I personally like Jake's and Sub's threads the most. Sub's dealt with a common ATRL problem worth addressing in a calm thread atmosphere. Jake came with receipts and outlined a concern that often goes ignored, even on a music forum that primarily focuses on female pop stars.
I feel like Superpower's has the most staying power and would be regularly used if maintained.
ATRL's Next Top Member Cycle 13 | EP10: Judges Comments
EPISODE 10: THREADS
THE COMMENTS
CITRUS says...
Quote:
Era
Aside from you, only 4 other members posted more than once in your thread. That’s not something that impresses in terms of keeping an ongoing discussion alive. Creatively, this was one of your weaker entries. The Youtube links were formatted well, at least?
Bomb
You didn’t fill up a 5th of your thread with your own posts, which is good. I thought it was a straightforward question that could inspire at least some discussion. Not great, but, considering everything submitted this week, above average.
Subomie
As of my judging, you were over 25% of your thread’s posts. Now I know it doesn’t say the thread has to succeed without the OP, but it’s a little stagnant when it’s only sputtering along with your encouragement. The idea has been done before, but it’s always a good discussion to have.
Superpower
A little under 20% of the posts in this thread were yours, which, you know, isn’t the greatest. BUT, I loved how many repeat posters there were. Several people came back multiple times and seem enthused by the topic. While I think the idea is a bit redundant considering what ATRL itself is, this back to basics approach is smart considering how ATRL has shifted to encompass so many other aspects. You took us back to the music.
JakeKills
First, I wish you had explained the cover album at first. Maybe I’m just dumb (most likely), but it took me like halfway through your OP to realize that this guy made an album covering TAYLOR’S 1989…I thought he had done covers of songs from the year 1989 and I was so confused about why it was relevant. But again, I’m dumb. Anyways, this was a niche thread that didn’t have a niche audience. You took an incident involving your fave and tried to expand it to make it more universal, but, in order to do that, you should’ve included examples of critics unfairly scoring other artists. This just felt like an excerpt from a discussion in the Taylor base.
SUPASPAZ says...
Quote:
Era:
Pretty standard topic. The presentation was slightly more compelling than usual, but the outcome was the same: mostly just list of songs after list of songs, usually by that member’s fave. You tried to keep the discussion going and made a couple of interesting points—particularly about whether a throwback sound can really define the 2010s—but no one stuck around to engage. Perhaps if you’ve framed the thread differently.
A Bomb:
You came up with a somewhat more interesting subject. It gets at the nature of pop stardom and actually asks members to think a bit, so you were rewarded with a few of them sticking around to argue their points of view. Nevertheless, you still had the same problem of the one-dimensional question; there’s only so much to contribute before the conversation trickles off.
Subomie:
Hold that mirror up, sis! You went in a unique direction this week with a thread about ATRL rather than pop music…but unfortunately, it didn’t work out too well. I wish the forum was more reflective, because there is some disgusting behavior and this is a topic that could stand to have a little more attention. Maybe if you had asked “What can we do about the intolerance on ATRL?” instead. That would have jumpstarted the discussion from a strong perspective and forced more than yes-or-no answers.
Superpower:
Not the most original idea, but I give you credit for coming up with the only thread in the bunch that might endure. It doesn’t ask a lot of members, in all the right ways—come in, share what you like and maybe discover a new favorite. We need more of that on ATRL, and less of the fourteenth Katy vs. Gaga thread this week.
JakeKills:
Just when I was ready to write this challenge off, you go and save the best for the last. This is by far the most substantive and interesting discussion I’ve seen on the forum in ages. It’s what ATRL should be about: a bunch of pop aficionados coming together to give the genre the deep consideration that it doesn’t get elsewhere. I’m a little disappointed in your level of effort, though. The thread somehow lasted into a second day on its own and might have had more life, but you’re nowhere to be found after the first thirty minutes.
UMICH says...
Quote:
Era
Although I saw where you were going with this, I think these types of threads have been done before (i.e. which songs will be remembered, etc.). On the other hand, It is interesting that you got a decent discussion out of it, though. And it was nice to see people actually discuss reasonable songs without just posting their faves’ songs. This post was a bit of a mess. I don’t even remember half of those lines.
