Is Honesty gone? Are we just a kiss and coddle forum now?

[mommyof4qteez]

When I get a harsh comment...I immediately go into THEIR work and compare to mine. That's how I "absorb" criticism. I remember one guy said something harsh to me....I went into his stuff.... ALL picture of flowers. I felt better.

Haha!! Yep...been there! Love getting slammed by someone who takes pics of flowers and trees and dead insects...try chasing a 1 year old around for the "perfect shot"...

 

[Steve5D]

It's funny how Steve5D likes to point fingers, and belittle others, yet he does like to go stalking someone and harassing them...

Snapshots.

Little more than snapshots...

This is just harassment, big man! Mr. Maturity.
Yeah.
Reported.

But do keep it up if you get, as YOU put it, some sexual gratiification from it.

.

Now, some folks here see that as blood in the water. They can't control themselves. It's not outside the realm of possibility that they actually feel a degree of sexual gratification by tearing someone else apart.

That's not my opinion, by the way, it actually happens.

Steve, weren't you banned from another forum, because they wouldn't let you give honest, negative critique? Wasn't that your story?
Yet here you are, continually telling other people what they should say, and how to say it?

You're no better than those you point fingers at.

No, actually I was banned from another forum because of a personal issue with one of the mods.

But, please, do continue to post like you have a clue.

As for the comments you quoted above, I don't understand what the problem is. Isn't that the type of critique you're looking for?

What's the problem?

 

[Steve5D]

When I get a harsh comment...I immediately go into THEIR work and compare to mine. That's how I "absorb" criticism. I remember one guy said something harsh to me....I went into his stuff.... ALL picture of flowers. I felt better.

Haha!! Yep...been there! Love getting slammed by someone who takes pics of flowers and trees and dead insects...try chasing a 1 year old around for the "perfect shot"...

Well, that's the thing. Those who are the most vocal are the ones who actually need help...

 

[mommyof4qteez]

Well, that's the thing. Those who are the most vocal are the ones who actually need help...

100% agree!!

 

[Tuffythepug]

I suppose I'm one of the typical newcomers who feel like they know a bit about photography when they sign up. But I'm realistic enough to know that 40 years of experience behind a lens and in a darkroom don't make you an expert; or even a particularly good photographer if you don't continue to learn from those who have wisdom to impart. I've always progressed at a faster rate when there were others to bounce ideas off of and learn from. Most of the photos I post here could benefit from the suggestions I get from other members. A couple of my pictures were improved greatly by helpful comment and criticism. And, like anyone else, I do post pictures that I am proud of and I hope for favorable views from others when I do but I didn't join the forum to be kissed or coddled. Neither did I join to be belittled, or embarrassed. I can take the criticism so long as it's not personal or hateful. I've only been here for about a week; so far, so good.

 

[baturn]

Isn't it funny how some of the folks who give good honest criticism and help to those requesting it, are afraid their comments are to harsh and some of the real arseholes on here are advocating a kinder gentler forum. Shrug!

 

[bentcountershaft]

So in that sense, fear of the gurus has made be improve my game.

Well, see, that's the thing. The self-proclaimed "gurus" here... aren't...

I've been here for a bit and have yet to see anyone self-proclaim themselves as anything.

 

[sm4him]

Isn't it funny how some of the folks who give good honest criticism and help to those requesting it, are afraid their comments are to harsh and some of the real arseholes on here are advocating a kinder gentler forum. Shrug!

^+1
No...+10

 

[sm4him]

Someone posted a photo of a car that, frankly, sucked. It was absolutely atrocious. There simply wasn't a single about it that was good.

Now, some folks here see that as blood in the water. They can't control themselves. It's not outside the realm of possibility that they actually feel a degree of sexual gratification by tearing someone else apart.

That's not my opinion, by the way, it actually happens.

Now, my comment was along the lines of "Dude, nothing is working in this photo. It's a compositional nightmare, the white balance needs to be addressed, and the horizon is crooked."

The poster appreciated my comments and, as you might expect, completely ignored the pinheads who were saying "This sucks" and "Why did you even bother posting, this is horrible"...

Is this a teaching forum? I don't recall seeing that as the primary function when I signed up. Perhaps you could be kind enough to direct me to where that's stated...

Do you have to? Seriously, do you have to? Is the world going to stop spinning if you don't? Will the world of photography suffer irrepairable damage if you don't?

No, of course not.

Will you get a charge out of telling someone that it sucks? Well, then your comment is being made more for your benefit than anyone else's and, as such, needn't really be shared.

The bottom line is this: there are decent people here, who would truly like to help others progress and imprive in their photography. Then there are the ass-clowns who lack the facility to be helpful and, instead, would rather try to paint themself as some sort of "expert".

