Bilious
Sparkly Wolf
11,200 Points
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DEMOCRATIC AVATAR RATING ETHICS
aka "D.A.R.E."
12/12/05 ADDITION:
Since this thread keeps getting necroed, I figured an updated rant is in order:
RATING:
Since this thread has been created, people will often come in for a "Rate"
I have decided that the best way to spread the ethics of rating properly is through example, I will "rate" people in this thread through giving advice on how you can better your avatar to suit your goals through working WITH you to find that look you're aiming for and help you perfect it.
If you are looking for advice on a Pirate-styled avatar, please ask in Pirates on Parade.
As of right now, I am the only one to officially rate in this thread. More people will be named when I am CONFIDENT enough in them that they will suggest in the proper manner I am trying to teach. Because my time and patience to do this is limited, though, please only request when the below says that I am "online."
Also, for those who's intentions are not clear, and to help me give you the best possible advice, please fill out the form below:
New to AT? Yes/No
Average number rate you have gotten for the avatar you wish me to advise you on:
What your intentions were when creating the avatar you wish me to advise you on:
What you personally feel is important to an avatar:
Bilious is OFFLINE for advice
NOTICE: D.A.R.E. Will be undergoing a revamp sometime soon! Please, stay tuned!
This is a rant thread regarding the current status on the behavior of AT now a days.
Show your support through this banner:
please host on your own site. link back to here. spread the word.
new banner brought to us by the lovely Page Boy! heart
Here is the collected feelings of the problems with the current rating ethics:
see why D.A.R.E. is important? It happens to us all anymore. ^.^ no one is safe, even respected gaians such as yourself. ^.^ a personal taste in color choice and item choice should not effect whether an avatar is successful or not.
I personally disagree with D.A.R.E and what it stands for because the quality of avatars asking to be rated has gone down and so have users standards. sweatdrop Just look at http://www.gaiaonline.com/profile/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=305812
you can't blame D.A.R.E. for poor avatars. That's just not fair. D.A.R.E. represents the rational, helpful approach to aiding people in improving rather than simply telling them that they fail at life because they're wearing a light blue and a dark blue. Please.... befor you form an opinion about something, know more about it? sad
This is a terribly bitchy thing to say...but i'm not feeling well so therefore i'm entitled. i guess. sweatdrop
I can't help but think that that guy missed the point but a lot. So...because people are dressing crappier, we should bombard them with meaningless cliches about over used colors and items and nitpick they're matching ability until they conform to that rediculous matchy matchy standard.
In the end all you have is a bunch of sad little outfits and avatars who only wanted to fit in in the first place.
So when someone says that the problem is the overall quality of avatar outfits going down the tube, i have to wonder if that is because no one is allowed to think outside the box.
You know what? if you like to match every shade and hue, fine. There are also other ways to put together an outfit. Its more fun when people can make the looks they want and other people can be helpful in making the looks that they want work. 3nodding
HOW TO RATE FAIRLY
(An opinion of Bilious)
For those who don't remember me, I'm an old ATer that has drifted away silently and now has been trying to get "back in the groove".
All I've noticed since then, though, is the same thing over and over- bad ratings. If you're going to rate people, DO IT WITH THOUGHT! Don't just say, "The colors don't match perfectly" or "I don't like it"... SAY why you don't like it! And so what if the colors don't match perfectly?? In real life, what would you think of a person walking down the street wearing all the same color exactly?? That they looked pretty silly, that's what. It takes creativity to figure out how to match things in a way that takes tones, color, brightness and darkness and balance all into concideration, which is why some avatars "work" or "Don't work".
Also when rating, you have to take into concideration who wants to be rated- don't think about any other avatar you've seen, unless they're asking about origonality. Just look at the avatar in question. Concider what they may or may not be able to affoard, offering them ideas for improvement as well as compliments.
People come here for advice, not to get flamed.
Now I'm no mod, but this has seriously irked me. It is not a complicated thing, no long list needed of dos or don'ts- you are all intelligent enough to know how to speak to a person. I've been wanting to try to do something about this befor, but I didn't know what to do. Vasrio stated that people might pay attention, it coming from an old-timer like me, but who knows? I just hope that by example I can help guide AT back to where it used to be. I know I'm not alone in wanting this.
What others have said:
...so?
*hides* so? it has no point, and now we have feel good rate threads where your garaunteed an 8-10 despite the fact it might be a set or something else.... like persay a typical noob outfit. darktux/darkpants neo matrix wannabe crap >.<
im in ranting mood. ill get more detailed in peoples inadequacies tonight.
That wasin't the point of this thread. It was for fair ratings. Not insanely low or insanely high but fair and with an explination. The reason so many of these kinds of threads are poping up is because this is something that is bothering a lot of people and unfortunatly, a lot of people keep missing these threads.
I personally am not saying that rating harshly is a bad thing... but when someone gives out a 0-3/10, give a reason other than OMG it SUX. Constructive critisism is more what I'm hoping for...
I've just been reading some of your rates. It seems that people love you more when you put a lot of thought and input into your rate, not if you give them 10000/10.
Heh, well, giving 10000/10, to me, doesn't seem like an honest/true rating xd Just an extremely nice way to say that you think their avatar is really nice or you're a friend of the person being rated xp Usually when those are handed out, there really is no reason why they say it deserves that score. Not that its not nice to receive a rating such as this, they're just fun to see at times 3nodding
With more input, it gives the person being rated an idea of what they've done right and help them in deciding what would make another excellent avatar with the same elements of the previous outfit 3nodding This can also be said about comments about the cons of the outfit; the only way to improve yourself is know where you've gone wrong, right? More input is just generally a lot more helpful, kind of obvious if you read it but some people just don't bother. People know what they like and don't like, some don't think they have to explain it and sometimes its not even expected.
Whatever works for the rater/ratee, I guess xp
BILIOUS' PERSONAL FAVORITE:
From another thread:
In conclusion:
since I was kvetching in PoP as well, my argument here I was rather proud of:
I guess I just feel like I'm the only one being annoying and like... yelling at people directly and stuff. ^^'
Stupid question time... what is D.A.R.E ?
I tend to try and avoid confrontational stuff... The last time I tried doing something about the aditude of some members on a message board, it ended up having two mods comming after me and flaming me and I left with my friends before any more mods came in to flame.
Irronically, the point I had tried bringing up to the admin was how rude the mods could be to newbies and anyone who did not suck up to them sweatdrop
My way of supporting people being treated fairly here is by treating everyone fairly and on occasion, defend someone.
