Is it just me ?

[LuckySo-n-So]

Ooops, I forgot one exception......

Now that the UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA TARHEELS have won the NCAA championship, :lmao:

Your team?

They really put an ass-whooping on my LSU Tigers in the 2nd Round.

After that game, I could not see ANYONE beating them. Damn Lawson. Damn Ellington. Freakin' Hansbrough. :banghead:

Congrats--UNC was in a class by itself the past two weeks. :bow:

 

[JerryPH]

There is a difference between the attitude of people that try to mod and people that see a valid problem and present a valid solution.

Perhaps if people cared a little more, maybe they would be concerned about trying to make it a better place instead of saying that they don't know anyone and don't really care if they stay or not? Just a thought.

In 1987 a group of us created a car club. It went right to 2006 when we elected a very poor president that thought that he now owned all rights to the domain and dropped membership fees, opened the doors to some real looser members and basically took 3 months to totally lose control and destroy what we worked hard to build over 19 years. A small group of us broke away and made a small tight private club and things have been going well for over 2 years and show no sign of letting up. We're up to a meager 590 members, but considering the tight focus and prerequisites of the club, thats not a bad number of people to have in as high a quality of a group as we are very lucky to have. Control is very tight and standards are pushed to the max. This doesn't detract one bit from the incredible quality of people and the fun that we have when we assemble for group functions.

Most clubs will get to the point that they hit a pinnacle, then drop very fast and the only thing that will forstall or prevent this is a strong leadership.

Let's hope this club has strong leadership, else it too will suffer. There are some good people here... the administrative staff as well as members.

 

[photogincollege]

I agree that there are still very good people here. And I don't think it will ever get REALLY bad. The mods are pretty good about taking care of problem threads and people before they really get out of hand. I think this forum will continue to go well for quite awhile.

 

[Ejazzle]

I love this forum. It isnt the most "active" forum. But it helps a lot *cough* jerry *cough* lol But most people on here are in most situations a big help. I honestly haven't seen that much hostility on this forum at all. You should see some skateboarding forums. Everyone over there helps and pokes fun at eachother at the same time and no one gets butt hurt over it.

theinternetisseriousbusiness.com

and it sounds like some people need to just go take some pictures

 

[DRoberts]

Now I know alot of coments are made with no intent of angering anyone, but absent tone and inflection, straight forward honest statements that were made per request. This is also a geographic downfall, each culture uses its own version of any given language. What I say in my hometown without offending anyone could very well deeply offend someone from another town, state, or country.
Alot of it could be alieviated by newcomers not taking everything that is said to heart. To them I say...you post a picture to a public forum and ask for opinions you are going to get opinions. You have to be adult enough to take the jits just as well as the praise. People who disaprove of your work will usually tell you why...a very good way to pick up ideas. Instead of veiwing this as an insult, look at it as a learning tool. You gain demographic data as well for your style.

JERRY! - I respect your sentiment but I must disagree on the coment about respect. I believe your statement is based on the glass half empty perspective. I believe respect is inherent to everyone and is there to be raised or lost, rather than absent and to be earned.

 

[abraxas]

Yes, wins,... He who has the conch shall speak.

Anyway, back to the OT.

Dagwood, it comes and goes in waves and cycles. And we're all here for different reasons although the common thread is said to be photography.

I think for the most part the trick is to get what you want out of it, and when things get too stupid, find other sources to fulfill your wants and needs.

Thanks for the feedback.

I didn't mean to be so terse and cold in my response as it probably reads. 'It' does come and go- so when it's here, ... do other stuff. Lately, for the most part, it's here. So I'm putting more effort into my development rather than paying so much attention to the what-not.

 

[Arch]

Well, im not a site owner of course so i cannot speak for them, i can only give you an honest opinion of some the points made in this thread.

There seems to be the 'all doom and gloom' attitude and that TPF has gone to the dogs.... well i honestly don't believe that... and i do respect many of you that have that opinion, but my outlook is just from a different perspective.

You will always have people you admire leaving forums, if its for work, lifestyle, new commitments... whatever. It is sad when things start to change but such is life.
The internet (and forums such as this in particular) is changing and will continue to change. This is mainly to do with what photography means to people nowadays.

Go back to 2001 for example... i had a top of the range digital POS.... it was 2mp and cost £480.00 i was at Art college at the time.
Real photographers either still preferred film or had one of the early DSLR's... so for many years after it was still a hobby for people that are serious about photography, and more importantly with a hunger to learn.

And now?... with 10mp POS for £40... Easily affordable DSLR's... 4mp phone camera's.... Myspace, Facebook... Photography isn't just for photographers anymore. Its for anyone who wants quick answers... and within weeks or months of getting answers suddenly becomes a short tempered 'know it all' who likes to offer dodgy advice to noobs

This is why you may find some threads around which you wouldn't have found a few years ago... its just the way photography has developed and attracted all types of people of all ages.

But guys, this isn't such a bad thing... the people who really know their stuff, still know their stuff, and should feel confident in the knowledge they have gained. If you think someone is being short or rude and with no justifiable reason... just sit back (or report them to the mods ) and don't let it stress you.
Some will want the quick answers and leave, some will keep pushing their hobby forward using a forum such as this, and become excellent photographers.

I predict (and did a few years ago) that these type of things will be even more regular as time and accessibility to photography grows.
Imagine a new scenario... take computer game programming. I don't know this but i bet there are a few forums where some like minded people share their knowledge and skill to help each other with thier technical problems... its probably a small forum as TPF once was.
Now, lets say by 2010 some software comes out which makes creating games easier... much easier, all you need to know is a few of the basics before you can go off and make your own game.... what do you think would happen to that forum? Take something as popular as photography and you have your answer!

