Boost Enthusiazm-Don't Kill It
Why or Why Not?
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There have been alot of issues, brought up (continuosly), about certain aspects of the site (i know i have exspressed some myself).... Fair, unfair,, submissions, exception,rejection, abuse, ect..... And no matter what your stand or opinions are regarding these matters/issues, the bottom line is, it is happening, and everyone knows it. So you can hate me for this or not.... But either way, i have no intention what-so-ever to step on anyone's toes, or offend anyone, its just my opinion, and with the thought that bringing some of these issues to light, in a more civil manner. Maybe.... Just maybe, we can work together and get this thing fixed to the saticfation of everyone (always good to dream), but there is always hope! But take it as you want to.... (and excuse my possible spelling, I'm not perfect), Yet!!! LOL
Why- I find it a little irronic that when an issue is brought up, one of the things you will get as a responce is how great this site is, how there is alot more good here, more this and more that.... I think you have to consider some of the aspects of the site... #1, who is it run by (Basicly Stardock), #2 What are the main features of the site (Stardock Product), not to mention there aren't a whole lot of companies that put out the type of product Stardock does (Their Advantage).... And all the other sites that basicly have been considered as lesser (and some are), most if not all of their features are based around Stardock product. Example To Ponder: I (and i think most will agree), that sites like Deviantart/SkinBase, ect., have more freedom when it comes to their submission policy, and their rating system/submission exception, ect., is not souly based on the sites Admin's, but actually by its visitor's, subscriber's, & users, something WC may consider more of.... Does this make DeviantArt/SkinBase better or worse. It is easy for individuals to make a comment like that, when their reputation, time & efforts are not being trampled on (or considered to be), for whatever reasons....
Why Not- another responce that seems to be regular, when issues are expressed, is how issues should be brought up privately.... That an Admin should be emailed to try and resolve the problem.... This can send one message to the prospective readers, Hiding the problem/issue.... People get upset, when things are not the way they may think they should be (fair or unfair, whats right or wrong), and issues will be expressed regardless of who likes it or not. Does this mean, the individual expressing their dismay, has to pay for it, by either having there submission's denied, ratings trashed or abused by users who got offend.... "Open Your Mouth, And Pay The Price" Or "keep Your Mouth Shut And Continue To Feel Screwed and unappreciated" You do the math.... Another thing is how it seems to be ok for one individual to express there opinions/issues, but another has their opinion/issue obscured and critasized by the answering (offended) parties through-out their post.... Not to mention Admin's don't get to every email (or may choose not too, who knows), i know this by experience, i have emailed quite a few times with no responce what-so-ever, be it questions, help, or whatnot.... I know there is alot to concider for Admin's.... don't get me wrong, they have alot of things to tend too. But if your going to request individuals to take certain steps or actions, you should stand by your request...
Why- The good old "I'm not posting here anymore", "I'm Leaving".... and the responces mostly heard, "Fine, Sorry To See You Go" or "Issues Are No Reason To Leave" ( i know, been there a couple times myself, LOL).... Again, easy for someone to make comments like that, when your rep, work, & efforts are not being trampled on (or considered so).... Consider this.... Individuals take alot of pride in their time and efforts, and when all they see is negative, then feelings play a big part in decision making, be it right or wrong.... Enthusiazm is based on good responces (more good responces, more will want to be done).... and in turn causes the individual to thrive to be better, and in most cases (like myself), can handle constructive critisizm, and learn from bad critisizm instead of getting offended.... would you rather stay in a place that shows you to be worthy, or a place that shows you to be nothing (appreciated or a lack there of).... Or when you see individual getting more out of the site, like 3,4,5 feature posts every 2 weeks, on the feature page for 3,4, days at a time (don't think thats considered a daily shot anymore....LOL), and others lucky if they get one, and lucky to see it up for 24 hours.... Remember action speaks louder than words.... If your going to create a site that its base is compitition, which anyway you slice it, thats what this site is, it should be run fairly (for everyone), and anyone who happens to be afraid of a little compitition, shouldn't be here, if their main focus is to trash the efforts of potential compitition.... we focus more on what we see, not on what we hear.... Boost the enthusiazm, don't destroy it....