D.A.R.E.= Democratic Avatar Rating Ethics I think I would have mods on my side if I wasn't sitting here on my soap box preaching that people should all just be nice to eachother and get over themselves.
though I have a strange feelign this little jewish boy might get nailed to a tree. eek
There is only so much you can do. It's good to keep the thread active though so that people can see it. You can't get eveyone to conform... but atleast people will start to notice there is a problem by reading your thread and hopfully more people will agree and follow what you say. The fact that a respected member such as yourself made that thread counts for a lot too. Look at the response you've gained from that thread. I bet if I were to make a thread like that, I would get nowhere near as good a response. As far as I am concerned, you are doing all you can and you are using your popularty to help better the AT rather than win a popluarity contest. That in itself is a lot more than most AT'ers would do. heart
And if you think abuot it, I practice what I preach... and I didn't *try* to become popular... it just happened. I'm sure if others did what I did and just act like an all around nice guy and be natural as though really talking to friends IRL, then of course you'll make more friends here. I wonder about the social skills of a lot of Gaians anymore... there's plenty that are great, like you guys and so on, but the handful that are causing these problems... don't they have human decency or common sence? It's not about dressing avatars or even Gaia it'self- it's about growing up in a world where most of our social connections are via computer- how can you learn to talk to someone to their face if you've never seen their face? Emoticons aren't enough. You have to understand that there is a person on the other side of that text, someone oyu've never met who has feelings, opinions and emotions as well.
You don't treat people over the internet any differently than you would treat a person if meeting them face to face. I fight for the AT because I believe that the world, deep down, isn't a bunch of assholes- just a bunch of people who don't understand these facts. It might start with an avatar rating, a stupid little thing, but that can seriously agrivate someone for no good reason. That in turn can escilate into them being cruel to others and so on and so forth. By trying to teach the human ethics that parents seem incapable of teaching their children anymore, I hope to make everything easier for everyone. It's all about diplomacy.
I'm not trying to turn us all into pansies or anything, but conciencious, intelligent people who UNDERSTAND PEOPLE. This is a much more important tool in life than learning that purple and yellow are opposites. It might be just little things, but it all adds up into a constant negative energy.
And I hate it.
It's not just Gaia, it's everywhere online. And I can't be everywhere online, so I might as well try to fight for it where it matters most to me.
Now I ask, who is with me?
SUPPORTERS:
Supporters list removed.
It is not about who supports or not. If you support, you will voice your opinion by helping to keep this mentality fluid in the comunity and aid through example. 3nodding
aka "D.A.R.E."
12/12/05 ADDITION:
Since this thread keeps getting necroed, I figured an updated rant is in order:
Bilious
It's so funny to see this thread constantly necroed XDD
I suppose I should revamp it and update it one day... xd heart
My current feelings on the matter can be explained thusly:
1. Matching honestly should take a back burner, important-wise in avatar creation. Having a general look or style or theme should come first, matching used as a tool to help make the overall look flow better and become more attractive. But without any underlying thought beyond matching, there really isn't much creativity/personality involved. Purely matching avatars are on par with clutter avatars creativity-wise.
2. If a person is aiming for matching alone, then that is their taste. They shouldn't count it against other people who are trying to aim for something more. It is EASY to look at an avatar and tell what the user is trying to get across, and if it's not apparent, it's EASY to simply ask them what their intent was.
3. People who have been creating matching avatars apparently have no idea how color thoery works. Something doesn't have to match in hue alone, but in tone as well.
PEOPLE OF THE MATCHING FAD:
MEMORIZE THIS. IT IS YOUR FRIEND. IT WILL HELP YOU EXPAND.
These people could easily learn more about color theory and the way colors can play off of eachother, compliment eachother or destroy eachother. If something is clashing, the two colors in question are OFFENSIVE together, and not just in the rater's opinion. Seperate colors can easily go if they are of the same or similar SHADE.
4. People who are interested in matching avatars should look up tutorials online about color theory befor pretending they have any idea what they are talking about.
5. IN MY OPINION, avatars who use items to match alone are on par, creativity-wise, with coloring in a coloring book. It's when someone can come up with a good overall look influenced by something specific and utilized to the best of their ability with what gaia has to offer AND THEN finished off by color combination, THEN it is something successful, artistic and intelligant.
6. People of the AT seem SO wrapped up in their fads and their own opinion, creativity has been completely STIFFLED. If people can learn to think OUT OF THEIR OWN HEADS, then perhaps AT can return to the enriching and creatively growing community it once was.
Alas, this will probably never happen. People are lazy and constantly are trying to find the easy way to success. They have found it through using matching as an excuse.
THERE IS NOT ONE SPECIFIC THING THAT MAKES A GOOD AVATAR. NOR is there a specific way to break it down! It is all a matter of allowing your personality to overcome what items Gaia has for you to choose from!
I suppose I should revamp it and update it one day... xd heart
My current feelings on the matter can be explained thusly:
1. Matching honestly should take a back burner, important-wise in avatar creation. Having a general look or style or theme should come first, matching used as a tool to help make the overall look flow better and become more attractive. But without any underlying thought beyond matching, there really isn't much creativity/personality involved. Purely matching avatars are on par with clutter avatars creativity-wise.
2. If a person is aiming for matching alone, then that is their taste. They shouldn't count it against other people who are trying to aim for something more. It is EASY to look at an avatar and tell what the user is trying to get across, and if it's not apparent, it's EASY to simply ask them what their intent was.
3. People who have been creating matching avatars apparently have no idea how color thoery works. Something doesn't have to match in hue alone, but in tone as well.
PEOPLE OF THE MATCHING FAD:
MEMORIZE THIS. IT IS YOUR FRIEND. IT WILL HELP YOU EXPAND.
These people could easily learn more about color theory and the way colors can play off of eachother, compliment eachother or destroy eachother. If something is clashing, the two colors in question are OFFENSIVE together, and not just in the rater's opinion. Seperate colors can easily go if they are of the same or similar SHADE.
4. People who are interested in matching avatars should look up tutorials online about color theory befor pretending they have any idea what they are talking about.
5. IN MY OPINION, avatars who use items to match alone are on par, creativity-wise, with coloring in a coloring book. It's when someone can come up with a good overall look influenced by something specific and utilized to the best of their ability with what gaia has to offer AND THEN finished off by color combination, THEN it is something successful, artistic and intelligant.
6. People of the AT seem SO wrapped up in their fads and their own opinion, creativity has been completely STIFFLED. If people can learn to think OUT OF THEIR OWN HEADS, then perhaps AT can return to the enriching and creatively growing community it once was.
Alas, this will probably never happen. People are lazy and constantly are trying to find the easy way to success. They have found it through using matching as an excuse.
THERE IS NOT ONE SPECIFIC THING THAT MAKES A GOOD AVATAR. NOR is there a specific way to break it down! It is all a matter of allowing your personality to overcome what items Gaia has for you to choose from!
