@SourCherryJack - @Aalasteir (Q)

Q: How did you find if Newgrounds? Or is it the other way around?

I found Newgrounds through the pre-loaders that were on other flash sites in the early 2000's. The first Madness Combat was on FunnyJunk, my friend showed me that, I can't remember if it had a preloader though. Later on then sites like AlbinoBlacksheep hosted games with the NG preloader so eventually I ended up on Newgrounds. Then a few years later I was looking for a place to post drawings and saw the "Forums" tab on the top bar, so that's when I made an account.

Q: What is the story behind you becoming an art moderator, and why did you choose to accept the invitation? Also, what do you enjoy most and least about being a moderator, and what would be your advice for users to become better users?

I had been a regular in the Art Forum for about 6 years when in 2015 another Art Moderator stepped down; I got a PM from Tom asking if I'd like to be an Art Mod, and I accepted. As far as why I was chosen, it was around the time I was leaving pretty extensive critiques on Art Submissions, and generally when I made huge leaps of progress in my own Art. So that probably made me stand out.

The best part about being an Art Mod is being able to Frontpage cool art that I like, especially the type that might get overlooked. The worst part is a fairly recent development; but investigating AI art submissions is time consuming and just interacting with/ learning more about the type of people who try to hide that it's AI is kind of soul-crushing in its own way.

Advice on how to be better users: Comment on other people's Art Threads and submissions- even if it's just to say good job. Don't just comment in/make discussion threads, or what's your (least) favorite X threads. Involving yourself in the community is more than asking that the community get involved with you.

Q: Do you look down on me because I'm only level 25 and you're level 28?

I do not. But if you want to dig into that question: do you look down on me because I'm only level 28 and have been on the site for 15 years, while you're level 25 and have only been here for 2 years

Q: Why do you choose to post in the BBS and not use the Something Awful forums? Are they not cool enough for you?

I've only been on Something Awful a handful of times, it's not really for me. I'm sure they're plenty cool, but they don't really have an art section, and that's really what I get up to as far as posting in online communities go.

Q: How does it feel dealing with abhorrent scum like me on a daily basis?

I don't know that I really deal with you enough to know if I'm dealing with abhorrent scum like you on a daily basis. But if I do, feels fine I guess.

Q: Are you proud of the fact you live in Los Angeles? Or is it the other way around?

I don't know that proud is the right word; but I am glad I'm from LA and live in LA. Talking shit about transplants is a pretty good pass-time for us. Also as far as regions go: hard to beat the weather (when the hills aren't on fire), beach, nightlife, and people (as long as they're not transplants).

Q: What would happen if you banned me from posting art? I'm also scouted which proves that the system has fallen and is fundamentally corrupt.

I don't think Art Mods can fully ban users from posting Art; we can De-Scout from the Art Portal for sure, but a full posting ban probably has to come from an Admin (I'm not going to look that up for this sorry).

I mean, if your Art isn't up to the quality threshold of the Art Portal you'll probably end up De-Scouted sooner or later. Sometimes things slip through the cracks. The Art Mod team is pretty small and made up of volunteers, we can't catch everything all of the time.

Part 2:

Q: Why would you go to Something Awful?

Mostly just to see what it was, in the early 2000's it was often brought up along with Newgrounds, AlbinoBlackSheep, YTMAD, Ebaum's World etc etc.

Q: How big is the AI problem? And is it going to get worse in the future?

It's not a super huge problem right now overall; there are still a lot of tells for people who know what to look like, and detection software -- despite some wonkiness -- can be used to cross-reference hunches and build cases.

But it is only going to get worse as generators get more powerful, which is a constant and will continue to happen.

Q: What's going on in the secret Mod Forum? None shall pass.

Art Mod Forum is mostly just discussing ways to expand and clarify rules to better reflect moderation practices, as well as documenting potential AI art accounts and other consistent problem areas of the Art Portal - like potential art thieves.

The other Mod forums I'd assume is mostly the same, just with whatever part of the site they handle.

Q: If you could steal all of my Exp Points would you do it?

Probably not

Q: It's awesome you can Front Page art! You are very powerful!

Yes, very.

Q: "What's your (least) favorite X threads" Are there other threads people should stop making, and things which personally annoy you in the BBS?

It's not so much that I dislike the "What's Favorite X" threads on their own. It's more that it's kind of lazy -- a bit like a top ten video or something. Most of the time they tend to be users throwing in their favorite X with no discussion or attempt at discussion, it kinda just becomes show and tell. Talking about things in a general manner is cool and all, but I think it's a stronger Art Community when people are talking about each others' art directly to each other.

The main thing that annoys me in the Art Forum are the people who endlessly ask for help or advice without ever taking or utilizing the mountains of help and advice they've been given.

Note: I almost exclusively post in the Art Forum so all BBS questions are filtered through that lens.