I struggle with Manic Depression (Bipolar Disorder) to this day. I no longer go to therapy or take fistfuls of prescription pills that they used to have me on. It took a long time to work through my issues and stabilize myself without pills or booze, but I got there.

While I don't feel that qualifies me to be judging anyone or preaching about anyone's actions, I can relate to both sides of this thread. A lot of designers don't get much respect, I agree. But who's fault is that? If a designer is actively promoting their studio or services here and can't reply to a potential client inquiry after 4 days, (barring some emergency or technical glitch), it's probably a good indicator of how they operate. (personal opinion there.)

I feel MetaMan's pain, but I disagree with his approach here in this thread. I used to post up wild, manic rants like that every day here for a long time. I came within an inch of complete self-destruction, and had to take a few years off to regroup, reorganize, reevaluate and reprioritize. There was (and still is) much personal work to be done on myself, every day. The important part is, I'm no longer regretting my actions at the end of every day, wishing I could change it. I am actively engaged in changing myself & my studio into exactly what I want it / me to be. That doesn't necessarily translate into "being rich". There are more important things than money.

I've learned the value of not being a douchebag to the rest of society 24/7.
But that is my story. I don't know MetaMan, or really hardly anyone here on a personal level, and so I don't know his story or motivations and this pot isn't going to call that kettle black any time soon.

Yeah, designers don't always get as much respect as maybe we should. But again, who's fault is that? It comes down (again, personal opinion here) to how you operate your studio, providing your service in a professional way, and conducting yourself as a professional when representing your studio. I don't work for peanuts. But I also don't complain about it, because... well, because I don't work for peanuts. If someone doesn't like my fees, I try to work with them as best I can, or they can simply go elsewhere. It's no skin off my back.

Amp's Golden Rule: Run your studio like a professional instead of a college kid, and the respect will follow. :2 cents:

umm, what. how on earth you can distort this thread into this is beyond me.

you saying that the following post has some ring of truth in this thread is even more ridiculous.

Crystal.

Fucking.

Meth.

0 against you or your sites. i just was walked on for years and years. alot of people you can make them the best site for months straight, then one week you are sick and they go around and start calling you a slacker.

or you put 14 hours into a design, have it approved and then have them backtrack.

it is a tough job. and all people do is walk over designers because they can. but i just dont put up with it anymore.

im so very thankful to my new clients this past year. they are understanding and always willing to make things easier on me no matter what the circumstance. this makes my job alot easier.

everyone bashes designers EVERYONE so you must understand why i take it extremely personally.

I have been out of the design business for about 2 yrs now - since webinc.com went away but I gotta say I think the design team we had was the best out there - I think most would agree in the top 5..

Peter and the team still rocks hard, there mainstream site is at, www.krea.com and there adult site is: www.kreadult.com

Not trying to spam but I still work with them on my projects and I simply love them :)

i love you Amp, you always have done wicked work. :thumbsup

im far from depressed or a down person. when you are happy and bubbly people judge you like you are phony smiles and when you are down people will judge you like you are a depressed lunatic. ive realized long ago people are going to judge you no matter what you do. i am happy with who i am so i have nothing to prove to anyone.

little bit of love for us designers would never hurt.

i look forward to working with the designers in this thread i have been in touch with.

!

Longest "Looking for designer" thread ever!

I've tried to translate Meta's mad rambling into more sounding reason, I don't hifi him for jumping on you or anyone here just to show where his anger may have come from without justifying and condoning his actions in this thread.

AMP, you've come a long way, you sound sober and with good solid grasp on things this time around and I'm happy seeing you not being self-distrusting any more. keep it up! :thumbsup

Wow Amp, extry respect for you then. My last "official" girlfriend - we lived together - was/is a stunning, gorgeous, six foot nude model who was/is a fucking Goddess. On the outside. On the INside she struggled with BiPolar Disorder, something that, at the time, I knew nothing about.

Well, I sure learned because she sank into a 3-month long, never-left-the-couch depression, dropped out of college (she was 22 then), stopped modeling...but somehow remained unbelievably hot. LOL Sex was about the only thing that stirred her, a little. But one day, out of the blue, after she begged me to find her psych help, she split. POOF! Gone. Called me every day for the next four months straight, hanging on to...something. Meanwhile, she had a new (photographer) boyfriend in four days, and moved in with him.

Eventually I had to let her go, stop responding to the phone calls/txts, everything. I learned a lot about BP then (this was 2 yrs ago) and so while my sympathy grew, so did my heartache. (I did hear, thru the grapevine, that she got on some meds and has remained more-or-less 'stable' with this new, now old, boyfriend of hers. I'm happy for her!)

So I'm saying it can be done, finding that 'balance'. Great for you man, with all seriousness.

And I hear ya about the designers, it's absolutely a two-way street, like any relationship. If either side is a fucktard, or dealing with "issues", then it can be a real rough ride. Peace to you Amp.