). Not that this is a more recent, issue however.

Furthermore, I definitely accept the guilt I share in this 'cycle' you speak of.
I embrace my lack of activity on TEFc playing into the issue, as well as my behaviour - yes, it does promote 'clique-ing', so to say.
Perharps I can say, for my defense, I was and still am planning to break through these patterns of behaviour - various reasons. For one, my character isn't really a clique-person (that's not to say, however, she doesn't hold some very dear); for another, meeting new people, roleplaying with so many different people has always been some aim I've wanted to pursue but haven't yet for various reasons. My my own lazy self, my own troubles, or simply my time/energy (at the moment, that's reason number one).

That being said - I am very well aware I, myself, form part of the problem.

But.

There's this thing when I approach someone on TEFc ... as I am writing this, I feel I cannot put my finger on it. Maybe it differs at times.
Sometimes, I feel a lot of respect for a certain person - and I hesitate to post. In the end, I don't, because a) I haven't met them in-forest, and feel like I am just randomly showing up for some strange reason (awkward!) or b) I feel it's not just important (What'd be one more comment to someone who, let's say, heard a gajillion already?).

Now, let me elaborate that point (the b) one. (= ). I'm not saying any member on TEFc would not care about my comment. I do not see the problem with anyone but with myself.
I worry too much - I've been told that a lot.
It's not the worrying - well, maybe yes, but not too much this time. This time, the issue is with repetivity of some kind. (Perharps you notice, I am having difficulties to word this.) Like: Would you like to see your character's pages piling up dozens of 'tracking' comments, but nothing else? I am not judging the 'Track!' policy - I do it myself, at times! It's just - I feel there has to be some kind of reason. Why do I track this? And ahjeeeze, here we go.
'Your character is so beautiful!', uh, no, too common.. they heard that already!
'Your character is so interesting!', eh, neh, too random, that's probably not kind if you find something interesting, but lack the capacity to write -what-.
See what I mean? I'm struggling to do more, and then I end up failing and do nothing. Because I do lack the guts to just scoot in, believe people are genuinely pleased when I say: 'Hey, it just met you(or not)...' (I dare anyone to pull that song out. It kind of reminds me of the whole thing, however... lol. xD). I just feel, for me, it's a matter of respect... of some kind. Respect for the work that is behind each creation here, in any way.

Needless to say, the second big issue for me at times is the 'groups'. Certainly though, again, it's my problem! I'm kind of sheepish and always feel like 'invading', when I approach someone, but someone else not... Or I approach a fair amount of people, and I worry 'Oh god, hopefully they don't think I want to push myself in!'.

Yeah.
This was just a lot of ramble from a rather silent TEFc-member, but I followed this post's encouragement and voiced my thoughts anyway, even though I'm not super comfortable with it. xD

PS: GUYS, ONE DAY. One day I will have caught up with myself and shared some thoughts with each of you. Roleplay, ramble, or whatever. U:

I generally do my best here to treat others the way I'd like to be treated.

It does get lonely here from time to time.

But there are quite a few here who are amazing people as well. Many people do reach out here already, and they are not recognized, and I don't mean myself.

They need to be, too.

I am much more of a lurker than I was when I first joined. I have seen so much art that I have loved, but for some reason can't comment on how much I love it. I've also been going here less often. I just can't find the motivation and muse I had when I first discovered this site.

And yes, I do believe that we get into small groups of friends and we rarely come out to interact with others. I am very guilty of doing that.

I want us to be together. Right now I see us as a city. In a city, there are many people, but we do not all know each other. Instead, we just make several friends and then just talk to those people. I want us to be in a town. Where we all know each other, we are all friends, and we all help out each other and be together.

TEF used to be a small town. As more and more people "joined" TEF (but didn't become a member), TEF slowly evolved into a city. We have to be together now. No more small groups. I know it will be hard, as it is difficult to know everybody in a city. But we are a magical city. I know that together, we will all become one, as we used to be.

I'll just agree with what Kaoori said.

I agree with this. It's really nice to see someone trying to take action instead of just sitting around whining about it.

Look at you ;_; Makin waves.

I'msoproud.

I commented up top but after reading the other posts I wanted to comment again. Its a bit personal but I feel you all should hear this.

This place has helped me more than anyone of you will ever know. Before this I was honestly considering quitting art. Nothing was coming out right, I was hating everything I made. Then I came here. Almost instantly many of you who are my friends now greeted me so warmly. I wanted to draw and well you have all seen where that has led. Before this I was nervous about greeting others, I didn't want to get them mad but now I greet as many as I can!(within my characters parameters) Also I love love love looking at people's art, sometimes I comment sometimes I don't (that depends on how awake I am atm XD)

There is only one person on here I am nervous to talk to (IC not OOC, OOC is easy with anyone for me) They are like TEF royalty with how popular they are and I hope to have the same sort of admiration ^_^ that being said I admire so many of you here. Those of you who say you are bad artists, you are not. Something I have learned from coming here is that we grow. As we are our own worst critic we tend to say such horrible things about ourselves. The first step to getting past that is learn to accept and embrace that you are still learning and then you will love what you make. I have finally made that step with my people art though I am still taking that slowly as I had a really bad problem there.

Also I had emotional problems.As I have been separated from my friends due to my mothers treatment I feel left out. None of my friends text me to ask how my mother is doing. (only one online friends asks how I and she is doing). Also, my friend had made a new friend and I have no problem with it but she hangs out with her every day..alot. I mean I dont mind but it just seems excessive. Again, I don't mind but she seems to want to do more with her, even online than with me, her older friend. We rp on gaia and she has been rping with her more than mine....it feels horrible like Im being replaced (even though I am not) I am better now. Took a lot of soul searching to get past that pain. What helped me alot?

TEF

you guys have done so much for me. It is part of the reason I have such a drive to draw for you all and such a drive to please. I just don't feel I deserve such kindness from you all.

From the bottom of my heart.

Thank you TEF and I hope and pray this site stays active and free for years to come

A bump.

I've often felt left out on this website. I try commenting on different threads in different sub-groups, but mine is often overlooked. I feel like this site has its cliques. People's characters already have plots and friends, so they don't want to bother with new ones. Thats why I feel like I've been having a hard time staying active. Even when I post art. My skill isn't the best out there, and I feel like it affects the amount of comments I get. Or since its a character no one really knows, they don't want to bother saying anything. I find it rude, and its a huge turn off from the site. But I love the forest. So I'm trying to stay. I've made a new character. I'm trying to get her out there. I even conformed and got her a pretty CSS for her bio, because I notice those pages get more responses, too.

For anyone that would care to meet her in forest or RP on her blog.. The link is in my signature. On her page I have included my contact info. She's still under construction, but that doesn't mean she doesn't need friends! Feel free to shoot me a message. I never turn down a new friend. We don't even have to talk about the forest, if you don't want! I'm always looking for pen-pals, email buddies, MSN chatters, WHATEVER! I'm just tired of being on the outside.

I think something just as discouraging is not receiving a thank you for taking the time to comment on said person's art.
People take them for granted.

Entire thread page dedicated for people's information who want to meet new people and are willing to be friends with shy people? /shot -runs away- Sorry, spontaneous bad idea is bad ><

Z; YES do it right now

PAHAHA no man I've spammed the community enough lately |: u do it