I can't speak about the audio competitions, though I have heard of similar problems in the past... but people DO drop out. Sometimes (someone's) past performance does not indicate future actions, especially online. It's just the way things happen here, and in committee-type situations IRL. Then there are those who over-reach and fail, or play favorites, play politics, to get further ahead... eh, humanity's a mess.
Composer, percussionist, artist, self-backing choir.
For inquiries, composition comms, art comms, or session work, HMU at mail@troisnyx.co.uk
Annette Walker
@Troisnyx
Age 33, she/they
Choir Director
Lancashire, UK
Joined on 6/26/11
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Comments
Meh, artistic pairing artistic pursuits and competitions rarely ends well. As they say, competitions are for horses, not music. And IMO, it's best not to take anything in this f*cked up world seriously, but be sincere as possible about everything.
I'll do my best. These thoughts may come across as hostile to some, and I cannot help it. I wish it wasn't so...
You make a lot of really good points, but I honestly think you're blowing things out of proportion. I was a bit bummed out when I got eliminated in the group round, but I didn't blame it on the people who formed teams. I'm personally rooting for LSD + Dem0, and I really hope they can go all the way this year in the NGADM.
You're not wrong. Pairing up or forming teams gives you a considerable advantage over the individuals who either don't have anyone to pair up with, or just don't want to. The NGADM is probably the largest audio tournament on NG (I've always thought of it that way). I also agree that teams should work together on each song equally, instead of exploiting the system (like the examples you mentioned). But I think you are taking this way too seriously. In the end, all there is to gain from this contest is bragging rights, exposure, and a shiny forum signature. Maybe this kind of thing is a big deal to some, but I'm the kind of guy who's in it to have fun, and I really don't care about the specifics.
I completely understand how hard it is to contain your frustration when talking to people about it. I also have an incredibly hard time trying to suppress my hostilities towards others, and when I snap I just go off on people, profanity and petty insults everywhere. I actually think you're handling this issue in a very mature manner (I become incredibly childish when I get hostile, which is the one thing preventing me from becoming a "true" adult). If you really feel deep down that things need to change, by all means fight for it. I'm sure if you talk to the NGADM organizers, they could work out a new system for next year.
This is the longest comment I've ever written, so I'm gonna wrap this up before my mind melts. I think that you shouldn't feel the need to not take part in the ADM just because it's an unfair system. I understand how much effort a lot of people put into their songs (I honestly don't do all that much; I threw together my entire group stage submission in a couple hours), so it might seem kind of pointless to make a song that will get outshined by a team entry, but you shouldn't feel to much pressure when it comes to this contest. Just have fun with it :)
I joined the ADM in years past in order to ascribe a modicum of worth to the music I make. If that's a sad enough reason, at least not joining would make me detached from that reasoning. Even if it is a small-scale contest, it's still big enough to be seen by all of NG that something like this shouldn't go unnoticed. Back in 2013 when I went to the London meet, everyone there, who either did Flash or art, made remarks about me and the ADM. If that doesn't show what kind of a following it gets, I'm not sure what will.
It's kinda ironic that my preferences are torn between two teams and an individual, but I sincerely hope that they themselves work without said exploitation.
PeterSatera recommended that after the contest is over, we could start putting in suggestions.
There's always fun with lots of things. Not just the ADM. I've learnt to live with that ^_^ It's just, I remember how I got grilled immediately after I mentioned what I did. The people who grilled me were all too quick to call me a drama queen, and that I pulled this matter out of thin air. This is a reaction I've learnt to expect and live with, and it does hurt. I mean no ill-will as I write this, and I really hope there'd be some level-headed discussion about this, instead of calling names and making assumptions.
If I have made any false assumptions myself, I'm really sorry.
"And in effect, I have been blamed for something I never had any intention of doing."
Aww... :( I always hate it when this happens. When the medium of your argument is text on an internet forum, people often misjudge other people's intentions, which leads to so much arguing...
The sad thing is, this happens a lot. Here on the internet, personal interpretation trumps authorial intention, and this isn't something that's easy to avoid. I'm sure we've all been in situations where we mean to do one thing, but it gets interpreted in a completely different manner. In these situations, if I can't make it clear to an audience that my intention was misunderstood, I often leave the conversation. However, I also take time to reflect upon my interactions, and try to understand what caused the misinterpretation. Then, in the future, I try to avoid such speech patterns or word choices or whatever it was, and things generally turn out better. :P
So I guess what I'm trying to say is that everything is subjective! The only person whose actions you can control is yourself. You can't change the way other people interpret specific things you say, so if and when this stuff happens, is there any way you can change something for yourself to prevent it from happening again? Keep your chin up, Trois! The internet can be an incendiary place, but hopefully, with some luck, we can make the it (or at least Newgrounds) a nicer place. :)
Thanks -- you've helped me be placid about the thing. I've done what I could, and the rest of it is out of my hands, and it's up to the others to either accept or reject. To be fair, that is something I can't change -- I'd kinda expected that sort of reaction always, and... I guess there'll be the few who stand by you, and the few who grill you. What can we say, eh?
