Llamas on DeviantArt?

[irene_addler]

So this might be a silly question, but I recently started posting my work on DeviantArt had have been receiving Llama badges. I get that they're things people give you, but...why do people give them? What purpose do they serve? I see that they change in appearance and name as you accumulate them...

[BobbyjoeX]

nothing, its just a collecting gimmick

[Humbug]

I read they were originally an April Fools joke that for some reason most of the artists ended up loving. So no, they don't really serve any purpose. I've accumulated enough llamas that I have a super llama now? You could treat it like a sort of digital pet. XD

[VibrantFox]

as others have mentioned llamas don't serve much of a purpose other than cosmetic.

I think at one point llamas could be converted into point but i have no idea if that's still the same. I know that points have a cash conversion value but yeah llamas are worth nada

[Luminosophy]

Some people use them as a "bot" mechanism to drive traffic to their page, even as far as actually automating the process to impossible standards. Their stats will show they've given a llama badge every minute 24/7 for months. The user received the badge, checks out the giver's page and potentially watches them. Normally people are just giving them as a "hello, I liked your work", or "thank you for x" gesture.

[irene_addler]

hahaha, ok! Thanks guys! I appreciate the info! I was just like...what are these things?!