On a Friday afternoon, April 14, 2006, a horrible thing happened... BCers everywhere found themselves facing yet another trouble added to the CaP's that flood the Beauty Contest, the frequent rejection of anthro pictures, and the tremendous length of the gold ban. Only, this new problem was far worse. In the editorial of the Neopian Times came the fatal words... Are we allowed to enter the Beauty Contest on a side account? ~ This is a rather weird question but I'm just wondering... Lets say a BCer got gold right? Then that means they can't enter the BC the next time? But can they enter on a side account with one of those Neopets? I would think not, but... you guys suprise me sometimes. So, can you? - Sock Master Coco ~ coco_dog_92 No, ma'am. This is not allowed. You may only enter contests with a Neopoint or item prize from your main account.    TNT, we are letting you know now that we will not just stand by and take this! A vast number of BCers frequently enter pets from side accounts! Sure, many of us Neopians find it annoying that the luxury of free strength boosts at Coltzan's Shrine, or kitchen quests has been taken away from all our Neopian partners who were unfortunate enough to be forced to reside on a side account. Yet, for most, it's bearable. But, denying them the chance to be in the Beauty Contest!? To ever have a trophy? To ever be recognized? That's simply too much to accept! TNT, you have gone over the line this time! It's outrageous and it's unacceptable! Mass numbers of users are quitting not only quitting the Beauty Contest, but are quitting Neopets completely. There is even talk of the Beauty Contest dying all together.    We ask it to be understood that the Beauty Contest is unique from other contests in how it works and even somewhat in what it offers. The current item and Neopoint prizes for the Beauty Contest are relatively small and insignificant. The real prize from the Beauty Contest is a trophy on the pet's lookup as well as recognition for that unique pet and the owner. That's the real reason we enter. Not to mention, the Beauty contest relies on votes from other players and on how much the BCer advertises for those votes. So, unlike other contests, where more entries would make it easier to win, having multiple entries actually makes it harder to win in the Beauty Contest. For, a BCer must do more advertising when there are more entries, and most don't have the time for doing all the extra advertising.    Restricting pets on side accounts from entering in the Beauty Contest isn't reducing any "unfair advantages". Rather, it is reducing the choices of species from which we desire to enter and denying us the chance to enter our beautiful side pets. Our side pets that we love to draw. Our side pets that we put so much effort into developing personality and designing. Our side pets that we yearn to enter for a certain themed week. Our side pets that were meant for the Beauty Contest. Our side pets that we long to be recognized. But that's not all. This rule is limiting our creativity and our freedom to show its full potential. When an artist is full of ideas for designs and personalities that they want to put to life, and then they are only allowed to actually use four, it's maddening! Because of all this, many of the commendable BCers are leaving. The friendly community that was formed by the Beauty Contest has had a rip torn in its center. If it isn't fixed, things for the Beauty Contest could only get worse; by losing its artistic luster along with its respect.    The "no side account" rule never applied to the Beauty Contest before. So why must it apply now? Why add such a rule when no greater good comes out of it? Changes should be made to help improve the Beauty Contest; not corrupt it. These are some of the many reasons we are choosing to stand up against the idea that the general "no side account" rule should apply to the Beauty Contest. Still, everyone must know that there are a couple of reasons why TNT feels the rule should apply to the Beauty Contest: the chance of winning item and Neopoint prizes on a side account and the ability to get past the "gold ban" through a side account.    Yet even then, it remains unreasonable and unjust to completely deny us the right to enter the contest on a side account. We ask that TNT would make a feature in the account creation process and in the user preferences section where users can designate what account is their side and what is their main. This could be fairly controlled by making it so that only one account per email can have the main account feature. Also, if a player gets another email so that they can have two main accounts, they could then be frozen for doing so. The side account feature could allow entering into the Beauty Contest, but prevent any Neopoint or item prizes from being received. It could also prevent side accounts from receiving neopoints from games and from going to the dailies. This would not only eliminate the reasons for banning the Beauty Contests on side accounts, but it would also keep the Neopoint and item prizes for the Beauty Contest on main accounts and prevent some cheating going on through side accounts.    