Alot of people are kind of shy about coming into the AC...people here can get alittle snide sometimes when it comes to avi's. Not meant to offend anyone by that statement, just a fact. Although it has been much much better lately.

I agree
I remember when I first came into the AC and asked for opinions on my avatar

I got a bit upset because I felt like I'd been completely shot down
looking back, that avatar wasn't good by AC standards and I completely understand what people were saying

what are you going to do, people are mean on the internet sometimes
and other times you can take something the wrong way and get offended

waaay back when I first started on gaia, I'd been a member for about a month and only just started using the forum and I found a thread giving out some items that weren't available to people outside the US
so I posted my application and got yelled at for using a mule and trying to exploit people's generosity to get extra items :/

even when I tried to explain why I'd been a member for a month and had so few posts, I was ignored

but what are you going to do
it's the way things are



aaaand I don't know why I just wrote all that but whatever

Yeah, I've seen some people in here (even recently) be really rude. I mean, if you don't like someone's avatar, that's cool, but you can be polite and constructive, without being like "UHM, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING, THAT'S REALLY A MESS, GOSH, WHY DID YOU EVEN BOTHER?" I mean, what do you gain by being mean to someone? You don't gain anything. You put the other person in a bad mood, and you put yourself in a bad (or worse) mood. You can't make the world sunshine and lollipops with common decency, but at least you're not making anyone's day that much worse. >>

I agree cherry.
I always start by saying my opinion, then giving criticism.

I'll have to agree that the AC has a different set of standards than the average Menewshan dressing habits, I would think. =O It's not a bad thing, of course, but it does sort of unintentionally alienate others and scare them of coming in to join the fun~ ^^;;

And aww, slow, that's mean of them! :<
At least that's in the past? :x

Yeah, most people don't dress "AC-friendly"
But hell, even I haven't been lately. Omg there's no orange on my head and that red from the skirt isn't anywhere else!

I didn't notice that until you said it cherry.
ahaha.

I noticed, but I like it as it is~ 8DD;;
You said it was punk-inspired or something before, right? =P

I think the red and that purple mesh enough to match the top and the hair.
GREAT WORK!

I think thats why its not as badly like RAWR lately is because alot of people, myself include are straying from the typical AC style....but I remember when I first came here it was like SCARY. But I learned to live. It can still be mean at times but not nearly as much as it used to be...but I think the past is reflective...the AC now has a rep for being AC style and AC style only...so it scares people away.

The AC is kind of an unforgiving place. You can come in and be bashed on in the beginning, and yes it scares people away, but it also gives them a goal. To show the people who trashed them to start with that they can make avatars that are just as good, if not better, than those who bashed them in the first place. I've seen it happen many times when someone has come into the AC for a simple rating and has been ripped to shreds only to come back with an avatar that the site has never seen before. Lynne has come a long way since she entered the AC for sure, and she's a prime example.

When Lynne first came here, her avatars were considered mediocre, but over time she's gotten better and has spawned a ton of really really good avatars that people have praised her for over and over! And the same goes for many others who now frequent the AC.

The fact of the matter is, is that there is a specific style that each Avatar Chat forum is going to adhere to until someone proves that crowd wrong. You see it now that all the regulars have started trying to break new boundaries with new combinations and styles, and its working. The standards aren't as set anymore as they used to be. People are more willing to open up to experimentation with their avatars and its more liberating.

But there are also people who have done so much with their avatars that they're burnt out. I know that I don't like making avatars anymore because I can't seem to find any inspiration to work on something new and innovative and unique. Everything I think of seems to have been done before or is a play on an outfit that I've tried before or something else. Even settling for more realistic characters rather than trying to go over the top is something that I've been doing because I would rather sit on the side now and watch to see what others can do in developing the standards for the AC.

There are different waves of AC regulars who have set these new standards and I think that personally, my wave has come and gone and it's time that the newer AC regs have their say in what makes a good avatar and what doesn't.

My inspiration for avatars is now starting the lack. :/ Being away from actually designing an avatar because of my field notes actually helps though.

I am liking some of the avatars the the newer wave of AC regs are bringing in as well. There are some a seriously dislike, but for the same reasons I dislike some older ACers avatars.

Right now my main goal is to work with color combos I have never used before even (stares at seiki) pink. It is the only thing moving my avatars along now. I need a bigger common base though :/ Which means my stash is about to go through my depleting than i want and i might start seriously exchanging.

I feel like I've been running out of inspiration lately :/

the last avatar I had, I was wearing for over a month
I just couldn't be bothered trying to come up with something fresh when I was satisfied with what I had and I didn't have any new items to play with

Hey, I'm not wearing pink Winter <3

Seiki, you touched me. ;o;
*hugglesquishes*
<3<3

Now that I look back though... I think the first time I ever stepped into the AC was when I won Admin's Pick. And then I disappeared, then came back to Project Mene, and since then I've been frequenting the place more. xDD;;

As for avatar inspiration... I've been struggling more and more myself. :x I have new commons, yes, but I haven't been in an avatar-making mood lately. D: Hence why I keep changing. >.<;;

Btw, Seiki:

There are different waves of AC regulars who have set these new standards and I think that personally, my wave has come and gone and it's time that the newer AC regs have their say in what makes a good avatar and what doesn't.

You make yourself sound faarr too old. xDDDD;; <3<3
Although this does make me wonder which "wave" I belong to. >.<;;
Lulz~ 8DD;;

I think I've been sort of burning out because a lot of our items are fantastical and don't really all fit together, and I've just been wanting to make realistic avatars. I've been on a site where there's a huge item base and all of it is pretty realistic or lolita, so that spoiled me. xD

I like the fantasy base, but I am ready for more realistic. x.x

Winter, you look adorable :o

I missed iClone. :/ I wasn't on at all yesterday.

I'd love to read everyone's huge posts, but I'm working and am not actually supposed to be on right now... /points at signature/

SO BYE

I've also been sort of itching for a reality-based avatar. xDD;;
...
Only to realize I don't have enough "real" items in my inventory. D:
Don't even own a pair of pants! >.<;; Shame on me. DX


Btw, Cami, same here. DX
Currently working on an editorial due in 5 hours. xDDD;;
*is shot*
>.<;;

Ooo la la, you all have really nice outfits right now. :D I too would like to do something more realistic, but I generally just don't have the items for it (and I'm too cheap to buy more).

Ferra looks badass! xD

Yes, she does. I love that look.

What do you guys think of my outfit? I'm trying to make a old, mostly forgotten statue that has been defiled and grown mold.

@Cherry: Really? XD Thanks!

@Cami: I think it looks cool! Although I hope you mean moss instead of mold. XD Mold is gross.

Yessss... Mossss... <<,, Totally what I meant.