A Bomb
It is a thought-provoking question that we normally don’t discuss on ATRL, so it was great to see that you made this thread. Apparently, others in the thread (based on replies) felt the same way. Wonderful discussion as well. I like that you didn’t continuously bump your thread for more hits/views.
Superpower
This is a very wonderful idea. It reminds me of something similar posh did in another game earlier this year. What I was most impressed with is that people did not come into your thread and promote their faves by saying albums tracks by Gaga/Katy/Rih etc. And a lot of these songs were virtually new to me, so I discovered something as well. Everyone seemed to be engaged with each other and commented on each other’s recommendations, so that’s a plus!
Subomie
I liked the concept of this thread and I’m glad it didn’t get too far out of hand. I don’t think it was necessarily thought provoking because it’s normally something that we normally talk about or address occasionally in threads here or there. Again, I do like the fact that a mature conversation was able to be held without people getting bent out of shape.
JakeKills
Interesting pull, and great of you to bring it to the attention of ATRLers. Some people may not have known to come into your thread based on its title, so I think you could have have a bit more views/replies with a better title. Great OP content though. Discussion seemed to have gone well. It would have also been nice for you to include other examples with other albums. And, for the record, I don’t like Ryan’s cover of 1989.
CUPID says...
Quote:
Era -
It's so funny you made this thread, because I was legitimately thinking about this topic in my head a couple of nights ago. I was listening to Sia's new song which led me to re-listen to Chandelier and I was looking at it's stats on iTunes and thinking wow, this could be the biggest song of the 10's so far tbh. Obviously not sales wise, but in terms of remembrance. I definitely think it's an interesting topic anyway, as long as people don't immediately just rush in to post their faves latest quick lil single. It's probably a thread which has been done before, but what isn't? It generated a good amount of discussion, 3 pages is pretty average for a Base discussion. I don't think it's the best topic, but it's certainly a good entry.
A Bomb -
I didn't really like this topic tbh, it seemed quite elitist. You're kind of making it seem like if popstars don't dance then it's not as good of a performance, than someone who does dance. To me, dance routines go hand in hand with the teenpop movement, it kind of faded in the 00's. Nowadays the general public are wiser about the music industry and we don't really care about manufactured routines and all of that. We'd rather just see an entertaining or authentic vocal performance. But that's not to say showmanship or dancing is dead, it's just done in a more elaborate and unique style than the basic teenbop routines. It generated a fair amount of discussion, but i'd say that's more to do with naming popstars and a few provoked replies.
Subomie -
Ugh. I honestly hate these type of threads. There are so many users who are just plain downright ignorant and post disgusting things. The amount of garbage I have to wade through dealing with reports. Racism, transphobia, xenophobia, bullying, fat-shaming, fighting, you name it - we have it. We can't even have serious threads here because of trolls. Anyway, back to the thread. I really don't think these kinds of threads are necessary, we all know there are many intolerant members on ATRL, it doesn't really give us anything to discuss. And the part at the end "seems to be getting warned depending on which mod is on duty" hmm.. okay then.. Pretty sure all the mods would warn racism and stuff like that.
Superpower -
As much as I really like the idea of this, it's something which gets done a LOT. I'm pretty sure there have even been multiple ANTM thread entries about discovering new music. I can recall at least 2 off the top of my head. The true test of this thread will be whether it stands the test of time and it keeps getting used. As that's not something I can really judge right now, i'll just have to base it on the content. To me, this seems like a cop out entry - it's one of those generic ideas people do when they can't think of anything else. Having said that, the idea itself is nice and you have managed to keep it going so far. Plus you made the OP look nice.
JakeKills -
To me, this is the standout of the bunch. Although your thread didn't get as many replies, it really brings up a great debate. This is something I would have loved to post in and join in with if I had the time. The criticisms I have is that there is way too much text going on. It would have been nice if maybe you broke it up with some pictures or a video or two. Also, you maybe could have branched out from Taylor/1989 and included some more widespread discussion about sexism and elitism in the industry. Based on the topic and thread itself though, I like it. To me, this is the only entry which really provokes a large intellectual discussion, rather than surface based music/forum discussion. It's just a shame not many people agreed and posted in there.
MATTY says...
