What's the point? Why have the site at all?

from WinCustomize Forums

I don't often bring this up but I sometimes wonder why we even have this site. I get considerable hate mail every single day because of this site.

Someone didn't get a wallpaper accepted. No idea what the wallpaper was since I didn't moderate it but I get called a Nazi or worse.

Some other guy's network connection isn't working and can't access their skin for some reason so naturally we deleted it because we're "assholes".

And don't even get me started about the people who run into the 50 megabyte limits. You can be assured that for every guy who posts something here, I get 2 emails about it explaining why I am personally a putrid human being.

And I've had days where I get called a "fucking Nazi" and a "blood sucking Jew" (I'm not even Jewish) for things ranging from not "doing something" about the ratings on the site or some comment on some skin that I didn't remove.

And on top of that, this site costs a fortune to run.  The ONLY reason this site is remotely possible to keep up at this point is because of the generous volunteers who run this site day to day.  The admins and moderators who, I might add, often get treated poorly and without any kind of gratitude.  The other variable are the people who SUBSCRIBE to the site.  I.e. pay the $20 for 2 years.

One of the few pleasures I get out of the site lately has been to write about things that interest me.  I realize that some people don't like "blogs".  Or me ranting about niche developer stuff.  What does a PC user care if some obscure Mac developer is getting screwed over by Apple? Why should I keep "whining" about it? It doesn't affect Stardock one iota. If anything, it helps Stardock by taking out a potential competitor.

But I can't even do that without people bitching about THAT. Sure, those people don't know about all the crap that I and others have to put up with on a daily basis because of the site.

But then again, neither does the egomaniac skinner who sends me the nastygram telling me how I'm a parasite on the backs of skinners for working to make customization software.  And the "artist" who sends me a 10 page email insisting that other artists like him should be getting a "royalty" off of every WinCustomize subscription because it is really THEY who matter.  THEY, their ART is what makes this site run and for me to even suggest that developers, moderators, or even users fit in is a demonstration of my "arrogance" and "ignorance" of the circle of life that is the skinning community. That guy doesn't know about the crap we go through either.  Not that he'd be interested.

Right now, what's really helping keep thigns going besides the wonderful people who moderate this site and the users gracious enough to purchase WC subscriptions is the IT team working full time to create the next generation WinCustomize.  Their hard work and tireless devotion to trying to make something really special helps keep the excitement going.

But to those who feel the need to email me telling me that writing non-news items is a "waste of their time" or "yet another example of your petty egoism" or are just "lame rantings", I say to you: Fuck you. Of those who have emailed me, who have accounts, NOT ONE of them has a WC subscription.

Most people dont' seem to have a problem with editorials. And those who don't like them who have posted on the message boards have been at least constructive about it. I have a LOT more respect for the guy who publicly writes their views than the coward who just sends hate mail from their anonymous Hotmail or Yahoo or whatever email account spewing venom at me.

But I'm not having fun right now with this site.  I look at the bills (hundreds of thousands of dollars a year).  I look at my inbox.  And I ask "Why? What's the point?" 

Sorry if I sound a little depressed. I think everyone has those days once in awhile.  And I'm having one today.

46,197 views 161 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
/me wished y'all lived down closer this way, some night fishing with the wife and kids is really relaxing and catching sight of the Dolphins and Manatee's swimming by or having a school of Red's come blasting through the shallows leaving green florescent trails behind them and the moon shimmering on the water is relaxing and everything goes away if only for a day...

ya need the beach now and then!



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Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

/me points out that Hawaii is nice too....

Everybody gets to have those kinds of days, even top frogs.  I don't know a way to make it better, all the darkness, but I do know you have the right to say and feel and do what you want (within the socially acceptable realm).  Especially if you are paying for everything.

Object Desktop - Get all of our enhancement utilities in one suite
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hi, Brad I hope you are feeling better when (If) you read this, just wanted to let you know I and many others around the world have used the software you and your company has produced to make our computing lives prettier and much more productive for years now. Don't let the ignorance and jealously of a few tarnish the personal satisfaction you should feel.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I can relate Brad... obviously I've had enough of that kind of day I kinda disapeared.

