+who he has shown himself to be. And that's how it goes for many artists. I don't feel that I'm missing out because there is so much on the planet to amuse myself with, a slight redirection is inconsequential. That's also why I don't think "wokism" is causing any substantial harm. Many artists whose fortunes have turned still have past fortunes to rest on—often providing residual income in perpetuity. No one is entitled celebrity or entitled to be listened to.

Related discursion—A few days+
2/

It isn't that sharing one's work is wrong. It isn't that sharing sales links or directly asking for money is wrong. What is disapproved of here, I believe:
-expecting or demanding a high return on a single post or each & every post
-posting only links off fedi without engaging here, expecting this to be a funnel to your higher priority
-manipulating the protocol to maximize engagement your way—again while providing little value on the #fediverse directly.

Those actions reflect attitudes+
4/

+learned off fedi that go against the ethos of this platform. The fediverse was created to be an alternative to the slop, not another avenue for its delivery.

"People have to make a living!" is a common rejoinder. Here's where I think fedi radicalism really bumps up against current reality. I believe that the fediverse is a dream of a better world that could be. A world in which no one ever needs to manipulate buyers to earn a living. A world that takes care of everyone. It's a fantasy but+
5/

+the income. That's the big point I think. For those of us who are artists and entrepreneurs—I suspect a large number of folk here—we are choosing happiness over potential income. We have seen that this place doesn't produce significant sales figures yet we enjoy the psychological benefits of spending time on a site that's shields itself from hyper capitalism.

It's easy for me to be here because I've never earned a living on my art. I saw the requirements to do so* as not worth it.

*next
8/

I saw 2 paths to make a living in art:
-Courting art authorities aka kissing rich ass
-Change my art into a mass reproducible product

I reject those paths as antithetical to my choice to be an artist. I see that behavior as harmful to my psyche. MANY creators see this dilemma differently. Many choose different paths that justify capitalist consumption. These choices may put them at odds with the fedi ethos, as I see it. Lots more to say on this another time.

Patrons are an alternative+
9/

+to the always-be-selling mindset. I have attracted a few patrons since joining the fediverse. I find it so gratifying when a person who knows me only online chooses to support me financially. I also receive donations from several offline friends. This support offers sustained funding & I aspire to tailor my work more in that direction.

End of discursion, back to woke talk!
Both topics center values over commerce. That's how I seek to live for peace of mind. I started with intention to+
10/

+describe the philosophical weaknesses of the bigoted artists whom I boycott but that's a huge issue to get into. I'll save it for another day on an essay forum. In brief: we are criticized when we exclude the excluders. I believe that there's a large portion of humanity who prefers inclusivity. It may even be a majority of humans. I call this inclusivity humanism, a respect for all people. I see it as the only path to lasting peace. Demographic hierarchies guarantee eternal conflicts.

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