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A Guide to the Mr. and Ms. Torn Competition, and how you can enter this year's event safely during the Coronavirus pandemic.
July is here, and with it comes this year's Mr. and Ms. Torn Competition starting on the 5th. For those of you who haven't participated in the competition or are new to the community, this event is all about the three B's: brains, beauty and... well, you'll know soon enough.
The premise is simple. All you have to do is submit a personal photo to be rated by your peers before the 20th of July. From the 5th, players spend three weeks rating each other's images out of ten until the 25th, at which point the scoring is halted and the Mr. and Ms. Torn winners are crowned. First-time entrants receive a merit for participating and other prizes are given out to the top three finalists in each category.
This year's event brings with it some unique challenges as players attempt to preen themselves amid the limitations of the coronavirus lockdown. Maybe you haven't had a haircut in seven months, perhaps your skin has become transparent due to lack of sunlight, or maybe you are patient zero in a Chinese lab and they won't let you out until all the 5G masts have been burnt.
If that sounds like you then do not fear, for there are plenty of opportunities to make this year's entry epic regardless of the restrictions. To begin, here are some general do's and don'ts to guide you through the process of submitting to Mr. and Ms. Torn.
First up, skin - I'm beginning with the assumption that you have some. If truth be told, the winning entries to Mr. and Ms. Torn tend to be those who show off a significant proportion of flesh. 2019's Mr. Torn finalist, Vladar, commented that “[If] you have boobs...that seems to be a popular thing to showcase.”
Why yes, yes it does. However, according to Andyman, one of Torn's statistical and graphing gurus, while "exposing one's cleavage doesn't necessarily guarantee a top-three finish", he says that "it does tend to increase the score significantly." I asked him for some objective evidence to prove this epidermal assessment, which he kindly provided below:
Andyman’s conclusion: “Top female finishers over the past 7 years have exposed much more skin than top male finishers over the past 7 years.” However, there are plenty of entries from years gone by which buck this trend, so ladies, don't feel as though you have to strip off to win some imaginary internet points. And gentlemen, don't feel as though you have to keep your clothes on either, because, as with any sufficiently broad data set, there are always outliers. For example, here is our 2015 Mr Torn:
This might be great news for some of our more well endowed Torn citizens; however, showing too much skin can also be stricken with controversy. This is exactly what happened last year, when arguments over a racy picture raged in the forums. You'll have to be mindful of your audience to procure the exact right amount of promiscuity to get votes without inciting a moral riot among the people of Torn. Not to get political, but Torn citizens have a very narrow window for socially acceptable nudity.
If you aren't interested in showing skin to win, then creativity is your next best bet. Creating a punny picture for those who adore dad jokes might make for a classy entry, as was proven last year when two-time Mr. Torn winner bogie won for a third time using this image. Based on his success, our Community Manager has the following advice for any parents looking to enter the competition.
“Don’t be afraid to use your children as props, unless they’re ugly.”
Using current events, pop culture and Torn references to inspire your entry might help as well. 2019 finalist GavinDymock suggests you should “Be Original. Make it good”, and he certainly did, as he utilized his real-life stay in the hospital after an unfortunate accident to great effect in his entry, which you can see below.
Gavin showed that the "recent events" your entry references can be personal to you rather than being well-known to the wider world. This is something that 2018's Mr. Torn winner, Hopslam also demonstrated, as his entry focused on the massive hole he'd accidentally made in one of the doors in his house. Hopslam had the following advice for anyone who wants to place well in the event:
“Don’t take yourself or the competition too seriously. Do it for fun. If you’re actually trying to win the whole thing, then you’ll need some combination of attractiveness, humor and/or creativity, [and] popularity...You can win without excelling in all of those four things, but if you are low in one or don’t do one, then you’ll need to be highly rated in another.”
The goal is to stand out from the crowd and make your entry as memorable as possible. Vladar, another 2019 finalist, advises that players should “Make sure the entry is attention-grabbing and easily understood when viewed small as many people vote on phones...try to incorporate something about the game in the picture… Resubmitting rarely works in your favor unless your first one was pretty bad.”
