Read on Twitter
Well, I’m feeling a bit bored, so I think I’m going to have a bit of Kipper Waffle (patent pending) on a potentially contentious subject - monetising your hobby and the implications for interacting here on twitter.
This isn’t aimed at anyone or subtweeting anything particular. Monetising your hobby isn’t necessarily a bad thing at all. YouTube streamers? Commission Painters? Small mini makers? RPG adventure writers?
It's part of the hobby world. Its not intrinsically good or bad at all.
It's part of the hobby world. Its not intrinsically good or bad at all.
But there are implications when you choose to make your hobby a business, especially when it gets to a point that it is genuinely how you make a living, or a significant part of it.
Words have implications. Your interactions can affect your livelihood.
Words have implications. Your interactions can affect your livelihood.
If I do a giveaway here on twitter? I’ll get loads of people spreading my name, following me, increasing my audience.
That’s not bad, thats just canny business.
(I did a thread on giveaways before https://twitter.com/evilkipper/status/1308717594661224449)
That’s not bad, thats just canny business.
(I did a thread on giveaways before https://twitter.com/evilkipper/status/1308717594661224449)
If I fail to deliver on a giveaway promise? That’ll get around too. My name will get associated with unreliability.
Interactions cut both ways.
Interactions cut both ways.
One thing I’ve heard bandied about a lot here on twitter over the last few years is that you can’t say bad things about person X. It’ll hurt their livelihood.
It's absolutely true. It may well.
It's absolutely true. It may well.
That isn’t a get out of jail free card. You can’t tweet what you like, and when called on it, say “But its my livelihood on the line”.
If you are running a business, whether that’s commission painting, making minis, or writing roleplaying games, how you present yourself matters.
If you are running a business, whether that’s commission painting, making minis, or writing roleplaying games, how you present yourself matters.
The values you display in your tweets may hurt or help your business. That’s just how the world works.
And the same tweet may do both!
And the same tweet may do both!
In a couple of #FollowFriday nods, I’ve been impressed at @fenrisgames taking a very principled stance here on twitter, even when it costs him customers for his absolutely amazing mini business. On the flip side - that principled stance has earned him a lot of loyalty from me.
I adore #FF @BadSquiddoGames range, and absolutely love the constant enthusiasm for inclusivity of ladies into our wonderful hobby, both in real life and cracking mini ranges.
Annie also has to deal with hate and abuse from those who don’t want to see that.
Annie also has to deal with hate and abuse from those who don’t want to see that.
#FF @Leaky_cheese pours his heart and soul into a terrific youtube channel, and loves working with resin models more than anyone else I know.
He’s spent the summer arguing with followers of intolerant warhammer hobbyists for promoting diversity in the hobby.
He’s spent the summer arguing with followers of intolerant warhammer hobbyists for promoting diversity in the hobby.
Every time you tweet while running a business or monetised channel or patreon, you are representing your business.
If you abuse others? Yeah, you should be called out.
If you abuse others? Yeah, you should be called out.
It's no different from complaining about authors who suddenly espouse horrible views. Or complaining about the business practices of a company the size of Amazon. Big or small, actions do and should have consequences. And sometimes those consequences are fantastic.
I’m not saying hold everything to the same standard. I’m aware a one person business might take longer to get an order shipped than a multinational. Every circumstance is different, and thats grand! Always take a moment to think of the person on the other end of the screen.
From the reverse perspective, of course, we need to be aware that people are trying to earn money here too.
I’m just a dad who likes to play RPGs and war-games and paint minis. I could delete twitter today and be just fine. I can say what I like.
I’m just a dad who likes to play RPGs and war-games and paint minis. I could delete twitter today and be just fine. I can say what I like.
If I paint comission models? If I run a mini company? If I write RPGs? Well, I’m probably a lot more constrained. Its not just a fellow hobbyist chatting to you. It's someone who genuinely can’t always commit to how to they feel because the consequences might be dire.
Everyone is in a different position, and one of my constant refrains here on twitter is to think of the person on the other side of the screen. Would you call them out in a club or at WHW in real life?
And sometimes I hope the answer is yes.
And sometimes I hope the answer is yes.
Basically, be excellent to each other and party on!
Now I’m off to dribble over models painted far better than I can dream of doing and wish I had some prospect of getting a game in! Bloody coronavirus.