Thankfully, such people are both easy to spot and easy to laugh at...

Very well said

Ahhh... another one! Bye!

Thank you for confirming that you're one of those immature types who simply can't be decent when giving criticism...

Pot, meet kettle.

My experience does not line up with that. I came to TPF last October. I spent some time looking at the C&C on others' photos before posting my own. That way, by the time I did post, I knew what to expect, and I ended up being somewhat pleasantly surprised, instead of taken aback.
My photography skills have improved drastically since last October (not that I'm *good* now, but I'm not awful as often, lol)--and that is DIRECTLY attributable to several people on this forum, three I can think of specifically. Of those three, two are the exact sort you are referring to, who can "seem" very harsh and critical. In fact, I admit, I really thought twice about ever posting a photo because of some of the "brutal honesty."
But those two "immature types who simply can't be decent when giving criticism" have been two of the most helpful, encouraging, inspiring people I've had the pleasure to interact with.

There ARE some here who are harsh for the sake of being superior; there are also some on here with personal vendettas and chips on their shoulders. There are some, as has been mentioned, who give out this harsh criticism but then their own work doesn't stand up to the quality they claim.

But there are many--including those who are above mentioned as "immature types"--who have significant talent and are more than willing to spend their time helping those who need it...IF they are willing to work at improving!

Charlie, David and Ken: THANK YOU for taking your time to help ME improve! Your advice has been awesome, your criticisms helpful and your encouragements inspiring. Oh, and your sarcastic wit and sometimes brutal honesty has made me feel right at home! I consider each of you not only "experts" but Friends.

Now, the rest of you...carry on with your bickering.

 

[pixmedic]

So in that sense, fear of the gurus has made be improve my game.

Well, see, that's the thing. The self-proclaimed "gurus" here... aren't...

well, to be fair..some of the people you might call the biggest a-holes, are also the ones that offer to show the OP how to correct their photos, or how to shoot it properly. not everyone here that carries a big stick is unwilling to help. now, you might equate that to beating someone up, then teaching them how to fight properly. sounds kinda barbaric..but the one that actually does the learning might be appreciative of that knowledge either way.

 

[slackercruster]

Nothing wrong with being critical. Just try not to inject too much ego in it.

 

[jamesbjenkins]

So in that sense, fear of the gurus has made be improve my game.

Well, see, that's the thing. The self-proclaimed "gurus" here... aren't...

The only legitimate photography "gurus" I've known personally would NEVER refer to themselves as such. Or offer critique with the "I'm an expert, you should listen to me, rookie" tone.

 

[pgriz]

The person who is closest and dearest to me gives me free advice all the time. Some I accept. Some I ignore. And often, the advice I ignore comes and bites me hard on the a$$. Why is the advice mostly good? Because she knows me, my strengths and weaknesses, and is motivated to make me a better person, and because she is insightful and pretty wise.

There is also an acquaintance who we've known for a long, long time. She also dispenses free, copious quantities of advice. Her advice is safely ignored, as she seems to use advice-giving as a form of breathing exercise. Once I realized that her advice can and should be taken as entertainment, it was much easier to deal with it. Part of the problem with her advice, is that it periperally touches on what I/we do but for the most part it is feel-good stuff that does not show any insight into the situation of the advice-receiver.

And then we have the internet, where our images of advice-givers are built up from textual (and occasionally images) postings. Which by their nature, convey maybe 5% of the sublety of human language and communication. Ans since people also tend to build up "personas" on the internet, we can never really be sure if the person we think we are interacting with really has the attributes that they are projecting. Like making maple syrup, you need to filter out the crud that falls in, and then you need to boil it down a lot to extract the goodness.

What we share on the internet is mostly opinion, some good facts, some bad facts, some posturing (occasionally lots of that!), and some samples. What validates an opinion as useful or not? Utility, insight, actionabilility and background. After a while, it becomes clearer which sources give, on the balance, good (or at least better) opinions. As for the rest? The noise/signal ratio is not always favorable, and when it becomes static, you change the channel.

 

[pixmedic]

the thing is...this is an internet forum. If someone posts a photo, ASKING for C&C, and they aren't happy with the results, they are just as free as the rest of us to pack up their photo and go home. I've heard we have an ignore feature. if someone isn't happy with the way someone is speaking to them or anyone else, they are just as free as the rest of us to put that person on ignore and not have to hear it again. and we all can go about our happy little day oblivious to the verbal diarrhea that seems to pop up every now and then. personally, I would never put anyone on ignore. you cant watch this kind of drama on any TV show, and this is FREE!!

 

[invisible]

Charlie, I don't know if this is a kiss and coddle forum, but I wanted to say that your photos on this thread are all pure amazing. Don't pay attention to the negative comments.​