Stars Scars

[BRINKMAN!]

I know it's totally absurd but sometimes not having any stars on my sketchbook makes me sad. This isn't a "OMG, plz someone rate my thread!!!" post, but rather a wondering aloud why I feel this compulsion for validation.

Do you ever get down about stars (or lack thereof)? Am I alone in this obsession?

I'm making a pledge here and now to stop lurking, started giving feedback in sketchbooks and rate threads!

[Justice Von Brandt]

Stars are stupid, leave helpful or encouraging comments

[Mirana]

I don't even notice stars or use them. There really aren't too many threads that get them in the scheme of CA, and even then they're always 5. How would you feel if you GOT stars, but it was only 1 or 2?

I'd be more annoyed at getting stars than useful feedback anyway (re: DA). Buck up and do a search on the subject. It's been hashed out before.

[Black Spot]

I don’t really mind not having stars. My sketchbook is for me and anyone who is vaguely interested. It’s not a popularity contest. Now if I had something that I could post in FF my attitude might change.

[ArtZealot]

just keep your sketchbook up and updated and it will get stars. I'm with you, i like my stars and hope to someday have a 5 star sketchbook. Though i think directly asking for them is kind of in bad taste. You'll get them, just keep posting and keep drawin.

[Ilaekae]

I pretty much avoid any thread that gets five stars in the first five minutes like the plague. It means that somebody has posted some really decent work and everybody is oohing and ahhhhing. I also know I'll probably find at least one example of material or approach that I (and a lot of others) was criticized for when we posted something similar in the past, but that's to be expected. When it starts to drop off the first page, THEN I check it out--gives me time to really study the work.

[BRINKMAN!]

Just to be clear: I'm not asking for stars! (I have plenty to learn and improve on, plus I don't update my SB enough to deserve them!)

I was simply wondering if anyone else sometimes thinks about it, that's all.

Good points, peeps...
... about the 1 or 2 star thing... never thought of it that way.
....also I agree that the stars are not essential, or anywhere near the point of keeping a CA sketchbook, in fact they may be contrary to the point.

[Boolean]

Stars?

[Mike Corriero]

Another wasted or rather abused function..

I'd rather have an option where the thread starter can choose if they'd like their thread to be rated or not.
I personally think rating threads has become useless, it doesn't help the person in any way.
I think that would put an end to these sort of questions.

[Jason Manley]

Another wasted or rather abused function..

I'd rather have an option where the thread starter can choose if they'd like their thread to be rated or not.
I personally think rating threads has become useless, it doesn't help the person in any way.
I think that would put an end to these sort of questions.

It is actually quite useful. Hopefully folks will start to see why, very soon. right now it is just not being put to good use..other than to quickly find thumbs up work when you only got a few mins to find inspiration. ...aside from the occasional down vote as people annoy each other. heh.

[Saturns Gate]

I personally like the star system as most of the 5 stars seem to be really up to standard and more then not, make me wow a lot. So when im in a fix for being wow'd quickly I can just search out some 5 stars. That being said I do take some time to check out less star rated sketchbooks and sometimes get a surprise wow here and there. Imo if I did not like the system, illd just ignore it, simple as that.

[Serpian]

Staaaaaaaaarrrssss!

[Caramel E150d]

I feel really dumb now. When I read the first sentence of this thread I thought you meant you had to draw stars all over your sketchbook or have like little stickers on the cover or something...

[ChristianWeeks]

I thought the same thing... for about the 1st 5 seconds then i realized what he meant even though ive never used that function before.

so HAH im not that dumb! TAKE THAT WORLD
star stickers are fun though

[Jazz]

...I actually thought the OP meant celebraties at first, so it's good thing I read the rest of the post!

Though I get sad about stars, I get really sad that I just haven't been able to put anything in the sketchbook. I like getting written feedback, and it's proven extremely useful to me. I'm still confused about what the stars are equivalent to in a rating.

[Ilaekae]

The more stars given by any particular person, the higher the probability that they're incapable of stringing more than three words together in a coherent fashion...

[alesoun]

I don't understand the star system. I don't have any, don't give any and don't worry about it.... but then, I'm kinda weird.

[Stoat]

The problem with the rating system is that it isn't really a five-star system, it's essentially binary. I don't think I've ever rated anyone less than five stars, and you really only see 4- and 5-star threads. I suspect the 4-star threads were originally 5-stars and somebody down-rated them in protest thinking they weren't *quite* that good.

That's because it feels like an insult to give somebody one or two stars, I think. Better no rating than a low one, you know? That, and people aren't really moved to rate a thread unless it stands out.

If you tried to make it part of the forum culture to rate threads as a matter of course (in the way that critiquing is encouraged), you might end up with a true five-star system. And probably a lot of hurt feelings.

I live for stars. My existence depends on how my peers rate me. As soon as i get five stars i know i have reached my pinnacle and will quit art for ever.(put smiley in here i have not figured out how to do it)

Joking aside where do go from five stars. No stars three or four stars you can work on that.

[Blue]

Why would a sketchbook get stars?

[Burtzum]

I like stars specifically for the sketchbook section, it lets me know where to look for inspiration/a kick in the ass.

[Nam]

I think stars should be gotten rid of.

[Ilaekae]

Then where would all the poor little planets go?

[Sundance]

Why would a sketchbook get stars?

I tagged Chuck,Mate's sketchbook with 5 stars years ago...reason being, he posted top notch work, he showed process, and when asked...he posted tutorials as well. Couple those three things with the fact he is over 20 pages and heavy on the artwork...five stars.

[Matsign]

It reminds me to keep working. I see myself here for another year... working my pencils down.