...I do not need a premium membership.

Don't you DARE advertise to my watchers that I do. I'm not going to be begging them for gifts. And if I give a prem-oh to somebody else, I do not require (or desire) my name being called the beneficiary of that gift. I do not want my name shown to leeches seeking free stuff, and exploiting this idea to beg.

May the idiot at dA who suggested, oversaw, and executed this stupid idea please reply to this journal entry, not shy away like a coward, and explain in detail the chain of brain-lapses that resulted in this new feature. And if this is the same person who approved making a vulgar, antisemitic, homicidal bigot the gallery director of the film/animation category, so he could give DD's to ostentatiously racist videos because they support his batshit point of view, I demand an apology. For your existence. And not just any apology.

It must be a floral arrangement, 80 yards in height, carnations and roses, which reads "I apologize for my bewildering ineptitude, and recognize the only acceptable penance is ritualistic suicide." And it must be readable from space, so I can bookmark it on Google Earth, so when the professional art community recognizes dA as a valid, reputable source of viewing beautiful artwork instead of a momentous punchline on EncyclopediaDramatica, I can kick open that satellite photograph and say "That right there, that's what did it."

But for now?

Stop making me look like a beggar. And on top of that, when my premium membership runs out, stop trying to guilt trip me. Stop sending me the picture of Fella crying, begging for money. Stop sending that poll, that stupid, obnoxious poll, asking tearfully why I didn't renew my subscription, and each option a heart-wrenching admission that I am the embodiment of satanic evil. I gift a lot of subscriptions to people, and I feel absolutely horrible...HORRIBLE. I feel HORRIBLE when I get the crying Fella picture, because I know that every person I gift a subscription to will also get that. And it was my doing that resulted in them getting this constant spam. The reminder that the subscription's about to expire. The bawl festival when it does run out. And the ridiculous spam poll asking "what the dilly-oh, dude?"

How about this?

Some of us don't want subscriptions. Many of us don't want to ask others for a subscription. And to insinuate such on my main page, and not give me the option to remove it?

Fuck. You.

I never say that. Check every journal, every comment, and never do I say such a thing. Because I reserve it, like the nuclear option. I reserve it for when I really, truly mean it. Give me the option to remove this. In fact, forget the option, don't waste your time giving a checkbox for it; JUST REMOVE IT. And on top of that, remove the notices, the sob stories, and the guilt-ridden questionnaire regarding expiring subscriptions. Act like a damn community for once, and stop begging us for money. I know you're a business, and I know you've got to make a living somehow, but it is my opinion and experience that the best way to make money is not begging, but to provide a good service. How about you take that effort panhandling, and instead redirect all that energy into making features that actually make us want to spend money?

Why not? Has the idea well run dry at deviantArt incorporated? Given up on making a good site better, and just go the direct route like a stray dog?

Sure, you think I'm wrong. You think I'm exaggerating, going over the line, gone crazy, fine. Maybe I am. Most likely I am. But it seems a lot of other people have lost their mind, too, which can only be attributed to the "Needs a premium subscription" label doing a damn fine job at justifying our lunacy.