bassanimation wrote:
Lots of astute observations.
Bassanimation: you see the truth. As a long time observer (much longer than my join date), I have also noticed all you mentioned, and not understood it either. The critics bash many, but some designers (Not just BB) seem to avoid the bashing even if their design of the moment has the same complained about elements (whether it be cute, off-topic, pandering, rehashed designs, repetitive designs etc, etc, etc) as the flamed designs with heavy criticism and much debate and anger in their threads.
The Assault and Battery is an example. It's already been done in several different ways that could easily have been rejected. If another designer (with the exception of other 'above the flames' ones) had submitted a similar design and it fogged, the thread would be filled with snipes about the lack of creativity, recycled ideas, it has been done before, etc etc etc. Instead, you have a few people pointing out similar shirts and many defending it, but nothing like the 80% hate thread it would be if it was a less beloved designer.
It's been a long-time observation that BB, no offense to her, seems to be one of those lucky designers who does not get heavily bashed, no matter what she submits or how many times she wins. The most vocal critiques will admit in other threads when confronted that her fogged or high-placing design is off-topic or questionable etc etc etc - but they don't complain in her thread, and certainly don't fill her thread with caustic negativity the way they do with others. Her threads tend to have far more praise and gushing than anything else. She'll get a few negative ones here and there, but overall her threads are very positive.
It's more than likely that at least some of the gushing comes as a result of her posting her picture in her signature, as there will be some people that like the fact that she is a young woman, or like her looks and it unconsciously or consciously makes them favor her. Question to those reading - Is this too, a form of pandering? More than likely. There are probably lots of good looking designers here at shirt-woot, but she capitalizes on being someone who doesn't care about privacy and is more vain (or whatever her reason is to put her picture in her signature). And she probably gets a decent number of votes and gushing based on her advertising her picture - not really the most honorable part of her popularity imho. Not saying that the pic alone is why she wins, as she has talent and sometimes creates good designs, but if anyone says that her ever-present picture has nothing to do with her popularity/immunity from flamers/gushing - think about it some more. Yes, there are other designers without pictures who also have adulation and low flames, but if BB didn't post her pic everywhere she posts, there wouldn't be 'hawt' comments - and 'hawt' votes.
BB - this probably sounds pretty negative towards you, and it's not meant to be, other than the inclusion your picture in your sig. I like some of your designs, I dislike others.. I think you win more than your designs deserve, but still overall you seem talented, and are lucky to be so favored that even when the usual critics don't like your work, they'll hold their tongues or at most say it politely.
Bass - you've already got some negative backlash from your designs, what you've said(and from your comment on here), and that stinks. The random hate to some, while others are immune no matter what they do, stinks. Of course hating and rudeness in general plain old stinks! Woot really is a messed up world, where people are shallow, mean and rude - but not to all.
People have already started arguing with your long post on here, but your observations are still apt. Good luck.
BB - I'd wish you luck too, but you don't need it. You're one of the lucky ones on here already.