Such a thing could not only improve the Beauty Contest, but make things better throughout Neopia as well. Still, all should know that such a program cannot be made over night. It must be clear that it would take time to make such a program. So, in this case TNT could temporarily remove the Neopoint and item prizes from the Beauty Contest during the wait. But why not just get rid of the prizes permanently? Well, though it does seem that most don't care about the Neopoint and item prizes at all, there are still several that do seem to care. Many of those that care would almost undoubtedly harass the boards in their anger and complain endlessly if the prizes were permanently and completely taken away. This is not something to be desired. Hence, even though the permanent, complete ridding of item and Neopoint prizes from the Beauty Contest is popularly suggested, it's frequently overlooked that such a solution would simply be yet another cause of mass controversy. There lies the reason that a complete removal of the Neopoint and item prizes is not good as a permanent solution. However, if the riding of prizes was temporary, chances are that there would not be so much a complaint. Also, many of those who don't really care about the contest, those who enter CaPs and scribbles only in hopes of prizes, would most probably silently forget about the Beauty Contest during their withdrawal and never notice when the program was completed. With these users who only enter for the prizes gone, the Beauty Contest would become more about what it should be; the art, the competition, and the community.    Please TNT, don't deprive the side pets of their rights to enter in the Beauty Contest or the artists of their rights to express their creative potential. Neopoint and item prizes aren't even the reason most of us enter the BC. We ask that side accounts be allowed to enter in the Beauty Contest for no prizes; while the Neopoint and item prizes are still kept for main accounts to pacify those who want them. TNT, even with how greatly we want CaPs to be banned and how much we want a shorter gold ban, more than anything, we want to be able to enter pets on our side accounts into the BC again.

Following this are quotes taken with permission from regular BCers on the Beauty Contest board. Quotes with an astrix (*) next to them were received from supporters through neomail. If you read the petition and have a quote of your own, just neomail Dpuppypal to let your voice be heard! changethew0rld I'm more stressed on behalf of my BCing friends really. I can see this causing a ton of people to stop entering in the long run, esp. if they resort to freezing. Having all your accounts frozen is the crappiest feeling imaginable and I've had to go through it twice now. I don't care if its "just a game site". it isn't fake, it's REAL in the sense that I put huge amounts of time effort & care into my accounts/pets/art, and they can just rip it all away at random enforce pointless useless rules to zap the fun out of it. arttimo This is the third week I've missed since I started BCing back in June of 2003. That's almost three years! I have 20 pets to allow for more creative freedom... how will people see the pictures if they're not out in the open? I love the competition, but now some of my favorite pets can't be entered anymore. If they just take off the stupid prizes, it will nullify the rule. People will complain about the neopoints being gone of course, but those are the people who care more for the neopoint prize than the art. The BC should be about the art. Without the people entering for the prize, all that will be left are the artists. That's how it should be. einin_sama I wish this entire mess would be sorted out. It is hurting the BCers and the good artists, the BC will be overrun by CaPs and scribbles just as it was when it first started. Things are meant to progress forward, not turn halfway there and go back to square one. *sighs*" My favourte BC bet is on my gallery account, and there is no chance of me switching to that account to use as a main. This is just...great..." _Haani is my favourite bc pet, he is on my gallery account. He's never placed but I really enjoy drawing him. My second favourite is a kyrii of mine, _Enlil_, possibly my most well known pet. I hate the idea of not being able to enter him." They should do what this thing was initally interpreted as...or remove the NP prizes if entering the bc on a sub. That would be 100% more loginal jewelprincess01 -just read it- That... is crazy. Dx And I have TONS of pets on side accounts that I wanna enter, too. ;_; " -sigh- At my guild, they were saying that we could enter on side accounts if only they'd get rid of the money prize and just give out trophies. :/ I don't know how that would go over with everyone else though." Yeah, I know. xD I enter for artistic pride/spirit, not for money. xP I just want all of my pets to have a trophy. for_sheeba It's so idiotic. -.- I don't even care if I get frozen for it, I'm not withdrawing this round. The only reason I'm still on neopets is because of my BC buddies." They may as well just get rid of the BC altogether at this rate." It's so risky, and so unnecessary. I don't want to BC the pets here on my main, because I have two lupes, an eyrie, and a lab pet. It's stupid." If they just take away the NP, there wouldn't be an issue. -.