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Tripping the Light Fantastic Discussion:
Artificially Inflated Popularity
Watch this Discussion (What's This)
November 06, 2009 at 9:29:04 AM #1
Discussions: 116
Joined: 8/28/2009
Location: Salt Lake City

Dear Fellow Members,

I've struggled with an issue of what I perceive as dishonesty for a couple of days now, and I commiserated with a couple of other members.  I realize dishonesty is going to happen in our work-a-day worlds, and for the most part it is something I overlook.  But when I see it is something I can address proactively, I have to step forward.

When I visit ImageKind each day, among the many things I do -- check my fan's new images and leave comments, thank people who've left comments on my work, visit the groups, look at new art -- I check the front page under "Popular Art".  There are often artists who pop up on these pages whose work I've missed and that I would perhaps like to follow.  I was particularly startled the other day to see the following image rise to the top so quickly.



I visited the image and examined the stats to discover that aside from one member, the others had no art portfolios, image avatars or profile descriptions, and further that their "favorites" collections contained nothing but this artist's images.  Further, they had no fans or people that they were following as a fan.  I'm not going to set forward any of my own assumptions and allow the readers of this discussion to come to their own conclusions.

I was prompted to do further research, and discovered that this image bore the same suspicious scenario.



Further research on this artist's images showed the same troubling pattern in numerous cases.  In these cases (both images) the individual's work would not be on the popular art pages, and individual's works that dangle off into page two would have the visibility they deserve.

I pondered long and hard on this.  I know that some artists and photographers have promoters and that promoters will do whatever it is they do to see to it that their work has high visibility, but this particular instance didn't seem to be a professional tactic of doing that type of thing.  I can't begin to tell you the "well maybe's" that ran through my mind, trying to find a just and fair reason this type of thing would occur.  And I found myself arriving at the conclusion that this is over the line, into a very dark gray area of artificially inflated popularity.

As someone who spends a long time on this site reviewing the images of artists whose work I am following, looking at their images closely and giving well-thought-out comments, placing their images in my favorites because I am interested in seeing them succeed, I am sure you can understand why this would prompt me to ask you to take a look at the situation and form your own conclusions.

I will tell you that I dropped a message in this artist's box to let them know of my suspicions, that I was deeply disappointed, and had removed myself from their fan list and would no longer leave comments on their work.  I am so saddened because this individual's photography in a few cases has been positively outstanding.

I had to get this off my chest.  I welcome your considered and thoughtful input on this.  I am NOT asking anyone to take any of the actions I took.  Please don't misunderstand.  I do, however, want you to be aware and consider your own support of this type of activity by supporting the artist's work.  In some ways I suppose I would consider it like buying coffee from a merchant that participates in the exploitation of growers and workers, though certainly not that serious.

Thank you for your attention.
Edited by DebiPeralta About 2 weeks ago.
November 07, 2009 at 3:53:03 AM #2
Discussions: 21
Joined: 5/4/2009
Location: Sometimes!
Posted in reply to DebiPeralta's post

Debi

I hate corruption of any kind!!! I wrote wingsdomain an email and waiting for a response. Seems to me, he has some explaining to do!

My next step is to see what he has to say. If there is no clear explanation or response I will ask my fellow friends and artists to send imagekind a strong message that we are paying customers and under no circumstance will this be tolerated!!!

You Go Girl!

Nice Work...

  Rob



 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
November 07, 2009 at 6:32:27 AM #3
Discussions: 116
Joined: 8/28/2009
Location: Salt Lake City
Posted in reply to sunsetjones's post
Thanks, Robert.  ImageKind is already aware and looking into it.  I posted this discussion on the general forums, and Nate from IK made an appearance to state this.

I just hope they actually DO something about the issue.  It isn't fair.