Bottom line: I think we all need to sit back, take a deep breath, and start making things better.... There will always be issues (what place doesn't have them), but i think together, we could start to make things a little better around here... Some of the issues aren't really that hard to fix (to kill the fire, get rid of the problem), if people are willing to do so.... For the site leaders, make things a little more fair for everyone, be it ratings, submission or whatnot (not your personal prefrence) let the general public deside, no one can tell or has some super-natrual power that tells them what people like and what they don't.... alot of novices, ametures, (or whatever) and even individuals just getting into the field, would like to be as good as the vets someday (otherwise they wouldn't be here).... But give them the opportunity, make us all want to be here, and contribute to the best of our abilities (and we will get better), and inturn give this site even more advantages then it may already have.... For the regs, and vets, share your knowledge, give constructive critisizm (all around), assist in making others better , you may not realize it, but the rewards will last for years to come.... Ever watch your kids do something, where you said or thought "I tought Them that" remember how that felt, and remember everyone has feelings, that can be steped on, think before you act (think how you would feel in the particular situations)... Ok a little of subject, but i think you get my point.
Lets try and all get along, and make this site something we all can be proud of (without all of us, this site wouldn't be much), instead of trashing each other for what they say or do.... feels like a battleground around here, all of us bunched in our little groups and taking shots at each other.... Thought this was a community!!! Like i said its all up to us, if we are willing to bend a little.... Boost The Enthusiazm, Don't Kill It!
Then again,(wonder who i'm going to pissoff next), i may be considered as talking outta my butt, and all this just fell on def ears, guess i'll know by the responces HUH? (not ready to give up on this place just yet....LOL) lets get over this hump already.....LOL feels like a pot-hole in the road, that no one wants to fix.... I got a shovel and asfault anyone want to help?.....
Why- I find it a little irronic that when an issue is brought up, one of the things you will get as a responce is how great this site is, how there is alot more good here, more this and more that.... I think you have to consider some of the aspects of the site... #1, who is it run by (Basicly Stardock), #2 What are the main features of the site (Stardock Product), not to mention there aren't a whole lot of companies that put out the type of product Stardock does (Their Advantage).... And all the other sites that basicly have been considered as lesser (and some are), most if not all of their features are based around Stardock product. Example To Ponder: I (and i think most will agree), that sites like Deviantart/SkinBase, ect., have more freedom when it comes to their submission policy, and their rating system/submission exception, ect., is not souly based on the sites Admin's, but actually by its visitor's, subscriber's, & users, something WC may consider more of.... Does this make DeviantArt/SkinBase better or worse. It is easy for individuals to make a comment like that, when their reputation, time & efforts are not being trampled on (or considered to be), for whatever reasons....
Why Not- another responce that seems to be regular, when issues are expressed, is how issues should be brought up privately.... That an Admin should be emailed to try and resolve the problem.... This can send one message to the prospective readers, Hiding the problem/issue.... People get upset, when things are not the way they may think they should be (fair or unfair, whats right or wrong), and issues will be expressed regardless of who likes it or not. Does this mean, the individual expressing their dismay, has to pay for it, by either having there submission's denied, ratings trashed or abused by users who got offend.... "Open Your Mouth, And Pay The Price" Or "keep Your Mouth Shut And Continue To Feel Screwed and unappreciated" You do the math.... Another thing is how it seems to be ok for one individual to express there opinions/issues, but another has their opinion/issue obscured and critasized by the answering (offended) parties through-out their post.... Not to mention Admin's don't get to every email (or may choose not too, who knows), i know this by experience, i have emailed quite a few times with no responce what-so-ever, be it questions, help, or whatnot.... I know there is alot to concider for Admin's.... don't get me wrong, they have alot of things to tend too. But if your going to request individuals to take certain steps or actions, you should stand by your request...
