Opinion on "thanks for subscribing" posts

[hushicho]

I think maybe some certain people in this thread might need to calm their respective tatas, just sayin'.

That said, I quite like the thank-you posts, though they're by no means required for anyone. We're here to do comics, and that's great! So people subscribe because they like what we do. I've never been at another site where this was something anyone really did. It's pretty much unique to Tapastic, and there's nothing wrong with not doing it, especially if you have a huge inrush or the site (as it tends to do) freaks out and won't let you post.

I enjoy doing it, though, and it's something nice I can do, that sometimes means a lot to people, when I have the time and I'm not working on my comics or other work. As long as it doesn't take you away from the reason you're here, I don't think it has to be this histrionic, polarizing issue. It's a nice gesture, and like most nice gestures, it's not necessary and is typically done because someone is being kind and friendly.

I see it as getting an exclusive collectible for showing your support! And it does tend to bring eyes to what you do that an icon for your series can't do. So it also may benefit creators, which is always a pleasant bonus.

[jennula]

It's a cute gesture, and I love getting those on my wall <3 Sometimes I get them quite a while after I subscribed, but if the creators get a ton of new subs I totally understand it'll take a while to post to everyone (that happens to me too, I don't have THAT many subs, but work and life usually causes trouble for me instead haha).

I've made one for my comic too. It's pretty simple, but I rather post that one and say I appreciate the sub than not post at all :3

[AlkseeyaKC]

I was doing them, but they were taking up a lot of time. Also stopped doing them because a few years back someone made this same post and everyone was complain about the "wall Spam" So I felt, why bother if people don't like it. Seems like that's turned around now. lol

I would like to do them again, but I am in a spot for time.

[Wishjacked]

I really like them, both receiving them and sending them!! It is a good place to say hello to the creator— I've had a lot of readers respond to the thank-yous I've sent by asking questions or striking up conversations, which I really enjoy. I love knowing my readers. I also feel more comfortable when creators I subscribe to leave thank-yous… it's a comfortable place for me to say "thank YOU for sharing your comic with me, it's really funny!!" or whatever, which is something I tend to be a little more anxious and shy about on the actual comic pages.

Also, just wanna say that I've found loads of the comics in my reading list by clicking on interesting-looking thank-yous that I saw on other people's walls.

[popsiclestick]

i don't, as subs come and go like the wind - i find that tapastic, for all its reader interraction, still feels like a fairly impersonal place and people will subscribe on a whim if they're interested, and unsub a day later if they find the said comic isn't for them, which is ok! it's the way things go. Additionally, I don't want to force a conversation with people - this doesn't apply to anyone else, just my own awkward social habits - and for me, it'd feel a little like that if i was posting on their wall. (however, i don't mind when someone posts on mine! guess it's as haven't initiated it)
also, it's also particularly hard when you get featured, or trend, and get a sudden windfall. no way would I have been able to keep up when I was in the spotlight, for example.

tldr; i don't mind other people's thank you images! some of them are really sweet. i just tend to personally avoid using them due to time constraints, and the transient nature of subscriptions, which means people could feel an obligation to read my comic, even if they find it isn't for them.

[revisionstudios]

Listen, I just want to say that I'm sorry for getting so riled up about it. I was angry at the implication and was taking it personally--I know that. Maybe it is confirmation bias, but I think that can honestly go for both of us here. And really, it wouldn't surprise me that doing a thank you image has more benefits than not on a whole. If I had more time I actually would do it myself. I like the idea and considered it for a long time before deciding not to. Who knows, maybe I'll change my mind sometime in the future.

I cared about your opinion because it struck me as deeply unfair, and as an insult to people like me. I'm not sure where your comic is at length or quality wise, but my webcomic is like a second (unpaid) full time job for me that I've been doing for five years. The scale of my project is huge, and it goes beyond just posting a page a week--I print it, sell at conventions, keep up on social media and marketing, manage my team, write the story, edit the story--the roles are endless.

For you it may take an hour to make a thank you pic, but for me it would take at least 4. And it may take only a minute to copy and paste a subscriber name and post it on their wall. But unless I keep up with it literally every day, which is really hard with my work schedule, I would get drastically behind and end up wasting more time on it than I gain.

