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Description
Every day, I'm getting closer to realizing what's taking the world so long in doing better...

Alright, we need to talk about this. Ditch the "don't tell me what to do" mindset, close your mouth, and ACTUALLY listen to me here. What is it with all these reposts that have been going on lately? Apparently, I've been seeing a barrage of status posts and deviations consisting of a generic image (or a copypasta-like paragraph) paired with a message urging me to spread it around. At first, it's an occasional low-quality post supporting LGBTQ+ rights (supporting the movement is fine and is a must, but that's beside the point). Later on, we're getting different topics but with the same message: repost this or else.

If you've been paying attention, you may have noticed (or even posted) at least one of the following "repost" memes over the past several months:

LGBTQ+ Rights—Post an image that says you support this movement. Not doing so implies you're against it.
Hacker—A mysterious hacker is said to be on the loose. Post a big wall of text describing the hacker's actions (even though said text contains no evidence), or your account will be vulnerable.
Bad Friends—OP is suspicious about their social circle. Repost their wall of text to prove that you're a good friend. Not doing so makes you dead in OP's eyes.
R***—Post an image that says you are against this immoral act. Not doing so not only results in the OP losing respect for you, but it also results in you looking like you do support r***.

Quite the sight, isn't it? At a glance, it may just seem like people are looking out for each other. Things have getting tough all over the world lately, so people are probably just staying on their guard...

Okay, sarcasm over. THIS IS NOT OKAY. While this may be far from the worst possible offense you could ever make, it's still a total nuisance to Deviantart as a whole, let alone the deviants who have to deal with the reposts. If you've never bothered with these reposts, then great! You're not stupid, and you have my respect. For the rest of you, it's time to reflect. I don't give a sh** if you posted a repost "just to be safe". I don't give a f*** if you reposted just because you think it's fun. These particular reposts offer no benefit whatsoever even for the people you claim to root for, and if you've posted such a thing without taking two minutes to have second thoughts, you're either scummy or gullible. End of story.

"Hey, chill out! Why are you complaining? What's so bad about these reposts?"
Want me to tell you? Well, here's the problem with these reposts, or should I say, PROBLEMS...

These reposts have the appearance of internet memes.—Look at a repost. Any one you like. See how it's not very creative in terms of appearance? For text-based reposts, they just tell what's going on without giving enough details. For images, they tend to look like they were made in a few, short minutes with a little help from Photoshop or some other image-editing program. If there's anything I learned from the internet, it's that any paragraph or image that is made in low quality is supposed to be a meme, and should be treated as such. Memes, as you know, are playful jokes. You'd be hard-pressed to find a meme that's supposed to be serious in nature. So, what about those reposts? These things tend to revolve around serious topics. By uploading a repost, you risk giving the impression that you're not actually taking the topic seriously. You imply (in a subtle way) that you don't really give much of a hoot about the very topic being discussed. That doesn't describe you, right? You actually care about what is being discussed in the repost... right? If you actually care, you'd do more than upload a simple paragraph or image... right?
They are designed to pressure you into participating.—This is hardly my first rodeo seeing people try to urge me to spread the word about something. Long ago, YouTube and other sites had a trend where people would predict that you'd get a kiss by the end of the week... provided you repost their text. How about those chain posts saying that if you don't repost them, you'd be dead by next morning? A post saying that you're a devil-worshipping loser if you don't hit the Like button? Don't even get me started on that one chain where a heartwarming love story is told only to be followed with the same old "spread this post or die" baloney! The reposts here in Deviantart are the same deal. They're not here to promote a message. They're here to scare you into continuing the trend. Face it, many people who have fallen for the trap upload reposts NOT because they care about the topics involved, but because they're scared of the repercussions. Gee, why don't I take advantage of this by blackmailing deviants while the ball is still rolling?
They guilt-trip those who attempt to avoid the reposts.—Go ahead. Tell me that there's no harm being done. I dare you. Can you come up with an explanation behind what is written in the reposts? These things have a backup plan to deter people from looking away, and it involves shame. Not helping is that these things don't offer exceptions to deviants who actually have a good excuse to not getting involved. Simply put, reposts are designed to make you either scared or depressed depending on how you respond to them. Oh, I'm a homophobe? Well, excuse me for wanting to do more for the PRIDE community rather than just stick to a generic image of the PRIDE flag! Oh, I'm a bad friend? Well, pardon me for suffering from "artist's block" and other issues that stop me from checking on my pals! Oh, my account is doomed? Well, why don't I just change my password instead of posting text that boils down to "Swiper, no swiping"? Oh, I'm a supporter of r***? Well, excuse me for trying to be respectful of r*** victims while keeping a professional look on my profile!
The reposts end up getting buried in an uploader's gallery.—Unless you have a folder or a section of your profile that features the reposts, the message you're trying to send will just get buried in your future uploads. Before you know it, your pro-LGBTQ+ repost (for instance) is hiding under a clutter of OC drawings! Don't expect your audience to go looking for it every so often! As a result, your workaround would be to post the repost AGAIN just to keep it fresh. Ah, I see you've reached the 500 deviation milestone. May I see how many of those deviations happen to be the same exact upload?
Reposts clutter feeds and search results.—People who don't get involved with the reposts still suffer. How? Their Watch feed will be filled with reposts instead of decent text uploads and drawings. Search results suffer the same deal, with reposts and their descriptions floating around in place of actual, genuine uploads. Before you tell me that I should just use my account settings to filter out the reposts, keep in mind that some people don't use tags or any words that would get the algorithm's attention (a similar issue can be found regarding people who like submitting mature content recklessly, but that's beside the point). No one wants to explore a certain kind of artwork only to be met with these bland images instead. If you want an analogy, submitting these reposts can be like polluting a lake with garbage. Who's going to clean up the mess? Not me! If you're gonna make me, be warned that the only thing I have for cleaning things is the Report button!

