reading the tags and replies on here as well as this post by stormentsims is genuinely devastating. i came across this post on instagram and it took me a moment to digest and then it sorta clicked that this is how i feel about simblr
it would be disingenuous for me to expect people to reblog everything constantly, people are allowed to have preferences of course (ex, i have people who enjoy my occult stuff more and then others who prefer the older style of editing) however, i do think the culture of simblr feels a bit isolating at times rather than a community. for example, i do think it's bizarre some people will follow you and then interact with nothing you post and it's intentional. i've seen people straight up say they like the person they just don't vibe with what they post. when creating community, especially one that is creative, it's a incredibly unhealthy behavior that encourages a wedge. there are also a large majority of people who do state their dislike for longer posts in the storytelling community yet at the same time, some stories cannot be contained to a minimum of five to ten photos or less. a lot of these observations in the tags are not coincidences. i think if we ever want to see a vibrant and thriving community, it means allowing people to make the creative decisions they'd like. for storytellers, for editors, for those with minimal editing. and i do truly believe it means engaging with people earnestly. we should encourage connection rather than focusing on divide. i would like to reiterate, this isn't about forced positivity, but when you swing heavily the other way, you do start to see imbalances such as massive ratio differences and less interactions.
a final piece of reflection because at times i feel like i cannot join these conversations. i could tell you that you should post regardless of feeling discouraged but that would also be untruthful to a feeling that so often appears for many of us. however, i think i could provide some better insight. it is so easy to forget why you post and even easier to equate your value to your notes. it takes a lot of a conviction to continue but what truth i've come to realize is, the validation will never be enough but rather the lines it opens up to connecting with really amazing people. my desire to create is unwavering, it's true value is mine alone and that will never change, but man, the friends i've made from someone reblogging their post or mine, the collabs it's opened me up to as well as the profound art i've gotten to digest before reblogging (and then seeing blow up!) is the best parts of this community. they are the most memorable for me. there is value in a reblog, not in the sense of it becoming your sole worth, but rather a way to connect.
a healthy community needs it's villagers of all color, shapes, sizes and variety. π
theartofmadeline
germansingergirl
kaledo-art
dailybridgerton
gummygunk
blakekathryn
snowghoul
origamiaround
dededos
