Dragon

Sorry that should read 'doesn't mean a single vote of less than 5 completely knocks you out of contention'

stevedover1965

So have I mis-read this, did you just accuse me of attention seeking!!

stevedover1965

I will treat this as a misunderstanding of your intent, I merely wanted to enjoy seeing my pictures in the Top 5 gallery, if you have no ambition and simply enjoy drawing...that is fine! I also get a lot of enjoyment from this, but you can't really begrudge a person for wanting top marks! Otherwise what would be the point of having Top 5 galleries or showcases. Dragon we all draw to make ourselves happy, but there is nothing wrong with a little competition, and I have a right to voice my opinions as long as they don't attack anyone or cause offence. I suspect you didn't mean to cause offence, so none taken. Take care - Steve

Qsilv

(startled laugh) steve please do NOT take offense. I assure you, you're just the latest in a long line of perfectly sincere members here who -- perfectly logically -- figured hey it's a voting system so it's got a competitive base.

But it's an odd system that either grew-like-topsy or was set up (some do think) as an experiment in social psychology.

This site is less than 2 years old. It's grown and changed and is still doing that. But so far it's still functioning largely as a private garden party hosted by someone who's graciously set out things for our group entertainment and personal enjoyment but who doesn't expect to have to control us.

The original voting system did cause such angst within parts of the community that had accrued here that our host(s) wound up making significant changes to it, but without destroying it altogether.

Beyond that, y'know, it's the internet. It's NOT the milieu most of us learned our manners or expectations in. It takes special skills -- and one of those is forbearance. Fwiw, I work on that myself, daily.

;>

ferretkiss

My comments:

I am miffed at the competition to be in Top 5. I have seen one young artist campaign by writing in the Forum about how much she thought one of her pictures deserved it, and then writing Comments to everybody telling them to see this particular picture. Oua-la, the picture is now in the Top 5, not because of spontaneous voting by people who truly found something that touched them about the work, but because she is a kid and wanted it and people felt sorry for her. The honor of making it to Top 5 is diluted by this (does she realize it? she must) and somebody else did not get his/her place there.

Now I am seeing another artist (and I forget who) writing back to everyone who Comments on his/her picture to be sure to vote for it! This hurts me every time I come here to enjoy art and the community and the process.

I do truly believe that the right approach is to do your best work and do it because you enjoy the work and find value in the process and the result, and you are giving to the world. ("This is my present to the world... take it from me please, take it from me.") But do not seek gratification or reward.... give and the world rewards you properly.

Finally on a slightly different note, some artists choose subject matter and/or have a style that is not appealing to all: perhaps it is too masculine or too feminine, or too mystical, for example. While the appreciation for there works can be just as high as for other artists who appeal more broadly, there will be a smaller group who do appreciate their works.

ferretkiss

meant to say "their" instead of "there" at the end.

stevedover1965

I'm drawing a line under this topic, at least from me, end.

polenta

YES, LET'S DRAW A LINE..... BUT LET'S MAKE IT STRAIGHT SO THAT WE CAN CONFIRM OUR PULSE IS STEADY. LOL LOL LOL

The real subject here is COMPETITION. I wonder if this feeling is in-born or we learn it ever since we are babies. Or even more, if the philosophy each of the societies there have been throughout history has something to do with it.

Dragon

stevedover, I'm sorry if I came across as confrontational. I really didn't intend to be accusing and I certainly didn't have you in mind when I made my comment. I'm sorry if I seemed like I was picking at you, I didn't mean that at all. I do dislike those forum threads and comments that ferretkiss mentioned where someone begs for votes or worse threatens for them. I find those comments distasteful. To be clear, stevedover, I don't put you in that category at all. I found your comments to be those of someone seeking to understand how the system works, certainly not someone just seeking attention.

And thanks to polenta for the levity. We can always count on you to brings us a smile.

polenta

thank you, thank you, steve, dragon ferretkiss and all the others. TODAY IS SUNDAY.... NO WORK... ONLY PLEASURE. One bad thing : IT'S RAINING AND AT TIMES DRIZZLING.
Guess what??? At least, computers exist!!!!
Let's bless every day we are given in life!!!