Lately, there have been a number of unpleasant situations that I have witnessed on scratch. Today, I'm going to give a brief description of the ones I care about and how to fix them. -------------------------- Feedback -------------------------- Problem: Misuse and Overreactions to constructive criticism There are two different sides to the feedback world. 1. Asking for Feedback - I am not against this, but I do strongly believe that feedback should be a way to bring everyone up, not to advertise projects to famous scratchers. Solution: Don't use feedback as an advertising tool, and don't spam famous scratchers with feedback requests. 2. Giving Feedback when it isn't asked for - When I post a project, I often get messages giving honest, helpful feedback that I use to get better. However, this isn't always the case. Sometimes, even though they are trying to be helpful, users can offend other users by giving feedback. I've decided to characterize feedback into 4 different categories. • Helpful and nice (This is GOOD feedback) • Unhelpful and nice (This feedback like "omg this is so cool!" This isn't helpful for technique, but it's great for self-confidence. This is bad feedback, but GOOD commenting. " • Helpful and mean (This is good feedback, but BAD commenting. Try to stay with the nice feedback) • Unhelpful and mean (This is BAD feedback. It's actually just hate. Don't ever comment this.) Solution: If you would like feedback, put something such as "Feedback is greatly appreciated!" in the instructions. If you don't see that on a project, don't give feedback. ----------------------- Advertising ---------------------------- Problem: Scratchers trying to boost their fame by putting links to their projects/profiles on other popular scratchers projects/profiles. This is against the scratch community guidelines and needs to stop. It's incredibly annoying to go through and delete all the advertisements in my trending projects. https://scratch.mit.edu/discuss/topic/396541/ Solution: Don't advertise. Report all the advertisements you see, but don't let yourself get absorbed/annoyed by them. Just report them when you see them, don't think about them. The advertiser probably didn't think much when they posted the advertisement. ------------------ Copying Without Credit ------------------- Problem: People are using code/art from projects and not giving proper credit. Also, people are disregarding the remix rule, which allows anyone to remix a project with code/art from the original. Solution: To all the people using art/code without giving proper credit, give as much credit as possible. Make it extremely obvious so that everyone will notice. Contrary to popular belief, this does not make you less of a person. Acknowledgment that some people can code/draw better than you is extremely mature. Please Give Credit. Meanwhile, to the people that get mad when other people use other people's code/art and DO properly credit, don't get mad. Please. Lastly, to the people that get extremely mad whenever someone doesn't properly credit (or outright steals), please keep this in mind: Don't waste your time telling them off. It isn't worth it. Again, just report the project and be done with it. ---------------------- Rules to Live By ----------------------- • ALWAYS be kind and use common sense • THINK before posting a comment. - Is it True? - Is it Helpful? - Is it Inspiring? - Is it Necessary? - Is it Kind? • DON'T take things personally. - I like to think that often, people mean well. If you feel somone made a negative comment relating to you or your projects, they were probably just having a bad day. :) • Ask for HELP when you need it. - Instead of lashing out, spreading rumors, threaten to leave, etc, talk to someone. • When someone else is mad, getting mad is NEVER the correct response. • DON'T OVERREACT. - Try to put things in perspective. When you look at the big picture, that one scratcher that copied off you, or that one bully that hated on you, don't matter very much. When you feel completely overwhelmed by the. negatives, make a list of the positive things that happened that day. If you need help, I will be there. :) • Hate is a strong word. STAY AWAY from it. - Again, put things in perspective. One mean comment is not hate. Accusing someone of hate is a HUGE deal! Don't do it because of one comment. • Have FUN! - This website was created for FUN! Try having some! Post a jokey project, or maybe an EPIC FAIL! :D "Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud." - Maya Angelou Text from google drawings
