I always felt like this was a huge disservice to creatives. I feel like people should be rating content based on quality and even just whether they like it or not, not getting sucked into the downvote system fed by this exact kind of paranoia because it's original content. If an artist, videographer, filmmaker, photographer, musician, sculpture, ect. creates something, they should be given the opportunity to show their work to an audience. The 'Not Mine' policy creates a whole other problem, where because there is not enough original content seeing the light of day, the same stuff is circulated based on superficial popularity and not based on any informed thinking. You end up with flashy doodles becoming "the best art I've ever seen" and it becomes impossible to have any thoughtful discussion on the topic of art. You also get exactly what mk said - imgur folders of noncredit artwork, sometimes mislabeled to deceiving look like they were made by the OP.

Yes, I am a disgruntled artist who tried posting to Reddit, but it is because in the past, I could. I used to be able to share my work and having some level of discussion and interest. It used to do well in regular subs as well as art related subs. Now, if I even try, it's downvoted immediately because I am just looking for attention/money/look what I can do, right? Part of the whole reason I create art is for other people. Maybe I am a rare case, but I truly feel like if I am producing work that no one cares for and has no impact, I shouldn't be doing it because it is a waste. I should pursue another career. It goes beyond me, even if creating is part of who I am, what I need to do to be happy, and what I treat as business. Now I really believe these same people who immediately downvote this kind of original content don't look at it, don't think about it, and are too focused on karma. Social popularity over quality of content.

What I find ironic about this is that the internet has become such a powerful platform for free-range entertainment and information, yet people basically undermine the progression of culture by enforcing this 'Not Mine' policy instead of encouraging creatives who they support. I actually don't see it as entirely egotistical to share your own content - you should have a certain level of pride in your work (otherwise, why should anyone else if you don't believe in it?), and you need to put yourself out there for people to know you exist. There's a fine line between that and spam of course, but everything shouldn't default as spam because it's original content from the creator. This is also ironic in the sense that a creator will be criticized of being an attention whore for trying to promote their work, when really - what is 99% of the internet doing? How is it that creating selfies of you using the toilet or posting about your starbucks is different and acceptable to some groups of people, but showing your art isn't?