Helping others:(
polycounter lvl 18
Just curious to see how many of you have gone out of your way to help someone else, get into this industry or teach them alot of your knowledge, just to see them get somewhere and then flip you the bird? I for one have had this happen to me more than a few occasions, and quite honestly will never, and I mean never go out of my way for anyone else as the numbers just prove to great that your going to be helping an asshole.
Spark
Spark
Replies
There's always a minority of people who will just take what they can get, for as long as they can manage, then run off and do their own thing without any gratitude, but fortunately they are a minority, in my experience.
but seriously, yeah this happens, best is just try not to be that guy.. i try to keep in contact and on good terms with all the people i have met in person in the industry that has helped me or i have helped them. sometimes it jsut comes down to motives and such, some people only want to talk to you cause they want to be in a similar position as you, or be like you, once they do that your not really needed any more. i tend to only really help people i know pretty well. and if they fuck me over i usually just bang their girlfriend or mom, it makes me feel better about myself.
I'm actually trying to be more of an asshole I find a lot of people are looking for help in the form of a hand out. I still try to help people and will definitely answer questions when asked...Just not devoting as much time to it as I used to.
HAHAHAHA...
I try and help people whenever I feel I can,stay friends with people I meet and help those friends,again whenever I feel I can.
I think its only the minority who take advantage and at the end of the day its you who will get the benefits,be it someone you end up meeting people,a place you go or simply feeling good about yourself.
John
My work seems to just throw itself together. I do share anything people want to know though.
I was taught art by a very good airbrush artist and he showed us all his techniques.
He reckoned by the time we had learned them all properly, he would have moved on five years and discovered new ones.
Some people in the industry will not take advice/help as they feel they may be at a disadvantage to you. bloody politics.
For example, I went to a portfolio review a the local Art Institute recently. We were looking for a couple of entry level positions. The portfolios were by-and-large terrible (as is to be expected), and the students were largely clueless.
A couple of them, however, really just needed to redirect themselves a bit, and I could see them getting jobs. Like, one guy had solid game art environment modeling portfolio, but was just putting photos on his models. So, I advised him to work on using or creating better textures - or to go the Level Design route. I did this same thing with a couple of people and I could just see the thoughts behind their eyes: "who does this asshole think he is telling what to do with my art?"
I have had some people appreciate my help, at which point I'm more inclined to offer more. Usually these are the people who are actually dedicated to getting better at what they do, as opposed to just coasting along with the least amount of work possible.
*flips cholden the bird*
aw hell
*flips polycount the bird*
anyone that I've helped seemed genuinely grateful for whatever I was able to provide.
it just makes it that much better when they agree to help though, because their(your) time is worth a lot and we realize that.
but for the life of me can't imagine why anyone would turn on someone who has helped them so much. it's aggravating.
"For example, I went to a portfolio review a the local Art Institute recently. We were looking for a couple of entry level positions. The portfolios were by-and-large terrible (as is to be expected), and the students were largely clueless."
gotta agree here too. I graduated from an Ai in december and 95% of the students were trash. I'm not trying to sound mean it boggled my mind how they graduated. there were maybe 2-3 good artists total. Most were also unprepared on how to talk to people when they were visited at their spot as well. Unfortunately there were only about 6 employers that showed up.. turned out to be pretty much a waste of time
On the flip side, EQ helped me quite a bit with Lightwave in my earliest 3D days. Though I must say, he was a pompous ass! Cocky, arrogant..wait, what's changed?
I've never helped someone that's turned around on me, though.
I'm already sort of in the game industry, and looking to spread some roots into 3d to learn for shiggles and maybe turn it into a job when I get decent at it.
It's the assholes out there that are going to ruin it for newbies coming in, motivated to learn, but have tons of questions. Guys who don't want to share knowledge and the guys that throw it back into your face once you've shown them what you know. That's going to hurt any community in the end, and hurt the industry as people aren't motivated to better themselves.
I've also found the more I teach, the more I learn too, not 3d.. I still suck at it but other stuff that I'm decent at.
From my experience I've helped people get leads for jobs and then helped myself get jobs...up to this point.
If they got out of line, you can't help with that.
I hope I don't end up disappointing any of the people that help me out. It's difficult, especially when I get suggestions on art, and I simply don't agree with it. It's not that you blatantly ignore it. You do take it into consideration, weigh it against your own opinions, and then make a decision. You can't forget there's sometimes bad advice.
Anyways, I'm sorry to hear you've had bad experiences with people, Spark. Don't give up on everyone, though.
i've helped a couple of dudes get jobs over the years, and i had a couple help get me jobs.
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Yes.