"BREATHE, DUDE! I didn't star in a fan comic just to watch you scream at your laptop!" -Priscilla, one of the girls in the comic
And... there you have it. It's a long explanation, but I hope that says enough about the issue at hand. Now, it's possible that I'm being overly harsh. Maybe, you fell for this crummy trend but didn't mean to. You just want to find ways to bring awareness to something without looking like a total jerk. In that case, how CAN you get the job done? Well, here are some ideas...

Tell stories of your past.—If you've experienced a related issue in the past, why not work up some courage and tell your tales to the world? Not only does this bring awareness to an issue, but it also invites discussion. People will give you support or even talk about what can be done. Heck, you might even encourage some people to open up as well and add their own stories to the mix. Before you know it, everyone's talking about it! This has a much bigger impact than a generic image urging people to repost it.
Try using stamps.—There are plenty of stamps uploaded throughout Deviantart, many of which are meant to show support or opposition to something. Just take a stamp and embed it to your profile. That way, people will know exactly what your stance is without having to wait for those reposts to happen! Alternatively, you can make your own stamp and go from there. Make your stamp and tell the people what it's for. Just don't pressure your audience into using it, or you'll risk causing the "repost" situation to apply here as well!
Offer help to charity.—If you've got money or services to go around, why not offer some assistance to charity? Donate some money. Start requests or commissions as a way to bring awareness to an organization. See if you can lend a hand. Don't trust an organization? Then go find a different one!
Create vent art.—Believe it or not, these types of deviations work wonders. They're not just drawings made by people who have been going through some dark times. When you make a vent drawing, you have something in mind, and you're thinking about it throughout the whole process. You're not making that drawing "just because". Whether you're an artistic pro or someone who relies on a program's Circle and Line tools, making vent art can really bring out the message you're trying to send. Reposts don't offer that same impact. Heck, even a generic drawing of a newly-made fursona having a mental breakdown has more meaning than a repost! Show the world what you're going through, and let the world do the rest.
Get involved in cultural/social events.—Don't let the DA staff be the only people bringing up special events and holidays. If you want people to be aware of something, you should do your part as well. Make drawings related to whatever it is you want people to know about. Submit Journals or Literature works that reference a particular event in detail. Show your people what they've been missing!

Phew... That's all I gotta say. I don't care that I decided to really let it all out for this upload. If I wanted to hold back or develop second thoughts, I wouldn't have typed all of this. I know that there are more important matters at hand regarding this site, but I feel that I have to address this one for now. This trend is ridiculous, and it does nothing more than to downplay the topics that reposts tend to bring up. Please don't let this problem grow. Call people out, make your own vents, find alternatives to spreading awareness, do SOMETHING. Anything... that doesn't involve reposting an image that shows no potential.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get some sleep. It's 2:40 AM as I'm typing this. Good night!

-------------------------------------------

Characters in the comic

Pop Singer, Rhythm Heaven (c) Tsunku, Nintendo

Priscilla Sunbuddy, Pocket Card Jockey (c) GAME FREAK

Description
Every day, I'm getting closer to realizing what's taking the world so long in doing better...

