I have had a subscription for more than a year now, and I don't know how I'm going to continue using DA without one. While signing up for a new account for a friend, I was shocked to find every corner of DA filled with ads and marketing messages, especially for a non-subscriber. With my subscription expiring in 2 months, I really have no idea how I can continue using this site without being frustrated by the not-so-subtle clutter of marketing messages. And no, I'm broke, so renewing the subscription is not an option.
I've been on DA for 2 years now, and I find the art community concept gradually being diluted with the company taking every single opportunity to market to us deviants. First, it started with the ads. More ads started popping out, and the only way to get rid of them is to subscribe. And then, DA started selling merchandise! It sounded like a great idea: an opportunity for deviants to display their community spirit! Then much quirkier stuff popped out, like the plushie and now limited edition posters! And then, when DA started offering new features like the critique... and you want to try it? GET A SUBSCRIPTION!!!!!! What happened to the support community genuinely promoting art, artists, and friendship among like-minded people? All I see now is DA promoting DA!
I know DA is not a charity organisation, and that DA needs the ads and subscriptions to sustain its activities. But I'm sure there are ways to market to us deviants without plastering ads in every nook and cranny or shouting "GET A SUBSCRIPTION" every opportunity it gets!
As a marketing student, it sounds kind of hypocritical for me to criticise DA's marketing efforts which are obviously working extremely well for DA. However, I do feel that I'm not the only one frustrated by all these hard-sell messages. After all, one of the golden rules of advertising and marketing is to avoid clutter - it puts people off!!!!
I'm having a bad day and I need to rant.
Opinions, people? 
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