MOD The OFFICIAL Comments, Complaints, and Suggestions Thread-(*Currently Discussing: Holiday Season*)

Aww...thanks a lot, guys. I'm really honored.

As for the stickies - I'm currently working on the Welcome/Rules/Thread & Artist Index thread(trying to come up with a better name ), so look for that in the next few hours.

 

First of all, thanks for the bump, SkyWookiee.

Now onto something I want to discuss: the request threads.

I've been getting a few complaints lately about the state of the request threads. Some are saying that they are not effective and it'll be a lot easier to just bring back individual threads. While others are just becoming frustrated that their requests are not being filled.

I think it may be time to rehaul them so that they're purpose is served more effectively. First of all - drawing interest so that more artists pick up on the requests we have listed. Not sure how to go about this exactly, but I just think it's a shame that requests sit there for months without a response.

Secondly, do you really think having seperate threads is effective? And if not, what do you suggest in making them better? Do you want to go back to individual threads are leave it as it is? I am open to suggestions so we can fix this problem together.

 

I just want to up this again so we can get some conversation going in here. I'd really like to hear some feedback on this subject.

I also edited the thread title to reflect upon it - hopefully draw in some more people.

 

Thanks for the response, FF. This is exactly what I was looking for.

As for the points you brought up - I agree with you entirely. It's just that I thought it was time to bring up the topic since I've been getting a few complaints regarding how they are run. If those people could step forward and explain to me why, that would be greatly appreciated.

Something else that caught my attention earlier - putting both of the request threads at the top of the page as sticky threads. This has been recommended by a few users and in all respects, it is a good idea. It would definitely be easy to find for new members and might even get more of our artists to respond.

 

Well, I was gonna post them as stickies as soon as the spoiler policy was lifted, but it appears a new situation has risen. For some reason, whenever a mod edits the first post of a sticky, it destickies it. There is no explanation as of yet, but we're working on it.

What I want to know is if I should go ahead and still do this? I can always update the second post like I have been doing, but the thread title can no longer reflect when there has been updates. Sticky threads do not allow that. What do you all think?

 

Just that you have to delete the old sticky and then create a whole new thread to resticky it. You can't sticky an existing thread.

 

I don't mind bumping them up every now and then. In fact, I'm still all for the stickies as long as you guys are alright with the thread title not being updated. That's my only concern with this way at the moment. Then again, I can always post in the thread when it's updated.

 

Yea, I'd think that would be our best course of action as well. I'm gonna go ahead and work on them tonight and get them started.

 

DOTF, I completely understand where you are coming from. I sometimes bypass certain threads because of load times and I'm even on a DSL connection. I think putting a rule into effect that only allows images as links could work, but it would be hard to lock down. If this ends up going through, I can always create a sticky thread at the top of the forum for a week or two outlining the new rule and see where it goes.

Before I put anything into effect, however, I'd like to see where others stand. But I think you brought up an excellent point - one that really does need addressing.

 

Sorry about being slow in these responses...

I haven't read through all the other comments b/c i'm a little lazy. lol. but people how bout when you visit someones pictures leave a comment, cuz you know some of you guys are visiting and then aren't saying a word so just keep it in mind. The artist always appreciates feedback so help us out ok?

Well, there's not much I can do about this, but just continue to encourage people to post and hope that they do so. I can't make anyone post comments in artists' threads, they have to make that decision on their own. But I understand where you're coming from and to a certain degree, the artists to get 'fuel' to continue onward from comments and critique.

I'm not really sure what a solution would be. This might not be practical, but maybe we could set up some sort of lottery system? Fanartists who are willing to be in the lottery will sign up and every couple weeks, everyone is randomly assigned one piece of request art.

That's a very interesting solution. It would help to get rid of some of those older requests that date all the way back to January and Februrary, but then the problem arises of artists not wanting to draw/create what they recieve. And I can see you also mentioned that. Personally, I know it becomes tough when I'm assigned something at school that I don't really want to do. I can struggle over it for days before finally getting something down on the paper. But if we can find a good solution to this problem, I wouldn't mind giving this idea a go.

And to continue on the discussion about posting thumbnails in threads and not links - I am agreeing more and more with DotF on this issue as the weeks go by. I am now coming across threads where the first page of the thread is about 20 thumbnails and it's taking forever to load. I know the slow download time is what is preventing me from posting comments in certain threads. But like I said above, I would like to get more feedback on this issue before actually putting a new rule about this into effect.

 

I also really like this idea and to be honest, I think we may even have a better turnout with this process. I'm willing to give this a try for a trial period of perhaps a month or something like that. During this time, I'll still keep the normal request threads opened, but I'd encourage everyone to give the new system a try.