Hate to see you so down. I know what kind of effort you put out. Don't think it's totally unapreciated though. To many of us you're an example of the best of the skinning world and a damn fine human being too...

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
With what little money I had, being a kid, I did buy a supscription because I wanted to more a part of it and to help out a little to keep this site going.

I ditto what everyone else said. Just try to stick through it.
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Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You know, I hear just about the same thing day after day on my job. Why did the stamps go up. Why is my mail later today than yesterday. Why did it take 3 days to get this letter. Why did you kick at my dog, it won't bite you. I know this isn't what you might want to hear, but we all go through the same type of crap except I have to keep delievering the mail and just grin and bare it. You can pull the plug anytime you want. The people will still but the software if they want to continue to upgrade orcustomize their computers. The idiots or trouble makers just don't realize that, or if they do they just don't care. Just spoiled little kids that hasn't had to work for a living. The sad thing about that is they will be with us forever.

Oh, just keep a stiff upper lip and ignore them or you'll go crazy.
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Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I can't image trying to live with that kind of crap, but you sure have strong willpower to keep going.

I agree that those who posts have in least more courage, if not sense, than those who anonymously send those crap.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
il put it this way .. if they dont like the product or services .. then they can stop useing them .. hell i dont like chicken .. but u dont see me going over to K.F.C. and rasing hell .. i go to taco bell instead ... dude sum peeps need a life .......grrrr


oh and froggy .. we all have them days .. just ignore the lamos. many of us here appreciate the work you guys do.......





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Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
venting helps.
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Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hi Mr. Brad,

As one of you suscribers here, I just want to say, please calm down some....we don't want you to bust a gusset or blow a fuse in you inards. If people are unkind, well, consider this, that hurting people, hurt other people....and you being upset just makes them the winners! Wincustomize is a wonderfully run website, and if folks have problems, it's their problem not your's. Don't let them get to you. You are doing a good job and a great service to the skinning community, and the people who appreciate it know that, and they are the folks that matter....not the jerks.

Thank you for creating the great software that makes my 3 Holy Cows look so much better than when they were just wearing Mr. Bill's idea of style!


And thank you too, to the folks who create the cool graphics here! Someday I hope I will be able to contribute something to share with others, but until then, I'm gonna try and be a light around here and try and bring a smile to folks faces. Please remember, I can be verrry trying!

Anyway, Mr. Brad, calm down and cheer up! And don't let the jerks get to you....that makes them the winners!

/me sends many blessings to you Mr. Brad! And the great folks who help to run this site too!
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The point is there are people here that enjoy using the software Stardock develops. Its what you do for a living, and if some are unhappy about it oh well, life goes on. For those of us who come here on a daily basis, do so because we choose to. Nobody is forced into it. I subscribe to this site, and just renewed ODNT for another year And I am probably going to purchase OD Plus as well.

If you want to rant on the front page about something you wish to share, great. I am happy for you. I may not agree with what you say sometimes, but all in all it really doesn't matter if I agree or not. There are a lot more important things to worry about in this world, than who gets pissed over what anyone says or thinks. Enjoy your position in life and make the most of it.

If it wasn't for this website and your company, I wouldn't be customizing my computer. I appreciate the admins, mods, and the artists that contribute to this community. It takes a lot of time and dedication to make it work, so thanks. Some of us are happy to be here.
And if some don't like what you have here, too bad. There are other places on the internet to visit.



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Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hi Brad,

I'm a little sad to read your story

I think that you musn't think about the reactions that some people give you. I know that is easier said then done, but people who use words like "nazi" and things like that... well they should be at least be put in some kind of institution.
These kind of people have a problem in their head.

Don't let these kind of people get to you!

I have also experienced many times via news-groups in The Netherlands these kind of reactions.
"We will find you"... "We come to your home" and so on...
Well, I have never seen them.....
I think for most of these kind of people it is more "bla bla bla" then actions.