RATING:
Since this thread has been created, people will often come in for a "Rate"
I have decided that the best way to spread the ethics of rating properly is through example, I will "rate" people in this thread through giving advice on how you can better your avatar to suit your goals through working WITH you to find that look you're aiming for and help you perfect it.
If you are looking for advice on a Pirate-styled avatar, please ask in Pirates on Parade.
As of right now, I am the only one to officially rate in this thread. More people will be named when I am CONFIDENT enough in them that they will suggest in the proper manner I am trying to teach. Because my time and patience to do this is limited, though, please only request when the below says that I am "online."
Also, for those who's intentions are not clear, and to help me give you the best possible advice, please fill out the form below:
New to AT? Yes/No
Average number rate you have gotten for the avatar you wish me to advise you on:
What your intentions were when creating the avatar you wish me to advise you on:
What you personally feel is important to an avatar:
Bilious is OFFLINE for advice
NOTICE: D.A.R.E. Will be undergoing a revamp sometime soon! Please, stay tuned!
This is a rant thread regarding the current status on the behavior of AT now a days.
Show your support through this banner:
please host on your own site. link back to here. spread the word.new banner brought to us by the lovely Page Boy! heart
Page Boy
Democratic Avatar Rating Ethics = D.A.R.E !!
Here is the collected feelings of the problems with the current rating ethics:
Page Boy
Bilious
m0cha
Bilious
Almighty Toilet Plunger
My god. Just because it's red and black doesn't mean it's automatically bad. rolleyes
see why D.A.R.E. is important? It happens to us all anymore. ^.^ no one is safe, even respected gaians such as yourself. ^.^ a personal taste in color choice and item choice should not effect whether an avatar is successful or not.
I personally disagree with D.A.R.E and what it stands for because the quality of avatars asking to be rated has gone down and so have users standards. sweatdrop Just look at http://www.gaiaonline.com/profile/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=305812
you can't blame D.A.R.E. for poor avatars. That's just not fair. D.A.R.E. represents the rational, helpful approach to aiding people in improving rather than simply telling them that they fail at life because they're wearing a light blue and a dark blue. Please.... befor you form an opinion about something, know more about it? sad
This is a terribly bitchy thing to say...but i'm not feeling well so therefore i'm entitled. i guess. sweatdrop
I can't help but think that that guy missed the point but a lot. So...because people are dressing crappier, we should bombard them with meaningless cliches about over used colors and items and nitpick they're matching ability until they conform to that rediculous matchy matchy standard.
In the end all you have is a bunch of sad little outfits and avatars who only wanted to fit in in the first place.
So when someone says that the problem is the overall quality of avatar outfits going down the tube, i have to wonder if that is because no one is allowed to think outside the box.
You know what? if you like to match every shade and hue, fine. There are also other ways to put together an outfit. Its more fun when people can make the looks they want and other people can be helpful in making the looks that they want work. 3nodding
HOW TO RATE FAIRLY
(An opinion of Bilious)
For those who don't remember me, I'm an old ATer that has drifted away silently and now has been trying to get "back in the groove".
All I've noticed since then, though, is the same thing over and over- bad ratings. If you're going to rate people, DO IT WITH THOUGHT! Don't just say, "The colors don't match perfectly" or "I don't like it"... SAY why you don't like it! And so what if the colors don't match perfectly?? In real life, what would you think of a person walking down the street wearing all the same color exactly?? That they looked pretty silly, that's what. It takes creativity to figure out how to match things in a way that takes tones, color, brightness and darkness and balance all into concideration, which is why some avatars "work" or "Don't work".
Also when rating, you have to take into concideration who wants to be rated- don't think about any other avatar you've seen, unless they're asking about origonality. Just look at the avatar in question. Concider what they may or may not be able to affoard, offering them ideas for improvement as well as compliments.
People come here for advice, not to get flamed.
Now I'm no mod, but this has seriously irked me. It is not a complicated thing, no long list needed of dos or don'ts- you are all intelligent enough to know how to speak to a person. I've been wanting to try to do something about this befor, but I didn't know what to do. Vasrio stated that people might pay attention, it coming from an old-timer like me, but who knows? I just hope that by example I can help guide AT back to where it used to be. I know I'm not alone in wanting this.
What others have said:
Orestria
it's also very hard to make gaia things match perfectly, since very few things (other than sets) are all the exact same colour. ...
I think a lot of the new raters go with the matching because it's an easy, no though required way of rating. if you can see colour, you can rate! gonk
I think a lot of the new raters go with the matching because it's an easy, no though required way of rating. if you can see colour, you can rate! gonk
Jade Stone
my problem is not what people rate it's how the do it.
You suck -10/10
is not a rate it's a flame
I think you could try...... you need....... I don't like it because.... 1/10 isn't, even if it's low
people can be harsh if they want but people get some manners please.
You suck -10/10
is not a rate it's a flame
I think you could try...... you need....... I don't like it because.... 1/10 isn't, even if it's low
people can be harsh if they want but people get some manners please.
Dead Pirate
If you don't like a flame just don't bother responding. That's where I take my joy from flaming, I just want to watch them respond. If they actually had half the mind like yours bilious, they wouldn't bother talking back. Just nod and live on, its one single freaking opinion.
Your words might not change my mind, Hell I don't agree, but you put up a strong argument.
This is a compliment coming from me. O.o
-A fellow pirate.
Your words might not change my mind, Hell I don't agree, but you put up a strong argument.
This is a compliment coming from me. O.o
-A fellow pirate.
PhoenixEve
The flaming has gotten out of hand. It use to be just a few hard asses doing, now a bunch of lil wimp 12 year old do it and say that's the way they are and I want to smack the living s**t out of their lil' heads, damn attention whores.
trix090
wow. your words say it perfectly. i probably haven't been here as long as you but long enough to realize that the attitude of many users has become more bitter and has veered off from the ways of how it used to be.
you speak for soo many users by saying this and addressed the most important things that have gotten outta line!
thanks for speaking up, ur awesome xp
-TRIX-
you speak for soo many users by saying this and addressed the most important things that have gotten outta line!
thanks for speaking up, ur awesome xp
-TRIX-
Page Boy
Sweet jeesus...it's about time someone else besides me started bitching about it...
heart domokun I thought I would go crazy.
heart domokun I thought I would go crazy.
LAYDEEHxDORK
gonk I tried doing an rating etiquette thread before, that didn't seem to help much though. Maybe YOU could get some sense into their heads. I highly doubt it though.
jayjayne
give that man a dinosaur!
