I'm curious what you think about this site. We've all seen one of those items on Etsy or Artfire. You know what I mean. A handmade craft item that looks like... garbage. Those are the types of items that Regretsy loves to pounce on and post on their blog. Think Cake Wrecks for Etsy. The tenor of Regretsy is super-sarcasm mixed with utter mirth and assumed superiority. Regretsy's disclaimer reads:
Don’t get us wrong. We like crafts.
We just don’t like these crafts.
Yes, we know these people put their hearts into it. We know it took hours and hours. We know how mean it is to laugh at their creations. And we regret being the only web site on the internet that makes fun of things.
But what can we do? We’re immature.
Besides, art is totally subjective. Who cares what we think? I barely care and I’m writing this.
Listen, if you like something you see here, don’t argue with us, go and buy it. Seriously. Click on any photo and you’ll be taken to the seller’s store*. We’re only too glad to have made the introduction.
I don't know how I feel about this site. I love creating things by hand. I love seeing what other people make with their hands. I understand that there are different levels of talent, motivation, available time, and quality of supplies out there. I also know firsthand what it's like to dive in to the online handmade world with all your heart. While private kicks and giggles are par for the course, I feel uncomfortable making fun of handmade seller's work while linking to their store. This is exactly the opposite kind of publicity any Etsy seller would want.
What is your take? How do you feel about Regretsy?
7 comments:
I classify Regretsy under what I call "snarkholes." These people have nothing positive to contribute of their own, but they still want attention, so they do it by spreading negativity and mean-spiritedness under the guise of "humor." Cake wrecks isn't always about being mean - sometimes the cakes are just horrible misfires, and the cakes are shown, without comment, for the most part. (This does not include of course blog comments.) The person behind Regretsy does with a lot of nasty comment, and is clearly someone who needs to be told how very clever she is - which, at least from my view, she isn't.
Fortunately, despite the mean-spirited thought behind the site, the sellers linked to ARE making money as a direct result of the blog.
Diana,
Your comment summarizes my feelings about this site. The more I look at the Regretsy, the more I truly dislike it.
You're right; Cake Wrecks does not disparage the cake maker by linking to the baker's shop. Completely different than Regretsy.
The negativity and sarcasm are unhealthy and not even humorous.
Thank you for your comments. I appreciate your thoughts!
I find the blog hilarious and I've been featured on it. Sure it's snarky and juvenile but that's fine, that's the tone of the site. So it Fail Blog, People of Walmart, and plenty of other blogs that showcase what they think is the worst and many are popular. It's the train wreck phenomenon, we like to gawk at the awful as much as the wonderful.
I think the site is hilarious and fun... Of course, I make jewelry, and if mine every showed up there, my thin skin would totally come out. But at the same time, think of the loads of free advertising. It's all a matter of taste--one man's inappropriate craft is another's must have. I love Craftastrophe, too. Maybe I'm a little bit snarky. Oh well.
My thing with regretsy is that she didn't used to link back to the people's stores, but people complained about that and so she changed it. The people's stuff that she's making fun of is also selling rather well because of the publicity. One guy sold a bunch of paintings because of regretsy and that's cool.
Fans of cakewrecks who dislike regretsy probably can relate to the people featured, and mocked, on regretsy. After all, who hasn't made a crafty thing? On the other hand, maybe you've baked a cake, but if it had horrifically crappy decorations, it was probably quickly eaten and not displayed publicly. Guess what: it's the same damn thing. Regretsy and Cakewrecks are the same. Damn. Thing. You make something professionally and expect people to pay money for it and display it publicly, you are fair game. If you can laugh at the bakers on cakewrecks, you can't turn around and get all butt-hurt for the crafters on regretsy. Bakers and crafters with actual talent and pride in their craft aren't going to give a shit about either site. In any case, crafters featured on Regretsy seem much more likely to make a few bucks off the publicity than bakers featured on Cakewrecks.
"Snarkhole" is my new favourite term, Diana! It sums up quite a few nasty little sites :)
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