Process Culture Shift

[Vengeance1701]

Over my long years of being involved in the transformation community and dozens upon dozens of conversations I've had with people about this place... well, overall, we have a pretty poor reputation out there for being total jackasses.

1) Too much is made of people posting old content. We seem to be known for actively discouraging people to post something out of fear that it is old content.

2) Too much non-constructive criticism. Some people I know who are very good writers and artists...won't post here because of that fact. They don't feel any good will come of it.

To that end, I'm going to try to be doing something about our poor reputation.

Here's what I'll be looking at:

1) Criticism is fine. Being a total ass about other people's hard work is not.

2) Any harsh condemnation of people posting old content will no longer be tolerated.

At the moment, that's all.

I'm pretty open to hearing suggestions from all of you and...well, I got another idea for a program to help better our reputation....but that's another thread

Thoughts/ideas?

[Clickme]

There's also that some old content is completely new go a lot of people that haven't been on the forums since Day One. I think it's good to have some old classics come back especially for those that haven't seen it yet. Llike the famous Moon Princess GTS clip. Really old but still a great growth clip.

[vincent_richter]

What's more annoying to me, personally, is when someone posts a generic clip with no information; then, when someone reposts with the correct artist / title, they get chewed out for not using the search function. What in blue hell were they supposed to search for, "two girl poolside giantess growth clip?" That kind of thinking needed to end years ago.

[Drachen]

Originally Posted by Vengeance1701

well, overall, we have a pretty poor reputation out there for being total jackasses.

Some of that is just part of the culture. This is a fetish forum with a lot of unwritten rules and regulations. Fetish people by nature are pretty "oddly specific" and noobs are often confused by what is appropriate and could be turned off by the responses. The "no guys", "must have process" and forum-specific rules like TF's "woman/animal TFs only here, general stuff goes two forums down" should be documented somewhere easily viewable. Otherwise, noobs will get a visit from the self-appointed content police. I'll admit to being somewhat annoyed at that sort of knee-jerk behavior, but it does go towards keeping the culture of the board intact.

I guess it's a bit like New York. We're very friendly if you follow the unwritten rules but you will get a gruff response from someone who lives here if you break them. I wouldn't go too far in trying to muck with the culture too much. Look at your other thread with all the 5+ year veterans. We probably stick around for a reason. I don't mind a reputation as being a bit of an asshole. Then again, I'm from New York.

[JBird]

I shouldn't even talk when it comes to giving my opinion on other people's work when I need to get over my insecurities about my own artwork. But, and I don't mean this as an excuse, I am not always able to politely articulate constructive criticism; and I do try to aim for that in most of my posts. In other words: words are hard :P

As for begrudging newer members for posting old content... I honestly don't know. All I can think of is if maybe we had some kind of "Hall of Fame" area for some of the really, really old stuff.

[vincent_richter]

Just out of curiosity, where do we draw the line? There's the letter of the law, codified in site policies, and the spirit of the law, which isn't so fortunate. What do we consider disruptive, harmfully disruptive, and bannable offenses? Do we back ourselves into a corner with precise wording, or deliberately leave "the law" vague with a standard disclaimer for mod actions?

[DragonMasterX]

2) Too much non-constructive criticism. Some people I know who are very good writers and artists...won't post here because of that fact. They don't feel any good will come of it.

I've a hard time feeling anything after posting my work here. Takes week to receive any comments at all. But then again eh, I'm a writer. People just don't wanna read.

Being ignored though, to me at least, is worse than being flamed or praised, two extremes that are usually not considered criticism. Ignorance is sort of discouraging though. It's the reason why a few weeks ago I decided to give up on the macrophile.com boards when it comes to my growth stories.

This place has a way of redeeming itself at times when it comes to audience, but more often than not I'm left wondering: "So did I do horrible and nobody wants to type a comment for fear their fingers might fall off at such terribleness?" or "So did I do so good that people are feeling imposed on by my greatness?", but nothing factual, which makes it awkward to post my stuff on here.

Wish people were more vocal. Heck I wouldn't even mind generic "TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITS!" shout outs, 'least I know they're referring to MY disproportionate focus on breasts in nearly all my stories lmao.

[vincent_richter]

Sometimes it goes down like that, though it probably shouldn't; people get busy with life and distract themselves with fiction. For some, taking the time to critique what they just read can be a jarring return to real life, so they'll avoid it altogether and pray for a dream to continue the scenario. I know I did.

[DragonMasterX]

You'll forgive me if I don't sound very supportive of your comment, but that attitude is pretty much contradictive; people want fantasy, and allowing themselves a short time to elaborate and comment on it returns them to real life that they don't want? What is the author or artist then, an unfeeling computer that delivers on others' whim? Because dropping content and seeing it get views but no comments doesn't help the fantasy thrive, it stagnates it. The point of view from the creator's angle should also come into consideration.

That said, it's more of a ranty idealism than anything. Can't change how people think; still doesn't mean content generators don't enjoy appreciation for what they do.

Of course, I'm a writer, so whatever an artist may get, I'll get 75% less.

[vincent_richter]

Well, of course, that's simply my personal take on the behavior. The other side is that this is a shitty time to solicit feedback; people are either going on vacation, just getting back, or experiencing the retail hell that is Back-to-School. It's certainly not a bad thing to desire input, to strive to hone your craft; just don't expect many of the analytical minds to comment until August.

We're slow, but eventually, we get things done.

[DragonMasterX]

Oh wait a sec... duh! I forgot it's summer break for the northern hemisphere. <_<

I'm from Argentina, and at work, so my sense of time and hemispherical empathy have really gotten screwed. Oh well guess I really should be more patient :T

[vincent_richter]

You remind me that I need to update my passport.
I hear Buenos Aires ist wunderbar this time of year.