I don't think it's stupid, just that I don't really buy into the whole thing where people believe that to be taken seriously as a professional writer (or artist), that means they have to restrict their creativity to paying sources only.

It's not just you who says that, however. Seasoned professional comic writers/artists or novel writers say the same thing, but I believe that's more a case of they believe if they post anything for free anyplace, people will ask them to do things for free that infringe on their time. That's fair, I guess.

The point is, I don't believe it's a case of post stuff on a message board and your career is over before it starts, no matter how many times it's repeated in the industry. You just have to draw a clear line between what's free and what isn't. If someone wants to see you post Annabelle and Roland stuff, that can't happen. But characters you can't use in paying work like other people's characters, Trickshot, Desert Rose (you'd have to change the name of that one to use it, since it's the name of a Sting song), why not? Unless you just don't have time or inspiration.

Seriously though, I'd really like to know who tells up-and-coming pros that they have to erase themselves from the internet and lock themselves in a box where (potential) money comes in and work comes out, because it always made very little sense to me. I'm not shooting you down, Scott, I really would like to know.