Does anyone remember when Customize.org was friendly?

Sad sad sad

http://www.customize.org/forum/9002
from JoeUser Forums

Once long ago, Customize.org was the world's leading customization site.

But today it's a case study of what happens if the site is run by teens.  No offense to the mature teens that may be reading this.  But it as a long time skinner, it has been disheartening to watch customize.org slowly decay to the state it's in.

In the same post in which I get called "arrogant" the mod rips on WinCustomize and claims how Customize.org leads in "quality" over sites like deviantART and WinCustomize.  It's really hard to assess that given that they only get a couple of submissions per day that aren't screenshots and that those submission are also typically here on WC too.

What is also odd is that this was in a thread in which the various staff of Customize.org were claiming to be defending skin authors everywhere (though apparently it's okay to imply that those who don't post their things there suck).

Anyway, those of you who haven't been through Customize.org when it was a great leading site may just see this as pointless venting.  But those who remember when Customize.org was an inspiration to all skinners I suspect know the sorrow I feel at its decline.

14,741 views 29 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
i been watching it crash for a long time ..today was the driveng force IMO to stay away from there ...i saw the bashing you guys took from the Custo guys.. most of the ones who posted, dont even skin MSstyles...
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I just spent way to much time reading through that thread. It seems as though several of the people from customize.org completely missed a lot of the main points made by people from both sides.

I did some looking around that site; they do have some nice VisualStyles's. But the first four styles I saw were ports from OSX themes. Don't get me wrong, the author who did them was Kol, who is EXTREMLY talented at what he does. I just found it funny that I saw the word "port" quite frequently in the VisualStyles section. (http://www.customize.org/list/stylexp/0/30/rank-desc/port & http://www.customize.org/list/stylexp/0/30/rank-desc/ported)

My 2 cents.
Star Control: Origins
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I left customize.org since it's FIRST crash and it still haven't picked up since then, apperently. Same as Skinz.org. You you guys visited Skinz.org lately?

Well only change can't get changed.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Instead of bashing others, why not step back and look at WC and where it is headed. Don't throw rocks back. Try to learn from it. Is the expansion of WC going to be it's downfall? I don't know but nothing good can come from overpopulating. What I saw at customize.org is a bunch of useless bickering that will never solve anything. To this day I have yet to see any productive conversation involving WB and MSStyles. Everyone should know by now that the 2 subjects do not play well with each other.
There was a time when I would have fought to the death for wincustomize but recent events triggered me to remove all my work from here. A personal decision and I point the finger at noone. I wish I could say no hard feelings, but I can't. It hurts to be stabbed in the back!
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Wow, what a shame.

It infuriates me to see such petty, closed minded vitriol being spread as if it were the true and living word of God. Yet another reason not to visit that site.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
LOL.. As a relatively new PC user, I'd say Customize.org is as good as non-existent anyhow. WinCustomize.com was the first site I stumbled on when looking for wallpapers a year ago and it's the one I frequent today. Before this thread, I've never even HEARD of that site. haha..
Whatever... Keep doing what you're doing Frogboy, it works! The proof really IS in the pudding.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It stopped being friendly when I became a mod over there Alas that was back in the days of the "old" custo, with glen and Cy, before the dark times, before chunkymunky (or whatever the hell that thing was called). Haven't been back there since, it doesn't have the community spirit any more.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Every site I have been a member of has had particularly unsavoury 'moments'....that includes Wincustomize.com.

My first foray into skinning [as against LS themeing] was at Customize.org....it was effectively the 'original', after all.

By the time I got there it was less than friendly to a newbie already.....shades of me feeling out of place being 40-something at the time...I was 'too old' for it/them, I think.

When Skinz.org kicked into life I saw a chance to be less of a relative 'late-comer' and found it a 'better place to be'....but even with rose coloured glasses there were some unfriendly attitudes that I recall...in fact I think Frogboy might have already been getting barbs his way due to corporate 'skinning' success.

By the time other sites arrived on the scene there was a lively 'us vs them' mentality rife amongst all....inter-site rivalry was alive and festering nicely.

In more recent times, what irks most is the willingness of those 'responsible' for these community skinning sites [Admins] who use their voice of 'position' to attack their 'sister' sites, as if it's an Olympic sport.