Keep your head up Brad and i really hope that this site and other things of Stardock will not go away.
I'm very satisfied with the work of Stardock for already many years (since OS2) and it would be a shame if stupid people (well people... i'm not sure of that) would be the reason that things change.

Greetings,

bussie




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Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
same here bussie, heck I've even given them my address and phone number then they still do not show up

hehe, sometimes they will find they meet exactly the person they think they are



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Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
There is a saying I use when I start feeling like you do Brad, "Don't stress over stuff you cannot control"



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Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have reservations as to the point of this post other than its a bad hair day. Its ok to have a bitch every now and then, makes one feel better so they say. But I for one could have done without the Expletives, not good for a Family Site.

As for the hate mail, it looks like it goes with the territory. Its not the first time and it wont be the last. But you are a Business man, and your the Boss, the situation looks like it will continue and as such has to be addressed. The Cretons will always be there I'm afraid. If WC is money down the drain you have the power to pull the plug anytime. This community (including myself) would be very disappointed with such a decision, but if the ecomonics demand there is not much the community can say.

lets hope its just a bad hair day
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Sorry if I sound a little depressed


A LITTLE?!

Everyone has days like this. Even us humans.
You have to take the good with the bad. Most times the good will always outwieght the bad.

About the royalties, if the people don't like it, they don't have to upload here. They can upload somewhere else or they can start thier own site.

Can't wait to see the new website!
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Brad
For every complaint you get, there are hundreds like me who use the Stardock progs and would not be without them.
WC is a regular visit for me every single day I come online.
It is human nature that when things are going perfectly people don't mention it so the complaints come to the fore.
Take a short break my friend and switch off for a bit.
Take care
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Bummer, dude, just keep in mind that for every 1 piece of hate mail you get, there are 2 users of this site that really appreciate the effort, even if it goes unsaid. I, for one, am on hard times so I'm not able to subscribe (yet, I assure you) but I love the site so much that I threw my hat into skinning so that I could contribute. Of course I do it for the ego stroke too, but that's beside the point. Anyway, it's my hope at this time that my submissions help your sales along. I was elated the other day when I received an email telling me that someone had purchased ObjectDesktop as a direct result of my work.

So, to sum it up, there is still a large population of internet users that are still under the impression that the net is free and everything on it should be free as well. Don't let thoae ignorant folks piss in your cheerios.
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Ah....Ande...the word is 'cretin'...Spell checker  ....I know this 'cos I'm in the same boat....having to deal with them on a daily basis....

I get off more lightly than Brad [Frogboy] because it's not my accountant asking 'why do you do it?'....but try my darnedest [as do the others] to 'cut off at the pass' as much of the 'bitching' as we can to perhaps help minimize what 'gets through to the keeper' [cricket term].

In theory Brad shouldn't be the target of much of this stuff [if any] as it's the role of the site Admins/Wizops to deal with the dramas [imagined or otherwise] as a whole....'a problem shared', etc....

Sadly it's not the squillions of 'users & skinners' that are happy with things we remember but the handful of miscreants or professional whingers that DEMAND some form of 'jumping through hoops on our part' to accommodate them.

In an ideal world the community here would find its own amicable level....and generally does....but every now and then a 'drama queen' spits a dummy over an irrelevance and anyone failing to acquiesce is 'scum of the earth'.

On many occasions I've been tempted to politely tell them where to get off, and yet I personally don't have the added pressure of justifying the commercial viability of the Site, while being bombarded with the negativity.

In all fainess I cannot begrudge Brad's choice of vocabulary, as mine [in his position] would be far more colourful....

Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
ah HA! and you said "Not me"


oh wait, you said cause you're an admin, but you agreed with him that I'm a weenie (in so many words) hehehe



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Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I would like to make a personal apology to you, Brad, for insinuating that you were a whiner. That was pretty out of line for me to do that. I really enjoy reading your blog entries on the various subjects that you persue. I'm not going to oppose your views, since they are your views, and I have no desire to change them. I guess the reason I jumped on you earlier was because because of some personal stress I've been dealing with over the past 3 days, and I came here (to the site) to relax and saw more stuff on Konfabulator. And I overreacted. Sorry again...dont take this personally.

