Regarding Supposed TPF Bullies and Abuse Towards Newbies

[AgentDrex]

Thank you squirrels. I'm thinking there is no real abuse but I can definitely see there is a lack of desire to get to the bottom of this alleged abuse going on. Growing a thick skin is meant for critiques that may bruise the ego (like jwbryson1 mentioned) not to hide away abuse and torment. I haven't seen any abuse yet. If there is something going on, do we not all as a community have a duty to stop it? Or do we just make jokes about it and go off on tangents?

 

[e.rose]

I like the humor like anyone else but there is a very real seriousness to this issue. If there really are abusive members beating up newbies, they need to be reported and exposed. I love TPF and don't want its named tarnished because someone cannot control their language. This doesn't mean we sugar-coat anything but honesty and abuse are separate. Telling someone their photo isn't good and then describing what they could do to improve the image is not the same as the abusive person who says that the photos suck and says nothing else (THAT is abusive). You can choose the words you use. Instead of saying a photo sucks, say a photo isn't working...

Make light of it all you want but that's what wrong with the whole world. We cover up this abuse through mocking, laughter, sweeping it up under rugs and I will not stand here at this place and let it go downhill because people cannot take abuse seriously. There's a difference between a towel slap between friends and a punch in the face of someone new here.

Almost a whole page and no real discussion into this problem. Is that not an indication of something to anyone else?

That's because there's no abuse. Just people who can't take criticism.

If there were really "abusers" the mods do a good enough job banning them. The real thread that needs to be started is "How to take criticism when you already think you're a rockstar photographer"

 

[cgipson1]

I am a newb who just posted my first photos, and I thought it would be worse. I have to say everyone was surprisingly polite.
C

I see you haven't met me yet! :thumbdown: :thumbdown: :thumbdown: :x !

I like Squirrels!!!!!!!! <deep fried with gravy!> YUM!



<kidding!>

 

[panblue]

Remember Yahoo Messenger chatrooms, Late 1990s ? The ones dedicated to insults LOL. This place is at worst a bit snooty/bitchy in comparison. The straight-up snark of 4chan DIY? One of my favourite webchannels ever...ingenuity and plain speak in harmony. It's the internet; it can be meant to save you time and stress. The trick is to recognise when sarcasm is meant to save you the bother..the sarcasm is often directed at the situation not the OP.

 

[supraman215]

I joined this forum in April 2011, which is just a few months shy of 2 years ago. I posted my favorite photograph of my daughter and sat back and waited to be lauded for my genius! I got shredded, and my immediate response to the person was to shred them back with some diatribe about him being abused by his father or some other such nonsense. I distinctly remember Bitter's response to my post: "Another NewB bites the dust." I was crestfallen because I was certain that I was pure genius. The shredder came back to me with "what else can I say besides your photographs suck?" I was not a happy camper.

But, here I am 2 years later, a MUCH better photographer for sticking around and learning something and what do you know, but I have actually made friends with some of the people on this forum. I am very happy that I stuck around. For those of you who join this forum and have thin skin, my message is as follows: Suck it up, read and listed with your ears open, ask questions and post photos. Learn and you will enjoy the forum. But you gotta have thick skin.

'Nuff said.

This actually sounds pretty bad. If someone who is brand new comes in and you say "these pictures suck" that's just not even worth saying. It's a waste of your time and theirs. Say something helpful! Like "your composition is off" or "your exposure is way off" or "I can't tell what the subject is" then everyone benefits. I have often posted pics on here that I thought were good only to have people come back and say this is off and that is off. That's always helpful because now when I'm looking through the lens the next time I'll consider those things.

 

[AgentDrex]

If there were really "abusers" the mods do a good enough job banning them. The real thread that needs to be started is "How to take criticism when you already think you're a rockstar photographer"

That's the thing. WE need to do our part in curbing abuse as we see it. Not waiting for mods to do something about it. Everyone waits for or expects someone else to handle the situation. We as a community do not need the mods to stand up for us. They have other things they could be doing. It is OUR job to make sure people are treated correctly. I do understand what you mean about people not being able to take criticism because as far as I've seen so far, that is exactly what's going on. Some body got their ego checked and they don't know what to do about it. We don't need to coddle but it would be nice to take a step back and look at ourselves and see what's happening for real. My new year's resolution will be to quit being as sarcastic as much as I currently am. I have a bad habit of going off on to different tangents and that doesn't help anyone.

Also, like I said, thinking about our words may help as well. If I were a weaker person I would be upset that you think a "real" thread would be about something different, minimizing my own belief that this is an important issue.

 

[MK3Brent]

I'm in all support of bullying in the united states.
This place is so damn weak... someone needs to light a fire under some of these snot nosed wiener kids.

Everyone is a winner....

 

[Mully]

What i think is very poor is when someone who does not understand what they are doing and others decide to give then some flip answer instead of the help and encouragement they so very much need. Everyone is at different levels so be sympathetic to the level they are on and give them a leg up to being a better photographer.

 

[JAC526]

That is my point.. your image (avatar) is of such "small" proportions.. that I can't tell the difference with my old, failing eyes... so that makes it your fault!

First off...blame TPF. Its as large as they'll let me upload. Second, there is this thing called an optometrist. He/she can help you with your old ass eyes.

A good photographer never blames his equipment, or his forum! :greenpbl:


:hug::

When did I ever say I was good? And just in case you can find a post where that's exactly what I said I'm blaming it on the alcohol.

 

[Robin_Usagani]

I used to waste my time and respond..... I kinda stopped doing it. It is not worth it. Just look at the image and hope gsgary will respond soon.

 

[cgipson1]

What i think is very poor is when someone who does not understand what they are doing and others decide to give then some flip answer instead of the help and encouragement they so very much need. Everyone is at different levels so be sympathetic to the level they are on and give them a leg up to being a better photographer.

I agree totally!!! Except..... .... ........ .... ................. . . ....................... . . . .. ......................!

 

[squirrels]

My guess is that you are more likely to find snarky comments related to abstract groups that people can identify with, rather than OPs.

Like, hypothetically, if I saw a post regarding a lady taking a photo of her kid's nachos and other people say "Arg! MWAC!". I might hypothetically have thought "Man, I would totally take a picture of nachos."

Also, I would love some nachos.

 

[snowbear117 48]

I have not received any abuse. I have seen two or three abusive posts, but it is certainly not widespread.

More often, I have seen a lot of folks that get very defensive with some honest critique, and a few that don't want to learn by honest critique. I even helped one of these find a new "home" where he is likely to get the "ooohs" add "aaahs" and not have to improve his photography.

 

[shefjr]

"Hey there, nice photo, are you a monkey? Certainly only a monkey could sling poo that looks as good as that photo.", "Tell you what, sell your camera, buy a gun and go shoot yourself you lame duck.", "I didn't realize such a fata** could get their fat fingers into a position to take a photo."

What are things I say to myself every time I pick up my camera?

Oh wait! We aren't playing Jeopardy? Lol

 

[JAC526]

My guess is that you are more likely to find snarky comments related to abstract groups that people can identify with, rather than OPs.

Like, hypothetically, if I saw a post regarding a lady taking a photo of her kid's nachos and other people say "Arg! MWAC!". I might hypothetically have thought "Man, I would totally take a picture of nachos."

Also, I would love some nachos.

A lady after my own heart.