Is anyone interested in a LIMS contest for SG-1?

[hsapiens]

ETA: sg1_lims -- We now have enough votes to say that yes, we'll be having a LIMS!! If you wish to participate and haven't answered the poll, please fill out the poll so that I know to track you down and let you know when we're ready to open the community. We're collecting caps, organizing themes, and setting up the community right now!

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Is there interest among icon makers for a LIMS contest for SG-1? lantis_lims is a well-run community and I enjoyed participating; I'd really like to see something like it for SG-1.

I used to think LIMS was ego-destroying with its eliminations and reasons for voting, but I found that knowing I'd get feedback spurred me to try new techniques and take risks. It was immensely helpful to me as an icon maker to receive comments, both positive *and* critical.

I've wished there were a similar community for SG-1 for a while. So, is there interest? I'd be willing to mod but I'd like to have either co-mods or, as the lantis_lims has, a bunch of volunteers to help. And, of course, I would like to have participants!


[Poll #1165719]


I'm sure there are lots of things I don't know about running a comm such as this; I've never done it. If you have any helpful suggestions or ideas, I'd love to hear them.

Also? Please pimp this poll. I would like to reach the widest range of SG-1 fans possible. Thank you. :)

Comments

[memento1.livejournal.com]

Okay, I am willing but very hesitant because I had horrible experiences in LIMS. I can only say what I didn't like. lantis_lims sounds like it was a much more positive experience, so maybe if it's handled right I would participate.

I entered some CSI LIMS for the same reason as you - I desperately wanted feedback on my icons. This may sound elitist, but I quickly discovered I didn't value anyone's opinion there. I didn't receive one bit of feedback that was insightful and thoughtful and told me anything I didn't already know. Also, for some idiotic reason, you were required to give criticism on your least faves, but not required to give any positive on the ones you liked, so all I got were heaps of negative thoughts. Also, I discovered that style had the same pervasive effect there as everywhere else - since my icons didn't match their preferred style, I was always voted near the bottom. I know my entries were not always the best, but one of my favorites was ripped to shreds. I obviously did not see eye to eye on what made good art in that fandom, so I left. Also, one of the maintainers wouldn't respond to any of my comments, even to give me my requested feedback. I stayed in the other LIMS a lot longer simply because the mod was supportive and kind and always left comments.

But I can imagine a community that does not share those pitfalls, so as I said, I'd be willing to give it a chance. Though I voted for the every-other week schedule because I have precious little iconing time now.

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

You bring up some very important points. LIMS is only as good as its voters and the time they take to analyze the technical aspects of the submissions. I got feedback at times that I didn't agree with (heh - on one icon, one comment said the image was oversharpened while another said it was fuzzy) but the beauty of having to give a reason was that it helped me see where someone was coming from in evaluating a comment. If I got 5 comments all saying the same thing, I felt I had to pay attention even if I didn't agree. In the end, I might still disagree but I was aware that other viewers saw things differently.

I've never understood why positive comments aren't required but I have noticed that's a tendency in LIMS comms. I'm guessing that some group of voters is willing to leave two reasons but four is considered too much work and so they fail to vote? I think it's a good suggestion to require positive comments, too, because it's important to know what people like about an icon. What worked.

Style is always going to play into the voting, I fear. I see no way around it. No matter how much one focuses on technical aspects, it eventually comes down to "I prefer this icon style so I'm willing to overlook this particular lack but I can't overlook it in this other icon because it doesn't otherwise appeal to me."

As someone who doesn't normally icon in the more popular icon styles, I feel your pain. I'm willing to bend some because it stretches my abilities and makes me develop my eye but I'll never be the person who makes the icons that I tend to nominate in the Artistic and Dramatic categories over at sg_awards and I do think that those tend to be the styles rewarded in LIMS. You have to know that going in, I think, to enjoy LIMS.

But you know what? If you have a bunch of friends who *don't* like the prevailing style and you convince them to vote, it's possible to redefine what the popular style is. One of the (many) reasons I had when I participated was I wanted to encourage people towards pretty coloring, imaginative cropping, and nice text work. Often, my opinion coincided with others' but it wasn't always the case.

shadowserenity had posted something in lantis_lims that I thought was insightful: the point to participating was not to win because everyone but one person was going to be eliminated. I looked at the list of participants, the voting in the first round, and *knew* that I would never make it to the final rounds. Once I wrapped my brain around entering a contest I didn't set out to "win," I was okay with knowing I would be eliminated and would receive some feedback that I wouldn't necessarily like because I'm not the elite sort of icon maker. But I did really have to think about it before I agreed. I was fortunate that the voters in that community almost always give their positive reasons, too, and so I got a balanced mix.

All of that said, I'd love to have you take another chance with us (assuming that we do this) if you're willing to give us a try. I'd also love to have you continue to offer your candid opinions because there's no way to improve (either in icon-making or in running a comm) without feedback.

[memento1.livejournal.com]

You are awesome, Mish ;) For you, I will give it another go. Because I'm convinced this won't be the disaster my last LIMS was. Going to sign up now!

I'm actually very excited about it. I used to run a graphics community where we all shared encouragement and constructive criticism, and I learned more there than I ever have since. And I rather miss the chance to give concrit again (it makes me think about what works and what doesn't!). Hopefully I'll have the time! I'm back to working full-time and now I have to move as well.