*runs to give that man a dinosaur*
exactly! sometimes peoples ratings don't make any sense
what so ever, so I try my best to give out complex ratings with
suggestions (i've been compared to carson from queer eye xd )
*runs to give that man a dinosaur*
exactly! sometimes peoples ratings don't make any sense
what so ever, so I try my best to give out complex ratings with
suggestions (i've been compared to carson from queer eye xd )
Greyblock
I made a thread similiar to this a few weeks ago, and was bombarded by " stare " emoticons. Hopefully you can knock some sense back into AT smile
Twisted Logic
^^ see im glad i dont make threads like this. Im a bit to aggressive to get such nice results. As for the raiting fairly part. I used to do it. Once upon a time, when i honestly respected the people who rated me. Now its just because i told them how to improve thier avatars i get low rates. >.> Anyways good to have you back and such.
This has somewhat inspired me to post more often and try to be a bit nicer to people again.
AT is like surfing, good waves, badwaves, and then you get eaten by a shark x.x;
This has somewhat inspired me to post more often and try to be a bit nicer to people again.
AT is like surfing, good waves, badwaves, and then you get eaten by a shark x.x;
Yohko
*suddenly sees this thread*
X_o
I hate what AT's become, I really do. I've also attempted to talk some sense into people.
I came into AT one day, click on a "Rate me, please?" thread and find 3 pages of flaming a mediocre avatar. I mean, it wasn't a bad avatar, the greens just didn't match perfectly. confused
I got upset and told people to rate honestly and fairly, and to stop saying "You suck .3/10.", and then I get flamed for trying to be AT's Great and Wonderful Crusader of Justice.
There's just a handful of people here who've forgotten what AT's all about, and no matter what you tell them they say things like "This is who I am, if you don't like it, tough s**t."
I know you're trying to help AT, but this isn't going to make a dent. It's too far gone for that.
Just make sure YOU keep giving honest ratings and helpful suggestions to newbies. As long as there's still a few of us left, there's hope.
X_o
I hate what AT's become, I really do. I've also attempted to talk some sense into people.
I came into AT one day, click on a "Rate me, please?" thread and find 3 pages of flaming a mediocre avatar. I mean, it wasn't a bad avatar, the greens just didn't match perfectly. confused
I got upset and told people to rate honestly and fairly, and to stop saying "You suck .3/10.", and then I get flamed for trying to be AT's Great and Wonderful Crusader of Justice.
There's just a handful of people here who've forgotten what AT's all about, and no matter what you tell them they say things like "This is who I am, if you don't like it, tough s**t."
I know you're trying to help AT, but this isn't going to make a dent. It's too far gone for that.
Just make sure YOU keep giving honest ratings and helpful suggestions to newbies. As long as there's still a few of us left, there's hope.
Natsumi-sama
Yesh AT has become pretty bad....
I remember when you could go into a thread dressed like a total n00b and still get a fair rating and people would be nice about it. I never see that anymore.
heart Thank-you for ranting.
I remember when you could go into a thread dressed like a total n00b and still get a fair rating and people would be nice about it. I never see that anymore.
heart Thank-you for ranting.
Isaviel
I also notice how the more newbies who venture in here for advice, the higher the level of flaming.
Surely we should be helping these people to get a good outfit instead of just.. flame-grilling them because they're wearing an all black av with goth items and fox stuff too? People say "omg! Fox stuff! U SUCK!" But they make no attempt to suggest new items, nor help them to "not suck".
People complain about the number of newbies who come here for whatever reason or other. To be honest, this isn't a private forum, so they need to shut the hell up. This place used to be so welcoming of newbs. Well, it was when I came here. I got some uber spiffy advice about avatar outfits and whatnot. But now, if someone comes here in anything resembling what I was wearing, it's "OMG!1! Get the flamethrowers ready!" And they just scare the poor people off.
stare Once the full might of the fearsome AT anger is released, it's kinda hard to shut up, but most threads that turn into flame wars usually go that step too far. I'm sure some people who've been flamed unfairly have actually come off the internet upset, I wouldn't doubt that. It's not nice to have people screaming at you, even if it is a little pixellated doll on the internet. And the fact that the people don't see that here upsets me.
Surely we should be helping these people to get a good outfit instead of just.. flame-grilling them because they're wearing an all black av with goth items and fox stuff too? People say "omg! Fox stuff! U SUCK!" But they make no attempt to suggest new items, nor help them to "not suck".
People complain about the number of newbies who come here for whatever reason or other. To be honest, this isn't a private forum, so they need to shut the hell up. This place used to be so welcoming of newbs. Well, it was when I came here. I got some uber spiffy advice about avatar outfits and whatnot. But now, if someone comes here in anything resembling what I was wearing, it's "OMG!1! Get the flamethrowers ready!" And they just scare the poor people off.
stare Once the full might of the fearsome AT anger is released, it's kinda hard to shut up, but most threads that turn into flame wars usually go that step too far. I'm sure some people who've been flamed unfairly have actually come off the internet upset, I wouldn't doubt that. It's not nice to have people screaming at you, even if it is a little pixellated doll on the internet. And the fact that the people don't see that here upsets me.
Janie Jane
I totally agree. Many times I look at people's rates and think where are they coming from? No consideration is given to weight balance, toning, complimentary colours, contrast colours, and too much bias is placed on item dislikes, alot of people wouldn't appreciate a shape theme if it whacked them on the head and said "I'm a shape theme".
There are several people that I could name, but won't for the sake of peace, that think there is merit in matching colours, this is kindergarten stuff that I expect my 6 year old to have mastered.
Creative vision and an artistic eye are a rare thing, and too many people are kidding themselves that they have them, and instead are relying on basic colour matching to get them by.
This said, artisitic vision is a gift, not something you can learn, so this problem is not one that acn be fixed in AT. There is no simple formula to what makes a good avatar, therefore the simple people who are looking for simple rules to follow will continue to rate in the dreadful manner they are currently deploying.
What people should take into consideration though, is how they word their rating. There is no excuse for blatant rudeness, no matter how much you lack in creativity and vision. All it does is show you up to be illiterate and angst ridden.
I could go on, and probably will in my own thread at some point, as there are lots of things that I haven't even begun to address in this post, but it's nearly 9am and my 3 year old still hasn't had breakfast *bad mother* redface
There are several people that I could name, but won't for the sake of peace, that think there is merit in matching colours, this is kindergarten stuff that I expect my 6 year old to have mastered.
Creative vision and an artistic eye are a rare thing, and too many people are kidding themselves that they have them, and instead are relying on basic colour matching to get them by.
This said, artisitic vision is a gift, not something you can learn, so this problem is not one that acn be fixed in AT. There is no simple formula to what makes a good avatar, therefore the simple people who are looking for simple rules to follow will continue to rate in the dreadful manner they are currently deploying.
What people should take into consideration though, is how they word their rating. There is no excuse for blatant rudeness, no matter how much you lack in creativity and vision. All it does is show you up to be illiterate and angst ridden.
