You've taken this out of context Sir!

It is the general reaction I've gotten for speaking my mind since opening this discussion and the eight months of Silent Contempt that has drawn me to my own conclusion of my treatment with this issue.

And again, I refuse to allow this simple question to get twisted, misquoted or ignored.

All you have to do is read this forum after I opened my mouth and you'll see all hell breaking loose, but no straight answer to the question.

At this point eight months later "I don't know" is a better answer to me than just silence!

The better answer would be to delete the screenshot section altogether.

Oh well, it's their site to run the way they feel fit Fuzzy, so if that's the conclusion then it is what it is. And that would indeed be a straight answer to the question.

There's one of them voices right now!

I would love to know your reasoning?   

I'm surprized to see this thread active again and still the same wishy washy answers.
It has been 8 months. Had I not just looked at Chasbo's Christmas Screen shot I wouldn't have seen this thread as the forum takes longer to load these days and I give up trying to get pages to load.



While thats not the outcome I'd like to see - it would at least be a response.

There was a time where Jafo's presence was very noticeable in the screen shot section.
I realise that schedules have changed and there are more 'important' matters at hand.

Stardocks main point is to sell products. But not everyone buying the products are skinners.

Screen Shots are still a way for others that do not skin to feel they participate in the site....

Just make a decision..

I used to feature screenshots a lot, going through the gallery picking out the ones which were either unusual or fresh.

The problem then became of of monotany - everything started to look the same. You'd have people uploading 3 or 4 generic looking shots per day. Screenshots became irritating rather than exciting. That's when I lost interest. You have only yourselves to blame.

The only solution is to have screenshot of the day heavily moderated. Screenshot of the day is featured across many Stardock sites. This means the choice has to be a considered one and has to represent skinning to a wider audience than just the 'screenshot clique'.

The 'screenshot clique', or 'rat pack' as some of you like to be known, is entirely responsible for the decline in the screenshot gallery. You upload endless numbers of samey shots, boost each others ratings, and lavish praise on each other. What good is that doing for skinning?

There are seveal reasons for uploading a screenshot: showing work in progress, showing your current desktop, showcasing skinning to a wider audience. If people are genuinely changing desktops as frequently as uploads suggest, then they are not getting the best out of skinning. Customising a desktop should be fun rather than a ritual.

Sorry to be so blunt, but you need to take a good look at yourselves and what you are doing.
Why do you want a screenshot featured every day? To showcase skinning or for some kind of personal gratification? I suspect the latter (though I may be wrong...), in which case it's hardly suprising no-one is listening.

You are all looking to either Stardock or WinCustomize to make a decision. But as I see it, the decision is yours. It is up to you to put forward the case, not by constant moaning, but by being pro-active. I suspect the powers that be are sitting back to see what happens next. So, what happens next is down to you

Make a difference.

Disclaimer: please note these are my personal views and not those of Stardock or WinCustomize, nor are they representitive of any of their official policies.

Well, I am gobsmacked. Basically what you are saying Fuzzy - whilst it is a personal opinion - amounts to an admission of lack of leadership on this site. It's a shame that no-one actually got a grip of the situation earlier. In my world if something starts to go wrong you try to put it right. That means 'good managers' open a dialogue with the parties concerned to try reach an agreement on a way forward and hopefully come to a final compromise where most are happy. To just ignore the problem, hoping it will go away, is never an answer.

There have been some suggestions put forward already in this thread on a way forward and viewing some of your observations I would respectfully add another suggestion. A 'cap' of two or three screenshots per month per member which would be self policing.

I find your last paragragh particularly interesting. In all my life I have never seen a 'good manager' sit back and wait to see what happens. They roll their sleeves up, meet the issue head on, get a dialogue going and bring it to a successful conclusion. That attitaude has served me well throughout my life and gets confidence and respect from those you are trying to 'lead'.

Eight months...........This is really quite sad. And to then throw the issue back into the face of those complaining and say 'So, what happens next is down to you' is.........well.....

You know, I saw this thread for the first time, a few days ago. Several of us who were not previously involved thought we would be proactive and join the discussion in the hope that we could give some suggestions or ideas to help. Yep, there's that word again 'proactive'. Well 'proactive' starts with the leadership. If you don't believe me talk to Brad, he'll tell you all about good leadership qualities.

I guess when several other of our members see your reply they will be quite upset. I just hope they keep a 'civil tongue' in their heads otherwise things are going to get silly and no one will gain anything from that.

Fuzzy was significantly more blunt that I was and I'm grateful.  I was trying to be indirect about how hard it is to find a good screenshot and putting the onus on the community to see how hard it is to find something good and new and appropriate to be a screenshot of the day.

Here's the deal from my perspective . . the screenshot of the day (SotD) is a marketing tool across some of Stardock's sites.  It doesn't need to change that often because the user base that it's targeting is new.  It has to be good enough to draw them in . . but then their in and may never see that shot again.

I suggested that you who want something featured start looking for the standout screenshots and justify it and I'll see about getting them featured.  I think that, like Fuzzy says, you'll be hard pressed to find really stand-out submissions after a while.  Fuzzy's suggestion was to only upload those screenshots that stand out.  I like his suggestion more but am still willing to support mine.

If there is a segment of the community that wants new screenshots daily . . go to the screenshot gallery.  All the screenshot love you need is there.  Why do you need more?

The wording needs to be changed from screenshot of the day to FEATURED SCREENSHOT.  That would eliminate the problem and it can stay the same till someone changes it.

I find this to be the most sensible solution to this issue. The title "Screenshot of the day" instantly makes one think that it should change daily. If the title is changed to Featured Screenshot, no one would complain if it's up for a month or more.

I think the point is being missed. The management of either Stardock or WinCustomize can make decisions. Is that what you really want, someone making the decisions for you? Or do you think a site like WC should be community led? Nobody is ignoring problems - but are you sure we are looking at the same problems?

Opening a dialogue has been mentioned. Well, a number of times opportunities have been handed out only for no-one to seize the initiative. Earlier in this thread Zubaz made an offer - seems no-one was interested.

I don't see anyone coming up with fresh ideas, or solutions. And I'm not talking just about screenshots now. The management at WC/Stardock are well aware of all the site's shortcomings - people bitch ad nauseum about this, that and the other.

All you get is someone saying 'this doesn't work' or 'this isn't right', never 'here is a problem - this is what I think should be done about it'. That's what I mean about being pro-active. Being a critic is a lot easer than providing a solution, it shifts the onus elsewhere.

So, the question remains: What do you want...?

If only one person would step forward, it would be a start.

 

I offered my services if it is a question of needing someone to dedicate time to sort through the screens. I also think WOM hit it on the head. Change the title to Featured Screen shot, as this will remove the impression theres a time frame that is being missed..

I am still waiting for someone to say . ."I will volunteer to go through the gallery and find standout submissions to pass along to the mods."

I will do it...


My first pick,
Slider by Braniack

Clean, neat, shows the apps well, has nice symmetry, not over bearing and don't look tossed together.. Custom and professional..