What's the point? Why have the site at all?
Sunday, July 25, 2004 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
I don't often bring this up but I sometimes wonder why we even have this site. I get considerable hate mail every single day because of this site.
Someone didn't get a wallpaper accepted. No idea what the wallpaper was since I didn't moderate it but I get called a Nazi or worse.
Some other guy's network connection isn't working and can't access their skin for some reason so naturally we deleted it because we're "assholes".
And don't even get me started about the people who run into the 50 megabyte limits. You can be assured that for every guy who posts something here, I get 2 emails about it explaining why I am personally a putrid human being.
And I've had days where I get called a "fucking Nazi" and a "blood sucking Jew" (I'm not even Jewish) for things ranging from not "doing something" about the ratings on the site or some comment on some skin that I didn't remove.
And on top of that, this site costs a fortune to run. The ONLY reason this site is remotely possible to keep up at this point is because of the generous volunteers who run this site day to day. The admins and moderators who, I might add, often get treated poorly and without any kind of gratitude. The other variable are the people who SUBSCRIBE to the site. I.e. pay the $20 for 2 years.
One of the few pleasures I get out of the site lately has been to write about things that interest me. I realize that some people don't like "blogs". Or me ranting about niche developer stuff. What does a PC user care if some obscure Mac developer is getting screwed over by Apple? Why should I keep "whining" about it? It doesn't affect Stardock one iota. If anything, it helps Stardock by taking out a potential competitor.
But I can't even do that without people bitching about THAT. Sure, those people don't know about all the crap that I and others have to put up with on a daily basis because of the site.
But then again, neither does the egomaniac skinner who sends me the nastygram telling me how I'm a parasite on the backs of skinners for working to make customization software. And the "artist" who sends me a 10 page email insisting that other artists like him should be getting a "royalty" off of every WinCustomize subscription because it is really THEY who matter. THEY, their ART is what makes this site run and for me to even suggest that developers, moderators, or even users fit in is a demonstration of my "arrogance" and "ignorance" of the circle of life that is the skinning community. That guy doesn't know about the crap we go through either. Not that he'd be interested.
Right now, what's really helping keep thigns going besides the wonderful people who moderate this site and the users gracious enough to purchase WC subscriptions is the IT team working full time to create the next generation WinCustomize. Their hard work and tireless devotion to trying to make something really special helps keep the excitement going.
But to those who feel the need to email me telling me that writing non-news items is a "waste of their time" or "yet another example of your petty egoism" or are just "lame rantings", I say to you: Fuck you. Of those who have emailed me, who have accounts, NOT ONE of them has a WC subscription.
Most people dont' seem to have a problem with editorials. And those who don't like them who have posted on the message boards have been at least constructive about it. I have a LOT more respect for the guy who publicly writes their views than the coward who just sends hate mail from their anonymous Hotmail or Yahoo or whatever email account spewing venom at me.
But I'm not having fun right now with this site. I look at the bills (hundreds of thousands of dollars a year). I look at my inbox. And I ask "Why? What's the point?"
Sorry if I sound a little depressed. I think everyone has those days once in awhile. And I'm having one today.
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Reply #103 Wednesday, July 28, 2004 2:27 AM
| Skinner ChasUGC if there is no money to be made off the hard work, what is the point. |
1) Not everything in this world that I enjoy doing is about making money.
In fact, most of the time it's the opposite. For example, I enjoy being with women, but most of the time that involves spending money.
2) I believe that a true artist doesn't create with the intention of making money. He/she creates from their heart, mind and inspiration, and hopes that others will appreciate it, and enjoy it.
3) I believe that money is the root of all the evil in this world. So, I could never skin to make money. I skin because I enjoy it.
This is just my opinion.
Reply #104 Wednesday, July 28, 2004 2:53 AM
| For example, I enjoy being with women, but most of the time that involves spending money. |
Reply #106 Wednesday, July 28, 2004 4:56 AM
| #103 by Skinner ChasUGC - 7/28/2004 2:27:45 AM 3) I believe that money is the root of all the evil in this world. So, I could never skin to make money. I skin because I enjoy it. |
Hehe, I say let the sin begin!
But seriously, doing it for the cash is actually a lot more fun I find. The end result is woth it if you're doing a client piece. You get some cash for something you would probably have uploaded for free if you'd made it for yourself, you get a good piece for your portfolio, and the groupies are fantastic.