I could go on, and probably will in my own thread at some point, as there are lots of things that I haven't even begun to address in this post, but it's nearly 9am and my 3 year old still hasn't had breakfast *bad mother* redface
DayeChan
Ever since the close-knot of AT regulars from back in the day(e) started to leave, AT has undergone some really harsh changes. Not as though there's anything wrong with new people. We all welcome them, yes, but there is something wrong with new people who flame. Or old people who flame. Or anyone who flames ._.
You could say that AT's overrun with jerks now, or something close to it, but if you spot out those people who really seem to care about their fellow Gaians, and those who are against flaming, I think AT can go back to what it used to be. The only difference : Different People.
You could say that AT's overrun with jerks now, or something close to it, but if you spot out those people who really seem to care about their fellow Gaians, and those who are against flaming, I think AT can go back to what it used to be. The only difference : Different People.
LadyMystique
What gets me down is that people say things like "Fox stuff! Ew!" when it's probably just THEIR opinion that fox stuff is horrid. Raters need to think objectively! Just because you don't like some particular item doesn't mean that it makes a person's Avatar look horrid and deserve a 1/10. For example, I really don't like the look of buck teeth myself. Even so, I have seen quite a few avvies where the buckies actually go well and make the whole thing look cute!
Artume
AT has really gone downhill in that respect. It's not only that but you see mediocre avatars getting OMG!!1 10/10 rates from n00bs. What also annoys me is when people rate an outfit based on just one item like 'I luv emo glasses - 8/10' or 'ew, 90s pants suck - 2/10'. gonk
FrozenFyre
*applause* thank you Bilious. i've seen a few other threads similar to this, but yours has really seemed to pull though.
What really bothers me, is that we were all newbies once too. we didn't get treated like that, well, at least, i didn't. i remember my first outfit, i thought it was great rolleyes well, anyway, we should encourage those who are newer to gaia, saying things like "well, that looks good, but changing this to this would look better" etc.
ok, i think thats all that i have to say 3nodding whee
btw, welcome back Bilious ^^
What really bothers me, is that we were all newbies once too. we didn't get treated like that, well, at least, i didn't. i remember my first outfit, i thought it was great rolleyes well, anyway, we should encourage those who are newer to gaia, saying things like "well, that looks good, but changing this to this would look better" etc.
ok, i think thats all that i have to say 3nodding whee
btw, welcome back Bilious ^^
Nakago_Chan
I am glad to finally see a thread like this getting the attention it needs. Not long ago I was speaking with a few others on the behaviour of the AT recently and how it's almost come to a no-win situation when it comes to rating. You need to be orriginal and these days, the only way to do that effectivly is with items no one likes since no one uses them. But no matter how orriginal and how good it might acutally look, it still will get a bad rating since it's the were-claws or fox set.
The treatment towards newcommers is also getting to be a bit much to me. The AT is getting a reputation of being nothing but a bunch of a**l, opinionated people due to how rude and blunt some can be when rating. People come here for advice and opinons of an outfit. Not to be flamed for no reason for sporting an item that is a fashion no-no in the AT. If someone want's to critisize an outfit atleast make it constructive critisizim.
The treatment towards newcommers is also getting to be a bit much to me. The AT is getting a reputation of being nothing but a bunch of a**l, opinionated people due to how rude and blunt some can be when rating. People come here for advice and opinons of an outfit. Not to be flamed for no reason for sporting an item that is a fashion no-no in the AT. If someone want's to critisize an outfit atleast make it constructive critisizim.
candycrack
So many people have tried and tried to fight this argument and so many other threads have been shot down, that I never even bothered. I think Its going to be time for the AT 101 sticky to get a face lift and merge some old sections together to wake way for some new ones... like how to rate someone. stressed
I never thought it would have to come down to this but apparently it is going to it's a sad sad day... when people no longer rate but flame instead. I just don't understand what the big deal is, if you don't like someones av that much just give them a 1/10 and some suggestions as to what to do... not you suck go away.
:sigh: hopefully you can get it through peoples heads that this isn't chatter box and a place for flame wars. This is Avatar Talk where everyone used to know everyone and everyone who was new got treated nicely, not flamed.
I never thought it would have to come down to this but apparently it is going to it's a sad sad day... when people no longer rate but flame instead. I just don't understand what the big deal is, if you don't like someones av that much just give them a 1/10 and some suggestions as to what to do... not you suck go away.
:sigh: hopefully you can get it through peoples heads that this isn't chatter box and a place for flame wars. This is Avatar Talk where everyone used to know everyone and everyone who was new got treated nicely, not flamed.
Nakago_Chan
Twisted Logic
Isaviel
Twisted Logic
I need an anti idiot bat now. We have all kinds of wierd dont rate me but tell me i look good and how to fix it threads.
...so?
*hides*
im in ranting mood. ill get more detailed in peoples inadequacies tonight.
That wasin't the point of this thread. It was for fair ratings. Not insanely low or insanely high but fair and with an explination. The reason so many of these kinds of threads are poping up is because this is something that is bothering a lot of people and unfortunatly, a lot of people keep missing these threads.
I personally am not saying that rating harshly is a bad thing... but when someone gives out a 0-3/10, give a reason other than OMG it SUX. Constructive critisism is more what I'm hoping for...
Cidius Creid
ketchup packets
Cidius Creid
Honestly, it really just becomes another form of spam. Of course not in the traditional sense where someone says something that has completely nothing to do with the topic but it really should be regarded that way.
A low rating without reason or even a high rating without reason isn't going to help at all. Its just a way for someone to get their post count up or earn an easy x amount of gold neutral
But hey, who am I to comment on someone else's way of rating? I'm not one to point and wag my finger at anyone, if this is how they rate then by all means rate this way. It doesn't do me or anyone else any harm...except of course the person being rated xp
A low rating without reason or even a high rating without reason isn't going to help at all. Its just a way for someone to get their post count up or earn an easy x amount of gold neutral
But hey, who am I to comment on someone else's way of rating? I'm not one to point and wag my finger at anyone, if this is how they rate then by all means rate this way. It doesn't do me or anyone else any harm...except of course the person being rated xp
I've just been reading some of your rates. It seems that people love you more when you put a lot of thought and input into your rate, not if you give them 10000/10.
Heh, well, giving 10000/10, to me, doesn't seem like an honest/true rating xd Just an extremely nice way to say that you think their avatar is really nice or you're a friend of the person being rated xp Usually when those are handed out, there really is no reason why they say it deserves that score. Not that its not nice to receive a rating such as this, they're just fun to see at times 3nodding
With more input, it gives the person being rated an idea of what they've done right and help them in deciding what would make another excellent avatar with the same elements of the previous outfit 3nodding This can also be said about comments about the cons of the outfit; the only way to improve yourself is know where you've gone wrong, right? More input is just generally a lot more helpful, kind of obvious if you read it but some people just don't bother. People know what they like and don't like, some don't think they have to explain it and sometimes its not even expected.
