Sooo, I have browsed my fair share of DDCs and playrooms, and there is one thing that has always bothered me. Those "Best of" contests. Does anyone else find them kinda mean? I mean, here you have a group of beautiful babies, and people are voting on which one has the best smile or is most likely to do something great, and I think that is kinda jacked up! They say you are voting for the best picture, but come on! The cutest babies always win and I feel sorry for the moms who don't take as good of a picture, or whose kid isn't "cute" enough. If I submitted my baby's photo for anything and got 1 vote, I would be bawling and cussing out my computer! The ones that don't bother me are the alphabet ones because that is all about creativity.

And while I am at it, pairing up babies as boyfriends and girlfriends is disgusting and also leaves a lot of people out. Way to start that junk early. I can't be the only one that feels this way, so who is with me?

[Patriciamomofboys]

I agree that the whole 'best of' contests are messed up, I've never entered my son in one and never plan to.

[IamMom]

I never looked or knew groups did this kind of stuff.....but I guess I don't care really....on that note though, I always worried about not having a cute baby and people just telling me it was cute b/c that's what your suppose to do.....I'd probably never enter my kids pic in a contest on JM....I did however enter his pic in the Regis and Kelly beautiful baby photo contest with like 12 bazillion other people - of course we heard nothing but I didn't care - I was just hoping they'd show it on the show....I never saw it but I didn't watch but like one day.....I think he's cute and that's all that matters!

[SandKmommy]

I dont like the best of's either.

When Seamus was born though our PR did pair up babies for baby loves. Everyone that wanted to participate had one so it was fair on that part.

Harrison is a doll!

I dunno. I am a liberal but I am can be conservative when it comes to child rearing. I hear kids in second grade talking about their girlfriend or boyfriend, and it disturbs me. I remember being that young and pairing off with the opposite sex was the furthest thing from my mind, even though it wasn't for many of my classmates. I know an online message board baby love isn't the same thing, but it comes from the same place of wanting to pair off kids of the opposite sex. I think it is weird.

Hey but at least your DDC was fair Justine! I remember one DDC had to put up a post about one baby that didn't have a "partner". How degrading to that baby! I mean, it sounds funny to feel insulted by something so frivolous, but it would have had me miffed!

[*krista*]

I had a kiddy crush on a boy when I was in 1st grade... I ended up kicking him in the nads in the playground! haha!

I haven't seen the best of contests but I don't think I would participate either. Seems like that would brew some "my kid is better than your kid" rudeness.

I had a kiddy crush on a boy when I was in 1st grade... I ended up kicking him in the nads in the playground! haha!

I haven't seen the best of contests but I don't think I would participate either. Seems like that would brew some "my kid is better than your kid" rudeness.[/b]

LMAO! I forgot that I did the same thing! Only I didn't like him--he just wouldn't leave me alone. I got in big trouble for it , and had to learn all about a boy's jewels LOL

[*krista*]

LMAO! I forgot that I did the same thing! Only I didn't like him--he just wouldn't leave me alone. I got in big trouble for it , and had to learn all about a boy's jewels LOL
[/b]

That's what happens when little girls are told how to hit men where it hurts! I remember I had little red boots on, the poor guy.

[Lash]

I ADORE the alphabet contests! I think they are so creative and fun. I dont like any of the others

[Alison81]

I think the contests in DDC's are cute, and kind of give everyone a chance to show their baby off. All those contests are so mellow compared to some of the online groups some of my friends in, where they declare babies fugly (guess it means ugly, lol) or not fugly. People will share pictures of their baby, and then people will say whether they think the baby is ugly or not ugly. I think something is wrong with that.

[SandKmommy]

fugly is a very harsh term to use, especially for a baby!! Its F..... Ugly (if you get that drift) My mom called people that while I was growing up, only adults but I can't believe people would actually do that to babies!!

[greeneyes]

My PR did baby loves (Stephy's son Curtis was Lily's baby love!! ) and we had it set up so that people signed up and it was fair. I'm not a fan of the "best of" contests and never entered Lily... but I did vote. I would always do "View results" and then whoever had the least votes, I voted for. I'm a dork, I know, but I didn't want anyone to feel bad or left out!!

And ***?! Calling babies fugly?! *shakes head*

[Frozendesire]

Ya I am not a fan of best of's. I have participated a couple times and I have to admit.. I felt so horrible when he didn't win or fell really far behind in votes. It just confused my brain cause I think he is the cutest little guy! haha. After that I stopped. I do like the alphabet ones! Definitely more about the creativity in that one I think anyways!

I liked doing baby loves It was just something cute.. I took it as a way to get to know a mom with a baby of the other gender. Seeing Lily on a more personal like "awe she's our little baby love girl" and just feeling connected that way and I've always looked up to Kate because of that as well.. felt a connection because of it. Just a way to bond I guess! I don't see them as boy and girlfriend but they did send each other some little love notes wishing a happy v day and stuff

Just cute!

[soImarriedAnerd]

I really never thought about it. side note calling a baby fugly is SOOOO NOT cool.
I usually go with the most artistic photo more so then the cutest baby photos. I love the ABC ones. The pairing ones, guess i wouldn't do it with my baby but to each their own. when i was a little kid i had a major crush in 1st grade to a boy named travis (our parents played softball together). But then in 3rd grade I had a huge crush on Angie. So I think i made my parents wonder which team I would play for when i got older. LOL They wouldn't have cared one way or the other. They thought it was cute no matter who I was in love with at the time. And apparently there was a lot of love I was sharing--i was the kid who alwaysed kissed EVERYONE else- yep a kissing **** from birth! I wondering what the groups would do if you requested same sex love----HEY anyone in my DDC want to try it out after birth!!!!! I think it could be fun to mess with the norm.!!!!

[Mars]

I don't mind showing you all my baby's pictures but I'll not be entering it in a photo contest or voting in them. I don't mind voting for picture projects (sceneries, etc) and other things but I'm not going to be singling out any particular child as more cute than another. I just don't like that kind of thing.

The baby pairing, it's cute and I have no problem with it but I think that it should be organised in a way that no one is left out. You enter if you want to and if the number is odd, then the owner of the thread should seek to find another person to pair with or not bother. I mean it's just an online fun thing but I too would be a little upset if my I entered my baby and it was the only one who wasn't paired with someone.

As for that term fugly, that's very degrading!

[♥Ashley♥]

Yep, ive always felt the same way about those "best of" photo contests.

I also like the alpha. ones.. Not so keen on the others!

[thepinkleprechaun]

I think the baby love thing is kind of cute, but I would only want to be paired up with someone I really liked before that ya know?

As for the picture contests, I don't like the ones where it's like "cutest baby" "best smile" or something like that. I always vote for the person who has the least votes because it just breaks my heart! I don't think I've ever entered Aden in one of those, even though I know she's adorable

[IamMom]

Harrison is a doll![/b]

Thank you Michelle I appreciate that. I will admit that I am nervous about girls showing up at my house someday in the future crying about being "in love" with my son blah blah blah....and I'm not good with emotional stuff like that....and I'll just be like..."look honey - he loves one woman - his mommy - now go away and find another boy to love" HE HE HE I'll have to let him go to another woman someday I know ......

[soImarriedAnerd]

^^^
awwww thats so cute!