As much as I am loathe to speak unkindly about another whom I know solely from what the internet has provided me, this individual has done significant damage to the community to such an extent that I feel posting this will be to the benefit of the populace. (Not to mention that when one gives out personal information as a mascot gives away t-shirts at a sporting event, it facilitates things.) If anything, at the very least sharing my personal experiences will help me relieve the stress this chain of events has brought upon me. Additionally, I was tempted to reconsider this announcement’s namesake, considering that if one did follow through with the reference, I’d be implying I’d finally found an equal. We all know this is not the case, especially in light of recent events. Through the publicising of this account, I hope to raise awareness with regards to the true colors of a deviant who has forgotten what the art portion of DeviantART means.
Allow me to begin with my first encounters with Pysco’s group. It seemed like a cute and novelty concept, and not overdone like most species are apt to be. I joined the group, and was glad to have done so. Pysco promptly informed me that custom moonlights were ten points apiece. I was a bit upset by that, and thought she told me the species was open, but she insisted that I must order a custom. By that time, I had already come up with the concept for my first moonlight, Dulcet Dazzler. (It was the first species group I had ever joined, so I’d already planned in advance what my character would look like.) However, I had to order the custom, so I recounted every detail of Dulcie to the best of my ability to Pysco. (I’d provide evidence of this, but since I do not write the date next to my drawings it would matter quite little as evidence.) Needless to say, the custom was nothing like what I had asked. I specifically requested that my character would have the curliest short hair one could find. To my chagrin, the result of my commission was significantly at odds with my specifications.
Dulcet’s design by Pysco: http://pyscosnowflake.deviantart.com/art/MLM-coms-381878162 (I had to feign interest.)
My current design: http://compassroses.deviantart.com/art/Dulcet-Dazzler-Ref-452678641 (I have since altered the eye color as she is no longer a part of the species. Her eyes originally remained golden.)
I continued on in my journey in the group and bought more characters. I even began to make adopts of my own, which I loved doing! (Unfortunately by the time I’d gotten all the color palettes together that I was planning on using, she abruptly decided that only she could make Moonlights. I’d only sold one Moonlight adopt before this happened.) Everyone else seemed to love the characters, though Pysco herself would never comment on my art. I had begun to try and participate in group activities, and was feeling ignored. My characters would be glossed over in roleplay, giving me the impression that I was unimportant. I was given permission to join a collab by Pysco, but she ignored my submission and accepted all the rest. Additionally, I had been promised a free breedable by Pysco including my moonlight, and after three months when asked (and after several question aversions) stated that she, “guessed she didn’t feel like it anymore.” As it turned out, she did every breedable except for mine. When I explained to her that I was feeling left out, she took sympathy on me and helped me become more popular in the group, whilst stating that it was everyone else’s fault, none of her own. When my character was stolen by another group member, she didn’t do a thing about it. I finally convinced her that this was not at all right, and she lee ordinances the member but allowed them to stay in the group.
Still, things began to pick up, and for that I was thankful. This sunny outlook was quickly dashed as she began to place increasingly strict rules upon the members, and she did so without warning. Whenever she felt something was not to her liking on a given character, she would make a new rule and expect all others to comply. Even if the new violation occurred before the new regulation was set, one would still be chastized for breaking it. For example, out of the blue she added a rule that no two characters could have names that were similar. This seemed fair enough, until I realized this only applied to her characters. This later expanded to all Moonlights, but whenever a new character was made, she’d claim that she was in the process of creating another one with a similar name. We’d have to use the replacement name she gave us. Pysco then decided that all names must only have one word. Of course, save her own. I was not permitted to have Wee Hours as a name, but she could have Angel and Fable Dreamwalker. Pysco claimed these were excused because they were surnames, but would not allow anyone else to give their characters a surname. (She claimed this was because they were extremely rare, meaning only she could use them.) She then made up her mind that she could decide the talents of our characters. She claimed reasonably that the talents had to be nature oriented or things they could find from scrap, despite the fact that a number of her Moonlights sported talents and cutie marks that contained non-natural items such as mirrors and pillows. I was forced to change my characters under clearly hypocritical conditions.
Pysco had made it clear enough that she got what she wanted with her characters, and carried that mentality with her when it came to her fellow deviants. Whilst in the group, she had repeatedly forced people to place characters in relationships that she wanted, even coercing an owner who had stated their character was asexual into roleplay involving romantic advances. This behavior was not limited to the pages of the group, however. During a join, she forced me into “getting to know” a male friend of hers that she thought I would be compatable with. I politely denied the request, but she continued to push it on me, making me feel extremely uncomfortable.
As if the water wasn’t hot enough, Pysco used my art without my permission. Once during a join me, I showed her a drawing of one of my moonlights that I was extremely proud of t prove to her that I drew my characters. She asked if she could trace it in pixels for fun, and I consented. After all, if she liked my work, I thought perhaps I wouldn’t have to worry about her hounding me for references almost daily. She then asked me if it was okay to post her finished product. I said (after plenty of begging on her part) that it was okay to post so long as she gave me credit and I posted my original art first. I hadn’t even the chance to submit my piece when I found Pysco’s tracing in my inbox. It received more favorites than my original piece currently has. I politely reminded her that she had violated the rules of our agreement and asked for her to remove the piece at least until I’d posted mine. (At the tme, I’d taken a photo of the drawing, but I wanted to scan it before posting for a better quality image.) She refused to take it down, claiming that one of her other personalities posted it. While I support those with mental disorders (MPD included) this was ridiculous. She still had access to her own account, regardless of which personality of hers posted the original image. She eventually deleted it after giving me a number of threats, and things died down at last.