Reply #107 Wednesday, July 28, 2004 7:39 AM
WC in my mind is the premier skinning site. It draws the top skinners and also draws the people who are looking for skinners. The wife has turned down work and passed it along to other skinners and has made enough money from the jobs that she has done to have paid for everything we have bought from Stardock and then some. So even though most skinners can't make money on their skins here at WC there are other pay off's and the time is comming that skinners will beable to make money here at WC. Don't expect to get rich.
Like I've said many times before, if you don't like the site, go somewhere else. Why stay some place you don't like. If your WALLS keep getting rejected, upload them somewhere else. Why bitch about it or send nasty emails. It won't change anything, your WALLS still won't pass.So quit crying, all that does is give you high blood pressure.
Reply #108 Wednesday, July 28, 2004 7:45 AM
Reply #109 Wednesday, July 28, 2004 8:00 AM
In one day ive seen my ratings drop they are still ppl giving good skins low ratings and bad skins high ratings etc. Maybee we should make a must have uploaded 1 skin in 1 month or theyr membership will get removed or something.
Ah those were the days
Reply #110 Wednesday, July 28, 2004 8:16 AM
Ive also said it was a friendlies place a couple years ago, but Jafo pointed out thatit was the same, just less people so less idiots.So they were not noticed as much.As the site grows, so does the distractors, but so do the good people. Its just the way things are. It all starts in how people were raised.
Reply #111 Wednesday, July 28, 2004 8:24 AM
| Maybee we should make a must have uploaded 1 skin in 1 month or theyr membership will get removed or something. |
If they're all of the standard of David Knott's SETI then yup. Otherwise a million Luna variations zooming Fuzzy's way is gonna be a sight to see
[Message Edited]
Reply #112 Wednesday, July 28, 2004 8:59 AM
Reply #113 Wednesday, July 28, 2004 9:38 AM
I appreciate your hard work and I agree with Ross (way back on page 1) that the providing of a central location for skinning "artists" to post their work should more than make up for any perceived injustice re: royalties.
"Illegitimi non carborundum". For every one bit of hate mail, there's at least 10 of the rest of us that think you're doing a great job, blogs included.
Cheers,
Jeff
Reply #114 Wednesday, July 28, 2004 10:11 AM
I have complained to myself about the cost of the Object Desktop every year but I never thought, maybe I'd never noticed, that the site was included in that cost. (I still think it's too much but that's only because I really just 'cause I can't afford it. But... I make sacrifices
)That's all...
Reply #115 Wednesday, July 28, 2004 12:51 PM
An artist who makes high quality skins is highly respected and his/her work is used often and shown to others outside the skinning community even more often.
by showing off this work, and telling those who appreciate that work who the artist is and where they might find that artist brings business to that artist from the outside.(and inadvertently brings more customers to stardock and wc)
How many skinners out there have recieved offers for paying jobs creating graphic content for various companies, who's employees have viewed the artists work second hand on someone's desktop or even right here on WC?
the best form of attracting customers to one's work is to advertise.
each skin an artist makes is a personal advertisement for that artist's work. It travels around the world for all to see and all it costs is some time and effort (ok so add a wc sub and or a OD sub.,.. still peanuts for all that free advertisement.)
sooo, why demand funds from wc? or it's customers?
might as well ask an advertising company to pay you for watching their commercials.you'll look just as ridiculous there as here where you're asking for revenue to compensate free advertisement.
Reply #116 Wednesday, July 28, 2004 12:56 PM
premium skins available on this site are a great example of what I was just talking about. The artists who created those premium skins were approached because of their skill and talent to create a product for this community. their "free" advertisement in the form of skins created for the libraries directly resulted in their being paid for new contracted work.
Reply #117 Wednesday, July 28, 2004 1:03 PM
just a thought
Reply #118 Wednesday, July 28, 2004 1:16 PM
In my case that is.
Reply #119 Wednesday, July 28, 2004 1:25 PM
Was merely pointing out there is a benefit to posting skins to this website that you weren't paid for in any way.
Reply #120 Wednesday, July 28, 2004 1:29 PM
it turned out to be to their advantage to create skins for the wc libraries.
amazing how some can read things into words that are plainly typed.
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Reply #101 Tuesday, July 27, 2004 11:26 PM
you bought a subscription to this site .you did not buy the site. they dont owe any body free space or storage.
a subscription also dosent give you automatic admins approval on your works..if it sux they will deny it.. if is to common place they will deny it .. if it violates any copywrite's .. they will deny it ..
these guys and gals keep the level of artistry here at a high standard ....you want your art hanging with the best of the best ?????? post it at WC.. if not post it sumwhere else ... nuf said .....
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