Unkind and Unhelpful comments from "Citizens"

from WinCustomize Forums
I'm would hate to suggest that a feature be taken away from myself due to a suggestion I make but...As I've been looking at the comments being made by what appears to be "Newbie Citizens" they seem to be rather harsh and non-constructive. My understanding of adding a comment is to help the artist make a better skin next time. Yet, the people that make these harsh comments have no understanding of the amount of work that goes into making a skin.

Plus, there are a great deal of people creating a skin for the first time. I applaude them. But instead of helping them with the next one, these people end up reacting cruelly and thereby discouraging them to continue thier efforts. I find this most disturbing. And it certainly does not encourage me to make my first skin.

My question is this: Should people with "Apprentice" level or better only be allowed to comment on skins?
5,513 views 20 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
My only suggestion is to, as in real life, know which comments really matter and ignore the peanut gallery
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Best solution is to bring any particularly 'nasty' comments to the attention of the admins so they can be dealt with....

Limiting comments to a smaller group would just result in fewer comments both good or bad....

Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Best solution is to bring any particularly 'nasty' comments to the attention of the admins so they can be dealt with....


and also it is best to do so in a email rather than on the board from what I have witnessed.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Since more people download things than create things, and that it is the opinions of everyone who might choose to download something (or not!) that could help one improve then I think it would be counter productive to limit the comments in this way.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have a hard time getting people to comment on my stuff at all


Same here!
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
And it certainly does not encourage me to make my first skin.

Please don't let the jerks discourage you, most of them are clueless. And do as Jafo suggests........ let us know about any comments that should be looked into.





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Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Listen to Koasati and Jafo. If you notice all the harsh comments come from people that for the most part have no work on display. A real artist knows how much work is involved in the creation of a skin and how hard it is to make a 'first' skin, and generally a true artist will give a constructive critique. Feed off these type of comments and not those whose sole intention is to discourage or make a mockery out of the comment boxes.

BTW, you can always seek help from any of the forums or artists of this site.


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Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
no worries
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Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
@

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
*gulp*
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
citizens aren't even supposed to have the right to comment according to the hierarchy explanations.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hey - I am a citizen and I can comment. (but I am also a Level 4 user)
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
#12 by The Skins Factory - 2/26/2004 12:59:17 AM citizens aren't even supposed to have the right to comment according to the hierarchy explanations.


Someone needs to clarify this issue, and then get all the pages reading the same way.

According to the "About" page https://www.wincustomize.com/index.asp?Cmd=about of this site, citizens can only "submit skins, download and talk on the message board." Apprentices "can not only talk on the message board but can also comment on skins and the news items." There is no mention of who may or may not rate on this page, nor is there any mention of User Levels.

According to the site FAQ, Level 2 "Registered users can create posts, talk on the message boards, submit skins, make comments on skins, participate on polls, etc." Level 3 "users get all the benefits of a registered user plus the ability to rate skins and can download an unlimited amount of content." Level 4 users, according to this page, only get the WC Browser as an additional benefit, no other rights or privileges are described.

In another section of the site FAQ, it says, "To be able to rate a skin you must have either a Apprentice access level or higher, or have a Customer Level (User Level) or either 3 or 4."

Also pertinent, I believe, is Frogboy's thread here: https://www.wincustomize.com/msgboard.asp?id=242784&BID=WC&page=1#243347 where he says in his original post: "There will be a WEIGHT used to calculate the ratings. A rating by a citizen will counts a 1Xtheir rating. An apprentice 2X their rating, Master Apprentice 3X their rating and so on." So apparently, if citizens cannot rate now, they will soon be able to rate, and presumably comment.

I'm not here to say one way or the other who can or should be able to rate. Only that I wish someone would make a decision and update the policies so that they are consistent.

P.S. I am a Stardock customer at Level 3 and it appears I have the ability to rate when I click on any skin on the site. I tried it twice simply to see if I would get an error message. If it matters, I gave an honest appraisal and left what I felt were appropriate comments at that time. See here: https://www.wincustomize.com/skins.asp?library=28&SkinID=1257 and here: https://www.wincustomize.com/skins.asp?library=28&SkinID=1242 if an admin would like to check to see if my ratings were actually recorded.

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Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thank goodness I am normally 'kind and unhelpful' or 'unkind and helpful'.

Maybe if I work my way up to 'Master' I'll be able to swing both.


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Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Shameless...no, your ratings did not 'take'...
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think that one thing I'd ideally like to see implemented is to only allow commenting on a particulat skin to people who have downloaded it. Maybe use cookies when the skin has been downloaded and from there allow the "Comment" button to be clicked, otherwise have it disabled.
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'd like to see ratings linked to comments...
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Me TOOOO Fuzzy Logic
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
wow, i like the new rating system...