I don't know why I decided to put this here now, but here I am doing it.

My name is Colin M. Ford. I'm 19 and I go to the Maryland Institute College of Art. I started going to this site since 2002, back when it was way, way different. I stopped going all together when °jark was kicked out. I took down all of my work because, as a professional artist, I deeply dissagreed with the Terms of Service ( [link] ). As much as I would like lots of people to see my work, and as much as I hate to admit it, being a successful artist in this world means protecting your individuality like it's The Golden Scroll of Immortality in a room full of ninjas trying to steal it for their master. I've tried, though various attempts, to buy my own website and set up a portfolio on my own terms--not deviantART's--but I am simply too busy.

So that is why I have about 10,000 pageviews, lots of watchers, comments, etc. and nothing to show for it.

My advice to anyone reading this is to enjoy dA--because I enjoyed it thoroughly--but be careful. It's not the same place it was when I joined. Look at the T.O.S. and decide if you like it before hitting OK; all those words actually say something other than blah blah blah. I urge you to be unique in your creations--God knows now there is enough anime to sink a ship on this site now--and instead of thinking what everyone else is doing, do what you want. Put yourself into your art, it'll be the most important thing you'll ever do. Don't be a pushover. State your opinion and keep talking until someone listens to you. If no one wants to listen, change it yourself. Most of all, love and respect one another. That is what this world needs more than all the art and politics in the world, combined.