Screen Shot Of The Day
What Happened To It?
Saturday, April 21, 2007 by cplair | Discussion: Community
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Reply #62 Sunday, December 23, 2007 7:33 PM
Reply #63 Sunday, December 23, 2007 7:50 PM
Oh well, it's their site to run the way they feel fit Fuzzy, so if that's the conclusion then it is what it is. And that would indeed be a straight answer to the question.
Reply #64 Sunday, December 23, 2007 8:48 PM
There's one of them voices right now!
Reply #65 Monday, December 24, 2007 1:36 AM
I would love to know your reasoning?
Reply #66 Monday, December 24, 2007 4:04 AM
It has been 8 months. Had I not just looked at Chasbo's Christmas Screen shot I wouldn't have seen this thread as the forum takes longer to load these days and I give up trying to get pages to load.
While thats not the outcome I'd like to see - it would at least be a response.
There was a time where Jafo's presence was very noticeable in the screen shot section.
I realise that schedules have changed and there are more 'important' matters at hand.
Stardocks main point is to sell products. But not everyone buying the products are skinners.
Screen Shots are still a way for others that do not skin to feel they participate in the site....
Just make a decision..
Reply #67 Monday, December 24, 2007 5:36 AM
I used to feature screenshots a lot, going through the gallery picking out the ones which were either unusual or fresh.
The problem then became of of monotany - everything started to look the same. You'd have people uploading 3 or 4 generic looking shots per day. Screenshots became irritating rather than exciting. That's when I lost interest. You have only yourselves to blame.
The only solution is to have screenshot of the day heavily moderated. Screenshot of the day is featured across many Stardock sites. This means the choice has to be a considered one and has to represent skinning to a wider audience than just the 'screenshot clique'.
The 'screenshot clique', or 'rat pack' as some of you like to be known, is entirely responsible for the decline in the screenshot gallery. You upload endless numbers of samey shots, boost each others ratings, and lavish praise on each other. What good is that doing for skinning?
There are seveal reasons for uploading a screenshot: showing work in progress, showing your current desktop, showcasing skinning to a wider audience. If people are genuinely changing desktops as frequently as uploads suggest, then they are not getting the best out of skinning. Customising a desktop should be fun rather than a ritual.
Sorry to be so blunt, but you need to take a good look at yourselves and what you are doing.
Why do you want a screenshot featured every day? To showcase skinning or for some kind of personal gratification? I suspect the latter (though I may be wrong...), in which case it's hardly suprising no-one is listening.
You are all looking to either Stardock or WinCustomize to make a decision. But as I see it, the decision is yours. It is up to you to put forward the case, not by constant moaning, but by being pro-active. I suspect the powers that be are sitting back to see what happens next. So, what happens next is down to you 
Make a difference.
Disclaimer: please note these are my personal views and not those of Stardock or WinCustomize, nor are they representitive of any of their official policies.
Reply #68 Monday, December 24, 2007 7:14 AM
There have been some suggestions put forward already in this thread on a way forward and viewing some of your observations I would respectfully add another suggestion. A 'cap' of two or three screenshots per month per member which would be self policing.
I find your last paragragh particularly interesting. In all my life I have never seen a 'good manager' sit back and wait to see what happens. They roll their sleeves up, meet the issue head on, get a dialogue going and bring it to a successful conclusion. That attitaude has served me well throughout my life and gets confidence and respect from those you are trying to 'lead'.
Eight months...........This is really quite sad. And to then throw the issue back into the face of those complaining and say 'So, what happens next is down to you' is.........well.....
You know, I saw this thread for the first time, a few days ago. Several of us who were not previously involved thought we would be proactive and join the discussion in the hope that we could give some suggestions or ideas to help. Yep, there's that word again 'proactive'. Well 'proactive' starts with the leadership. If you don't believe me talk to Brad, he'll tell you all about good leadership qualities.
I guess when several other of our members see your reply they will be quite upset. I just hope they keep a 'civil tongue' in their heads otherwise things are going to get silly and no one will gain anything from that.
Reply #69 Monday, December 24, 2007 7:58 AM
Here's the deal from my perspective . . the screenshot of the day (SotD) is a marketing tool across some of Stardock's sites. It doesn't need to change that often because the user base that it's targeting is new. It has to be good enough to draw them in . . but then their in and may never see that shot again.
I suggested that you who want something featured start looking for the standout screenshots and justify it and I'll see about getting them featured. I think that, like Fuzzy says, you'll be hard pressed to find really stand-out submissions after a while. Fuzzy's suggestion was to only upload those screenshots that stand out. I like his suggestion more but am still willing to support mine.
If there is a segment of the community that wants new screenshots daily . . go to the screenshot gallery. All the screenshot love you need is there. Why do you need more?
Reply #70 Monday, December 24, 2007 8:20 AM
Reply #71 Monday, December 24, 2007 8:47 AM
I find this to be the most sensible solution to this issue. The title "Screenshot of the day" instantly makes one think that it should change daily. If the title is changed to Featured Screenshot, no one would complain if it's up for a month or more.
Reply #72 Monday, December 24, 2007 10:21 AM
I think the point is being missed. The management of either Stardock or WinCustomize can make decisions. Is that what you really want, someone making the decisions for you? Or do you think a site like WC should be community led? Nobody is ignoring problems - but are you sure we are looking at the same problems?
Opening a dialogue has been mentioned. Well, a number of times opportunities have been handed out only for no-one to seize the initiative. Earlier in this thread Zubaz made an offer - seems no-one was interested.
