Hello! My name is Quilla and I'm becoming far too bold for my own good. I feel my fear of causing accusations and fights growing again, so I should type this fast. I would like to clarify before saying anything that 1. I'm speaking from personal experience over the past 2-3 years, so I may be missing the bigger picture. 2. This is an OPINION that is completely okay to be disagreed with, and 3. this isn't a jab at anyone or anything specific, just something i've though about. Now, MAPs! They definitely make up a chunk of scratch's art and animation community, even bringing in people outside of the space in some cases to witness the dedication of participants working towards a finished project, whether they understand it or not. The dreams and aspirations of many have been achieved through even merely being able to take part in the MAPs that are seen by a large amount of people. That is perfectly okay, of course. However, it is also where my problem with it lies. I feel like I have seen many MAPs with great potential over the years, Many of them do get filled up or nearly filled, but they do get forgotten or neglected due to the appearance of a new MAP by a bigger creator. Hypothetically, this MAP is gaining more views, and the other is kicked to the curb. Still, even then the other was nearly finished, but no one really cares. Some of the participants didn't even make it in, but they apply for all the big MAPs with popular names multiple times in hopes of recognition, and have also forgotten about their responsibility for smaller MAP parts. I definitely want to see more ideas from the really small scratchers gain traction. Instead of having the stress of getting into every MAP because you'll be seen on the same level as the most experienced animators because everyone says they have futures at- well maybe disney isn't the best comparison - DreamWorks I guess lol. In the end, most of them are just kids/teenagers and this is a children's coding website that's either been forced upon STEAM classes to learn code, or just as something to enjoy doing. When you're so caught in a popularity contest that you feel the need to argue that you should be accepted or that you're experienced enough, it isn't fun anymore is it? Just, lift everyone up and have fun, this is a community, not a contest, and we're all going to end up growing out of this place or entertaining the children, so why not support everyone through it? Overall, just make scratch a fun friendly place and keep it that way for the ipad generation to come, okay? Don't prioritize bigger names just because they have more of a pedestal, and just enjoy the stay, because now more than ever I've seen the fact that you should just make the most of what you have in life, we're all riding the death train but just don't know where our stop is. Sorry that took a morbid turn at the end, I've been through it these past 4-5 months. This rant got longer than expected and I got sidetracked so I'll leave it there. This is Quilla, signing off.
EDIT DECEMBER 4 2023: JUST TO CLARIFY MAP AS IN MULTI ANIMATOR PROJECT NOT-
