Because I got to the end of this rant and realized it was entirely too long, I started to put the ultimate conclusion up here, so no-one would have to read the whole journal entry (like they'd actually read it anyway! ha!) Then I realized I didn't want to finish writing what I'd started, and that the ultimate conclusion summed the whole thing up quite nicely, so I deleted everything else I'd written and here it is for you:

*** Artists should be SO busy:
1) exposing themselves to more art,
2) getting real world experiences,
3) and getting dirty doing ART,
to improve:
1) their perspectives of themselves, their own art, and other people's art,
2) their techniques,
3) their execution of their artwork,
4) their lives,
that:
they shouldn't have time to sit around reading and answering the (hopefully) numerous comments that flow in regarding their posted work. If it wouldn't take much time to read and answer all those comments, then you aren't very good, are you? and you should be taking above advice to get better.***

How is it that all these whiners haven't been told yet to shut up and go get better?