Main Page Go to Short Stories Go back to Articles Go to Comics Go to Continued Series Go to Editorial Go to New Series

Show All | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12 | Week 13 | Week 14 | Week 15 | Week 16 | Week 17 | Week 18 | Week 19 | Week 20 | Week 21 | Week 22 | Week 23 | Week 24 | Week 25 | Week 26 | Week 27 | Week 28 | Week 29 | Week 30 | Week 31 | Week 32 | Week 33 | Week 34 | Week 35 | Week 36 | Week 37 | Week 38 | Week 39 | Week 40 | Week 41 | Week 42 | Week 43 | Week 44 | Week 45 | Week 46 | Week 47 | Week 48 | Week 49 | Week 50 | Week 51 | Week 52 | Week 53 | Week 54 | Week 55 | Week 56 | Week 57 | Week 58 | Week 59 | Week 60 | Week 61 | Week 62 | Week 63 | Week 64 | Week 65 | Week 66 | Week 67 | Week 68 | Week 69 | Week 70 | Week 71 | Week 72 | Week 73 | Week 74 | Week 75 | Week 76 | Week 77 | Week 78 | Week 79 | Week 80 | Week 81 | Week 82 | Week 83 | Week 84 | Week 85 | Week 86 | Week 87 | Week 88 | Week 89 | Week 90 | Week 91 | Week 92 | Week 93 | Week 94 | Week 95 | Week 96 | Week 97 | Week 98 | Week 99 | Week 100 | Week 101 | Week 102 | Week 103 | Week 104 | Week 105 | Week 106 | Week 107 | Week 108 | Week 109 | Week 110 | Week 111 | Week 112 | Week 113 | Week 114 | Week 115 | Week 116 | Week 117 | Week 118 | Week 119 | Week 120 | Week 121 | Week 122 | Week 123 | Week 124 | Week 125 | Week 126 | Week 127 | Week 128 | Week 129 | Week 130 | Week 131 | Week 132 | Week 133 | Week 134 | Week 135 | Week 136 | Week 137 | Week 138 | Week 139 | Week 140 | Week 141 | Week 142 | Week 143 | Week 144 | Week 145 | Week 146 | Week 147 | Week 148 | Week 149

Neopia's Fill in the Blank News Source | 28th day of Running, Yr 26
The Neopian Times Week 65 > Articles > Your Foot Ain't That Pretty

Your Foot Ain't That Pretty

by blu_dolph

AROMATIC FISH DRIVE - The Neopian Beauty Contest is mainly a popularity contest - true or false. I've read a "true" opinion, but I have to argue that there are many (actually more) reasons why it should be false. I am not passing law that it should be false; I'm just contradicting every point oddhatter raised that the Neopian Beauty Contest (NBC for short) is a waste of time. To understand this, please read oddhatter's article. And also please note that for every paragraph of "true" article, there will be one "false" article.

If I "slave over an excellent picture (within the 17k limit, of course!), that will inevitably be superior to the other entrants in the beauty contest", why won't I be able to win? Let's take a reality experience - if I create a fantastic product that is virtually fault-free, would anyone know about it if I didn't spread the word? Apply the same concept to Neopets, and you will find your job is easier because a) there are less people in Neopets then in the world, b) I don't need to pay shipping charges and so on and c) there is nothing to lose even if I don't win. For anyone who doesn't get my point - publicity is the way to go!

If you want to take the more unpopular Neopets just to win, let me assure you that you are fighting for a superficial battle. Why not try your hand at a brilliant picture (for a popular Neopet) and your victory will be all the sweeter? Furthermore, if you are too lazy to spend 12 hours a day posting (and a bit more for the picture), why not spend even more on the picture and about two hours posting? You don't need to spam the boards - spread the word through your guild and ask them to help spread, tell all your Neofriends, and you can always play games/check shop stock while you post right?