I don't get to the other sites much at all these days....usually it's just for rip-chasing, rather than social niceties....which is sad, really.....but it does seem that some sites thrive through popularity and others may just be doing it through controversy...

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Jafo I think there's some people that's just anti-company. I think Stardock is Microsoft of the future, without monopoly problems. Hopefully without monopoly problem anyway. And that's a good thing.

My proof? Simply brilliant idea of Multipacy(sp) program. That's something I'll be buying soon enough.

Stardock, keep doing what you're doing and don't forget the great support and feedbacks.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Anyway, those of you who haven't been through Customize.org when it was a great leading site may just see this as pointless venting.


Indeed. I take it you got flamed (as usual), but what's the point of this post at this site? Not very constructive.
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yes, what is the point?

And WHY do you get flamed at custo? Why aren't beloved as you obviously feel you should be? Hmm, I wonder why.

Your man came on the site and asked us for an opinion, we gave it to him. What did you want? I stated how I felt about what you're doing, and honestly. Sorry it doesn't align with your plans. Obviously we didn't like the whole concept very much, not at all. But Stardock asked, we replied honestly. Whathisface couldn't answer the main question straight, neither could you. But you could call us hypocrites, go on about how you practically invented skinning, about lame custo is, etc. You were just as abusive (and arrogant!)as anyone. Inexcusable, especially since you are quite a bit older than the "teens" who run custo.

I never attacked you, I said the auto port was slimey. It still think it is. You asked.

Great job Brad. Ace work. Way to go. See you next year when you come on to custo and start some shit. I actually was hoping to interview you for a news post and try to illustrate that you're not complete jerk and you have contributed to the community in ways people might not be aware of. But then you go do this, like a great big jerk.

You were soooooo close to having me on your side. I actually felt sorry for the way you'd been treated in the past.

If you didn't read my private message to you on customize yet, please just delete it, don't bother reading. It doesn't apply anymore. I realize now you would have just sent back some concieted garbage anyway.

No longer will I take the trouble to mention your free products to people or defend Stardock when I think people are being too harsh. I'll just agree with them. Great work, I hope this post was worth all the bad feelings it will produce.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top

What's the point? The staff had locked the thread (but not before taking several parting shots). And it makes me sad that a website that I keep, year after year, hoping it will snap out of the "l33t" mentality just can't seem to get its act together.

You are right, it's probably a mistake at this point for anyone to go to Customize.org to try to get constructive opinions.

What we were not prepared for is the kind of illogical thinking from staff.

Cololussus, no offense but who really cares what Customize.org thinks at this stage? From my vantage point, you guys were given an opportunity to participate in something and instead you crapped on it - as usual.

Here's "the logic" of the Customize.org staff position: It is wrong and exploitive for the free program, SkinStudio to convert .msstyles so that they can be used by WindowBlinds (including the free version).

However, it apparently is not exploitive for the msstyles section on Customize.org to tell its users they will need to go to TGT Soft (with a link provided) to get Style XP which costs $20 in order to apply .msstyles.

When this fairly obvious (I think) flaw in logic was brought out, then I get the "Stardock is a joke around here" comments and told how we're just in it "for the money".  It apparently never occurred that if easy money were the goal that we could make WindowBlinds simply read .msstyles in 5 minutes.  So the goal of .msstyles conversion is obviously not intended primarily towards end users.

It was Customize.org staff, not I, who started putting down skin authors. Who started saying how crappy people's skins are.

And btw, I don't claim not to be arrogant. But at the same time, the truth is still the truth. You can't have it both ways - you want to say that we're in it just for the money but ignore how much we've contributed to the community over the years. 

Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
LOL. I think the lesson the Custo admin guy can learn from this is not to let his stooges slam a guy who runs a much bigger site and then close the topic so that he can't respond.

If I ran a huge website and some pipsqueak little sites admins for abusing me as they were abusing FB in that thread and then after taking a bunch of cheap shots at the end close it down so i couldn't say my peace I'd have a big old news item with my response and let everyone see what jerks the other site was.
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
what's really funny is based on how little activity is on that site that this thread is probably the most attention they've gotten in months.

based on what i see from colussus, who seems to be trying to be reasonable, they really fundamentally don't get it. it makes me think that they don't understand what skinstudio is doing. the skin is still the skin. it's like getting mad that someone reads your word perfect doc in word.
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
See you next year when you come on to custo and start some shit. I actually was hoping to interview you for a news post and try to illustrate that you're not complete jerk and you have contributed to the community in ways people might not be aware of. But then you go do this, like a great big jerk.


