...And being a person in general, I guess. Lately I've been seeing a lot of people being complete... Well. Asses I guess is the word. It seems that not only do they not feel bad about their actions in their art and the way they present it (along with how they act about it), but I'm too often seeing people go, "What's the big deal?"

Have people really forgotten their values? Things that you can use to live a good moral life? I don't want to preach, especially not having a specific religion (as a lot of people in the Scouting organisation say you should)... But it seems like trying to be a 'good person' is too often overlooked, or misconstrued to mean that you should be a total doormat and let people just... Whatever.

In the art world, more specifically DA, your attitude towards the community and towards your artwork can significantly impact on the way people see you as both an artist and a person - if people don't like you, there's a chance they won't like your artwork either out of simple association.

PEOPLE AREN'T PERFECT. I know this (dude, I've broken these laws more than a few times), but just because you recognise that no one is perfect, does not mean that you should not hold them accountable for their actions. Expect of others what you expect of yourself - no more, no less. More importantly, you should expect yourself to occasionally, 'fall short of perfection' and be held accountable for that too. I certainly do, however much I might dislike it!

I propose, even if you're not a Scout, to consider the Scout laws. For those of you unfamiliar with them (most of you?), they were set out by Sir Robert Baden Powell (founder of the Scouting organisation), and are based on several things including: writings from Ernest Thompson Seton, the Bushido Code of the Japanese Samurai, laws of honour from the American Indians, the code of chivalry and Zulu fighters he had previously fought against. (Kudos to Wikipedia for that list). The laws have changed over time, and have slight differences in every country, but for the most part they have the same messages. I am basing this journal on the current Australian Scout laws.

You don't have to be a Scout to live a 'good' life.

1. A Scout is Trustworthy
Right up there at number one, a lot of leaders will tell you as a Scout, this is the most important rule to follow. People should be able to trust you, and trust your art. IT IS NOT HARD TO BE TRUSTWORTHY. Believe it or not, building a good rapport means simply being transparent and completely honest with yourself, and those who might ask questions about why you did something, etc. If you prefer not to tell them something, don't hide it - Tell them you feel awkward sharing that information, I hope you don't mind. One thing I've learnt in life is that most everything you hold back - your lies by omission - all come out eventually. If you don't want people to distrust you, it's best to be up front and straight forward about such things from the beginning.
If you lie about your feelings when you make an artwork, people won't trust your art as honest pieces. If you lie about the way you make your art, people won't trust your art or you yourself. It isn't hard to be trustworthy, but it's even easier for that trust to be broken, and every time you have to build it back up again, it becomes that little bit harder.

Honesty is the best policy

2. A Scout is loyal
Back when I was around 15, A Venturer who I was quite good friends with did something quite terrible and ticked me off big time (I mean, big time). While I might break the other Scout laws from time to time, I'm pretty proud to say that one of my best qualities as a person is that I'm loyal. At 15, my feeling of rage at this person was unfathomable, but it was also conflicted with the fact that I had been friends with them for quite some time, and I didn't want to lose that. A leader took me aside at a camp during this time and said to me, "Sometimes being loyal means standing your ground on an issue. Even if it means feeling bad, and perhaps your friendship will never be repaired, the best thing you can do for your friend is to stand by what you believe in. If they are loyal, they should recognise their wrongdoing and apologise - then you can forgive them. Sometimes, they might be right and you're unjustified for your feelings, but if you can look deep down in yourself, to your beliefs, and still honestly tell yourself that you're right, then eventually things will come out for the better."

In its traditional meaning, loyalty means sticking by your friends through thick and thin. Yes, you should stick by artists who you've built a rapport with by supporting their art, and sticking up for them when you think they have been wronged. However, with that said, you should not sit idly by if you know your friend has done something wrong. Sometimes, doing something drastic and severing your ties to them for a little while is the best option: tough love, some might call it. If your friend has say, stolen artwork and claimed it as their own, then been uncovered and THEY are the ones acting like the victim? If you feel they have done wrong you should say so. Even though it might hurt the both of you, sometimes breaking off the friendship for a while can be the best thing.

When thinking of loyalty, people also often don't think of loyalty to themselves. It's a bit like honesty, in some respects. Don't give into yourself. If you feel you're useless and you're art is going no where, giving into the impulse is doing a disloyalty to yourself. In the previous situation, not only is not telling your friend they are wrong doing a disloyalty to them, it is also doing a disloyalty to you and your beliefs.

