Editorial: Why I Hated Web Comps...
Really, this is no exaggeration, I truly
didn't like web competitions. The only reason I can give for this is,
that from where I was standing on the "outside", I thought it was cheesy to
increase the visitors to your site by entering into one of these things.
I mean, what could you possibly gain from being part of one? I had heard
horror stories (no names will be divulged...) of slanted voting, the owners
of the competitions telling you how your site should look to the point of
affecting your design, and of course the ever present clique mentality.
I deal with cliques at work and in real life, so why would I want to see it
when I am online? If a site is my own, why the heck would I let
someone else tell me how it should look? I would get the heebie
jeebies whenever someone would suggest that I join one.
Then it happened. Someone that I trust
and care about joined Battle of the Ancients. I quietly rolled my eyes
and feigned excitement, all the while waiting for the other shoe to drop.
It had to happen, it always did. As it turns out, I was beyond
wrong...
I supported my friend, by voting for her,
offering encouragement, and the occasional design eye when she asked for it.
All the while I never saw her interest or excitement wane towards this
competition. Just so you know, this person is a no nonsense type of
gal; she has a really low tolerance for the type of craziness that I
described in the first paragraph. So to see her this happy about the
competition that I thought was going to be like every other I had heard
about and seen, was a little shocking (please take a moment to envision me
with bright red hair standing on end - thank you.)
Of course she asked me to take part with my
own site, and I politely refused - it wasn't for me I told her. She
would let it ride, but I should have known that she had the "cat that ate
the canary" look on her. I would be there in time.
Another close friend (actually both of these
friends are so much like I am that we finish sentences and thoughts for one
another) felt the call of the battle and joined. Now I thought I would
finally prove it to them - I had another person to watch and see when they
got sick of the insanity. Did she cooperate? Of course not! She loved
BOTA as much as my first friend!
So they would send voting reminders in to a
news list we were all part of in parody form - usually spoofing song lyrics.
I happen to love doing that, and after they both asked me why I wouldn't
join up, I finally broke down and said I would register. I figured
that the worst that could happen is that I would get there, not like it, and
drop out. What the heck, give it a try and *weg* get the other two off
of my back!!!
So I registered, and was placed in the House
of Aztecs. I was a wee bit nervous about promoting my site (but as you
can tell I have no such hang up now hehehe), but I figured I would just see
how it went. And boy, how it went! I have a fantastic team
leader, Alice, who was so warm and welcoming that I instantly felt at home!
I joined the graphics group (and they subsequently made me a PSP convert!),
where I could speak up as a newbie and no one blinked an eyelash. In
fact, they WANTED my input! I began voting for myself, my friends, and
visiting other sites on my team (and then other teams as well), enjoying the
broad range of subject matter that I found. I usually adopted a few
sites a week to support, and I all around enjoyed myself. I would even hear
from my TL (team leader), Guardians, and the Founder (Sharon) of the battle
periodically (my TL weekly)! It just floored me that this many people
that I didn't know from a hole in the wall cared how I was feeling at any
given time.
So I was hooked. I couldn't deny it, so
I just "gave" up and went with it and I am so glad that I did! I was
given the opportunity to be a TL of the Great Spirit team (I love you guys!)
and at the present time I head up House Africa (you all are a crazy and fun
bunch - the best!). I think of myself as a cheerleader for the team -
if I can't show my BOTA spirit, how the heck can I expect them to? I
also remember the love and care that I received at the hands of Alice, and
Lisa (who was my Pharaoh's TL when I entered my second site), and I use that
as a high standard when forming relationships with my past, present (and
future!) team members.
In all of this, I was asked by Frazz (the
Head Guardian and lady with the mean whip!) to join the Guardians. I
was floored yet again. In fact, at this point, you probably think that
I walk around with my mouth perpetually hanging open in shock. I think
that too sometimes *G* I accepted (of course, who could pass up the offer?)
and I love my duties there. My role there is much like what I do as a
TL, but on a much larger scale, and I get to scout out new sites to join the
battle. I love it!
So that's it - If I had to sum up this
editorial I would do it this way as if I was writing a headline to a
tabloid:
The Web comp I thought I hated and why I just
can't stay away!
And here is one last piece of advice...
"Battle well friends, in all
areas of your life show virtue, honor, truth and compassion without care for
it being returned. You only have to live with yourself at the end of a
day, so make sure that when you look in the mirror, you do so with pride."
~ LH White, 2003
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