This contest took place almost exactly five years ago. It made me very happy to see it again.
Superficially, I really liked the contest and prizes and post overall.
Past the superficial, there are two things that really resonate with me from that time. The first is that the contest took place as the wave of “Golden Age” custom M.U.S.C.L.E. figures was just starting to build. I believe the age was from about 2011 to 2014. Even if I didn’t like a figure during that period, I still tended to respect the effort and originality. Since then there are still good custom M.U.S.C.L.E. figures, but, to me, it feels like there are just too many shitty, quick, mash-ups. French Fries and M.U.S.C.L.E. figures. Bud Light and M.U.S.C.L.E. The Bachelor and M.U.S.C.L.E.
I could be wrong. But it is certainly how I feel. It felt like most of the people creating the figures cared deeply about M.U.S.C.L.E. figures. They weren’t trying to sell something. They were trying to express their love of M.U.S.C.L.E. figures. That could be naïve, but it felt like that to me.
The second thing that resonated for me from that contest post was friends. Looking back, around that time feels like a second wave of M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors came into the hobby. The old-timers were kind of phased out and the new school was starting to be established. The guys that are neo-old-school today. I guess.
I mention the friends because I feel like I do a bad job with friends; both virtually and in real life. I am in a constant state of trying to be better, but really struggle. One of my simplest joys is when I do reach out to someone and it is still friendly and familiar. Sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn’t.
Oh, and running a contest sounds awful to me in 2016. Especially one I put any effort into. Ugh.
Plus, what is the end game for the site?
More readers?
More followers?
If M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors don’t care about this site by today, then they are never going to care.
Hell. I’m more likely to lose people.
