The Rules of Sharing

Your Name: Kate
Your Email:  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Subject: Textiles
Message: Hello there! I have stumbled across your textile art that you do! I am very inspired by it, as I am an art student and taking textiles in my foundation year. I am looking for an tips or pointers in a direction of an area in textiles as it is something i am very interested in and enjoy doing very much! If you could help me at all it would be greatly appreciated!

Sincerely Kate

I would imagine that some of you out there in Blogland get these requests as well. Some earnest textile student emails you privately and enthuses rhapsodic about your work, then asks if she/he can use you as an example in a project for her/his sixth form/foundation year project, or whatever it is. (To date, they have all been UK students.) They proceed to ask lots of questions and require detailed answers. You never hear back from them after complying and being generous with your time and ideas. NEVER.

Yes, it's flattering and i usually don't mind answering and sharing, but you know what? I'm not going to do your homework for you. If you know how to use the net, use some netiquette. Comment on the things you like, share some of your work/experiences/thoughts. You'll learn more that way. Do you hit on certain areas that interest you here? Or are you just looking at one thing and thinking "Oh she'll do"?

I've never been sent back a thank you saying i "made" her/his project, the other students were impressed, the teacher blown away by my talent, she/he won a scholarship. That's not what i'm looking for. Common courtesy dictates a response of some sort after the fact of presentation if you're using my work and thoughts. Is that too much to ask?

Now, i am not picking on this Kate. All of the requests from the 7 "students" have been polite, clear and forthright. BUT,when they swear up and down that i will see the finished project, i expect some follow-up. ZIP ZILCH ZERO is what has happened. I even found one on Facebook and she still didn't respond. I myself have emailed people, after going through their "online presence", and asked questions, especially now with the ARTeries column on MrXStitch. Even when they say no, politely or not, i follow up with a little note thanking them, and if i have used their input, i direct them to the appropriate link. COMMON COURTESY.

I don't hold back "trade secrets" here. I've constantly shared examples, methods and projects. It's not like i'm holding out on these requests. What would be the point of my online presence then? If you're not truly interested, then go buy "Textile Art for Dummies"----i'm sure Amazon has something that would help.

Miss/Mr Textile Student, i would love to help you. I suggest that you peruse the site, using the search button, read, explore, make yourself visible and go from there.
 
I hope you understand. Thank you for your kind words.

And don't tell me the dog ate your homework.

Update on Mon, November 2, 2009 at 7:05PM by arlee

PS you can read comments on the original entry.