- It's not a guaranteed win, either! You have to work hard to win, and there are so many contestants." The only thing I still want with the BC is the trophy, I don't care about the other prizes. 90% of the BCers would agree e.e skatelin503 Why can't we enter the BC on a side? We've always been able to before. I /create/ pets so I can draw them!" Last week I placed third with a pet from my side. Why can't I keep doing the same? I only do it for the trophies. The nps I make stay on the account they were won." I don't BC for the np. I BC for the people I met on the boards. t3h_ashen o_0;; When did this come about?? I can't BC my main account because all of the pets are popular catagories and I don't stand a chance with them. The only pets I ever BC are my korbats on this account" -sigh- This is so unfair! You're not going to get rich by BCing, goodness knows. I don't think its unfair at all to BC all accounts. Theres no guarantee you're going to win or get anything, unlike playing games. Theres no advantage to be gained by doing so." The only reason we BC is to compare our art to others and to get a spiffy trophy for the pet's lookup. Heck, I think they should take away the prizes and just allow us to have fun with our art. That way we could BC any pet we wanted. blackraven5 *hugs Lexi* I can't take the risk of transferring my pets around. T__T; If I had a choice, my uni and lupe would move to side accounts and I'd have a jetsam, kau, hissi and eyrie here." Neo doesn't understand that true BCers don't care about the np and prizes. .__.; We care about the art! DX!" Can we put up the tombstone now? "Here lies the BC. Cause of death: new rule- no entering side account pets." T__T;; " aquacave I just adopted link on my side.. and I promised the former owner to enter her in the BC.. how can I do that now ? :'( " * "TNT has gone way to far with that new rule, we've been tolerating almost everything that they've done but this is just crossing that invisible little line. feydon But but.. I have two gold bans already, and I wanna try out for different species, it's all just not fair. D: " I do the BC mainly to be recognized. The prizes go mainly to my quests. :B spotlego What's the point of making SIDE ACCOUNTS is the question." It'd be more fair than the current rule; we must COMPROMISE. ninetails390 Getting rid of the prizes would be better than nothing! I can rely on main account pets for neopoints, I'm not greedy! I just want to show off my pets! T_T sd_dreamcrystal I had wished to enter my other pets during the summer and this new rule prevented it. Plus alot of BCers and good artist enter side account pets, not for the item or the NP, but just to show their pets! If TNT would make a compermise with the BCers then everyone would be happier! lobstermagnetcty * "Just because I'm not ALWAYS BCing, doesn't mean I don't love it. I'm just often sick for great lengths of time, with no energy to draw. But I've been BCing since the time we could see how many votes we got. (Loooong time. O_o) I LOVE BCing, it's improved my art TREMENDOUSLY. My Dad even comments on it. And my friends. Lots of people who have no idea what caused the upswing in my talent. The BC. Now, in all the time I've been BCing, I've won six trophies. Four bronze, two silver. (I YEARN for a gold-ban. I wanna see what it's like!) So, in oh, say, THREE YEARS, I've won a grand total of 20K. Pft. Meanwhile I have two Draiks, a Royal pet, a Faerie pet, and several other nice ones. Clearly, the BC is the way to go for riches. O_o ROFL. My pets are my babies, and BCers are my friends. Most of them know who I am (and how much I want gold!). Sadly, of the pets mentioned above, ONLY ONE is on my main (Maldijo, a Draik). And he's never won anything. This new rule is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. draik_fan12345 * "I can't draw, but I vote for almost every species every time. If TNT doesn't do something soon, like, 1/4 of the BCers are going to quit (so I've heard). That means they would be cheating themselves out of money and users. Most BCers don't even care about the money, They just want the trophey o_0 mia_v Ridiculous. Absolutley ridiculous. I could never leave neo, but many artists are talking about it (on dA and whatnot). I can understand Neo not wanting us to earn neopoints on other accounts, but this has gone way too far. darkshakara * "Although I'm not good at art I was thinking about drawing in the BC from any of my accounts. Now the only way to enter a pet from a side account, is to make that account into your main and your current main into a spare. What is the point of drawing pets on side accounts if you won't be able to enter them unless you make your spare into a main? The trophies are the one of the only reasons people enter with their sides. Wether it be for the recognition or for the challenge. Some people enter so they can meet freinds who draw too or just liked their art. I would've drawn for those two purposes only. I don't care for the prizes. I feel that TNT should regect the caps