Alright, we need to talk about this. Ditch the "don't tell me what to do" mindset, close your mouth, and ACTUALLY listen to me here. What is it with all these reposts that have been going on lately? Apparently, I've been seeing a barrage of status posts and deviations consisting of a generic image (or a copypasta-like paragraph) paired with a message urging me to spread it around. At first, it's an occasional low-quality post supporting LGBTQ+ rights (supporting the movement is fine and is a must, but that's beside the point). Later on, we're getting different topics but with the same message: repost this or else.

If you've been paying attention, you may have noticed (or even posted) at least one of the following "repost" memes over the past several months:

LGBTQ+ Rights—Post an image that says you support this movement. Not doing so implies you're against it.
Hacker—A mysterious hacker is said to be on the loose. Post a big wall of text describing the hacker's actions (even though said text contains no evidence), or your account will be vulnerable.
Bad Friends—OP is suspicious about their social circle. Repost their wall of text to prove that you're a good friend. Not doing so makes you dead in OP's eyes.
R***—Post an image that says you are against this immoral act. Not doing so not only results in the OP losing respect for you, but it also results in you looking like you do support r***.

Quite the sight, isn't it? At a glance, it may just seem like people are looking out for each other. Things have getting tough all over the world lately, so people are probably just staying on their guard...

Okay, sarcasm over. THIS IS NOT OKAY. While this may be far from the worst possible offense you could ever make, it's still a total nuisance to Deviantart as a whole, let alone the deviants who have to deal with the reposts. If you've never bothered with these reposts, then great! You're not stupid, and you have my respect. For the rest of you, it's time to reflect. I don't give a sh** if you posted a repost "just to be safe". I don't give a f*** if you reposted just because you think it's fun. These particular reposts offer no benefit whatsoever even for the people you claim to root for, and if you've posted such a thing without taking two minutes to have second thoughts, you're either scummy or gullible. End of story.

"Hey, chill out! Why are you complaining? What's so bad about these reposts?"
Want me to tell you? Well, here's the problem with these reposts, or should I say, PROBLEMS...

These reposts have the appearance of internet memes.—Look at a repost. Any one you like. See how it's not very creative in terms of appearance? For text-based reposts, they just tell what's going on without giving enough details. For images, they tend to look like they were made in a few, short minutes with a little help from Photoshop or some other image-editing program. If there's anything I learned from the internet, it's that any paragraph or image that is made in low quality is supposed to be a meme, and should be treated as such. Memes, as you know, are playful jokes. You'd be hard-pressed to find a meme that's supposed to be serious in nature. So, what about those reposts? These things tend to revolve around serious topics. By uploading a repost, you risk giving the impression that you're not actually taking the topic seriously. You imply (in a subtle way) that you don't really give much of a hoot about the very topic being discussed. That doesn't describe you, right? You actually care about what is being discussed in the repost... right? If you actually care, you'd do more than upload a simple paragraph or image... right?
They are designed to pressure you into participating.—This is hardly my first rodeo seeing people try to urge me to spread the word about something. Long ago, YouTube and other sites had a trend where people would predict that you'd get a kiss by the end of the week... provided you repost their text. How about those chain posts saying that if you don't repost them, you'd be dead by next morning? A post saying that you're a devil-worshipping loser if you don't hit the Like button? Don't even get me started on that one chain where a heartwarming love story is told only to be followed with the same old "spread this post or die" baloney! The reposts here in Deviantart are the same deal. They're not here to promote a message. They're here to scare you into continuing the trend. Face it, many people who have fallen for the trap upload reposts NOT because they care about the topics involved, but because they're scared of the repercussions. Gee, why don't I take advantage of this by blackmailing deviants while the ball is still rolling?
They guilt-trip those who attempt to avoid the reposts.—Go ahead. Tell me that there's no harm being done. I dare you. Can you come up with an explanation behind what is written in the reposts? These things have a backup plan to deter people from looking away, and it involves shame. Not helping is that these things don't offer exceptions to deviants who actually have a good excuse to not getting involved. Simply put, reposts are designed to make you either scared or depressed depending on how you respond to them. Oh, I'm a homophobe? Well, excuse me for wanting to do more for the PRIDE community rather than just stick to a generic image of the PRIDE flag! Oh, I'm a bad friend? Well, pardon me for suffering from "artist's block" and other issues that stop me from checking on my pals! Oh, my account is doomed? Well, why don't I just change my password instead of posting text that boils down to "Swiper, no swiping"? Oh, I'm a supporter of r***? Well, excuse me for trying to be respectful of r*** victims while keeping a professional look on my profile!
The reposts end up getting buried in an uploader's gallery.—Unless you have a folder or a section of your profile that features the reposts, the message you're trying to send will just get buried in your future uploads. Before you know it, your pro-LGBTQ+ repost (for instance) is hiding under a clutter of OC drawings! Don't expect your audience to go looking for it every so often! As a result, your workaround would be to post the repost AGAIN just to keep it fresh. Ah, I see you've reached the 500 deviation milestone. May I see how many of those deviations happen to be the same exact upload?
Reposts clutter feeds and search results.—People who don't get involved with the reposts still suffer. How? Their Watch feed will be filled with reposts instead of decent text uploads and drawings. Search results suffer the same deal, with reposts and their descriptions floating around in place of actual, genuine uploads. Before you tell me that I should just use my account settings to filter out the reposts, keep in mind that some people don't use tags or any words that would get the algorithm's attention (a similar issue can be found regarding people who like submitting mature content recklessly, but that's beside the point). No one wants to explore a certain kind of artwork only to be met with these bland images instead. If you want an analogy, submitting these reposts can be like polluting a lake with garbage. Who's going to clean up the mess? Not me! If you're gonna make me, be warned that the only thing I have for cleaning things is the Report button!

