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. |