WinCustomize (as cheezy as this sounds) has given me more of a purpose in life than pretty much anything else I do. I can have tons of fun just reading the boards and helping people out. I love making skins as much as my mom is annoyed by me making them. I have a great time taking on new challenges. I like trying out new skin features. Most importantly though, is that I love talking with my friends here on the messageboards. I can get help from these guys, talk, joke, and tease them. I have as much fun here as I do hangin out with my "real" friends lol. Thats pretty cool.

Again, Brad, you have my apologies for any insult I may have directed at you...I was typing too fast to think about it.
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Cheer up Brad! Think of it like this, all of us who are very very happy with the service you, Stardock and the admins, wizops etc provide don't often say how pleased we are. As you are quite the stats man, Im sure you know roughly how many users use this site. Take that number and subtract how many hate 'howler' mails you get - the result is the number of happy punters. woah, thats a big number
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Unfortunately as something grows bigger, the nooks and crannies for the filth to attach itself gets bigger also. That filth will never go away.
Now that microsoft is prepackaging wb with it's sytems the filth is going to really start to pile up. You cannot ignore it and you certainly can't embrace it. As far as I see there is not much you can do about it. The trolls will come. The trolls will get smarter and smarter. The comminity can only band together to ignore the filth.
Personally I don't know how you do it Brad. I had a trollish comment on one of my skins before I went to bed last night. It bothered me all night only for me to wake up in a sour mood. I come on the site to find this thread and the best I can sum it up is "Misery loves company".When you say "why have a sight" I completely understand where you are coming from. Because of one stupid comment I considered stopping skinning all together. Yeah that seems rediculous but the trash does have a way of stinking up the rest everything.
The worst part is that they are trying to get a rise out of you and if you comment back, they win!

I was taught in elementary school that if you write a letter to a company telling them you are displeased with their product then they will send you free stuff. I am willing to bet that some of the mail you get is people just doing what they are taught in school and some of the mail is repeat trolls just trying to unmake your day. There is always all the kind people (above) around here to help get you out of the rut. It all comes down to respect for each other and sharing. Nothing is perfect (except for treetog) for everyone. What works well for one will work poorly for another. Some people just can't share anything and expect the world to run for them.
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Brad, Ditto what everyone else has said. This is a wonderful site, appreciated by soooo many people, but like with anything else, it's the "badies" that stand out. I hope by your reading these thoughts by everyone, they will help you out of your "blues". Take care, and God bless you
Barbara
Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Take pride in what you and your team have accomplished Brad, Something that isn't worth taking down doesn't get belittled. You have grown your little niche market into a mainstream success, unfortunately some people feel that you have stepped on there toes in the process, there vision doesn't line up with your own.. on the bright side you ARE the one in control and the buck stops with you. You have defined what will be and how, and for the most part the majority in the community are happy to contribute and share in the rewards and joys of your success.

It's probably a good thing Brad that all the people who enjoy wincustomize and your products don't write POSITIVE mail to you personally all the time! While it would be nice, this too would just flood your inbox eventually and frustrate you just as much Don't forget that those that complain are just a vocal minority, and, as you pointed out, probably know that they would be shot down in flames in a public board, which is why they choose e-mail.

Pour your effort and energy into WC2K5 Brad, It will be a better product for it, and my enjoyment of WC will be further fulfilled I am sure. Everybody needs to maintain there interest and enthusiasm by changing and developing and bringing vision into reality. Run with your vision Brad, your purpose is a good one, and you have listened to the community so many times that I am absolutely sure that the direction you take WC2K5 will be a good one, and a better one. Make it all that you want it to be, and when people come to tear it down remember that YOU love what you have managed to build, no one can take that away, and that thousands of people are benefiting from your changes.

Soldier On Brad.



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