This is less about the game and more about ModTheSims itself.

A Single Shrub.

A story that nobody (but me) cares about

There I was, trying to upload a build of mine - "Underwater Shack" - onto ModTheSims for other users to enjoy.


Its from...a moderator?

"Heyyyyyyyyyyyyyy I just reviewed your build! Sooo....it's kinda.. .. .. ..
...
she's thirsty for some plants! Add a shrub or something thxxxx xxooxoxoxox "

And so there I was, distraught in disbelief - my build is...bad?

I open the sims 2, enter my "Underwater Shack", and I add...


Nevertheless, my build made it past moderation

Based on true events.

Anyways, thanks for reading - if you even bothered to

In actuality the interaction was very wholesome & I found it rather funny at the time - and probably nobody else does lol. This memory just randomly popped into my head recently & I just decided to bring this story back where it came from lol

About the build - its no longer available on MTS. I might upload it with a bunch of my other older builds someday, but for now theres my single secret simsfileshare package.

If anyone is interested, this is that shrub:


I wonder who even that moderater was

I have found the OG messages in my inbox Tbh reading it now - I could've done a more faithful re-inaction of our interaction, such as he moderator accidentally making a pun of my name in regard to the build lol
Anyway, I don't think I'll upload the messages because thats an invasion of privacy lol - but mr/mrs moderator - whoever you may be - thanks for the funny interaction (& letting it my build slide)

*waggling finger* Ah, but that is a tree not a shrub! Back to the queue!

Shrub? I demand a whole tree!

Underwater, of course. because, why not?

I would move the trashcan and mailbox to a side if it is a shop for customers. What's that slanted scar/gash on the left side?

This isn't a post for feedback. And that is a staircase. Is your monitor from the 90's?!

It took me a while to figure out that it was a staircase lol. It's the angle.

Was expecting the lot to be underwater. Shrub is definitely the MVP.

I couldn't see the 3D depth on the picture because the front face and the inside of the staircase is the same color. It looked like an unsual triangular door or window like so: /|

That does raise the question though: *why* was it important to place that one tree there? I remember the original upload of this house (the one containing the "there you go, a shrub") and cannot for the life of me understand why a mod would be that pedantic.

The moderation rules have changed and evolved through the years, and the staff have changed a lot too. At one time I thought the moderation was far too picky- for example, celebrity sims which were really well done were rejected 'because we already have a sim of that person on here'. A lot of people have found things to be problematic too- most memorably for me was this creator, who was uploading some excellent stuff here, but removed them all:
https://parchmentpaperandco.tumblr....-house-s-part-1
However, I'm glad that Modthesims does have standards- even if they do occasionally get things wrong. I remember some of the stuff that used to be uploaded to the exchange, and many other forum based sites too, which in the days before the Clean Installer was a thing, could be really hazardous to your game!

Remember that all the mods are volunteers, and need to be trained as to what is acceptable. Tashiketh has made some really great software so that the uploaded items can be examined for file content, and the upload wizard guides the uploader through the process. Also, the text and image requirements are much improved over what they used to be.

Compare for example, my upload for a Sims 3 world- if you drill down in the spoilers I put in, you can see tables listing the details of all 162 lots, which took forever and was mandatory. And the first 10 posts in the comments are by me, and contain detailed information about 5 community and 5 residential lots- again, mandatory. It took me two years to build this world, and about the same to prepare the upload! And I doubt very much whether a single person has ever read it all (Don't bother, it's boring).
https://modthesims.info/d/464250/jericho.html

Compare this world, uploaded recently- Pictures, a paragraph of writing, and basic details. Requirements in the listing details. Perfectly fine, no?
https://modthesims.info/d/690277/do...npopulated.html
Much better, modthesims!

So if you think things are handled wrongly, the best thing you can do is to explain this in the site issues forum.
https://modthesims.info/f/24/
The site is privately owned, and run by volunteers, so your suggestions might be rejected... but they might be taken into consideration, and make the upload process better for future creators. Things do change here, and in my experience, the current mods and admins are very helpful and friendly.