Next up is the moral of the voters and artists, as well as the observance of the Neopets staff. I agree: artistic merit should take precedence over clout, but if everyone is smart enough, it actually does. First combination raised: popular, great picture: All right. Popular plus repetition: If the pictures are different each time, and well drawn as well, I see no reason why not the so-called repetition. If the picture is the same, then this is where staff come in to disqualify the participant. Popular plus fan base: If you are reclusive and refuse to gather many friends, than surely there is no use in even playing Neopets (just for the pet fun). It's easy if you want more Neofriends - join a guild (and stay, or else they might bear a small grudge), involve yourself actively in the Neopian chat boards (be nice, not nasty) and finally, just pick anyone (maybe you bought something from them) and ask! Don't make just for the vote; you'll never know how important your "fan base" could turn out. I need not say more.

For the next paragraph, I have only a bit to say: Neopets Staff Observance. If the staff cannot notice these, or try to draw out where pictures stay and try to dissuade posters (or take them down), then I have no more to say. It's a tough job, maybe it might take some time, but it goes a lot for a long time: money may run out but a trophy (and the honor) is forever. I rest my case.

And for the next, I still have to point out the importance of the staff. If they cannot check the reports out, and have no credible proof, why should they freeze the user? Are they applying guilty-until-proven-innocent bits to Neopets? I cannot agree more, therefore I cannot argue more.

I, however, have quite a lot to say about the conclusion oddhatter leads you (and me) too. The question posed is: Is the Beauty Contest a good thing, or is a waste of time in this complicated community of Neopia? Oddhatter argues that it is time to seriously consider the importance of NBC, and poses a brilliant argument that it is time to say bye-bye (without raising the point that there must be changes in everything - and perhaps it is now NBC's turn as well ... ho hum). I, however, (although I have never attempted the NBC) (have observed the NBC ranks) believe that it is worth keeping for much longer.

We have seen the art that users can produce - all in the gallery of course. And surely, there are beautiful portrayals of pets there that do not appear in the NBC. Why is another article, but I did raise this point for a reason. The art gallery is usually very general, with appearance of a theme quite often, and the NBC gives a specification to art production in Neopets virtuality. If you notice all my arguments, it effectively (I hope) cancels out most of the reasons why the NBC should be thrown away.

If you argue there are only a few benefactors, then you are seeing from a superficial point of view. The NBC is not just for people to draw their pets and show it off, it is also for people to look at beautiful art and vote for it - because they have a right to do so if they want to. There is a gallery for this, you may say, but if the NBC is taken down, then there is one less avenue for beauty. If scammers are a point, then I have three words: don't (one) be (two) fooled (three). If your pictures are ripped off, then try to approach the ripper. If the species is the same, and so on, then there will be a difficulty. Or you can just tell the Neopets staff about the ripping off, but please do give some prove. Maybe they might not freeze away, but they might take it into consideration. If your ripper wins, it is just your luck that you flashed your picture around.

And finally, about cut and pastes: maybe the cutting and pasting is well manipulated and looks original and beautiful. Certainly this planning and attempt deserves a chance to win a trophy. Even if a pretty picture doesn't win, why should you give up and throw your chance away? Try again, and publicize a little more.

So, dear readers who have continued up till here, let me conclude with a summary (and more). Greed, rivalry and Neopets staffs play a mega role in the NBC, but you (as the voter or artist) play the most important part in it. If you really want down, stop submitting your drawings. If there are only a few to choose from, Neopets will be forced to close. Furthermore, listen to your heart and vote for what you think should be voted for - don't bribe, don't scam. And if you think it's just too much hassle, get your trophies else where.


Search :
Other Stories

AICWRBGTTNTTRC: Count von Roo
Thought this little series was gone, eh?

by soggydude


Good Intentions
This article is about what can happen when people want to help these pets so much that they make bad choices.

by ember188


Guide to Guilds: Guild Features
The calendar is a frequently overlooked feature that can be both a source of entertainment and information.

by shidi


How to Become an Invasion of Meridell Champion
Read this handy guide, and you'll be an IoM champion in no time...

by tskaaron


What Makes a Neopian?
The clothes? The money? The dung?

by bookyalex


Neopets | Main | Articles | Editorial
Short Stories | Comics | New Series | Continued Series | Search