How To Cope With Artwork Deletion - Your Essential Guide To Not Getting Bent Out of Shape!
(MODS: Please note: the following thread was opened after thoroughly searching the forum database for similar existing threads. None were located to the best of my knowledge.)
Members, Moderators and MT Administrators,
I'd like to welcome you to my first (and what I hope won't be my last) forum thread! First and foremost I hope
that the MT Moderating Team don’t think it pretentious of me to have created an 'advice' thread without
being in the main moderators circle. I'm certain that if I'm setting a foot wrong, the MT Quality Control
system will set me straight forthwith. But, I really appreciate the members and artworks of the MT community and if I
can contribute something aside from art that can put a smile on the face of our community affiliates then I'll be
happy. Thus, I'd like to welcome you to a little something I call:
How To Cope With Artwork Deletion - Your Essential Guide To Not Getting Bent Out of Shape!
Thank you in advance for stopping by. Won't you pull up a muffin and make yourself comfortable? And breathe....nice
and steady....that's it, relax. Feeling better?
Alright, let's talk about it now.
MT members both new and old are well aware, or soon will be, that every now and then, if you happen to submit a scan, an artwork or a wallpaper that isn't quite up to the status quo the MT Automated Quality Control System known as BotChii might send you an interesting PM in your Notifications box that mentions quite clearly that the work has been deleted for this or that reason. Likewise, it's no secret that these deletions are sometimes (more often than not) met with rather violet disagreement that may start with a few naughty words being uttered in a less than polite fashion and soon after ending with a nice BANNED next to your name. An event that is indeed quite harsh and obviously not relished by members whom have taken time and effort in contributing to the community. So what is all this business about then? Well, I'm certainly not going to reiterate what dozens of other posts have already confronted in the way of being upset or angry. Likewise to repeat advise and/or guidance that the Mods have already spoken of until they've gone blue in the face wouldn't be much use.
But, just when you're feeling beaten up and under appreciated is when a little bit of kind consideration is often just the right medicine. It may help to the swallow that jagged little pill.
Since my registration I too haven't been lucky enough to escape the hand of BotChii. Thus far, three of my submissions have gone down in flames even though MT was able to supply fans whom thought completely differently about the work. (You can read up on my Deletion Misadventures under the STATUS: X section in my User Page) The first work to get the boot, I admit, had it coming even in my most modest attempts to keep it clean. It wasn't liked. Fair enough. The second piece I believe was rather work safe. It was clean and beautiful and elegant and classy...and completely upset a mod because it didn't last for more than six hours. And the third piece (my latest submission) well, I'm not too certain what exactly went wrong with that one. I wouldn't mind asking a Mod about it, but I'm the kind of person that doesn't like to bother other people especially when they're so busy with everything else. So I may well let it slide.
However, that doesn't exactly mean I won't talk about it. Regardless, I'd like to presume that all MT Members have taken the time, as have I, to carefully read the MT Community Guidelines featured in the Support section. Like it or not, that area is fit to clear up a lot of questions or comments that members may have. And yet, to say that absolutely everything you could possibly think of is covered isn't exactly a very accurate statement either. Herein is where I feel the most discrepancies arise.
MT Community Members are expected to have some degree of experience within the digital graphic design field. You can be
any age and have any taste so long as it reflects something that the MT community can deem cohesive of their most
promoted genre. (That being anime in all shapes and forms. With exceptions, of course)
MT Community Members are expected to understand that all submitted works should be concisely within the rules and
regulations therefore high quality and of decent composition. Anything under that standard is asking for immediate
deletion and if not immediate, then it's certainly coming round the corner.
So where exactly do the discrepancies arise? It should be noted that MT's Community is comprised by many thousands of members and most probably run by many hundreds of moderators whom work in co-operation with head administrators to regulate and filter the submissions that are produced by members every few minutes. Likewise with so many different tastes working together what members should really keep in mind is that at the end of the day what it primarily boils down to is: what one person may think is absolutely outstanding, five-hundred and fifty others might think it absolute rubbish, and visa versa. Thus, the web of differentiation and diversity grows all the more complex. And that, my friends is the primary reason as to why so many 'unjustified' deletions come to pass.
Take for example, if you will, my last and latest submission entitled: Project Kya: Redemption Bleeds. Nice title, no? I certainly thought so. But then again, I'm me and I like things dark and bloody with a lot of violence thrown in for good measure. In art only, of course. I'm generally a mild mannered and peaceful person whom would much rather talk it through calmly than reach for the nearest object to toss at one's head. (I've good aim, mind you.) Regardless, Project Kya's original scan was found in the Unknown Ecchi section of MT's galleries. I had personally written to the member whom submitted the scan and asked for his permission to reuse and completely remodel the work into my own personal wallpaper art. The member in question gave me his written consent and thus Project Kya was born. All the proper links and accreditation was given in the description. The fans loved it! Lots of nice comments and plenty of additions into favourites galleries. And of course, considering my vast reputation and particular flair for high quality, in my eyes at least, the work was pretty much perfect. Apparently BotChii didn't quite think so. Was it the fact that I had remodelled the scan completely? Was it that I submitted the wallpaper into the wrong section? I simply don't know. Perhaps this would be a complaint suited for the: "It Was Unjustified That My Work Was Deleted" section of the forums, but that's not what this thread is about.
