There is an issue, and as an example I will point out the most recent problem at the time of this post.
I would like to point out that I did not post a screenshot in this example, and this is not a rant because my entry didn't get enough views (as I did not post a screenshot). I am not affected by this, it is simply a inquiry as to why the system is like this. |
As of today, August 21 2011, there were a total of 65 screenshots approved. There is no way that users are going to go through all of these.
Now, what is the issue here?
The problem is, some users post screenshots for their player page, and that's all they want. Other players post them for the community to view, and it is these who should be displayed to the community.
That isn't the only problem though. Like I said before, there were 65 screenshots approved at once. There is no way that they were all submitted today. The screenshots last approved were on august 19th, and then the ones from 20-21 all get approved at the same time on the 21'st. That is why there are 65 screenshots. Not to mention that there are some of them that have their ratings deactivated and comments deactivated. Do these really need to be displayed on the front page? This is clearly just for their player page. Every screenshot should be granted the same amount of opportunity to be viewed by the public if they wish for it to be. But when there are 65 screenshots approved at once the people who waited 2 days to finally have their screenshot approved are actually in the back of the line, and only a handful of people will ever view their screenshot. This could even make them delete the screenshot and resubmit it so it gets view time. Duplicate screenshots are always an issue, it just creates more clutter.
I have a few suggestions for the screenshot system that I think should be considered. But first, I wan't the title of my topic to be answered:
Is screenshot approval really necessary?
I ask this because I really want to know. Are there a lot of screenshots that get submitted that get rejected? Is this number large enough to hold up the system for days for them to be released in waves? We have a report feature on screenshots now, if there is something that we feel shouldn't be on this website we can report it. Instant approval would mean that people get their fair chance for views if they are after that. Speaking of that, here is that suggestion.
Suggestion: Private Screenshots
During screenshot submission we have options to disable ratings, or disable comments. Why not add one that makes them private.
Private screenshots would make screenshots bypass the front page and only show on the player page. This would create less clutter, the stuff that pisses people off and go on [-] rages and insulting the people for submitting such a useless screenshot. We don't need that in the community, the name calling and what not. It can be cut down a bit if we enable an option to just keep it to our player page, and not on the front page. We could still enable ratings and comments, but the reason for the submission wasn't for views, but simply for their player page.
You can even go a step further with this, and have an option for private screenshots to be only viewable by players on your friend list. This would make use out of the friend system on this site much more as well. Also allowing the screenshots to be viewed by the people you wanted to view them in the first place. There could also be an option to notify friends (with a PM to all your friends) of the screenshot, or the screenshot itself could be pm'ed to them with a link the the screenshot page. A lot could be done here and make the site more interactive and fun for the community. There could also be a list under our members menu (right side of the screen) of the most recent friend submissions starting from the most recent. You could even have a scroll box to scroll down and view 20 or 30 previews, and when you clicked on one it would take you to the screenshot page. Again, lowering the clutter on the public screenshots and only have the people you want to view them view them.
This would prevent clutter on the front page, including those empy screenshots that people want on their player page but don't necessarily want people to view it for a day or two to call them out for posting yet another screenshot of this weapon. It doesn't only stop at weapons, but including personal photos of yourself or so on that you don't want everyone to see necessarily, but would like on your player page.
Also, what if it's an item? Some users post item screenshots because the item page doesn't have anything. Sometimes its for fun so it's nice to share it with the community, but stuff like the item description box? If you made that type of thing private then people would still see it on the item page, but it wouldn't make a mess of the front page.
Speaking of preventing clutter, my last suggestion:
Have item screenshots viewable on the player page as well
I can't tell you how many times I've seen people post a screenshot of an item for the item page, and also post it on their player page. That is extremely annoying, but I get why people do that even though I think they shouldn't. So if it is submitted under an item, have a box that asks the user "Let this be viewable on my player page as well" or something. This would prevent those duplicate screenshots that drive people crazy and proceed to do the rate downs.
Anyways, this was meant to provide some ideas as to clear out some of the clutter people post, but still give them options. If they want to post for their player page but don't want it on the front page they should be able to without having players comment on why they submitted it. There is only a limited amount of space on the front page for screenshots and only those recent 12 actually get heavy views. I'm not saying that every screenshot needs 100+ views, but when you get pushed in the back of a line of 65 or more, your not going to get very many. Plus giving the option for screenshots to only be viewed on your player page and not the front page means that people will be more willing to post them for their page. This means that there will be a larger more friendly community, and if someone really wanted to talk bad about a screenshot they have to take the effort of finding said persons player page and comment there. I see way too many screenshots of people saying something bad about the user because of the content of the screenshot and get 50 likes because people thought it was stupid as well.
If it is just on their player page and not flooding the front page then why does it matter if they post said screenshot? It wouldn't receive such nasty comments and people wouldn't have second thoughts as to whether they should post this or not because it wouldn't be approved by everyone and would get tarnished. It might of been a personal achievement for them but not by the community. Do they really need to get called out saying it's not an achievement and they are stupid for thinking so? If they want others to judge they can post publicly, but if they want to post privately then why shouldn't they be able to? So what if you can disable comments and ratings, it still gets posted on the front page. What stops others from making fun of them/harassing them on their player page as well (I see it with almost every screenshot deemed worthless by the community)? You can delete comments you don't want to see but why does it have to come to that?