As the months came and went, number of issues would come and go with other deviants whom she treated rudely. When I offered to rationalize and explain what she was saying, Pysco would lash out at me as if I were the cause of the problem. I have found that in this group, even expressing an opinion beyond her own would lead to banishment. The first time I spoke up about an issue (regarding the oc control) she shut down the old group and made a new one, only allowing me in if I promised complete submission to her will. (One can see proof of this on the first profile comments of the group, which will be added to both the screenshot compilation and hyperlinks.)
As if this weren’t enough, Pysco began to dictate what I could and could not do with my characters. I have written a significant amount with regards to my characters, especially with regards to their biographies. (Unfortunately I’ve had to make significant alterations to these, as my characters are no longer subject to the same rules as they were in the group.) Pysco criticized my choice to include writing as a part of my character development, calling it, “stupid” “useless” “excessive” and “an excuse to not make references.” For a deviant who happened to be an aspiring songwriter and singer nonetheless, I found this disconcerting and hypocritical.
Here is a conversation we had through notes:
PyscoSnowflake said the following:
Rose, I know you don’t have much time for art but I must stress the fact that you don;t [sic] have a single ref made and you’ve had your MLMs a while now.. I’m so sorry but I can not let this slide any longer. You have one week to make at least one ref.. or I will be frced [sic] to take your MLMs or have you make some normal.. I really don;t [sic] want to have to go to that extreame.. but refs are neccessary Rose.
Hope you have a good day.
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CompassRoses said the following:
What? But you have to understand, I really don’t have this kind of time, and I have made refs. I’ve done those head shots, right?
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PyscoSnowflake said the following:
A head shot is nothing close to a proper ref Rose.. :/
a [sic] ref must include
a correct left and right view, an age chart, left, front and right view of the face and an open mouth shot. As (sentence fragment) well as a cutiemark if the [sic] have one.
I do understand you are stressed for time, but MLMs are important. put [sic] them ahead of some other things such as random polls and journals.
Sorry Rose.. but its [sic] part of the new rules.. and I’m just letting you know ahead of time.
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CompassRoses said the following:
Oh, and so you value a hastily made reference more than a nice one that took time to do? It’s nice to see how you’re allowing the group to cultivate creativity. You’ll not be getting any of my moonlights, unless it’s over my dead body.
Likewise, I’ll have more time over the summer to do them. Why is it okay for you to take advantage of your free time to rob others of their Moonlights when we can’t use that same time to draw them?
Traditional art takes a long time to complete. There is so much that goes into the preparation and finish. Additionally, I’m a terrible perfectionist. I look down at the blank sheet of paper, know what I want to draw, but am downright terrified of starting because I know in my heart that it’s guaranteed the outcome will not be identical to my aim. Even when it comes to posting this art, I fear the result of my actions. I see comment after comment, favourite after favourite, but it matters my what people say. All I see is, “We’re being nice because it’s what society demands of us, but we really do see all those flaws in your work.” Heck, it took me this long, over a year since the initial concept of Dreamscape popped into my mind for me to have the chutzpah to even try to make a reference image for her, and she’s my ponysona.
I can barely post any art at the moment, and I don’t understand why you think the Moonlights are an exception.
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PyscoSnowflake said the following:
All I’m asking is for one ref by this time next week. and [sic] I’m not asking you to make a masterpiece :/
just a pixle [sic] base ref for your characters. its [sic] simple
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CompassRoses said the following:
I am not sure if I can, but I’ll try. This weekend is going to be one of my busiest yet. As it is, I’m working late just to get some of the work I’ll have during that weekend done. I really don’t want to stoop to the level of a base artist from where I am right now. I already feel guilty enough about posting a base-made contest entry and having it gain more favourites than any of my traditional art. I’ll see what I can do, but I just don’t know if I can take this stress.
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Now, I am not the only one to have had this treatment. As shown in the screenshots provided at the end of this announcement, Pysco has threatened numerous members if her group with the repossession and reselling of their Moonlightmares. Not only is it illegal to do this, but she is hypocritical in doing so. One of her main complaints I that Mooblightmare owners are slow to do their references, if at all. Ironically enough, a good portion of Pysco’s own refs weren’t even her own work. What does that say about her, she who so fervently wants others to put time and effort into her species when she can’t even do so herself? Despite all that I have recounted here, this hasn’t even begun to scratch the surface. I’m honestly saddened that people find it necessary to behave in the manner in which Pysco has.
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power."
-Abraham Lincoln
P.s. For those of you who have any further inquiries with regards to my experiences with Pysco, I believe I’ve made it clear who I am. I would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have that are not merely insults directed at me for delivering the truth.
Helpful Links:
http://sta.sh/21qfzq7yasiy?edit=1
http://comments.deviantart.com/1/478385869/3585261766
http://comments.deviantart.com/4/17830810/3583819123
http://comments.deviantart.com/4/18521133/3583812036
http://comments.deviantart.com/4/26698848/3580091788
http://comments.deviantart.com/4/27863102/3586284755
dannyman12.deviantart.com/journal/What-I-am-doing-is-for-her-own-good-478832709
http://comments.deviantart.com/4/20864903/3587077980
http://artsu-gossip.tumblr.com/post/92504396287/im-needing-to-rant-before-i-go-off-on-my-best#disqus_thread
http://pyscosnowflake.deviantart.com/art/SVH-Teachers-452478593
http://comments.deviantart.com/4/20864903/3462806631