Whatever works for the rater/ratee, I guess xp
Comix Girl
I fully support this thread, and here is my contribution:
Ok, I'll make this as simple as I can for the newcomers to AT, and I'll use Bilious' current outfit as an example:
RATING 101 - BY COMIX GIRL *taps chalkboard with pointer* xd
Section 1 - An example of a good rate:
"Excellent color balance- everything flows nicely and there is no clutter or unceccessary items that seem out of place. The florals add a burst of color that creates a nice contrast against the black items, as well as adding originality to the outfit, and they also bring the color of your eyes into the scheme as well. Accessories match well with the overall theme- the devil tail, collar, eye patch and wallet all compliment the outfit, rather than taking away from it. If you could manage to fit in one more green item, it would put your outfit over the top, but it's not neccessary either. Excellent work! 8/10"
What have we learned from Section 1, students? I broke down almost every item Bilious was wearing, and tried to look at it in the same perspective that Bilious did when he was creating the outfit- you can tell there was some effort involved, so that alone deserves a decent rate. I also offered a suggestion towards the end of the rate- it's nice to help out your fellow avie, especially if your input helps put their outfit over the top. I also threw in some kind words at the end of the rate- I mean, we're all here to make new friends and have fun, right? *students reply 'Yes, Ms. Comix Girl'* Excellent, excellent...let's move on to the next section... *taps chalkboard with pointer again*
Section 2 - An example of a bad rate:
"OMFG!!!!!1!!111!, I hate <insert item here>, so your avater <note misspelling of avatar> sucks. The boots aren't the same exact color as your pants, shirt and hair, so you suck. I'm jealous of your devil tail, so I'm going to give you a bad rate to make myself feel better. Black and white outfits are so common these days, so that must mean your outfit is crap, which means I'm not going to waste much time rating it. Oh, and I hate your hairstyle too, so your avater sucks."
No, no, no, no, NO! scream If you're going to rate like this, don't bother rating at all. Most avies that ask for a rate ask because they'd like feedback, new ideas to add to the outfit, or just to get a general idea to see what others think of their efforts. When you go to rate someone, treat them with the respect you'd expect when you ask for a rate- how do you feel when someone flames all over you for no good reason? It feels pretty crappy, don't it? scream Yeah, I thought so. *breaks pointer over knee in frustration, students run out of room fleeing for their lives*
So in closing, here are a few simple guidelines that can really make a difference when you give your fellow avie a rate:
1. Be courteous and respectful of their feelings;
2. Take a moment to really look over what they've put together, and be honest with what you have to tell them- if it looks cluttered, tell them in a nice way and offer suggestions, don't just bash and then ask for a rate in return giving no explanation as to why you don't like what they've put together- be honest, but be helpful and nice about it too!;
3. An outfit made with common items can still be creative- don't just glance over their outfit and bash them just because they happened to use the 90s pants, a bammi hat or fox items- pretty much all items can be used in an original and stylish way, so try to break down the outfit and see what sort of theme the creator was going for.
My work is done here students...carry on, and be kind to your fellow avie- the next person to be a victim of a negative rate could be...YOU! eek
Ok, I'll make this as simple as I can for the newcomers to AT, and I'll use Bilious' current outfit as an example:
RATING 101 - BY COMIX GIRL *taps chalkboard with pointer* xd
Section 1 - An example of a good rate:
"Excellent color balance- everything flows nicely and there is no clutter or unceccessary items that seem out of place. The florals add a burst of color that creates a nice contrast against the black items, as well as adding originality to the outfit, and they also bring the color of your eyes into the scheme as well. Accessories match well with the overall theme- the devil tail, collar, eye patch and wallet all compliment the outfit, rather than taking away from it. If you could manage to fit in one more green item, it would put your outfit over the top, but it's not neccessary either. Excellent work! 8/10"
What have we learned from Section 1, students? I broke down almost every item Bilious was wearing, and tried to look at it in the same perspective that Bilious did when he was creating the outfit- you can tell there was some effort involved, so that alone deserves a decent rate. I also offered a suggestion towards the end of the rate- it's nice to help out your fellow avie, especially if your input helps put their outfit over the top. I also threw in some kind words at the end of the rate- I mean, we're all here to make new friends and have fun, right? *students reply 'Yes, Ms. Comix Girl'* Excellent, excellent...let's move on to the next section... *taps chalkboard with pointer again*
Section 2 - An example of a bad rate:
"OMFG!!!!!1!!111!, I hate <insert item here>, so your avater <note misspelling of avatar> sucks. The boots aren't the same exact color as your pants, shirt and hair, so you suck. I'm jealous of your devil tail, so I'm going to give you a bad rate to make myself feel better. Black and white outfits are so common these days, so that must mean your outfit is crap, which means I'm not going to waste much time rating it. Oh, and I hate your hairstyle too, so your avater sucks."
No, no, no, no, NO! scream If you're going to rate like this, don't bother rating at all. Most avies that ask for a rate ask because they'd like feedback, new ideas to add to the outfit, or just to get a general idea to see what others think of their efforts. When you go to rate someone, treat them with the respect you'd expect when you ask for a rate- how do you feel when someone flames all over you for no good reason? It feels pretty crappy, don't it? scream Yeah, I thought so. *breaks pointer over knee in frustration, students run out of room fleeing for their lives*
So in closing, here are a few simple guidelines that can really make a difference when you give your fellow avie a rate:
1. Be courteous and respectful of their feelings;
2. Take a moment to really look over what they've put together, and be honest with what you have to tell them- if it looks cluttered, tell them in a nice way and offer suggestions, don't just bash and then ask for a rate in return giving no explanation as to why you don't like what they've put together- be honest, but be helpful and nice about it too!;
3. An outfit made with common items can still be creative- don't just glance over their outfit and bash them just because they happened to use the 90s pants, a bammi hat or fox items- pretty much all items can be used in an original and stylish way, so try to break down the outfit and see what sort of theme the creator was going for.
My work is done here students...carry on, and be kind to your fellow avie- the next person to be a victim of a negative rate could be...YOU! eek
BILIOUS' PERSONAL FAVORITE:
Lyx
Wheee, I just found this thread. And thank you!
I had to stay away from AT, earlier this summer, because I was starting to feel really negative after coming here. I just revisited this forum recently, and have noticed some improvement, but some people still don't get it.
First of all, we all share an interest - the cute little avatars and all the clothes we can play with. I just love that about Gaia, there's nothing like it anywhere (that I have seen). So why wouldn't everyone want to collaborate and come up with constructive suggestions that further beautify our little people?