"BREATHE, DUDE! I didn't star in a fan comic just to watch you scream at your laptop!" -Priscilla, one of the girls in the comic
And... there you have it. It's a long explanation, but I hope that says enough about the issue at hand. Now, it's possible that I'm being overly harsh. Maybe, you fell for this crummy trend but didn't mean to. You just want to find ways to bring awareness to something without looking like a total jerk. In that case, how CAN you get the job done? Well, here are some ideas...

Tell stories of your past.—If you've experienced a related issue in the past, why not work up some courage and tell your tales to the world? Not only does this bring awareness to an issue, but it also invites discussion. People will give you support or even talk about what can be done. Heck, you might even encourage some people to open up as well and add their own stories to the mix. Before you know it, everyone's talking about it! This has a much bigger impact than a generic image urging people to repost it.
Try using stamps.—There are plenty of stamps uploaded throughout Deviantart, many of which are meant to show support or opposition to something. Just take a stamp and embed it to your profile. That way, people will know exactly what your stance is without having to wait for those reposts to happen! Alternatively, you can make your own stamp and go from there. Make your stamp and tell the people what it's for. Just don't pressure your audience into using it, or you'll risk causing the "repost" situation to apply here as well!
Offer help to charity.—If you've got money or services to go around, why not offer some assistance to charity? Donate some money. Start requests or commissions as a way to bring awareness to an organization. See if you can lend a hand. Don't trust an organization? Then go find a different one!
Create vent art.—Believe it or not, these types of deviations work wonders. They're not just drawings made by people who have been going through some dark times. When you make a vent drawing, you have something in mind, and you're thinking about it throughout the whole process. You're not making that drawing "just because". Whether you're an artistic pro or someone who relies on a program's Circle and Line tools, making vent art can really bring out the message you're trying to send. Reposts don't offer that same impact. Heck, even a generic drawing of a newly-made fursona having a mental breakdown has more meaning than a repost! Show the world what you're going through, and let the world do the rest.
Get involved in cultural/social events.—Don't let the DA staff be the only people bringing up special events and holidays. If you want people to be aware of something, you should do your part as well. Make drawings related to whatever it is you want people to know about. Submit Journals or Literature works that reference a particular event in detail. Show your people what they've been missing!

Phew... That's all I gotta say. I don't care that I decided to really let it all out for this upload. If I wanted to hold back or develop second thoughts, I wouldn't have typed all of this. I know that there are more important matters at hand regarding this site, but I feel that I have to address this one for now. This trend is ridiculous, and it does nothing more than to downplay the topics that reposts tend to bring up. Please don't let this problem grow. Call people out, make your own vents, find alternatives to spreading awareness, do SOMETHING. Anything... that doesn't involve reposting an image that shows no potential.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get some sleep. It's 2:40 AM as I'm typing this. Good night!

-------------------------------------------

Characters in the comic

Pop Singer, Rhythm Heaven (c) Tsunku, Nintendo

Priscilla Sunbuddy, Pocket Card Jockey (c) GAME FREAK