I don't see anyone coming up with fresh ideas, or solutions. And I'm not talking just about screenshots now. The management at WC/Stardock are well aware of all the site's shortcomings - people bitch ad nauseum about this, that and the other.
All you get is someone saying 'this doesn't work' or 'this isn't right', never 'here is a problem - this is what I think should be done about it'. That's what I mean about being pro-active. Being a critic is a lot easer than providing a solution, it shifts the onus elsewhere.
So, the question remains: What do you want...?
If only one person would step forward, it would be a start.
Reply #73 Monday, December 24, 2007 11:11 AM
Reply #74 Monday, December 24, 2007 11:31 AM
Reply #75 Monday, December 24, 2007 11:55 AM
My first pick,
Slider by Braniack
Clean, neat, shows the apps well, has nice symmetry, not over bearing and don't look tossed together.. Custom and professional..
Reply #76 Monday, December 24, 2007 12:26 PM
Collect your thoughts and your history Fuzzy. The screen shot of the day declined when WC moved to it's new site months before there was such a thing as a Rat Pack! So don't go there, that's a poor excuse looking for a place to blame.
It was for this very reason that we formed the Pack! Not to impugn any of your condesending conjectures though, I'm not into finger pointing.
And most of those "Rat Pack" members were your biggest supporters in case you didn't know.
Reply #77 Monday, December 24, 2007 12:32 PM
Some pointers for a featured SS (my opinion):
- Everything showing, skinned. We don't want to see your default icons next to a skinned start panel
- At least three SD apps featured
- Bright colors (not too dark)
- Uncluttered . . no need to fill the screen. Less is more
- Listing (and links) of components used
Reply #78 Monday, December 24, 2007 12:43 PM
Reply #79 Monday, December 24, 2007 2:16 PM
Cliques are a given in any community, it happens, you just have to understand that, you don't have to like it. Surely no one here believes that there are not other cliques or groups of liked minded people who share interests, sort of like a club.
Now back to the Rat Pack, sure it was taken to the extreme, were we having fun, yes, was it done to intentionaly, as they say, wave our noses in the air at others, no. Now, all that everyone has posted is fine, we are getting to read and digest peoples opinions, which is what we should be doing.
What's the fix for the preceived problem, in fact what is the problem? Screen Shots of the Day not changing daily, nah. People posting too many screenshots of their desktops, nah. Too many resources being used, nah, that's why I subscribe to both WC and ObjectDesktop and buy Master and Premium Skins so there will be enough resources here. Could it be that some of the non-skinners of the community don't really know where they should be posting or showing of their customized desktops that they are proud off, could be.
We have the ScreenShots Library under the Gallery and there are two posts in the forums, what are you working on and the monthly desktop screenshot. The two forum posts I don't think anyone should have a question about, really sort of straight forward, but the library does, I believe, leave folks asking just who can I post there. Is this the problem, possibly, well no, not really. Learning curve shouldn't be that bad.
Bottom line folks is, in my opinion, a portion of the community here, being non-skinners but loyal supporters of the site, either by subscribing or actions, are looking for a the means or ways to say, Hey look I'm here too. Now please don't turn this into the number of Skinners vs Non-Skinners. It has nothing to do with numbers.
Suggestions to change anything that is in place are fine, but as I was taught along time ago, we should all strieve to part of the solution, not part of the problem.
Okay, here's one suggestion from me, do away with the ratings and downloads in the ScreenShot Library. Hold on a second and let me duck before you start throwing things!
For myself it's easy to become part of the community. I'm retired, can hang out here 24/7. Sometimes I find that I can come up with the right answers to peoples problems in the forums, ah make that a few times. I've taken to hanging out in the IRC. Not everyone has the opportunity to do that.
So what ever the bottom line here is, the real questions is what would a commuinty do?
Peace, Love and Long Life.
Reply #80 Monday, December 24, 2007 2:19 PM
Jan 2007 my screen shot of a DX Theme I created "Sith Control Center" received one of the last feature tokens. However the shot was never featured because the switch was flipped from the old WC to the new site.
Apr 2007 the question was asked how long is the iPhone Fish going sit on Screen Shot Of The Day. That is when this discussion was opened.
May 2007 The Rat Pack was formed by AzDude and me because the question never got answered. Lots of people skinners and non-skinners joined in with the Pack because we were having FUN again.
So essentially blaming the Rat Pack for the decline in the screen shot gallery is a concocted prevarication and an intolerable excuse. If you have or use to have a soul, search there, but don’t blame the Pack that brought the fun back.
I’ll say this as many times as it takes, I refuse to let this question get twisted by anyone because this is my Forum. And I’m not the one who started this discussion back up. There are both skinners and non-skinners alike standing united who are concerned with this issue.
What’s the point of you showing an elitist attitude towards non-skinners having fun other than contributing to your own unpopularity?
This timeline was gathered from fact not opinion.
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Reply #61 Sunday, December 23, 2007 6:38 PM
You've taken this out of context Sir!
It is the general reaction I've gotten for speaking my mind since opening this discussion and the eight months of Silent Contempt that has drawn me to my own conclusion of my treatment with this issue.
And again, I refuse to allow this simple question to get twisted, misquoted or ignored.
All you have to do is read this forum after I opened my mouth and you'll see all hell breaking loose, but no straight answer to the question.
At this point eight months later "I don't know" is a better answer to me than just silence!