The main issue I'm seeing is a small, but loud group of people, who think that everyone else is fashion retarded. Hellooo? We're all playing with virtual paper dolls here! One does not have to act like a big jerk, and get all self important here. I mean, what do you think you are, the king or queen of the paper dolls? Haha, it's so stupid. whee
I wish people would:
- read people's first posts - and stay on topic by responding to the request as stated. Often people are asking for advice, and you see thing like "Sets make God cry and puppied self ignite" - that is not on topic, so, like, get lost, okay? Nor are they asking for a rating, so even a 10/10 is inappropriate in this case. This is supposed to be Avatar Talk after all. It just so happens some people want ratings.
- be respectful in expressing their opinions, and constructive too! I don't care how clever you are with the flames, there are other places on Gaia for that, or, didn't you measure up, so you have to come here and ruin all the avatar fans' fun? It's really easy to say what's bothering you about a particular combination without being anti-social about it.
- be more inclusive and less cliquey. If you want a clique, begin a guild, and be all drama-diva you want in there. The AT board is for everyone, so don't do your level best to drive everyone who likes this board away, just because they're not in your set. I've noticed a lot of threads where the person who set up the board only will respond to a certain subset of the board, and completely ignore all other posts, no matter how relevant, sensitive, abrasive, or whatever adjective you wish to apply. I think that's mean too.
- be more inclusive and less cliquey. I hate to see the "gang-bang" mentality, where a slight disagreement between two people turns into an all out attack on the one that doesn't invite all her friends to the flamewar. That's just sick behaviour, and so juvenile. Grow up, deal with your own problems, or even better, take responsibility for yourself by checking your ego, and apologizing for your part in misunderstandings.
I'm writing a book here, so I'll stop. But this thread struck a chord in me. heart
I had to stay away from AT, earlier this summer, because I was starting to feel really negative after coming here. I just revisited this forum recently, and have noticed some improvement, but some people still don't get it.
First of all, we all share an interest - the cute little avatars and all the clothes we can play with. I just love that about Gaia, there's nothing like it anywhere (that I have seen). So why wouldn't everyone want to collaborate and come up with constructive suggestions that further beautify our little people?
The main issue I'm seeing is a small, but loud group of people, who think that everyone else is fashion retarded. Hellooo? We're all playing with virtual paper dolls here! One does not have to act like a big jerk, and get all self important here. I mean, what do you think you are, the king or queen of the paper dolls? Haha, it's so stupid. whee
I wish people would:
- read people's first posts - and stay on topic by responding to the request as stated. Often people are asking for advice, and you see thing like "Sets make God cry and puppied self ignite" - that is not on topic, so, like, get lost, okay? Nor are they asking for a rating, so even a 10/10 is inappropriate in this case. This is supposed to be Avatar Talk after all. It just so happens some people want ratings.
- be respectful in expressing their opinions, and constructive too! I don't care how clever you are with the flames, there are other places on Gaia for that, or, didn't you measure up, so you have to come here and ruin all the avatar fans' fun? It's really easy to say what's bothering you about a particular combination without being anti-social about it.
- be more inclusive and less cliquey. If you want a clique, begin a guild, and be all drama-diva you want in there. The AT board is for everyone, so don't do your level best to drive everyone who likes this board away, just because they're not in your set. I've noticed a lot of threads where the person who set up the board only will respond to a certain subset of the board, and completely ignore all other posts, no matter how relevant, sensitive, abrasive, or whatever adjective you wish to apply. I think that's mean too.
- be more inclusive and less cliquey. I hate to see the "gang-bang" mentality, where a slight disagreement between two people turns into an all out attack on the one that doesn't invite all her friends to the flamewar. That's just sick behaviour, and so juvenile. Grow up, deal with your own problems, or even better, take responsibility for yourself by checking your ego, and apologizing for your part in misunderstandings.
I'm writing a book here, so I'll stop. But this thread struck a chord in me. heart
From another thread:
Perverse
This will probably get moved or something, but this has been bothering me for a long while now.
It's common knowledge that if you come into the AT forum and ask for a rate, there's a chance that it could be harsh and criticising. Now, a lot of people complain that the ratings can be more harsh than necessary...well, at least they have a message.
I'm getting rather tired of people coming in here and giving completely useless rates like "It's bad" or " gonk ". I realize this is a rating, but it serves no purpose and won't help the owner of the avatar improve at all. This forum is used to get feedback on your avatar, but should feedback like that really be used?
I know that no one ever has to give comments or suggestions, but honestly...why would you even bother posting something like that? There's a difference between criticism and constructive critcism. If you don't like how someone dresses their avatar, give them suggestions on how to improve or don't say anything at all.
I know that this is in a very grey area, since this is kind of commonplace, but it's really annoying. If I make a rating thread and someone comes in with that kind of crap, I consider it spam.
It's common knowledge that if you come into the AT forum and ask for a rate, there's a chance that it could be harsh and criticising. Now, a lot of people complain that the ratings can be more harsh than necessary...well, at least they have a message.
I'm getting rather tired of people coming in here and giving completely useless rates like "It's bad" or " gonk ". I realize this is a rating, but it serves no purpose and won't help the owner of the avatar improve at all. This forum is used to get feedback on your avatar, but should feedback like that really be used?
I know that no one ever has to give comments or suggestions, but honestly...why would you even bother posting something like that? There's a difference between criticism and constructive critcism. If you don't like how someone dresses their avatar, give them suggestions on how to improve or don't say anything at all.
I know that this is in a very grey area, since this is kind of commonplace, but it's really annoying. If I make a rating thread and someone comes in with that kind of crap, I consider it spam.
[ Fuse ]
I'll rate you, but read this first.
SpaceCadetBing: The AT is frustrating me
SpaceCadetBing: there's not many places to go for advice on avatars....but so many people don't understand what they're talking about.
xGabe Hates Youx: We should start sticking disclaimers in our threads.
xGabe Hates Youx: 'IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ******** YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, DON'T POST.'
SpaceCadetBing: XD
SpaceCadetBing: They think they know...and on some level...yes they give good advice about being neurotic and matching EVERY SINGLE THING
SpaceCadetBing: but that's like...only one way to make an outfit
xGabe Hates Youx: You should have seen the flack I was getting for my hair not matching a while back.
SpaceCadetBing: Jeeze...bilious didn't make his pirate outfit with matching highest on the list of priorities.
SpaceCadetBing: They don't even understand what they're idolizing
xGabe Hates Youx: Not at all.
SpaceCadetBing: Jonas Albrecht's doesn't match perfect, but it looks like something
xGabe Hates Youx: Unless the colors clash horribly, the outfit should be about overall style and item coordination. Matching isn't THAT high of a priority.