and scribbles. I've even seen that some people get in with images from other sites. Though I have heard that some people don't get in even if their art isn't a cap or scribbles. This way the BC can be cleaner and those who just care about the prizes stop entering after alot of failures and they forget about the prize. If it wasn't for my freinds ((I actually meet one of them voting on the korbat section of the contest)) and the BC, I'd have left by now and not try to make a design for each of my pets. I might even make a page about this as well. It's like my -and others- BC career has ended before it even began. kikiscamps_mom * "I never entered a side account pet in the BC because I thought it wasn't allowed, but was hoping the rule would change on it. I DON'T CARE ABOUT POINTS OR PRIZES. I enter the BC for two reasons: it encourages me to create art and improve my art (where it can be SEEN), and I hope to win a trophy for my pet. I agree that it's HARDER to promote 6 pet pics than than one or two. There is a real disadvantage in putting many pets in at once. Not to mention, few people can crank out tons of pics every week. IT'S NOT THAT WE WANT MORE CHANCES TO WIN; IT'S THAT WE WANT MORE SUBJECT MATERIAL TO WORK FROM. The ADVANTAGE in being able to use side accts. is to the artist and petlover: you can work with more than 4 species or colors for your material. You don't risk losing pets in the pound to shuffle your subjects onto your main account. It's terribly hard getting into the Art Gallery. The BC should be more open for people to display their art, to compensate for that... and that includes being able to pick from ALL your pets, as which subject you'll draw this week. Drawing neopets has inspired me to aim for becoming a professional artist. My art has improved scads since I started. I'd really like to be able to enter any of my pets, rather than to choose from only 4 of them. icing_death777 * "TNT makes all these rules for good reasons, I do not doubt, but it hurts us non-offenders as well. I believe that multi-accounting is fine in the BC, because it allows us artists to do what we love the absolute most! When I say I am art obsessed, I am not saying it loosly. I search for art to view when not busy with my friends on the net, I draw and color and edit until all I can do is stare at the screen, begging my mind to come up with something. I get excited about art, and so I am also about the BC. Why not just give prizes to the main account that won, and not the side accounts? Or cut back on the prizes? But freezing is a little much for us who are just enjoying the competition, I think... fhujmasterofhedgehog * "Though I do not enter the BC often, when I do I like to enter from other account. I love my four pets on this account a lot, but I never actually draw them, I can't think of designs...EVER. So I make a pet on my side account. Saintemillion for example, she is one of my Anime/Neopets crossovers. I really want to enter her in the BC but now I can't. I can only roleplay her and it's starting to get on my nerves the fact that I can't put her in. I could draw my Krawk for say, and I have, but I don't feel as happy doing it. If it does not change soon, I will have to disrupt my roleplaying account AND my main account by pounding one on here or moving...and putting Jodie-bori ( her...nick name I guess ) on here, taking the affects away from the school setting I am working on for that account. mindsend * "This whole lot is insane. Even though I won enough to actually get NP, the prizes arent even enough to have me notice them -- Most of the time I just assume that the money I get from the BC is something from a Random Event I missed while refreshing a white screen of doom away. the_nerdy_twins * "I think it's really unfair that we can't enter on our sides. That's half the reason why I made another account - because I wanted more pets that I could draw better. I'm not interested in the nps - I can play games if I want them. I just want a chance to get some appreciation for my art! linaeth * "My art is pretty much my life. It's the one ability I can truly say I feel confident in. I enter the Beauty Contest to show off my talent, and to meet others who share my love of art. I don't care about neopoints or items. That's why I enter: I love what I do, and I know no other place where my hard work will be shown any respect. However, my drawing strength lies in the avian form, and my lenny, Volaille, is on a side account. Now if I enter my best work, I face losing my accounts and everything I have achieved forever. I've never before met anyone who appreciates art as much as the Neopian artists, and I'd hate to lose the privilege to be one of them. lotrlover1985 * "The Neopians of the world are angered by your latest rule for the Beauty Contest. Majority of the Neopians that enter the Beauty Contest do it for the amusement of others, and for the thrill they get of displaying a piece of art, whether it is assembled on the computer or artistically done by hand! We are the voice of Neopia, we are the determined Beauty Contest entrants that idolize the ability to show their artistic talents to the world! Please, understand that we do it for