When all is said and done, nobody can deny that 2009's winning entry from Godscurse grabbed your attention.
But shock value has become less effective in recent years, with winning entries now often showing a great deal of time and effort - creatively linking real-life props and backgrounds to the criminal shadows of Torn City. 2019 Ms. Torn winner, RogueSubmarine advises, “Post early to capitalize on the most votes and be creative! Submissions that showcase a love for the game tend to do best. I definitely think there's a strategy behind creating entries by mixing current events with game elements.”
RogueSubmarine showed how a demonstrable love for the game can help in her progression from third in 2018 with this entry to outright victory in 2019 with this entry. Yes, the latter is skin-heavy, but the use of some old merchandise references a piece of Torn's past, which is an attribute that makes your entry more respectable. Other examples of this include Bodybagger's 2015 2nd place effort, this 2012 entry by Azrael, and SuckMyGypsy's winning 2019 picture.
This year, I anticipate that Covid-19 will thematically play a big role in many entries. Since no place is left untouched by the virus, I thought it would be worth adding a few suggestions about safety when creating entries this year. Bogie advises, “If you're working on a group project please ensure that you social distance appropriately.” That means six feet (1.8 meters) away from anyone you don't live with - or 4.5 trout lengths.
Thus, if you plan to smoke someone from a wall with one for your entry, please throw it for minimal risk. Wearing a mask in public places or with groups of people is highly recommended and even required in some areas, so I suggest a bandana or kabuki mask if you don’t have the Donald Trump mask available. And of course, please avoid large gatherings of people, and use a consistent partner (marriage merits!) to minimize the risk of contracting the virus.
Please don't go out of your way to purchase anything specifically for the competition either. It might seem like that trip to Walmart for a bag of Bon Bons, some gold spray paint and an AK-47 is no big deal, but we're all supposed to be limiting our travel to essential journeys only, so bear that in mind before you plan your entry. 2019 finalist Ishtar’s advice for entrants sums up the approach you should take nicely:
“Stay classy…[and] stay safe. No need to do any crazy, risky [things] to get votes. Be your creative self and find your best angle! And also wash your hands.”
And finally, I'd like to make a simple request to all Torn denizens, whether you're participating or not: Don't be a creep. Sugarvalves said it best in his article last year, which can be accessed by clicking the blue text you're currently reading. Harassment is not okay. My advice for the competition is: If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. And RogueSubmarine adds that if you have to criticize someone, at least do it in public.
“If you're going to talk about the Ms. Torn entries, at least do it on the public forum and use their whole usernames so everyone can search for and read the dumpster fire!”
Discussion about Mr and Ms Torn harassment often litters the forums during the event, and this often discourages participation from those on the receiving end as well as others who don’t want to risk it. Such behaviour drives players from the game, and nobody wants that just so a few idiots get to speak their mind.
A good mindset to enter into is to consider the likely consequences of your message before you click send. If you're making a lewd comment, is it more likely that the recipient will fall madly in love with you, or you'll lose your hard-earned achievements when your account is banned? If you're criticizing someone, is your observation so incredibly insightful they will immediately thank you for your honesty, or are your comments going to be screenshotted for the rest of us to laugh at?
This competition is meant to be fun, and not actually associated with game prowess. Try not to be salty, judgy or weird in your interactions with participants.
Most importantly, don't break general Torn rules. This should go without saying and yet must be said, as our Community Manager explains:
“Girls, cover your tits. Guys, cover your junk. No one needs to see that. As long as it follows the rules here, we're happy!"
https://www.torn.com/rules.php
As with most Torn events, the goal here is to help the community come together and have fun. I hope everyone enjoys the entries this year, and that you come away with new friends or at the very least a few sexy rivals. And when you're voting it'll help everyone's experience if you err on the side of generosity, as Bogie suggests:
“If something makes you laugh then give it a good rating!”
