Ok, I don’t want to take a thread into the wrong direction so I’ve started a new one in what I feel is the appropriate group since this topic of trolling at conventions needs to be discussed and is very relative to the state of where contests and us creators are going…. I’ve also noticed so many different opinions and some upset people over this as well.
I thing the term trolling holds too many meaning to everyone here as well as how contests define it. From some of the definitions I heard, I guess I an considered to be a troll for some of my videos as well but at no time do I think I’ve considered myself a troll by my definitions that is (You’ll see what I mean)… So, here goes my view on the whole thing regardless If I get flamed for it or not….
Before I discuss things further, I might as well define what I in my opinion (Pease keep in mind the is MY OPINION ONLY) consider not to be Trolling:
NOT Trolling:
- If you enter into a multiple contests with overlapping deadline to a reasonable limit (for me it’s 2 - 4 max (depending on the contest), but this can be different for others – what exactly is reasonable???)
- If the contest does not have a problem with tolling as mentioned in the rules and does not mind your submission (No one is forced to enter into a contest that they do not agree with the rules).
- If you win in a contest, but it’s the only contest you’ve entered and you enter one additional contest after you know of your win (North America is a HUGE continent, it’s a BIG audience out there).
- You win, say 2 awards, after the submission deadline of a third con that you have submitted to (I personally think to withdraw after the deadline when the judging process is already happening can hurt or complicate the contest – Think about, say 5 contestants doing that after all the work go into making and sending judging tapes out!)
- I don’t consider winning online only contests the same thing as winning at a convention, there is no “Public” audience involved and can be way to diverse to consider it IMO (A group of friends could make up a contest and have winners from themselves so how valid is that?) I’m not stating an opinion about if an online contest of better or worse, just consider them not comparable or same thing as a Convention contest.
I’m sure this is not the same opinion everyone else has out there, and I’m sure some will agree and consider something I’ve said as trolling. I do want to point out that that has been videos over the years that have fallen into one or more of the above point I’ve made and never has anyone mentioned that they were tolling… Just an observation rather than an opinion.
Now, I do agree that it’s important for us to voice our opinion and concerns about trolling, or when we may consider a video to be trolling, but is it up to us to enforce no trolling? This is the big question and my whole point…
Now I’m not going to try to point out what we should do or shouldn’t do, but what I feel we would consider about this whole issue since:
- The AMV community and contest our there are continuing to mushroom at a HUGE rates, more and more conventions are now running contests and tons of overlapping deadlines, so will this problem become worse?
- As we evolve and continue forward, will our views and opinion on trolling change?
- What do we care about more, winning or having our videos shown to audience?
- Is trolling also considered for the same people always take a finalist spot in contests even for different videos?
- Show all contest have the rules that if must not have been seen anywhere and you have to be present to win? If so, how will it impact conventions and people who can’t come to them and is this being unfair the some (consider someone living in a country where they can’t get a visa to visit the North America)? Also, if this what the community wants contest to do and if so who will enforce it?
In summary, I just want to point out that this is not a Black and White issue by far and that it’s always easy to take sides in this without considering the consequences or true intentions. Now I know I may be flamed for my opinion, but I stand by it and this also applies to any contest I run as well. I really hope it doesn’t have to come down to AMV contest having to make 3 pages of rules just on trolling so they don’t get flamed or misunderstood by creators entering…
Vlad

