What am I doing Wrong!!

Well said Karen, and we are all just people, Moderators are just people, they aren't professional Art Critics, remember that the next time you feel put down, that's what I keep telling myself.. 'Oh well Tailsgirl, look at the bright side, a bunch of people liked what you did.. as opposed to the handful of Mods who didn't!'

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Jafo

Join Date 03/2001

+1757

How far would any first grader go if when they turned in their work the teacher just handed it back to them without any check marks on the wrong answers, without any comments, without any emotion -- just handed the work back.

I don't see the role of the Wincustomize.com site Moderators as that of a teacher, primary school or otherwise.

That being said, however...and as mentioned several times already, if constructive feedback is requested it can be given.

It won't be discussed publicly as generally too many people tend to use such instances to score points against other members of the site, something which is actually against site policy/conduct.

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Your right Jafo. I'm just paranoid and talking out my backside.

(might have something to do with the fact that I asked three times for more critique on my last WB, twice in the first thread - https://forums.wincustomize.com/336024/page/2/#replies and second in a thread all by itself, https://forums.wincustomize.com/339439
and had only one response, and so I was a little shocked when it sat in moderation for six days and then showed up with a mere 1.5 stars, which is what my very first WB got which was a total piece of crap, and I had no clue what I was doing.)

Nevermind me. I just like to bitch.

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HG_Eliminator

Join Date 07/2002

+354

Look.... From what I remember, due to limited server Space The staff has to Pick what they feel is the best of the best and reject the rest. No harm no foul. It is not about what we like or dont like as much as it is about picking from the offerings what we feel are the best wallpapers for desktops.

If you are offered a Piccaso and a Van Gogh and have to choose only one does that mean you hate the other? or are you simply picking the one you like best? Tho Personally I would reject both as IMO they would not make good desktop wallpaper.

I did not become a Mod to become "above the Community" I became one to Become even more involved and give back to the community that has offered me so much. Tho it seems we are being looked upon as enemies or Non members of the Skinning community by some, for Volintering our free time and patience.

HG_Eliminator is sad to think his time and effort to give back to the community, has been a waste of time...

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HG don't be sad, I value you, you've been nothing but sweet to me, you're one of my favourite people.

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Quoting HG_Eliminator,

reply 4

If you have a Piccaso and a Van Gogh and have to choose only one does that mean you hate the other? or are you simply picking the one you like best?

But that's exactly what I'm saying. Bias exists. It can't be helped. To say that all things are fair and equal is delusional. I'm not saying moderators are evil, or that non-moderators are being abused. I'm just stating the obvious -- there is an us, and there is a them -- I'm not condemning the thems for being thems, nor am I exhaulting myself because I'm an us. All of us just are.

HG_Eliminator is sad to think his time and effort to give back to the community, has been a wasted effort...

Come on, HG

...your effort hasn't been wasted. I appreciate that you're giving back to the community, I appreciate that there are moderators, and I appreciate that YOU'RE a moderator. (Sometimes I forget not everybody's lives are as steeped in argument as mine is -- I'm a contrarian. Take everything I have to say with a grain of salt. Better yet...just laugh at what I saw and pay no attention to it. My DH just waves me off with a hand, says "you're right" and walks away, which shuts me up every time...I hate him for that!)

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Jafo

Join Date 03/2001

+1757

Your right Jafo. I'm just paranoid and talking out my backside.

(might have something to do with the fact that I asked three times for more critique on my last WB

k10w3 ...as mentioned several times...if you have a query re delays....ratings...or whether a skin 'lacks' something...send a request via PM to a Mod, or myself....it will be responded to.

Subtle warning, though....if something really does suck....I'll likely tell you honestly....

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2of3

Join Date 10/2006

+816

Subtle warning, though....if something really does suck....I'll likely tell you honestly....

Do you have a standard "that really sucks" email template, or do you compose an new one for each case?

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Jafo

Join Date 03/2001

+1757

Do you have a standard "that really sucks" email template, or do you compose an new one for each case?

Sort of...yes to both.

There is a list of 'standard' responses that can be used to suit particular instances of rejection....eg the screenshot that has insufficient obscuring of the wall image, etc. .... but many instances require specific explanation in detail...and are thus quite time consuming...

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Game Over!

Retry?

)))Yes )))No

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Quoting Jafo,

reply 7

Subtle warning, though....if something really does suck....I'll likely tell you honestly....

But will you tell me why you think it sucks.

Nevermind...this is all too personal, private and intimate, what with the PM's to monitors and all. I believe my answer is to keep my sucky art to myself, or to upload to alternative sites where my work is just out there for whomever wants it, without a rating system.

I was under the mistaken impression that WinCustomize supported the skinning community -- my bad. Turns out, there's nothing in the mission statement that indicates that. So I think I'm going to cease being so public, go back into my private little world and bypass all together the risk of rejection/disapproval/insult (and, consequently, the opportunity for my skills to grow). That worked real well for me for the last 32 years, I have no idea what made me think things had changed since I graduated high school.

Thank you for your time.

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Island Dog

Join Date 06/2003

+1046

Quoting k10w3,

reply 11

Quoting Jafo, reply 7
Subtle warning, though....if something really does suck....I'll likely tell you honestly....