the pleasure we get out of drawing, not for the items, money or trophy that we set in our display cabinents. We do it for our artistic appreciation. Take back the rule and let us draw more, so the art hungry neopians of the world don't starve! michaela_rox1 * "I've never really entered the Beauty Contest, but I think it's really unfair that people are frozen for entering the BC with a side account, yet scammers and n00bs are merely sent a small warning. My old friend used to really like to enter the BC with amazing pieces of work that she had spent hours on. She was frozen. I didn't know why she was frozen at first, but then I remembered the BC. I checked the rules, and found out that new horrible rule. All of her pets were painted, but her favorite pet was on a side. She entered and was frozen. I really miss her. So, please, do everything it takes to get rid of the new rule and put and end to all of this madness. angeleyes333314 * "I have 5 accounts, with lots of different species of pets throughout. I made them so I could learn to draw each species. One of my goals was to get a gold trophy for all 19 of my pets. But, since the new rule came out, guess what? I can't! The only reason I don't have more BC trophies at the moment is because I'm not very good at drawing the pets in my main account. I drew a pic of a Lupe the other week and bought a lupe transmog just so I could turn a pet in my main into a lupe to enter the contest. But I realised. I'm spending 265K here, just to enter a pic once. And what if I drew, say, a draik? I am NOT spending 2 million neopoints. Like everyone else, the only thing I care about is the trophy, and that doesn't benefit the account other than make it look good. I want proof that I've won something, that's just normal. Granted, because I'm new to the BC, I can't say I've made any friends on the BC boards, but I also haven't made any enemies. So. Er. *waves a 'Let The Side Account Pets Into The BC' flag* peofun1 * "I just entered one of my pets on a side account in the BC. The next day I found out about this new rule. And you know what? I don't care. If I get frozen, so be it. It's for a good cause. Civil disobedience, ya'll. It's a real shame though, I just spent a week on this beautiful picture of my Uni on a side account, and now no one will ever see it...Is there really any point to having side accounts anymore if you can't even enter the pets in the BC? jessie_2005_ * "I totally agree with the petition, and even though i have never entered the BC before, I love to draw, and possibly sometime I will enter it, plus, I just want to help out the people who wish to enter their side account pets. *=quote received through neomail

If you've read the BCERS Petition and want to show your support then send Dpuppypal a neomail to sign it! dpuppypal ninetails390 luvy_duvy_angelz_112 mishtahime starr_kitty mysti76 coco_dog_92 xebra lifegirl767 jewelprincess01 sd_dreamcrystal poked_to_death arttimo tilty_rp lippay draik_fan12345 unirah shadouchan shoop12345 mainakai xweetok_150 000kitty_kat000 aquacave zornxx linkoftime changethew0rld kikiscamps_mom kymeh iloveyou528 flippyflop771 xinimon rayquazadragon10 ivorykingdom horsiehorse456 caoankana concept_of_time jenasu 4zure miyavi_freak x_speak_slow_x antonia22301 darkshakara polar1s pritty_cherry tavir samara_comin2_hauntu lobstermagnetcty _devotions astra_luna40 koislap ariesgrl1997 icing_death777 sanjisangel ang95 mindsend fhujmasterofhedgehog theemogirlsonya nic_nac angelpie857 mindfreak7856 zawtty the_nerdy_twins _ash_it_ pigeon_wing marie_nanu shadow629477 linaeth alleycat714 twisteddemon51 1ovakin petpet_fan_1 lotrlover1985 boopboopbadoop157 theadoptionhelper plushplushi_ _jordynlovesdevin_ mustangrrrl vicen keenoah _dragons_eyes_000 galapagoo_zim elish111 festival_of_neo syncrogrrl358 queen_tana megawalrus7 rock_and_roll1995 ledzepforlife michaela_rox1 kazenkori neosjaclyn niskye catgirl7996 _bsb_fan_ lil_naomi11d6 angeleyes333314 __wolf_ hannahpet28 peofun1 aquarana parisqt95 o_osephirotho_o choask1699 hannah6480 lil_wolfy_000 neo2842 cannontella auroran xangelcheer95x neo_kid_851 katara1411 shiny_doodle_ bartliff270 kookies_1234 musiclover_xoxo24 sidnyxj9 jessie_2005_ michellejkittie

Spread the word and let others know about the BCERS Petition! Also, more banners and buttons for the BCERS Petition would be greatly appreciated! If you have made a banner or button for the petition, please send it to Dpuppypal. Button <a href=http://www.neopets.com/~Serinity_the_grace><img src=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Andrine/BCERSbuttonPNG.png border=0 alt="Beauty Contest Entry Rights for Sides-Come sign the petition!"></a> Banner <a href=http://www.neopets.com/~Serinity_the_grace><img src=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Andrine/BCERSbannerPNG.png border=0 alt="Come sign the petition!"></a>

Follow the first link to see screenies holding information from Amanda about the rule and other related topics. Also, please visit these other pages that deal with the rule. If you have made a page dealing with the rule and would like its link to be here, please neomail Dpuppypal. ((Click here to see info from Amanda)) A Comic Protest