I highly doubt that most experienced artists are worried about new artists stealing their clientele. When people say don’t sell yet… keep practicing… they are trying to be helpful, and keep standards high. I have seen new artists that paint beautifully right out of the gate, and everyone here is happy for them.
It’s just advice… you are free not to take it.
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People here are not mean. They are honest. I think that’s to much for some people. However, I Appreciate it. Please never sugar coat anything for me, now THAT would be rude. Just like my liquor, I’ll take it straight. 
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And… why keep posting just to say everyone is mean? If everyone is so horrible, why would you continue to log in to the forum? Must not be that bad or that would be really silly. IMO 
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I logged in earlier today- just so you know —- to leave a review of the BB sleeping Martin Kit … because I got a standard email from BB requesting one. I left the review and I could see that there were notifications and messages and such. So I read the one about the nursery name change — and I changed the name and replied.
Then others POSTED to me directly, and I replied. And hell yeah- ya’ll are a clique and ya’ll are mean girl bullies — it even shows in how smarmy you answered the last two posts.
Now I’ll make you real happy and not let the door hit me on the Ass going out cause I want no part of your stuck up high school drama. There is nothing wrong with criticism or with truth. But there is something wrong with many of y’alls attitudes.
So now prove me right and keep posting and bad mounting me even after I’ve gone. I’m sure you won’t be able to help yourselves. I tried to start over and start fresh but here y’all go again.
So … see ya …
Many of us HAVE been here forever so naturally, we gravitate towards each other more than others. But 99.99 percent of us also welcome new people eagerly.
With that being said and repeating what I said before on this post, we are a caring, supportive and helpful group. Some of us are more firm in our responses, especially when it comes to stolen sculpts. We will always fiercely protect sculptors and we won’t apologize for that.
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@GenC I’ll be sad to see you go as for a new artist this forum a great place to learn and grow. And as you spend time here and learn more about people and personalities, you’ll see that no-one is mean here.
I didn’t have a chance to comment on this post, but I want to explain myself to the people who might saw me as ‘mean’ in the past. I am Russian/Ukrainian. I grow up in not so refine environment. I am honest in my opinions and not afraid to be straightforward and say what I think, I am not afraid to be ‘politically incorrect’. English is not my first language, but I am trying as hard as I can. My writing might not be taken in a way how I intended also as you can’t put intonation into it.
I love people of this forum - artist and collectors! There is so many interesting personalities here and so many people became my forum friends. I am sure that your opinion of this forum will change if you stay longer. Hugs.
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Hi! As I mentioned in one of my posts, I had thought the same thing you did…cliques and rude responses and such.
But you’ll also find a post after all that where I apologized.
I think you and I are similar in that we did not connect the dots between what we were presenting or saying to how it would be taken by this particular community (mostly reborn artists and sellers if I’m not mistaken).
It’s also difficult to gauge mood and specific meaning in a forum post, no matter where it is.
I do agree with you that there are cliques-but doesn’t that happen everywhere when there’s a group of people that have lots in common? I also agree that perhaps some forum members (you know who you are 
) could do with perhaps softening their way of expressing themselves when they don’t agree with something.
But don’t you see? People here are still trying to get you to stay. Maybe you could spend some time away from the forum and come back when you feel less agitated.
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Please read my response towards the end of this thread, I think it might help you as well. 
I tried to be nice. BUT…
Take care! I wouldn’t want you to be anywhere that you feel is so horrible.
Btw@smarmy That made me laugh! It’s funny:joy: A friend of mine calls Huxley smarmy
great word!
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I understand this as well. When I first started the forum, I felt the same way, the artists give honest feedback. It isn’t mean. It is to help others grow. I am still growing even though I don’t sell any reborn babies. I want my work to be qualify art. I am still working on improving my skills. I want to say this as respectfully as I can but I admit what I am trying to get across sometimes doesn’t come out right. The sculptors work very hard to create the babies. Music and movies are copy written for a reason.
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I meant to post in my reply that I agree with @Ladybuggirl. I do apologize if I don’t sound respectful to @GenC. I respect everyone. Please know that I have been experiencing cognitive issues lately and it affects what I am trying to say.
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It’s ok. I have issues too. 
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I am sorry for my lack of knowledge of English abbreviations, but I am very curious what is ‘OG’ means.
And I learned new word today, thank to this post
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OG stands for “original group” or “original gangster”.
An example would be:
“@YelenaRey is the OG of this forum.”
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Thank you! I wish I would. 
I am relatively new also 
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And see? Everyone loves you! What is your secret??? You must be magic!!!
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Ok…experienced artist, but not OG here. This may be unpopular opinion but I’m going to put it out there. Someone bought a stolen sculpt and gifted it to you. If you feel safe using it for practice, do so. Take it apart and experiment with the pieces. Treat it like you would a rough draft, something to get your ideas down and learn a new technique but not something that you show anyone else.
Unfortunately, these knockoffs exist. The ultimate good would be if no one bought them in the first place, but you had no control over that, I hope. The next best thing would be for them to disappear from public view - no acknowledgement and no notoriety. Even bad press is good press for someone who won’t get it otherwise. That I believe you can control and will do so because I cannot imagine anyone with any enthusiasm for our art to intentionally want to hurt the industry or our sculptors 
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Lmao.
“Word to your mother”
I’m dying. Lol
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A little Vanilla Ice is ALWAYS nice!
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