Trouble with a forum is that the tone of voice and the bodily inflexions are missing, of course. Blank text with some emotes may not be the clearest way of communication.
You have my support. you know you do. It hurts me that it hurts you . you have every right to feel the way you do, I have little or none to add to that. just know that I am listening and here.
I am of very few words. I am sorry. I am really sorry for not having anything to cheer you up.I wish I did. I send you a big hug overseas . I love your music. you are a talented artist . don´t mind people. please. written language can be ambiguous and poor in understanding. please don´t hurt yourself with poor interpretations and misunderstandings. ( you make this greater than it is, when in fact is not ) peace !
you are fair and nice . don´t worry. your art is awesome. rest my case.
Thank you, Roy. I think your support cheers me up a bit, and I'm grateful for it.
Fairness isn't always nice, as law school teaches some of us here (some of us musicians are also incidentally qualified in law), but it is a good thing. I've kinda let go of my writings here or even what I've been feeling, so things should just take their course in their own time.
If you'd like, we could just talk somewhere, I don't know, friend to friend, Skype? If you're up for it, that is.
If you ever decide to make a competition yourself on here or anywhere else, count me in as a judge please. I'd like to be part of it.
Peace and love,
Lone X
I do not know if I ever will (or, more importantly, if I'd ever have the resources for such a thing). But if the opportunity arises, I'll be glad to consider you. We've got to talk this more.
Keep in mind that the NGADM is hardly the end-all be-all of online music competitions. There are TONS more going on. Some are on Newgrounds (NGAUC). Some aren't (Battle of the Bits, compos literally everywhere).
If you don't like it, that's totally fine, cuz there's tons more! Competitions of all styles, for everyone!
You could even make your own (like I plan to do... hehe)
While I know it isn't the be-all end-all in theory because of the many contests around... in practice it kinda is. Everyone watches it, all across the Portals. Get ahead in the ADM and you get an immense following for a reason. Because of its roots, and the fact that the ADM winners used to win Music Tank Awards, it still remains the most prestigious music competition on NG. And I've heard some who want to bring the Tank Awards back... Also, as I mentioned in a previous comment: in the 2013 London Meet I was one of very few musicians present out of 30, who were mainly Flash artists. They ALL knew me as soon as I mentioned my username because of the ADM. ...Something watched by so many people is bound to have flaws that need repairing. And we can't shirk away from them forever.
Outside NG I can surely search some more contests... I mean, there was that one contest I won that drew the attention of Sorohanro which brought me to NG in the first place.
If you intend to host a contest, I'll be glad to join so long as I am able. Just, I hope it doesn't fracture things up.
I wish I got all those nice benefits that you are talking about, hehe. :> I got a bit more attention for a while, but it died down pretty quickly. I'm not complaining, just saying it might not really be all that was hyped up to be.
Perhaps not... Attention comes and goes. I did have a follower spike (and I mean, my biggest spike yet) in 2012 when I got third. Not even the Game Jams or anything else I did that year came close, and while they may all add up together, I kinda thought of it as relative.
Perhaps I should spread the word around more about your stuff too, meep...
Hah! That's really kind of you, but you certainly don't need to, I'm actually pretty happy with the amount of notoriety I have.
I guess I don't need to, but I'd like to return the favours one day. (And hopefully do some for others too...)
QJrocks
I don't really do music competitions (not enough ideas), but I can see where you are coming from. Teaming up can be a great tool to create music, but I agree with you that it can be unfair that the teams get put in the same group with the individuals. This problem could be easily solved, as you said, by simply creating different divisions for individuals and teams. Though this could create problems, I do feel like it would be worth it.
Also, I have much respect for you for speaking against the community. That takes guts, and I know it's something I couldn't do.
Hopefully this will all be resolved one day, but we will never know until it happens.
-QJrocks
Troisnyx
I hope for the same, myself. Something that would encourage teams and individuals, but not in the way it's done now. Right now, there's too much of an imbalance, and I just had to address it.
QJR, you are so gracious to me, because at the best of times, I don't see myself warranting respect. I was brought up and constantly treated by people around me, and by the state in which I grew up, that speaking out against the community made you have to "face the consequences," and not warrant any respect. Such a mentality is still there in my mind, and even though I try to fight it, I fear it very much. And I cannot help but feel that speaking out against something which I find is wrong is only going to hurt me very badly again, as I find it always has.
Ah well. If the changes do happen for the better, if we manage to think up something good, then our forebears would be a bit happier, I think, that everyone gets a truly sporting chance.