Next time I'll make sure to place the biggest tree in the game inside a pool (without the ladder ofc)

I think you're talking about the staircase?? Thanks for the feedback tho! I don't really move thigs like that because god knows im not bothered - but I might move them the next time I upload it

Omg I love how you remember this house as if I didn't delete it off this site a year ago Appreciate it!
Also, I never originally included any greenery in my build since it was built on the smallest lot size - so I thought it might be stuffy with shrubs surrounding all over it lol

Tbh I always wondered why there was such a lack of celebrity sims on this site - and why the most recent upload would be from like 2007


Honestly, I do aswell - having standards increases the quality of sims builds & so the game itself - thats how I understood it when moderation got back to me about the 'shrub'.


Omg I LOVE Jericho! I used to play with that neighbourhood all the time (back before I quit the sims 3). Having to put in all the details is crazy though lol - I don't even read the Maxis ones. I see 'clothing' in the lot name & thats all I care about



Honestly I never took the interaction as negative - It was more like constructive criticism that I responded sarcastically lmao But I do appreciate that theres a forum where you can report things!

You just needed the perfect shrub. XD

I am now quite sure that this is how the moderator asked for improvements.

Well, moderators come and go, but I was very fortunate when I started building. I knew I had a lot to learn (still do, to be honest) but my moderator (KarenLorraine) had the patience of 20 saints and a Labrador. She was good in explaining why some changes were necessary and did it in the nicest way as well.

Sometimes I changed things 5 or 6 times before she accepted it and it never upset me at all.

When I look at those lots now, I think she may just have thrown in the towel on some of them I should perhaps revisit them in time and upload improved versions some time.

All the comments from the moderators (@HugeLunatic also did my first residential, by that time I was better, so it was more about my cc not being properly credited or something) - and later, from judges in contests - I saw all of it as a learning curve (and I can learn a lot more, to be honest).

Moderators were helpful to me as well, when I was first learning about making CC. I only had one download that I remember that was rejected totally.

That reminds me though. When you upload something do you only get credited for one of the types of item in the upload? I uploaded terrain, floor and walls recently, but only got an achievement for the terrain.

Likewise, I've uploaded over a hundred lots in worlds/ hoods I've built, but I've never uploaded a lot apparently.

Well, this is my take on it!


I've built it myself with just bleaksimmer's two pictures (in the first post in this thread) to inspire me.

I'll post more pix soon.

Omggggg its so cute!!!! Thank you for sharing this - it warms my heart someone would go out their way to re-create my build Is there any way you can upload it? - I'd love to check it out & put it in my hoods

P.S. Love that you noticed there was a flat above - I don't think I've ever mentioned that detail? & ofc the little shrub in the back!

Appreciate it!

@bleaksimmer Out of curiosity, if it passed moderation, why did you delete the upload? And why didn't you get an orange name (which is what creators get). I have an orange name, even though it should be dark green (for retired mod).

Tbh I am a perfectionist & deleted it with all my other uploads since I thought they weren't up to standard (so much that I've restarted my mods folder MANY many times over the years). Also I often like to start off on a clean slate after not doing something for so long that I just decided to delete them after a while of not uploading builds (I know - its odd lol)

I do often like to gatekeep things, or hold off from uploading them for a while ; like an artist does with songs sometimes (im looking at you Chappell Roan). I am evil like that

So truly, there's many reasons - but my shrub shack will make its way back to this site - someday.

The orange name thing? I never even knew that was a feature tbh! I don't think I've ever had it? - maybe its because my last build upload was in August 2024, a recreation of the sims 1 goth household in sims 2. It doesnt even display my download count anymore

Maybe because I changed my username? Or maybe because I have no builds currently uploaded? Idk - I just hope I get an orange name once I upload again

Sorry for the ramble lol - i love to talk