Quote:
Era
I love it, yet at the same time I’m ify. I love it because it is kind of an interesting discussion and nostalgia like, but it is very similar to any thread that has been made of what songs have been the most popular thus far this half decade. It puts things in a different outlook, but ultimately it’s not much of a new subject matter to discuss. Plus, stans are just going to rush in to say their faves discography. That’s nothing you can do though, it’s just annoying AF.
A Bomb
Now that I think about it, this is really true. You only have a select few who still dance and sing, perform, that isn’t just hairography and gyrates. This wasn’t something that I would normally think about, in which I really appreciate. There was another member who was afraid to a make a thread like this, but had the same ideals as you. It’s not pinpointing against other artists, it’s just asking a general question based on a perception you have and others agreed and never thought of it like that like I did.
Subomie
Interesting. I guess for my commentary on you, I just want to expand the discussion and say I do agree to an extent. We still have a lot of members who are insensitive and offensive towards sensitive issues regarding race, trans, and other gay related issues. People just aren’t really putting themselves in others shoes as much as they should. On the other hand though, now-a-days, whatever is said about these issues have become way more sensitive than what they use to be and to an extent what they should be. I would also like to add that I think ATRL is actually intolerant towards the heterosexual community. Let me start off by saying that I consider myself open and don’t really like claiming myself as straight anymore, using the phrase ‘prefer women’ more than anything, but ATRL has just become so gay. In order to get a hit thread that is popular nowadays includes either trolling or making a thread saying “Daddy [insert celebrity here] running with a bulge”, it’s not really making things accepting all around. They are also known to consider anybody and everyone as gay or secretly gay just out of habit of what ATRL has become. If you are in fact heterosexual you kind of get made fun of and accused of being in the closet which can then somewhat go back around in a two path cycle of being intolerant towards heterosexuals and even homosexuals themselves. /Rant
Superpower
I think it’s a cool thread for people to get to know new music and expand their musical horizons. Not everything revolves around the normal pop girls, so a lot of people exclude a lot of great music. I like the idea of making it that you have to comment a little on the song before posting a song you want to, but then yet again it makes it just another ‘reply to the person above you then ask another question/state something else’ type of thread.
Jake
I really love this discussion. Kind of annoyed it is yet another Swift based thread, but it sounds off another issue that surrounds the music business. I’ve always kind of noticed there are things off on these critics’ reviews. There can be amazing pop albums, but they get slammed for being pop. Part of that reason is because I think some of the reviewers are on the slightly old side that grew up with the rockers and the old school hip hop eras. I do also think there is a lot of sexism in the music industry. Swift gets dogged on so hard for always writing about her personal life and relationships, when men like Ed Sheeran and Usher [his confession album was highly influenced by his ex-girlfriend Chilli] do the same thing and most of the time get praised. It’s kind of disgusting really.
Stay tuned tomorrow/I guess later today for the elimination
I just went through the threads to see which threads were the most popular (yes, I now just took them so you had longer to gain replies). Since you all could look yourself for these results to see who is getting which points, I'll post that here.
But yeah, enjoyed the commentaries and agreed with most of them.
Jake was my personal favorite since it brought attention to something that's not talked about often enough in the greater scheme of things. When you consider that this forum typically focuses on pop girls and not how their male counterparts compare in terms of reception. Superpower was really nice even if it was in the vein of similar threads done before; it definitely sparked interest in other types of music, not just pop (to me in particular since I'm guilty of listening to only one genre at a time for a long period of time).
I actually liked A Bomb's thread as a point of discussion and his examples of Janet, Britney, and Gaga really brought the perspective into it. I don't think it was a way to belittle pop stars who don't dance, but to ask why they don't, since choreography and performances are such a huge part Pop music. It's odd to see that trend fade and no one's really asked why.
I didn't really intend to make another thread all about Taylor tbh. I just thought that the two 1989's provided a perfect prompt for the discussion. They literally recorded the exact same album, but garnered different reactions because of their style / gender / reputation / genre / whatever. I thought it was a rather unique opportunity to spark discussion.
Could've / should've added bits about other artists or done something to make it less text-heavy, and I probably would have but if I remember right I made that thread one night during a snack break from my homework, so I didn't really have a ton of time on my hands.
And supa, I agree I should've posted in there more. It could've helped make it a bigger Thing. But aside from the homework issue, I'm generally the type who doesn't go back to a thread too much once I've said what I want / need to say.