I was under the mistaken impression that WinCustomize supported the skinning community -- my bad. Turns out, there's nothing in the mission statement that indicates that. .

WinCustomize has done more to support the community than any other "skinning" site I can think of. Now to get to the point at hand, WinCustomize is a moderated site, it has been that way for as long as I can remember. The interesting part is that people prefer it that way. Most recent example is the WC member survey we did which the overwhelming number of people want the site to stay moderated.

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ZubaZ

Join Date 11/2001

+917

I'm sorry. But how does moderation prevent a member from not getting feedback? Anything a member sets to go to their personal page is accepted almost by default (no rips, porn, etc.)

A member has the choice to post here or there or where-ever they want. And the community has the choice to comment and help an artist grow or criticize or remain quiet.

Interestingly . . (at least in this post) . . not many(two to be precise) have stepped up to do that for the original poster.

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Fuzzy Logic

Join Date 05/2002

+493

In order to improve, first, you have to be honest with yourself. Only then can your journey begin

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“We are so vain that we even care for the opinion of those we don't care for.”

- Marie Von Ebner-Eschenbach

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Quoting Zubaz,

reply 13

Interestingly . . (at least in this post) . . not many(two to be precise) have stepped up to do that for the original poster.

I can't speak for all who have posted to this thread, but I personally don't feel qualified at this point to give an opinion on anyone's work.

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ZubaZ

Join Date 11/2001

+917

I can't speak for all who have posted to this thread, but I personally don't feel qualified at this point to give an opinion on anyone's work.

If we all felt that way then there would be no opportunity for tha whole "growth" thing, would there?

If not you (and the rest of the community) then who? The moderators alone?

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Quoting Zubaz,

reply 17

If not you (and the rest of the community) then who? The moderators alone?

Moderates, journeymen and masters whose work no longer needs to go through a moderation because at that level they are trusted to moderate themselves -- yeah, people who would know, people with the ranks and the power. Otherwise it's just the blind leading the blind.

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ZubaZ

Join Date 11/2001

+917

Moderates, journeymen and masters whose work no longer needs to go through a moderation because at that level they are trusted to moderate themselves -- yeah, people who would know, people with the ranks and the power. Otherwise it's just the blind leading the blind.

But like you said earlier . . there are no "experts" when it comes to art [although skins are a bit different] and one opinion is as good as another.

Moderators spend most of their time enfocing the rules of the site. No copyright abuse, etc. Then they take spend time trying to keep the main gallery something that we can all (as a whole [or maybe an average]) take pride in; then give it an *initial* rating (that changes as other people rate).

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DrJBHL

Join Date 04/2002

+3914

Well, we could elect a suitable victim Judge and rotate through the ranks on a monthly basis.

That person would give a TU or TD (Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down) for each submission, and also send emails why 'down'. This would be a non paying job. Thankless as well.

I don't think taste or knowledge should be allowed to get in the way: That'd only cause problems, since that's the way things are done today.

I'd probably be the first since my knowledge of skinning is zero...actually i (square root of -1). My taste is notably worse: I like Aero.

[pause to allow people with taste to pick themselves/eachother off the floor]

You might conclude from this that I favor the current system. You'd also be correct.

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I kinda like the current system as well, even though it isn't perfect.

Even though I look forward to making Journeyman, I will miss that awesome feeling you get when a mod gives your skin a near perfect score.

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I can't speak for all who have posted to this thread, but I personally don't feel qualified at this point to give an opinion on anyone's work.

If you have an opinion then of course you are qualified.

Art is a very personal choice. What one person likes, another hates.

Trust me, I understand your frustration.

For me....I hate to see any type of text written on a wallpaper. It just ruins it for me. If someone makes a beautiful wallpaper that I like, I will tell them my ' opinion'

It doesn't make my opinion right or wrong but maybe it might invoke a thought on that persons next wallpaper " Maybe I'll include a non-text version "

As for asking Jafo's opinion... I have had the pleasure of many long , long emails from Jafo and he is far more helpful and will try to give his opinion is a nice way.

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I got into trouble for saying the mods weren't professional art critics, and it wasn't meant to be offensive.. I can't win at this site, I really try hard here.. I really do, and just when I feel I'm out from under.. I get pushed back down.

Sorry, I am a member, and a human being, and these are my feelings.

Moving along.

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Sorry, I am a member, and a human being, and these are my feelings.

Always remember, its only a website...

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Jafo

Join Date 03/2001

+1757

As for asking Jafo's opinion... I have had the pleasure of many long , long emails from Jafo and he is far more helpful and will try to give his opinion is a nice way.

Good lord....I was nice? ....

More often than not, skin moderation and site administration ARE thankless tasks. [or the thanks often seem few and far between] ... but the overall intent is to ensure the site appeals to the majority [its community] through the maintenance of agreed standards of behaviour/site content/etc.

Every now and then things go wobbly off the rails...but mostly it's all smooth sailing [sorry - mixed metaphores there].

k10w3 ...yes, if you wish I can explain why something may 'suck'...and thus how to improve the breed and improve acceptance rates. Submissions are NOT rejected for a reason such as "it's Tuesday...anything with a 'G' in the name gets the chop..." ...

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What am I doing Wrong!!

I don't get it