This is definitely not a situation of me viewing my subscribers as anything less than me (definitely not "plebes"!), and that's what I'm trying to get you to understand. That's really all the core of the issue is for me: you're assuming that I, and people like me, look down on readers or care less, when it's simply not true.

You don't have to respond of course, but I hope you still took some time to read it. I'm sorry again for getting my panties in a twist over it.

[efdvorsky]

I love receiving them and for sending them, I have to be in a specific mood. No one's fault but my own |"D mainly because I take my time to look at the person's comic and although the comment message on top of the animation is repetitive (mainly a thank you, hope they like the story, and that they have a good day), I make sure it suits the person's apparent tastes and keep the greeting genuine and different.

[SpavVy]

I think their fun! Though I don't participate in posting them on walls anymore @_@ it got a little hard for me to keep up plus I'm trying to stay focused working on pages.

[zetina]

I feel nothing when i receive them. I perceive them as ads and use them as such. An interesting or appealing "thank you" pic on someone's wall might entice me to check out the comic (usually seen while I'm in the process of leaving such pics myself). So I try to make mine reflect the tone of my comic and its characters.

My brain needed to twist things this way, otherwise I felt weird thanking ppl for subbing for some reason... like "oh, please, they're not THAT interested in your comic anyway"??? I'm projecting my own lack of care for receiving them unto others, I guess.

[keii4ii]

Time that I could be using spending on my comic that I'm kind of behind on right now.

This is my No. 1 reason why I don't post thank you images. I feel the best way to thank my readers is to produce more comic for them to read. As a reader myself, I feel nothing when I receive them on my own wall. Simply doing unto others here.

[punkarsenic]

i like them! theyre a cute bit of extra art, and an opportunity for me to throw in any compliments i didnt comment, or just say again that i love the comic

[DMBrigman]

I initially did not set up a Thank you image, because as a reader I didn't really care if I got one or not. But after seeing that most creators do it, I decided to try it out. After receiving comments back it is really something that other people seem to enjoy. Now, I periodically go through and send a thank you and short comment to new subscribers.

[Tyler_P_Kinney]

I didn't set one up, mainly because I felt they become routine or expected, so they stop feeling special after a while (I mean, it's cute but it could be just as effective or more if they write out a unique and personal thank you message). I myself just post pictures of cute pugs as a light-hearted and fun thank you. So far the response has been positive.

[serverpanda]

I haven't even had the time to create a thank you picture yet. My health is rocky at best and I do well most weeks to get my page done. I've slowly been coming ahead lately, so maybe at some point soon I'll be able to take part. Maybe. I don't want to get hopes up if my health takes a nose dive and I end up not being able to get the image done and get it posted to everyone's profiles.

Edit: Also, I'm perfectly ok with not getting one. They're cute, though the comic itself is the grand prize, really. I'm just grateful that creators are providing such beautiful and awesome content for free!

[adcrook01]

I don't have a "thanks for subscribing" image yet, and after reading this post, I really think I should make one😅

[Shanny8]

I think it's really cool when I get a "Thanks" art note for subscribing to someone's comic, but necessary? No...I understand that these creators can be busy and dont have time to respond back. For me, as long as they are utilizing some of that busy time working on their comic which I like, the impact of getting a "Thanks for subscribing" notice isnt that important. I have a creator whose comic I read now- dude didnt send me a "Thanks" note, but he comments and responds when I share my interest in his comic.

I made one myself to send to those who subscribe to my comic because I'm really appreciative of my subscribers. They didnt have to choose to follow my comic- but they did, and I'm grateful that they like my comic enough to follow it.

[Rai]

I like them, but don't really think much of them beyond the initial five seconds of noticing it. I think I actually prefer the, 'Thanks for 1k subs!' posts because then we get to see a cute doodle from the artist instead of something copy and pasted dozens of times.

[lunaartemisasama]

It's cool, but I really don't mind.

[Hel]

I feel pretty meh about them. I don't dislike them, but they don't really do anything for me.

[ikushina]

I don't care about them. There was a time where my wall got kinda spammed with all those 'thank u' drawings and i found it a bit annoying :U I also feel slighly guilty when I unsubscribe to a comic where I've earlier have gotten a 'thank u' drawing from