SpaceCadetBing: right
SpaceCadetBing: even vlinder didn't match pixels most of the time...she just knew what colors looked good together
xGabe Hates Youx: Yes, good example.
xGabe Hates Youx: I'm getting tired of people throwing out 'BLAHBLAHDOESN'TMATCH' and expecting us to go '... okay.'
xGabe Hates Youx: I have to resist bitching at them, because I don't want to break my own rule of 'don't b***h about your rating.'
SpaceCadetBing: and not too mention, I'm just getting bored trying to rate avatars that look like nothing but colors.
xGabe Hates Youx: Yes. Throw some style in, people!
xGabe Hates Youx: ...
xGabe Hates Youx: I should post this convo in AT.
SpaceCadetBing: You kind of have to grin and bear it...giving them a gold star and a pat on the back...."um...good job johnny...good job susie...you colored in the lines..."
xGabe Hates Youx: Hahahaha!
xGabe Hates Youx: Exactly!
xGabe Hates Youx: I love giving matching avatars low ratings because they basically look like a blob of s**t, then turning around and giving something with one mismatched item a high rating because it looks good.
xGabe Hates Youx: They get so pissed off.
xGabe Hates Youx: Okay, posting this in the AT.
SpaceCadetBing: The AT is frustrating me
SpaceCadetBing: there's not many places to go for advice on avatars....but so many people don't understand what they're talking about.
xGabe Hates Youx: We should start sticking disclaimers in our threads.
xGabe Hates Youx: 'IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ******** YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, DON'T POST.'
SpaceCadetBing: XD
SpaceCadetBing: They think they know...and on some level...yes they give good advice about being neurotic and matching EVERY SINGLE THING
SpaceCadetBing: but that's like...only one way to make an outfit
xGabe Hates Youx: You should have seen the flack I was getting for my hair not matching a while back.
SpaceCadetBing: Jeeze...bilious didn't make his pirate outfit with matching highest on the list of priorities.
SpaceCadetBing: They don't even understand what they're idolizing
xGabe Hates Youx: Not at all.
SpaceCadetBing: Jonas Albrecht's doesn't match perfect, but it looks like something
xGabe Hates Youx: Unless the colors clash horribly, the outfit should be about overall style and item coordination. Matching isn't THAT high of a priority.
SpaceCadetBing: right
SpaceCadetBing: even vlinder didn't match pixels most of the time...she just knew what colors looked good together
xGabe Hates Youx: Yes, good example.
xGabe Hates Youx: I'm getting tired of people throwing out 'BLAHBLAHDOESN'TMATCH' and expecting us to go '... okay.'
xGabe Hates Youx: I have to resist bitching at them, because I don't want to break my own rule of 'don't b***h about your rating.'
SpaceCadetBing: and not too mention, I'm just getting bored trying to rate avatars that look like nothing but colors.
xGabe Hates Youx: Yes. Throw some style in, people!
xGabe Hates Youx: ...
xGabe Hates Youx: I should post this convo in AT.
SpaceCadetBing: You kind of have to grin and bear it...giving them a gold star and a pat on the back...."um...good job johnny...good job susie...you colored in the lines..."
xGabe Hates Youx: Hahahaha!
xGabe Hates Youx: Exactly!
xGabe Hates Youx: I love giving matching avatars low ratings because they basically look like a blob of s**t, then turning around and giving something with one mismatched item a high rating because it looks good.
xGabe Hates Youx: They get so pissed off.
xGabe Hates Youx: Okay, posting this in the AT.
In conclusion:
since I was kvetching in PoP as well, my argument here I was rather proud of:
Bilious
Nakago_Chan
Bilious
Nakago_Chan
Bilious
I guess I just feel like I'm the only one being annoying and like... yelling at people directly and stuff. ^^'
Stupid question time... what is D.A.R.E ?
I tend to try and avoid confrontational stuff... The last time I tried doing something about the aditude of some members on a message board, it ended up having two mods comming after me and flaming me and I left with my friends before any more mods came in to flame.
Irronically, the point I had tried bringing up to the admin was how rude the mods could be to newbies and anyone who did not suck up to them sweatdrop
My way of supporting people being treated fairly here is by treating everyone fairly and on occasion, defend someone.
D.A.R.E.= Democratic Avatar Rating Ethics I think I would have mods on my side if I wasn't sitting here on my soap box preaching that people should all just be nice to eachother and get over themselves.
though I have a strange feelign this little jewish boy might get nailed to a tree. eek
There is only so much you can do. It's good to keep the thread active though so that people can see it. You can't get eveyone to conform... but atleast people will start to notice there is a problem by reading your thread and hopfully more people will agree and follow what you say. The fact that a respected member such as yourself made that thread counts for a lot too. Look at the response you've gained from that thread. I bet if I were to make a thread like that, I would get nowhere near as good a response. As far as I am concerned, you are doing all you can and you are using your popularty to help better the AT rather than win a popluarity contest. That in itself is a lot more than most AT'ers would do. heart
And if you think abuot it, I practice what I preach... and I didn't *try* to become popular... it just happened. I'm sure if others did what I did and just act like an all around nice guy and be natural as though really talking to friends IRL, then of course you'll make more friends here. I wonder about the social skills of a lot of Gaians anymore... there's plenty that are great, like you guys and so on, but the handful that are causing these problems... don't they have human decency or common sence? It's not about dressing avatars or even Gaia it'self- it's about growing up in a world where most of our social connections are via computer- how can you learn to talk to someone to their face if you've never seen their face? Emoticons aren't enough. You have to understand that there is a person on the other side of that text, someone oyu've never met who has feelings, opinions and emotions as well.
You don't treat people over the internet any differently than you would treat a person if meeting them face to face. I fight for the AT because I believe that the world, deep down, isn't a bunch of assholes- just a bunch of people who don't understand these facts. It might start with an avatar rating, a stupid little thing, but that can seriously agrivate someone for no good reason. That in turn can escilate into them being cruel to others and so on and so forth. By trying to teach the human ethics that parents seem incapable of teaching their children anymore, I hope to make everything easier for everyone. It's all about diplomacy.
I'm not trying to turn us all into pansies or anything, but conciencious, intelligent people who UNDERSTAND PEOPLE. This is a much more important tool in life than learning that purple and yellow are opposites. It might be just little things, but it all adds up into a constant negative energy.
And I hate it.
It's not just Gaia, it's everywhere online. And I can't be everywhere online, so I might as well try to fight for it where it matters most to me.
Now I ask, who is with me?
SUPPORTERS:
Supporters list removed.
It is not about who supports or not. If you support, you will voice your opinion by helping to keep this mentality fluid in the comunity and aid through example. 3nodding
