Having to comment to give a low vote?

What the hell? Now I have to tell somebody why a shitty shirt is shitty instead of voting in anonymity? Maybe I can understand what you were trying to do. I guess you want input instead of just a vote. But sometimes a shirt is bad and that's it.

Look, I don't have a problem with telling people how I feel about things, but I don't think I should have to risk hurting somebody's feelings and give them an honest opinion about their shirt design and I definitely don't want to have to walk on eggshells just so I can vote how I feel about it.

Take it off immediately, please.



posted by rottenseed 8 months 4 weeks ago • 445 views
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I think the low vote comment requirement stops people from voting down a shirt just because they have some problem with the designer or design and don't want to see it printed. Some fundie Christian (or some such) could come in and just down vote everyone's designs just for "religious" reasons.
by ScooterWerks   | 8 months 4 weeks ago | CH
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Why would it stop somebody who wanted to downvote it for that reason? It's their right to do so if they want to be a cooperative member of this site.
by rottenseed  | 8 months 4 weeks ago | CH
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It's easy to see how you feel when are strictly a critic and not a designer, but it's useless to have lots of anonymous people vote negatively with no explanation.

Yes, it is more helpful to tell someone "There's nothing you can do to fix this," if that's how you feel, or offer suggestions to improve it, or describe specific issues you have with it. Any of those are more useful than just piling on meaningless zero votes leaving the designer to just wonder what's wrong with their design or how they can improve it or if they can even improve it.
by lucky760   | 8 months 4 weeks ago | CH
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Oh I'm sorry...I wasn't aware that as prospective purchaser of shirts on this site, I needed to design one. I guess to buy a shirt I have to be able to design a shirt. Since I know nothing about shirts because I walk around shirtless day in and day out, I guess I have no opinion about shirts.

I suppose I can provide feedback as to why I am giving a negative vote, but many times it's not going to be constructive. Sometimes shirt designs are no bueno in my opinion.

But, 95% of the time, when I downvote, it's simply because I ask the question, "would I wear this?" That's my opinion, and that's the same question people will ask when they come to this site. Right now, those that come to this site that aren't members of vs probably won't bookmark this site because some designs, even if they are "clever" are going to be viewed as unwearable.

Here's an example of the potential this site has: http://www.threadless.com/catalog/type,guys
by rottenseed  | 8 months 3 weeks ago | CH
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You clearly seem to get off on trying to conjure up a fascinating argument with me, but perhaps we can have a discussion like a couple of grown-ups instead.

No one said or implied that as a prospective purchaser you also need to be a designer. I was simply explaining to you how the topic is viewed from the designers' perspective to help illuminate for you (and other non-designers) part of the reason the change was made. The designers are the ones who felt more feedback than just a low vote was absolutely essential, and we agreed.

As I mentioned, it's fine if your input is just "This is terrible." Just *something* needs to give designers any kind of an idea why they are receiving very low votes because, although it might seem obvious to you how unwearable/ugly a design is, the designer obviously doesn't or they wouldn't have submitted it.

Btw, on the topic of how you vote, try to keep an open mind and consider the more general "would people wear this?" rather than just "would I wear this?" because some designs may have mass appeal but just not appeal to your particular taste.
by lucky760   | 8 months 3 weeks ago | CH
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Sorry for trying to conjure up an argument. I get heated some days.

I will, however, continue to ask the question "would I wear this" because that's pertinent to me. I can't speak for other people. In fact, I've seen how other people dress, and I wouldn't be caught dead in some of those get ups. I guess I'm just a shallow asshat, but when it comes down to it, if I'm happy with the design, I'll buy a shirt. That's good for me, that's good for you, and that's good for the designer.

So despite the against-the-grain, confrontational facade, I really want to see some kick ass shirts here. The idea of this site is awesome and has a lot of potential, but it's struggling on content.

I know a couple of artists that do a lot of shit that'd be awesome on shirts. I'll see if I can drive them to help out here.
by rottenseed  | 8 months 3 weeks ago | CH
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Fair enough. In general, I hope that most folks will vote based on their perception of general taste (or distaste), but for those who vote strictly on personal taste, we're perfectly happy with you just the same. We're just glad you're voting.

It'd be great if you could encourage some "real" artists to participate. (It's worth mentioning that established artists could be given a custom shop just for their designs and they could go straight into the store, bypassing the workshop altogether.)

Thanks for the support and the passion, even if it goes a little nuts once in a while.
by lucky760   | 8 months 3 weeks ago | CH
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Do they have to use inkscape???
by rottenseed  | 8 months 3 weeks ago | CH
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No - they just need to submit designs in SVG format, which a number of vector editors can output. I don't use inkscape, I use Intaglio on the Mac (arguably poorly, but there's been very little problem with the site rendering Intaglio's SVG output properly -- all failings, and there are many, are my own.)
by fyngyrz   | 8 months 3 weeks ago | CH
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Speaking strictly for myself, I'm uninterested in the "design by committee" style of art. I realize the crux of the idea is to sell t-shirts and your design must be popular to make that happen. But the idea that I'm looking for feedback on my design is foreign to me. My submission is my submission. Like it? Vote that way. Don't like it? Vote that way. Perhaps tee virus isn't for me. lol!
by shuac_zero  | 8 months 2 weeks ago | CH
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