Fuck all if no one reads this, I just need to get it out.
I may have jumped the gun a little when I said "issue". I meant to say "serious fucking problem". Because there really is a problem with the art portal. I'm sure others have noticed, but it's reached a point where I'm beginning to question the authority of some of the Newgrounds staff.

~Insubordination: it's the new black~

Now then. The art portal is a place for Newgrounds users to display their artwork to the community in order to receive either acclaim, feedback or...what have you. There are others, however, who seek to use it as a means of trolling our (the Newgrounds community) asses with intentionally shitty works and feed off the jeers and sarcasm of others. Personally...I find nothing wrong with that.

What I DO have a problem with is when the staff gives the OK to a work that they believe is "funny bad" and displays it for all. What breaks my heart is that the artist has really put there all into it and may not have the technical know-how or a great modicum of talent to pull off the masterpiece they wanted to. And are then ridiculed for it. I'm not trying to sound like a nag or a softy, but as someone who still has quite a bit to learn in the field of fine arts, it's a real blow to your self-confidence when you put your best foot forward only to be violently shoved back into obscurity. We're all here to learn from each other and to help each other out with constructive feedback and helpful tips. This isn't a grade school playground for fuck's sake where the kids are just mean for the sake of mean. The least some of the staff can do is lead by example and not encourage this trend. Amazing, thoroughly-planned and technically precise art? Fantastic! Tongue-in-cheek, shitty troll art? Hilarious. In-progress, still-got-a-long-way-to-go mediocre art? Well, you know how I feel.

And that's my piece.