<rant>
All right, this is something that has been eating at me ever since I joined Deviantart. I love the site and the services that they provide, and much of the artwork posted is phenomenal. That said, there is one particular group of members who just push all of my buttons at once - those who I have dubbed "the comment mongers". Let me paint the scenario for you folks: you log onto the site, you're browsing around, and you see a picture that you like. So you fav that picture...because you...you like it, the next time you log in you're greeted with a comment saying in not so few words: "Why didn't you leave a comment!?!?!". Sometimes it's polite, sometimes it's just outright nasty. I mean, what the hell people? What the hell?

With that, I'd like to provide some of you people (you know who you are) a little lesson on compliments and gratitude. I know, I know...this is going to fall on deaf ears because the people who do this aren't about to stop, but I feel compelled to say it anyway.

When someone favs your work, they're not faving it because some one is paying them to, or through some twisted diabolical plan they're getting something out of it. They're faving your work because they like it. Plain and simple. "I like it" is a comment, and faving is a shortcut on how to go about that. So for further reference, the default meaning is +fav = "I like it". To which the proper response is: "Thank you"; or if you just can't be bothered with being polite: say nothing. The improper response would be: "Why didn't you leave a comment?" because like I just said, +fav = "I like it". Say it with me now: +fav = "I like it". Write it down, record yourself speaking those words and play it back over and over, or chant it if you have to and make it your mantra. +fav = "I like it".

Now...having said that I'd like to take the time to explain some other things, and to retort on common arguments about this topic. When someone favs your work, I've said it before but I'll say it again for the cheap seats: +fav = "I like it". Now if this isn't enough for you let me explain how things work. A fav of one of your pieces in someone else's favorites gallery means YOU are getting exposure beyond your little section of this website. People who see the favs in their gallery will see your work, and like myself if they really like that piece they might come to your alcove of Deviantart and look at more. They might fav one or more of your pictures and so on - they might even leave a comment or two. This has a cascading effect in that more and more people will traffic your area because of these favs which are essentially free advertising. So the amount of favs you get is proportional to the amount of comments you get. So this form of ass-kissery that people are doing for you by faving shouldn't be met with, "Leave a comment!! Kiss my ass harder!!! I'm not feeling any tongue!!!". It's rude, it's ungrateful, and it's just plain stupid. By faving people are already kissing your ass and you're COMPLAINING about it.

At this point you might be saying one of the many common responses I see about this issue. So allow me to answer in turn.
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"I don't need your favs" - I beg to differ. See the above paragraph addressing the topic of exposure. By muttering this phrase you are inadvertently saying "I don't need your comments either".
"I don't post for your enjoyment, I post for mine" - And I don't comment simply for your enjoyment. I comment when I have something constructive to say beyond the boundaries of "I like it". If I don't have anything constructive to say but enjoy the piece, I just fav it. It's as simple as that. If you can't take the fav (remember: +fav = "I like it") as compliment/comment enough, then you'll see a lot less favs and therefore comments as time goes on. Then we'll see how your ego takes not getting any attention at all.
"I post my work here so I can get criticism to improve" - That is a very valid argument, but none-the-less pointless to the matter at hand. See the oh so difficult formula of "more favs = more exposure = more comments" for your answer to this one.
"I don't care about exposure, I make my art for me" - That's...noble. But if that were really true then why are you griping about favs without comments? Why do you care about comments at all? Hell...why are you even posting your artwork at all? If you're genuinely making your art solely for your own ego, just draw it and keep it to yourself.
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In the real world, if you chased off anyone who looked at your art and just said "I like it" (one more time: +fav = "I like it"), you'll very soon find that people will just stop looking at your work all together. It works no differently here on this site. If you pitch a fit at everyone who simply favs your work and doesn't go off spouting tongues about how awesome your work is, people are just going to stop faving. It is a rule of thumb with me. If you tell me in not so few words you're not grateful enough for my appreciation of your work by faving it and you expected a comment along with it? Your piece will be promptly unfaved and you will never get one from me again. Trust me, I have a very good memory.

When I receive a fav, I make it a point to thank the person for their obvious admiration to my work. I will admit occasionally some fall through the cracks and they don't get a thank you, and for that I apologize. But for the most part each and every fav will be met with thanks. If I receive a comment - be it constructive or otherwise, you will equally find yourself with a thank you (unless of course if the comment is just downright nasty, then you'll probably get something nasty in return). But comments have never been and never will be a requirement from me. Nor should they be with anyone else.

So to sum it up for those of you who hinge your gratitude on whether comments are left or not , please follow these simple instructions:
Step 1: Travel to your nearest convenience store or shoe outlet.
Step 2: Purchase what is called a "Shoe Horn" and take it home with you.
Step 3: Use said object to help pry your head out of your ass.
Repeat Step 3 as necessary.
Step 4:

</rant>

P.S. Comments are welcome, but NOT REQUIRED