This quote from an administrator of Customize.org says it all doesn't it?

Maybe that site should be called Narcisism.org. According to some people, Brad has the power to make grown men behave very badly. So when the administrators of Customize.org behave like utter clods, it is Brad's fault. He started "the shit" and forced them to behave as they did. He uses Jedi-like mind powers to force some people to swear, name-call, attack artists, and more.
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I dont think this bickering is doing any of the parts any good at all.

But hey... I am just a skinner caught between a rock and a hard place.... so what do i know

Might as well quit skinning, cause reading all this sure as hell isnt very encouraging....

Thats all i have to say on this matter!
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Obviously people of principle can disagree on any number of issues.

You can disagree with someone without implying that they are unethical greedy bastards.

My issue wasn't that someone might disagree with their skin being used in a certain way.  My issue was that the staff of a site that advertises for a $$$ msstyle enabling program objecting to msstyles being used by WindowBlinds users.  It's the double-standard that got me involved and it was the "Stardock is a joke" and insults that escalated it for me.

And yea Crae, as others implied, crapping on me and then closing the thread is not constructive either. I was fine leaving the discussion there but if I'm going to get censored, I think I should be able to respond to what has been said on some other venue.

Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Seeing it's almost New Year's

Should old friendship be forgot'
And never remembered ?
Should old friendship be forgotten,
And days of Auld Lang Syne.

And surely you will have your tankard !
And surely I will have mine !
And we will take a cup of kindness yet,
For days of Auld Lang Syne

We two have run about the hills
And pulled the daisies fine :
But we have wandered many a weary foot
Since days of Auld Lang Syne.

We two have waded in the stream
From dawn till dinner-time :
But seas between us broad have roared
Since days of Auld Lang Syne.

And there's a hand my trusty friend !
And give me a hand of thine !
And we will take a large draught
For days of Auld Lang Syne.
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
In the same post in which I get called "arrogant" the mod rips on WinCustomize and claims how Customize.org leads in "quality" over sites like deviantART and WinCustomize. It's really hard to assess that given that they only get a couple of submissions per day that aren't screenshots and that those submission are also typically here on WC too.



Don't forget Deskmod.com!!!


And to answer your original question Frogboy, I have really never known Customize.org to be friendly. Pop-up galor, objectional advertising, and some really strange comments seemed to be the norm for me since 2001/2002
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Not nebie friendly either... leading to strange comments.


I wouls agree that all sites have there down periods. I'll admit I am not sure what WinCusto will go. I do see a light at the end of the tunnel with the voleener-ism.

Even that post that sort of mis-understood why I wrote the article on Hippy''s wincusto homepage didn't get me down.
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ok...let me get this straight...everyones worried about what a bunch of obviously immature children are saying about WinCustomize? And because of what these children are saying people want to stop skinning and remove their stuff? Am I reading this right?

Brad...you are one of the most hands on people I've had the pleasure of doing business with and the word "arrogant" does not apply to you in any way, shape, or form. And as far as you making money from what you do...since when is that a crime? You should shake those comments off like a bad case of fleas and have a good laugh over them.

Because of the nature of the internet you cannot avoid being exposed to negative vibes because you are exposed to the best and the worst humanity has to offer, but as long as you keep that in mind you will do just fine.

Your site here is one of the most helpful and enjoyable places for people to come to and from what I've seen you bend over backwards to make people happy which is why I make a point of coming here every day. And aside of the fact that we will undoubtedly be exposed to the occasional troll, or flamer, or childish comment by someone who is obviously jealous of what you've accomplished here, you should be proud of WinCustomize.

Put this all behind you and Stay the course Brad.

We're building up and tearing down,
In every thing we do.
Are you on the construction gang,
Or on the wrecking crew?
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well said Webgizmos. Very well said.
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Best to deal with Custo like you'd deal with a misbehaving child looking for attention.
Ignore them.