I'll try to answer anything I can to help people. I'll critique people if they want it. Sometimes I'll critique it if they don't want. Sometimes I'll critique it because it can make my job easier (cut a loop in there).
I get emails asking questions, and I'll take the time to answer any email I get that is written with some semblance of effort.
I'm still a cunt though.
I try and help people, but rarely in the real world, just on boards such as this. Er, that sounds bad. If asked of me I'll help out anyone the best I can - real world or not. But, its just on boards do I go out of my way to offer help when its not directly asked.
Sure, on occasion it's crossed my mind that maybe their attitude perhaps could be better towards me.
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I'll give Vidar a slap for you if you want.
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I'm still a cunt though.
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Well you do work in Leith don't you?
Can't say I've been in the industry long enough for much experience in this area, but at work we're always helping each other which is great, as you learn a lot and have no qualms about asking for help when it's very much a back and forth thing.
Though apparently not the same everywhere
I think it could pay to help others in the long run, you get a good rep and people may be more inclined to help when you need it. But I wouldn't go way way out of my way, I've done that before and it has backfired. Don't put your nuts on the train track for people you dont consider real friends.
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Sure, on occasion it's crossed my mind that maybe their attitude perhaps could be better towards me.
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I'll give Vidar a slap for you if you want.
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Haha, that one came from out of nowhere
Now I just need to make sure all the knowledge he has bestowed upon me doesn't go to waste, and start applying for jobs
I've helped a few people get motivated. Usually it's just good friends of mine that need a push. Though I have given advice to the occasional person that asks for it. I just try to be cool everyone cause it seems easier to just be like that then not.
Sure, you're going to get dicks who think they are better than you and will not listen to an ounce of what you have to say. In the end, it is their work that generally suffers because they couldn't take an honest crit to help them improve.
As for getting someone work, I have offered to help out a few people who I know are genuinely interested to work in the games industry. Not just dudes who want a QA position just so they can play video games all day. Giving them honest advice on demo reels and letting them know what is expected from them.
The ones that leave you alone and never bother you again are generally the ones that wanted a games job because they think its playing video games all day and designing the latest game that will blow everyone away.
The ones that stick around know that they may have to make Hello Kitty Happy Fun Rainbow Racing and not Gears of War, but are willing to make the odd shit game because they are doing something they love... Making video games!
But, helping people here at Big Ant has gotten me noticed by the leads and producers, and in the long run I will benefit from that over someone who sits in the corner and just does their work.
-caseyjones
I'm still a cunt though.
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Rick,
I like cunts when they're loose
I don't care if people cut up my work or me as long as they give something to why they think it should be like that. It shows they're willing to share and help. Any response is better than no response at all.
All the people I've helped, as far as I can remember, are still great people and doing well. Similarly they have helped me in return.
There's always a minority of people who will just take what they can get, for as long as they can manage, then run off and do their own thing without any gratitude, but fortunately they are a minority, in my experience.
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Ditto. I have helped out some very awesome guys in my day and they have all either returned the favor or shown extreme gratitude. I keep in touch with most of them as well.
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and if they fuck me over i usually just bang their girlfriend or mom, it makes me feel better about myself.
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holy shit arsh, that is one of the funniest things i've read in a long time.
But I hope that one day when I DO improve and maybe even land a job somewhere I'll be able to still hang around here and share my experiences with anyone new and old!
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Don't put your nuts on the train track for people you dont consider real friends.
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Spark
Jokes asside, I don't know much but almost all of what I do know comes from the fine fellas here at polycount. I do my best to share what I have learned with anyone who could benefit from it. Not actually aiming for a job in the industry though means that I have less to be concerned about than a lot of you guys already in the biz. I am a specialist system builder (PC) and although not quite the same as 3d there is still a lot of knowledge I have accumulated in my 10 or so years of experience in the field. I always share what I know with anyone willing to learn and in return, I learn something new. Even the lowliest tech/artist might know something useful to you. Unfortuneatly though I have also had a fair few people turn on me. I teach them enough to be good at what they do then they go into competition with me. Its infuriating. I solved the issue though by simply not teaching anyone EVERYTHING I know, so at the very least I still keep my edge.
On the art side though, I find it hard to comunicate at times, I can often come across unappreciative or rude. I don't mean to be but it sorta comes out wrong. Any and all crits I have recieved since I have been here have been appreciated. (just incase someone was thinking otherwise :P )
My advice, if helping people makes you feel good then keep doing it, even when someone "flips you the bird" its there loss not yours. I would just stay clear of being resposible for them, you don't want your good name draged through the mud.
my 2c
He turned on me like a ravenous animal. Not doing that again