Why- The good old "I'm not posting here anymore", "I'm Leaving".... and the responces mostly heard, "Fine, Sorry To See You Go" or "Issues Are No Reason To Leave" ( i know, been there a couple times myself, LOL).... Again, easy for someone to make comments like that, when your rep, work, & efforts are not being trampled on (or considered so).... Consider this.... Individuals take alot of pride in their time and efforts, and when all they see is negative, then feelings play a big part in decision making, be it right or wrong.... Enthusiazm is based on good responces (more good responces, more will want to be done).... and in turn causes the individual to thrive to be better, and in most cases (like myself), can handle constructive critisizm, and learn from bad critisizm instead of getting offended.... would you rather stay in a place that shows you to be worthy, or a place that shows you to be nothing (appreciated or a lack there of).... Or when you see individual getting more out of the site, like 3,4,5 feature posts every 2 weeks, on the feature page for 3,4, days at a time (don't think thats considered a daily shot anymore....LOL), and others lucky if they get one, and lucky to see it up for 24 hours.... Remember action speaks louder than words.... If your going to create a site that its base is compitition, which anyway you slice it, thats what this site is, it should be run fairly (for everyone), and anyone who happens to be afraid of a little compitition, shouldn't be here, if their main focus is to trash the efforts of potential compitition.... we focus more on what we see, not on what we hear.... Boost the enthusiazm, don't destroy it....
Bottom line: I think we all need to sit back, take a deep breath, and start making things better.... There will always be issues (what place doesn't have them), but i think together, we could start to make things a little better around here... Some of the issues aren't really that hard to fix (to kill the fire, get rid of the problem), if people are willing to do so.... For the site leaders, make things a little more fair for everyone, be it ratings, submission or whatnot (not your personal prefrence) let the general public deside, no one can tell or has some super-natrual power that tells them what people like and what they don't.... alot of novices, ametures, (or whatever) and even individuals just getting into the field, would like to be as good as the vets someday (otherwise they wouldn't be here).... But give them the opportunity, make us all want to be here, and contribute to the best of our abilities (and we will get better), and inturn give this site even more advantages then it may already have.... For the regs, and vets, share your knowledge, give constructive critisizm (all around), assist in making others better , you may not realize it, but the rewards will last for years to come.... Ever watch your kids do something, where you said or thought "I tought Them that" remember how that felt, and remember everyone has feelings, that can be steped on, think before you act (think how you would feel in the particular situations)... Ok a little of subject, but i think you get my point.
Lets try and all get along, and make this site something we all can be proud of (without all of us, this site wouldn't be much), instead of trashing each other for what they say or do.... feels like a battleground around here, all of us bunched in our little groups and taking shots at each other.... Thought this was a community!!! Like i said its all up to us, if we are willing to bend a little.... Boost The Enthusiazm, Don't Kill It!
Then again,(wonder who i'm going to pissoff next), i may be considered as talking outta my butt, and all this just fell on def ears, guess i'll know by the responces HUH? (not ready to give up on this place just yet....LOL) lets get over this hump already.....LOL feels like a pot-hole in the road, that no one wants to fix.... I got a shovel and asfault anyone want to help?.....
] I seem to be approving/moderating the lion's share. They almost never need to be viewed by more than one person before being deemed suitable or not....porn, etc is fairly easy to determine, etc. Being a skinner I see GUI layouts/compositions/styles daily.... possibly more so than the 'user-only' might...and can readily determine whether a collection of skins used in a screenshot makes for a good 'suite' or not...or whether it's hackneyed or predictable...and ratings mostly end up between about 5 and 8 ... but none is rejected for 'quality' as their prime function is aas a 'tool'...that may be being used by the uploader to show to another person/skinner a specific detail.
?get rid of the forums?? 
