I didn't have a topic last week, maybe because I was actually sick as a dog. And had a lot I needed to do for some [wonderful] real world stuff. But I have a topic for this week that covers how entitlement affects us creators. I'm sure there are entitled creators too, but this week I'm going to concentrate on the other side, as it affects creators and creating.
But -I'm- special! or how to ruin the day of a creator over a couple of dollars.
This has never personally happened to me, but I can imagine how crushing it would be for me if it did, and also I do see what my fellow creatives say when it happens to them. I touched on this a little on my last two blog posts for this series, in the whole Gacha culture, and in the weird disconnect there is with real world equivalencies to the linden$. But it can get pretty harried for us when people get upset over being told 'no'.
Okay, let me step into the shoes of someone who really wants X. Let's define X as a pair of totally cool boots. I -really- want these boots, they have daggers on them, and people who know me know I adore sharp, pointy things [I have a lipstick dagger somewhere in a box]. I need these boots.
And hey, I have a blog, let's apply to be a blogger for the store, then I don't need to pay a couple bucks for the most awesome boots ever. So, I send in a query for being an official blogger so I can get the boots, and get told no. Maybe I was told no because they aren't looking for bloggers, or maybe its because I'm not really the best fashion blogger. But I was told no.
Now, there are two ways to deal with being told no. You can take it like an adult, or you can act like a petulant child and throw a tantrum. Now, honestly, I don't think an SL tantrum is the same as one a 3 year old would throw, but they strike me as being just as immature.
So, let's say I decide to throw a tantrum. First, I get all my friends to start pestering the creator of those boots, and trying to convince them that I'm special, that my blog is the most wonderful blog ever. Or I get the boots anyway, from MP, and decide to leave a horrific review. Real mature, right?
Let's go to something I -do- know, bad marketplace reviews. I've gotten two of those, I know how bad they make you feel. Some of them are just imformation, like 'I never got the item' and while the 1 star sucks, anyone reading that who knows about MP, knows that sometimes things don't get sent, you contact the merchant, they fix, no big deal.
But sometimes, the reviews are just hurtful; like when you used yourself as a model and people say it looks hideous. And sometimes, the reviews don't even make sense, either the review itself is positive with a low rating, or a high rating with a negative review. But the thing is, using reviews to basically throw a tantrum is just low.
So, back to those boots. If I get told 'I'm sorry but your just not what we want in a blogger', or 'I'm sorry, but we're not taking any bloggers', then to get mad and petulant about it is just plain silly. I'm sorry, but no isn't usually anything personal.
Or here's another one, and I guess that this one does cover creators with entitlement issues; I've applied to events, I think by now most creators with shops have. Four different events have told me no. In one case its because [I'm still working on this] I didn't have enough merchandise in my shop for one of the criteria [I thought I did, but I think skins with the same base count as recolours]. At least one time was because my main theme for the store didn't fit the event genre [I applied because I wanted to branch out a bit], and a third I think because I don't currently have stuff of the rating that the event covers [again, that is changing]. Not sure on the fourth, all I can figure is my application was over the limits for the event, so they had run out of room.
I -could- have gotten all petulant and pouty, but why? Especially now I'm on the other side of the event thing. You only have so much room, even if the event covers 12 sims or is a hunt. You can't always say yes to everyone. There are plenty of reasons not to accept every request.
Anyway, for those who get told no - think about why, take it in stride, and deal. And for those who have to tell someone no? Just remember the reason why you said no, and try not to let any tantrums ruin your day.
No comments:
Post a Comment