I've only been a member of deviantART for a few short weeks and I enjoyed most of it. But a few disturbing trends have forced me to rethink the choice I made to join in the first place, and I’ve decided that it’s not worth it to stay.

Why? There are a few things; I blow too much of my time refreshing pages, I catch myself craving comments/favorites (even though they always end up being trivial or passing), but MOSTLY, it’s the porn. Mismanaging my free time and getting obsessed over comments are personal issues. But the porn rests squarely on the shoulders of deviantART.

First off, I want it known that I am NOT talking about artistic works/deviations. I understand that nude subjects are a frequent motif in art, and if other people want to create such things, that’s their prerogative. I don’t want to see it, so I don’t search for it. I am talking about the advertisements.

I’ve had a few close calls with these types of ads on deviantART in the past, where something looks pornographic but isn’t. Each time I’ve been randomly exposed to one of these ads, I’ve ignored them. I really do like this community, and I didn’t want to pack my bags. So I told myself it wasn’t a big deal as long as I didn’t click and kept on trucking. But today they crossed the line from being racy/suggestive into blatant, unashamed pornography.
I was browsing my own gallery when the ad in question appeared at the bottom of the page. That is what really disgusts me. When people come to look at my artwork, they also get porn. If I had realized that this sort of thing was happening, I never would have signed up. I drew pokemon for crying out loud. Stuff primarily for kids and teenagers. Selling sex to that demographic is absolutely sickening and I refuse to be a part of it.

Selling pornography is just as disgusting as selling drugs. It bleaches the minds, hearts, and lives of those who get caught on the slippery slope. If you already have an addiction to porn, find a way to break it off. End it. If you DON’T, then stay as far away from it as you can get.

I refuse to be spoon fed propaganda, and that’s what society is trying to do. And if deviantART is going to be a part of supporting that, I don't think I'll stick around.