Let’s say it loud and clear:

There’s nothing wrong with promoting your small business, your art, books, your services on mastodon or any other social media.

Self promotion is not an ad!

It’s being part of a community.

People have to do it. Other people might need and want the good stuff their community members might offer.

Mutual support and buying from your community members is good, wholesome and necessary.

Boost if you agree, so creators feel welcomed to self promote here
#mastoart

@ThistleArts @hbons This is a difficult topic imho. Of course, everyone can talk about any personal hobby or project on social media, but I personally don't appreciate people being here on Mastodon only for commercial or business reasons.

@dfx @hbons But why does that topic switch towards extremes?

Those who are here only to promote and who don't give any value to the community jst won't gain followers because they won't be interesting for the general public. So they won't have any traction.
While those who do interact with their audience will and that's totally fine.

@ThistleArts @hbons I can't speak for anyone else. Of course, I don't have anything against creative people or artists being here and talking about their profession. Far from it. But I am really afraid of people acting all nice and friendly and then suddenly trying to sell something to you. I'd love to meet real people with honest opinions and passions. But often nowadays, you'd find people just acting a role to speak to a certain audience. You'd find a person on YouTube talking about a really cool topic, but suddenly they're promoting some sponsor. Yeah, this is not real. These people aren't just being there for fun. The Internet has attracted and created too many artificial people like these.
@dfx @hbons thus person on YouTube was able to invest lots of time and effort to record a video, write the script, gather info, then edit it, record sound, edit it, pay for the gear, pay for programs to do that, because they were sponsored. And you blame them for that? How do you think they manage to deliver you some good content if they don’t get anything from this hard labour?

@dfx @hbons

Do you have a slightest idea about how much time it actually takes to make a real good interesting video that actually talk about some cool topics? If you don't want ot buy from their sponsor, just skip that part and that's it.

People are so incredibly entitled to all the free goods that creatives post online these days, it's ridiculous.

@ThistleArts @hbons Remember this "Lonelygirl15" back in the early days of the Internet? People loved her, but then it turned out she was just a payed actor. This counted as some kind of scandal back then, so she disappeared. Today, I guess people would just not care about this fact anymore. I just think it's sad. I'd rather have simpler videos with real, normal people just goofing around on the internet. But instead, it has - in parts - turned into this commercial thing where everyone has some kind of company behind him/her to produce professional looking content. The internet used to be a playground for nerds... now most things are professional, must look professional and does usually rely on some kind of business deal. No, it's not all bad, but I think it's sad it has gone this far....
@ThistleArts @hbons I hope this last message made my point a bit more clear. I don't believe people should give away their hard work for free. Of course not, that's why it's work. But the internet used to be for fun. IRL was for work. People would spend their weekends doing some cool project online and go back to their day job on monday. That's why I have personal reservations about commercial interests on social media. People are on Mastodon to have fun, to meet people, to engage with stuff. Well, I guess at least that's why I am here. When I am here, I am not working, I am not shopping, I don't do business here. I am here as a person, not a customer.
@hbons @dfx for many many people there was NO WAY they can make money while doing what they love. Or any money at all.
People who can afford having a good offline job that they love doing and that pays their bills do they can spend their online time just for fun are privileged as fuck.
@ThistleArts @hbons Honestly, why are you bringing such harsh words into a friendly conversation? I am sorry for people having issues in their lives. And if someone is happy making some, well deserved money, with arts and other creative projects, I am all for it. I was only addressing the issue I personally feel, that everything in a way revolves about money everywhere today. And I sometimes see a conflict between people just wanting to enjoy themselves talking to other people, on Mastodon and elsewhere, while they're just being seen as potential customers by companies and business people. I really don't think this has to be an angry discussion. I get your point, but please just consider my arguments as well.
@hbons @dfx I’m harsh because my life as a queer indie creator is dire this days. And I see absolutely no reason why discussion about indie creators promoting themselves on whatever social media they go to should even be discussed or conflated with the subject of corporations buying ads.
And your words about real life being for work just sound very bitterly ironic for someone in my situation.

@dfx @hbons have you ever thought that it’s became the only way for many people to actually make a living when otherwise they wouldn’t be able to. Me included - as a trans, non passing, queer, autistic and chronically lll person.

There can be some bad actors but they are inevitable.