Laugh, gawk, eye roll, and get your rating fingers ready. Good luck to everyone who enters!
Mr & Ms Torn opens at noon TCT on July 5th.
The premise is simple. All you have to do is submit a personal photo to be rated by your peers before the 20th of July. From the 5th, players spend three weeks rating each other's images out of ten until the 25th, at which point the scoring is halted and the Mr. and Ms. Torn winners are crowned. First-time entrants receive a merit for participating and other prizes are given out to the top three finalists in each category.
This year's event brings with it some unique challenges as players attempt to preen themselves amid the limitations of the coronavirus lockdown. Maybe you haven't had a haircut in seven months, perhaps your skin has become transparent due to lack of sunlight, or maybe you are patient zero in a Chinese lab and they won't let you out until all the 5G masts have been burnt.
If that sounds like you then do not fear, for there are plenty of opportunities to make this year's entry epic regardless of the restrictions. To begin, here are some general do's and don'ts to guide you through the process of submitting to Mr. and Ms. Torn.
First up, skin - I'm beginning with the assumption that you have some. If truth be told, the winning entries to Mr. and Ms. Torn tend to be those who show off a significant proportion of flesh. 2019's Mr. Torn finalist, Vladar, commented that “[If] you have boobs...that seems to be a popular thing to showcase.”
Why yes, yes it does. However, according to Andyman, one of Torn's statistical and graphing gurus, while "exposing one's cleavage doesn't necessarily guarantee a top-three finish", he says that "it does tend to increase the score significantly." I asked him for some objective evidence to prove this epidermal assessment, which he kindly provided below:
Andyman’s conclusion: “Top female finishers over the past 7 years have exposed much more skin than top male finishers over the past 7 years.” However, there are plenty of entries from years gone by which buck this trend, so ladies, don't feel as though you have to strip off to win some imaginary internet points. And gentlemen, don't feel as though you have to keep your clothes on either, because, as with any sufficiently broad data set, there are always outliers. For example, here is our 2015 Mr Torn:
This might be great news for some of our more well endowed Torn citizens; however, showing too much skin can also be stricken with controversy. This is exactly what happened last year, when arguments over a racy picture raged in the forums. You'll have to be mindful of your audience to procure the exact right amount of promiscuity to get votes without inciting a moral riot among the people of Torn. Not to get political, but Torn citizens have a very narrow window for socially acceptable nudity.
If you aren't interested in showing skin to win, then creativity is your next best bet. Creating a punny picture for those who adore dad jokes might make for a classy entry, as was proven last year when two-time Mr. Torn winner bogie won for a third time using this image. Based on his success, our Community Manager has the following advice for any parents looking to enter the competition.
“Don’t be afraid to use your children as props, unless they’re ugly.”
Using current events, pop culture and Torn references to inspire your entry might help as well. 2019 finalist GavinDymock suggests you should “Be Original. Make it good”, and he certainly did, as he utilized his real-life stay in the hospital after an unfortunate accident to great effect in his entry, which you can see below.
Gavin showed that the "recent events" your entry references can be personal to you rather than being well-known to the wider world. This is something that 2018's Mr. Torn winner, Hopslam also demonstrated, as his entry focused on the massive hole he'd accidentally made in one of the doors in his house. Hopslam had the following advice for anyone who wants to place well in the event:
“Don’t take yourself or the competition too seriously. Do it for fun. If you’re actually trying to win the whole thing, then you’ll need some combination of attractiveness, humor and/or creativity, [and] popularity...You can win without excelling in all of those four things, but if you are low in one or don’t do one, then you’ll need to be highly rated in another.”
The goal is to stand out from the crowd and make your entry as memorable as possible. Vladar, another 2019 finalist, advises that players should “Make sure the entry is attention-grabbing and easily understood when viewed small as many people vote on phones...try to incorporate something about the game in the picture… Resubmitting rarely works in your favor unless your first one was pretty bad.”