So can you really blame TPF?... or the owners which despite not participating much, have still left us to run free and carry on as we please?... they haven't restrained us in anyway.

I have always been a firm believer of the phrase 'you get out what you put in' .... so to say things are bad around here but then not be willing to contribute is kind of defeatist. A forum IS its members... not its layout or the technicality of who its owned by.

Lastly, i really hope that people want to stay at this forum. We have always (because of Chase's awesome work) been Google optimized and will therefore attract people of all skill levels and mentality.... but personally i think its half the fun of the internet and the more diverse we are, the more interest we have in images and different types of people.

 

[JerryPH]

JERRY! - I respect your sentiment but I must disagree on the coment about respect. I believe your statement is based on the glass half empty perspective. I believe respect is inherent to everyone and is there to be raised or lost, rather than absent and to be earned.

I can respect that opinion without needing to agree or disagree. :mrgreen:

 

[Dweller]

I have always been a firm believer of the phrase 'you get out what you put in' .... so to say things are bad around here but then not be willing to contribute is kind of defeatist. A forum IS its members... not its layout or the technicality of who its owned by.

I agree with most of what you said, but a forum is a special beast that your phrase does not always apply too. In this case the owners get what the members put in. A forum is built on the backs of its members and as such I feel owners should be ACTIVE participants that nurture the environment and the member base. We had that. We no longer have that.

Chase built the foundation but the members built the house. Now we have new owners that seem more interested in putting billboards in the yard than coming in to visit.

 

[guitarkid]

this is a good topic. i actually left for a bit sometime last year due to the terrible attacks. no matter what was posted, there was always some idiot lurking to let you know how much better they are than you. photographers are more touchy for some reason.

i'm here to learn and view nice photos. i know there are better than me out there, and worse, that's what makes the world different. i agree with the whole, give respect to get respect thing, but that doesn't mean you have to kiss up to be heard. there is such a thing as common courtesy. all businesses are cut-throat, and photo sites are among the worst overall. video forums not so much, in fact, quite the opposite, and guitar / music forums, the best, most helpful. of course, it depends which ones you go to, but this is the overall rule i have seen.

it has been much better here this new year, in my opinion. this site we are currently on has been much more enjoyable than say, 9 months to 1 year ago. seems like most of the bad people are gone.

 

[Dagwood56]

See quote above.

The attitude isn't just recent, been going on for a while, but with the new changes to TPF, it certainly hasn't improved. And it doesn't seem to bother the new owners.



I started this thread as half of a laugh, but mostly out of frustration. A time may come that I retract my thoughts, but for the time being, I won't. What is troubling is that most people thought I was stomping my foot and leaving the forum altogether.

Gun photos don't bother me except when it's accompanied with that stupid 'king attitude. I do like the craftsmanship involved with its manufacture.

YOU are one of the people I noticed was not around much when I returned the forum last fall, and I missed seeing your work. Checked out your thread and I love the bee - beautiful shot!

 

[Dagwood56]

There is a difference between the attitude of people that try to mod and people that see a valid problem and present a valid solution.

Perhaps if people cared a little more, maybe they would be concerned about trying to make it a better place instead of saying that they don't know anyone and don't really care if they stay or not? Just a thought.

:thumbup: I Agree

 

[leighthal]

It saddens me to see people step away from this forum. I just started figuring out which end is which on my camera.
Maybe you haven't heard it yet, the proverbial pat on the back.... so here it is.

Thank you for teaching me. I regularily read every post, view every photo, play the fun contests, and view member sites. If you ceased to post pictures due to a few bad comments you are robbing some of us with the very thing that is teaching us to get better. I learn more reading the data and composition of a photo than any comment out there.

Even the people who rub me the wrong way because I think they have egos or attitude can teach me through their photos. When I get bad form on a critic (good form being a:compliment the good-- b:disect the bad-- c:follow with positive encouragement) I tend to chalk it up to people just being knobs and move on. It has never discouraged me from posting again because some people have interesting things to say.

In regards to repeat questions, one of the reasons people visit forums is to interact with someone more knowledgable than themselves. It is quite easy to search google for answers but nothing beats that one on one you get with those whos work you admire. Instead of getting the groans from it take it as a compliment. It is appreciated.

*What I learned from some of you:
Jerry taught me to give up auto permently. I still think he needs to take a chill pill with auto users but he did have good points as well..... lesson learned
Chiller taught me that a good photo trancends subject. If he can make something ugly that beautiful there is hope for my snapshots turning into photographs.
Laphoto taught me about water drops.
Anty taught me about composition. In a lesson to someone else I learned some tricks to make my photos better.

The list could go on and on.... now imagine if you all didn't post photos or respond to posters. sigh I'd still be taking pictures totally centered and relying on auto.

Thanks again.

 

[JerryPH]

Jerry taught me to give up auto permently. I still think he needs to take a chill pill with auto users but he did have good points as well.....

Took a double dose this morning... oh wait, that was either a double dose of Viagra, laxative or sleeping tablets. I'll wait a while and see what comes up.

 

[Dagwood56]

I didn't mean to be so terse and cold in my response as it probably reads. 'It' does come and go- so when it's here, ... do other stuff. Lately, for the most part, it's here. So I'm putting more effort into my development rather than paying so much attention to the what-not.

You got lost in the shuffle , I meant to respond to this earlier and got side tracked. I didn't think your response was terse - just to the point. Perhaps now that warm weather is coming to my neck of the woods I can get out more and spend less time, as you say, paying attention to the what-not.