Friday Q&A

Questionable Destruction

Greetings, crickets and trolls. Welcome to another edition of the Friday Q&A. Each week, I examine issues in the world of Fark Photoshop. As you may recall from last week's post, the powers that be recently instituted a change in the voting system. To say that these changes are unpopular is a vastly understated, yet somewhat charitable assessment.

Q: What's wrong with split voting?

A: Splitting the vote in twain presents a number of directly negative effects. Lower voting totals in each category top the list, and we're already starting to notice that now. Giving two winners also dilutes the minute amount of personal glory one might receive from winning such a contest. Maybe they can add an "at least you tried" button next. If changing the voting system was intended to raise morale, I think it's safe to say pretty much the opposite of that has happened.

Q: What was the purpose of these changes?

A: The new system is a giveaway to a certain small, albeit very vocal segment of the PSing population. I've had many names for this group over the years, and I'm struggling to think of one that isn't derogatory. The Anti-Fun League? The Stick in the Mud Gang? Basically, they're the people who complain endlessly about another participant's usage of the Beer Looter, whilst simultaneously not improving their own skills past the point where they could beat Lootie, or any other cliche. What's deliciously ironic is that the new system has done nothing to stop the Looter, and in fact he's shown up in Best and Funniest plenty of times since the change.

Q: Why must everything good on the Internet be ruined?

A: I have a theory about this. Basically the laws of the e-world are different than what we face in the real one. In the real world, something good can be created, and no one sees the need to mess with it, or try to improve it to death. But on the Internet, ideas pass through the successive hands of many different control freaks. It's one thing to maintain the Photoshop community at Fark, which has existed for years with no need of intervention. But to make it better, to leave one's mark on a system that has stood the test of time, that's the carrot they go for that gives us the stick. Over the years, I've seen many good services suffer death by improvement. Photobucket, Digg, and every social media service I can think of just to name a few. It's sad to see our beloved Fark contests suffer the same fate.

That's all for this time, gentle reader. Thanks for stopping by. I urge anyone who is still bothered by the new voting system to speak their peace in the PSAEF, with as much civility as possible. The record for reversals on this kind of thing is not good, it is going to be an uphill battle if we seriously want to get it changed back. Difficulty notwithstanding, I see it as a worthwhile cause, and therefore offer my assistance in any way I can. As long as I don't have to do anything.

Stay tuned for more useless proclamations from the Doctor!