When all is said and done, nobody can deny that 2009's winning entry from Godscurse grabbed your attention.
But shock value has become less effective in recent years, with winning entries now often showing a great deal of time and effort - creatively linking real-life props and backgrounds to the criminal shadows of Torn City. 2019 Ms. Torn winner, RogueSubmarine advises, “Post early to capitalize on the most votes and be creative! Submissions that showcase a love for the game tend to do best. I definitely think there's a strategy behind creating entries by mixing current events with game elements.”
RogueSubmarine showed how a demonstrable love for the game can help in her progression from third in 2018 with this entry to outright victory in 2019 with this entry. Yes, the latter is skin-heavy, but the use of some old merchandise references a piece of Torn's past, which is an attribute that makes your entry more respectable. Other examples of this include Bodybagger's 2015 2nd place effort, this 2012 entry by Azrael, and SuckMyGypsy's winning 2019 picture.
This year, I anticipate that Covid-19 will thematically play a big role in many entries. Since no place is left untouched by the virus, I thought it would be worth adding a few suggestions about safety when creating entries this year. Bogie advises, “If you're working on a group project please ensure that you social distance appropriately.” That means six feet (1.8 meters) away from anyone you don't live with - or 4.5 trout lengths.
Thus, if you plan to smoke someone from a wall with one for your entry, please throw it for minimal risk. Wearing a mask in public places or with groups of people is highly recommended and even required in some areas, so I suggest a bandana or kabuki mask if you don’t have the Donald Trump mask available. And of course, please avoid large gatherings of people, and use a consistent partner (marriage merits!) to minimize the risk of contracting the virus.
Please don't go out of your way to purchase anything specifically for the competition either. It might seem like that trip to Walmart for a bag of Bon Bons, some gold spray paint and an AK-47 is no big deal, but we're all supposed to be limiting our travel to essential journeys only, so bear that in mind before you plan your entry. 2019 finalist Ishtar’s advice for entrants sums up the approach you should take nicely:
“Stay classy…[and] stay safe. No need to do any crazy, risky [things] to get votes. Be your creative self and find your best angle! And also wash your hands.”
And finally, I'd like to make a simple request to all Torn denizens, whether you're participating or not: Don't be a creep. Sugarvalves said it best in his article last year, which can be accessed by clicking the blue text you're currently reading. Harassment is not okay. My advice for the competition is: If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. And RogueSubmarine adds that if you have to criticize someone, at least do it in public.
“If you're going to talk about the Ms. Torn entries, at least do it on the public forum and use their whole usernames so everyone can search for and read the dumpster fire!”
Discussion about Mr and Ms Torn harassment often litters the forums during the event, and this often discourages participation from those on the receiving end as well as others who don’t want to risk it. Such behaviour drives players from the game, and nobody wants that just so a few idiots get to speak their mind.
A good mindset to enter into is to consider the likely consequences of your message before you click send. If you're making a lewd comment, is it more likely that the recipient will fall madly in love with you, or you'll lose your hard-earned achievements when your account is banned? If you're criticizing someone, is your observation so incredibly insightful they will immediately thank you for your honesty, or are your comments going to be screenshotted for the rest of us to laugh at?
This competition is meant to be fun, and not actually associated with game prowess. Try not to be salty, judgy or weird in your interactions with participants.
Most importantly, don't break general Torn rules. This should go without saying and yet must be said, as our Community Manager explains:
“Girls, cover your tits. Guys, cover your junk. No one needs to see that. As long as it follows the rules here, we're happy!"
https://www.torn.com/rules.php
As with most Torn events, the goal here is to help the community come together and have fun. I hope everyone enjoys the entries this year, and that you come away with new friends or at the very least a few sexy rivals. And when you're voting it'll help everyone's experience if you err on the side of generosity, as Bogie suggests:
“If something makes you laugh then give it a good rating!”
Laugh, gawk, eye roll, and get your rating fingers ready. Good luck to everyone who enters!
Mr & Ms Torn opens at noon TCT on July 5th.
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