This thread would like to promote the fact that, (as I mentioned a moment ago) it is due to diversity in tastes that some works may well be deleted while others remain constant. I have come to understand that many members take these deletions personally. And hence here's the bit about not getting all bent out of shape over it.
Speaking with one of MT's Head Administrators had brought to my attention the fact that deletions are never to be taken personally. A slight contradiction? Perhaps. However, let it be understood that a deletion shouldn't ever be seen as a personal attack on a member. It is in good faith (and I'm certain my computer might spontaneously combust if it is otherwise) that I state that the Mods of MT do not sit and scheme as to whom they are going to torment next with their ruthless BotChii system. It is in good faith that I state that I'm certain MT Mods don't all wake up and say that on this or that particular day they feel like deleting works from members simply because they might live in Norway. Likewise, it is in good faith that I state that MT Mods don't make deletions simply because they have a personal grudge against a certain member. (God help me, I hope people don't start throwing shoes at me or something.) I would like very much to hold faith in the fact that all MT Mods are screened by head Administrators and thus if they are found to harbour characteristics that may hinder the growth of their community, the impending title of moderators would be rightly stripped from beneath their noses. And so it should be. Childish behaviour and silly mood swings have no place in an artwork community regardless of the genre and definitely shouldn't be tolerated.
But likewise, childish behaviour and silly mood swings from members isn't likely to get yourself anywhere either.
Some Mods or Members might be nice about it, they might smile and nod and ignore your messages. Others might have more
of a temper and give you a good sharp boot up the backside for being a nuisance. And that's not exactly a very
pleasant thing to have happen. But at times it does. Members, please, be calm and courteous and before you get all bent
out of shape and stamp off to click up nasty letters to the Mod Team, slamming the keys of your keyboard so hard they
can hear you in the house next door - try to take a deep breath and think about it first. Is it really worth getting so
terribly upset over?
Who exactly are you making these artworks for? To please other people? If you are, then in my opinion (and I know some
will think this harsh) but, you're in the wrong business. A true artist will create artworks for him or herself
respectively. Likewise to please themselves. And thus, appreciation and fan bases grow from there on. Fans aren't
silly. They know the difference between someone who's producing something strictly to please themselves and someone
who's trying to be an utter copy cat or trying to please other people. I speak for myself when I say that when I
look at artworks here at MT, the difference between experience and amateurism stands out like a sore thumb. Of course
I'm not suggesting that we all have to be X Generation Picassos, that would just be silly. But what I do want to
stress is that if you take pride in your own work, then the key to not getting bent out of shape by what the Moderators
do with regards to deleting your work, shouldn't really matter to you that much in the end.
Is it a blow to your pride, to your ego? Alright, a little bit, yes. After all, we are all human and to have someone take something that you worked on off display and sometimes give an explanation that doesn't quite fit together does lower morale a notch or two. But in the end, you also get what you pay for. Nothing for nothing really. Let's not get overly analytical however. I'm certain if you've followed me through this long then you’re eyes may already be hurting. Bear with me, I really enjoy conversation and the fact that I'm a speed typist helps the situation all the more.
And so conclusively my good friends, what it all boils down to, summarized as follows is this:
1. Deletions you feel are unjustified simply come to pass due to the diversity in personal tastes and/or the failure to
comply with the preset standards of the MT Community, not the inadequacy or rebellion of MT Staff.
2. It is a general understanding that the Quality Control System of the MT Community is quite high but is still
singularly dependent on members to be able to bring this community together cohesively. Without members, there is no
community.
3. Members should be reminded that the artworks they submit should be made primarily to please the artist respectively
and not to gain admiration or high-level ranking. Works that are felt to have been mass-produced simply for the masses
are more likely to be treated with a harsh deletion than with a warm reception.
4. At the end of the day, we're all anime fans whom have come together over a subject that we all appreciate. And
that is the basic foundation of well running community.
If ever you feel you need help, or are viciously angry about something that has come to pass, then don't despair, there will always be someone with a willing ear to listen. I'd like to step forward and nominate myself for this task if you think you can handle my twist on the English language. lol But seriously friends. I urge you to mull over this information and speak with me freely on your thoughts and concerns. Remember, communication is the key to the universe. And if proper suggestions can be created then, we the members, hold the power to make changes for the better come to pass. I'm not saying with storm up to MT Staff with katanas in hand and outfits like members of the Crazy 88s (had to drop a Kill Bill reference in there somewhere, it was killing me!) But, calm and rational conversation always helps matters.
I'd like to invite all members and moderators whom have stopped by the read this message, to kindly join me in
conversation. I'm eagerly awaiting your feedback.
Yours truly,
Fellow MT Member,
Noir Artist To The Nines,
UV