Stay loyal to yourself and to your friends, and you will have more than enough support to get you through life.

3. A Scout is Helpful
This does link back into loyalty for some parts, but for the most part, I'll leave those bits out as they've more or less been covered.
This is pretty much, exactly as it implies. Be helpful, and open. Honestly want to help other people improve. Help yourself improve! Relying on art crutches will eventually do you harm. Be wiling to give critique and tips to people who don't actively go out and ask you for it (though, only if you know they would want it), and help those who give you tips by listening, accepting and actually trying to use them.

4. A Scout is Friendly
No further explanation needed?

5. A Scout is Cheerful
OK. This is life, bad things happen sometimes and there's nothing you can do about it. That is the reality. You should NOT expect yourself to be happy all the time.

However, DWELLING in your sadness and misery... Recognise there is a time to move on! Do your best to find the silver lining of every day, no matter how bleak it is. You might just brighten up someone else's life

On DA, there are a lot of people who whinge and whine about people not liking them, not appreciating their art, not being good enough... When you say these negative things long enough, not only do you begin to believe them - other people will too. The same goes if you are saying positive things. Which would you prefer?

6. A Scout is Considerate
Note that if someone has hurt you, you should still consider their feelings, but this does NOT mean you should not let them know how you feel. That is simply being inconsiderate and disloyal to yourself, as you are inadvertently giving the person permission to do the same thing again.
-When giving critique, consider how the person has taken critique in the past, and how they need to be handled.
-If you have done something wrong, be considerate of others' hurt. Do not make yourself be the victim or make excuses. This will only make them feel bad for feelings that they should be able to have freely and honestly.
-Consider your own needs when considering the needs of others: It's fine to be a person who puts others before yourself, but if you are going to do yourself grievous harm, you should think of alternatives.
-Whenever you make an artwork, or are about to say something, consider how people may react. Consider how it might make them feel if you were in their shoes. Don't trample their reactions as if they are 'no big deal'.
-If you are in a position of responsibility, don't shirk it because you don't want to get involved or don't want anyone to get hurt. Some situations can't be handled by the people themselves and require a mediator to get all the issues out in the open and resolved. Shirking your responsibilities is inconsiderate to all parties involved.
-If someone has hurt you, and you should feel you should forgive them - consider if YOU had done something wrong, and they were the ones in the position to forgive you? Being able to think with clear emotions (as you haven't really done something wrong), would you expect and want people to forgive you straight away? Even if, when you actually ARE in that situation, all you want is some forgiveness, sometimes it is better to be unforgiven for while to think about what you've done.

Empathy is key.

7. A Scout is Thrifty
In relation to art, I don't have much to say except... Don't go all out and buy the most expensive equipment and materials just because. Build your skill up, save your money. Buy things cheaply. You'd be surprised what you can do with low quality materials, and pushing yourself to their limits will undoubtedly make you a better artist.

8. A Scout is Courageous
Courage means standing up for what is right, even though you might face ridicule.
Courage means admitting you were wrong, or have wronged them, even though you could have gone on happily living a lie.
Courage means being loyal to yourself and others, even though you risk some harm.
Courage means doing an artwork out of your comfort zone.
Courage means listening to the opinion you don't really want to hear.
Courage means doing the right thing no matter what.

9. A Scout is respectful
In the art world you should respect: Your critics, yourself, your artwork, the artwork of others.
Showing respect means showing common decency to your fellow man, not unlike being considerate really. Don't walk over other people's art just because they won't find out, or they say they don't care. Just because someone else doesn't respect their things doesn't mean you should take advantage of them. Everyone is a moral equal. You should respect others and their artwork as you respect yourself, and you should respect yourself like WOAH.

10. A Scout cares for the environment
"Oh Jetster you scamp! The outdoors have nothing to do with art on DA aside from the fact that it sometimes features in pictures! Well... Maybe you could say no cruelty to animals, but still!"
OK. So this one is going to be changing the meaning somewhat of the original law. However, try to see DA or your own personal 'artistic world' as an environment in itself. Don't trample it! Damn you! This is like respect only with more activity. Caring for your environment means getting involved, acting against injustice and helping where needed. It's a bit of all the laws combined

There is my little pseudo rant/TOTAL NERDERY for today

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