Have you ever felt shafted?

[Hambil]

I entered a competition I honestly felt I should have won, and expected to win. However, I didn't even place. The results where posted with no comments or explaination of why choices where made, which kind of sucks.

So many of these types of small community contests are as much a popularity contest as a merit based contest. And you can't really say anything without sounding like, or being accused of 'sour grapes'.

But, I think I just need to stop seeking approval from my peers, and do what I enjoy and like and get my approval (if at all) from the people who enjoy my work rather than those competing with me to showcase their own works.

This particular community I am dealing with is excessively passive aggressive, and I am very, very bad at dealing with passive aggressiveness (most passive aggressive people hate me with the burning passion of a thousand suns).

Anyway, feeling you got shafted sucks. Makes it hard to keep trying sometimes.

 

[Donovan]

If you entered a contest judged by
1) a bunch of people you knew were passive aggressive assholes and
2) probably had issues with you because of your reaction to same,

that's an example of you engaging in self-defeatist behavior. You don't really provide any detail at all to the nature of the contest or what you submitted, so I can't comment on the validity of your claim that you should have won.

But I follow a few rules in my own life:
Don't enter contests in close knit communities where you hang out and interact. Whether you win or lose, it's just a popularity contest and is not indicative of actual quality.

don't personalize criticism. Examine it and search for valid points. "This sucks" is not criticism, it's lashing out.

don't personalize praise. Examine it for validity as well, and consider the source. If your mom or SO loves your work, their kinda obligated by law to love it. But if a respected industry professional who's not trying to sell you something loves it...

 

[Hambil]

Thank you.

I didn't provide details because I doubt anyone here would care, and because, well, it's TK lol. And though I trust the members of this forum, I wouldn't spit on many of those outside of it.

 

[CaptainWacky]

Trying is the first step towards failure.

 

[Cassie]

I haven't felt shafted for a LONG TIME.