What is it about photography...

[Mumfandc]

...that turns people into JERKS!?

I sometimes linger around the message boards at photo.net and the threads can get really FEISTY.

One thread was talking about a new film, and it turns into a game of name-calling and insults. And never forget the "film vs. digital" debate.

It supposed to be the site where the "real" pros meet...but it's ironic because some of them are so childish. There's one guy "Scott Eaton" who responds in almost every thread, and I can usually tell his posts without looking at the poster's name just by the usual quarrelsome tone of the responses he makes. He was even banned a couple times, even though he pays to support the site. I guess trolls know how to hold cameras!

 

[Kent Frost]

I'm not much one to get into these kinds of discussions, but I had to point this out:

By making this thread, you're doing no different.

 

[Big Mike]

Believe me...it's not just photography.

I wouldn't say that photo.net is where the "real" pros meet. It's just the site with the most traffic (I think). Sure there are lost of pros there but I'd say they are out numbered 100-1 by know-it-all internet jerks. With all those people, it's hard to moderate and keep things civil. That's why this site is the best...the people are genuine and the moderators work hard to keep things from getting out of hand. There have even been a few jerks around here. :shock:

Sites like that are good for some things...with that many people, there are few questions that will go unanswered...on the other hand, you can only read "what lens should I buy?" so many times before you go insane.

 

[DocFrankenstein]

TPP is actually ok with this respect. U should see dpreview

 

[Mumfandc]

TPP is actually ok with this respect. U should see dpreview

I haven't spent much time at dpreview to notice. I think photosig.com (both the forum and critiques) are just as bad as photo.net.

On www.photosig.com people are really hungry for their point ratings.

I once gave an HONEST thumbs down rating on a photo I thought was poor. The photographer therefore lost ONE POINT, he then gets his revenge by deducting like 20 points off my rating by giving me thumbs down ratings on about 10 of my crits.

That's why I like this forum better!

 

[MDowdey]

we just like to chill out, watch the simpsons and eat friggin doritos here at TPF.



we is relaxed. :er:



md

 

[Mumfandc]

Believe me...it's not just photography.

That's true...I'm a Fine Arts major, and in my painting class we always have to do formal critique discussions at the end of every assignment.

Just two weeks ago we had one. I thought this was kind of funny...before the critique, I was talking to a classmate how I never thought our critique discussions ever get serious. So our professor asked one student what he thought of this one painting...his response:

"I don't like it at ALL. In fact, I'll say that I don't think J__ should even be called an artist. He does the same thing every semester. He doesn't deserve a critique. And I feel me just saying that is too much of a critique that he's not worthy of..."

At that point everyone's mouths dropped to the floor...

 

[ksmattfish]

It's not the photography, it's the anonymity of internet communication that makes some folks feel like they can leave their manners at home.

 

[Hertz van Rental]

we just like to chill out, watch the simpsons and eat friggin doritos here at TPF.



we is relaxed. :er:



md

All washed down by fine French wine of course.

THAT'S what's wrong with other forums - they're all sober. Call themselves professionals? Pah!

 

[SLOShooter]

I'm with ksmattfish, it's not photography so to speak that bring out the A-Holes it's the internet and specifically forums. I'm on a few photo forums and a few gaming and what have you and they all have their share of a-holes. In fact I think the photo sites have rather few.

One more thing that I just thought of, is that when your talking to an artisit and critiqueing their work, your critiquing something that THEY CREATED. So they're going to feel possesive and defensive from the very beginning and it's realy easy to set people off.

 

[Artemis]

Glad yah like it here...ive never really seen a proper argument, and if there ever was one, it would be over quickly im sure!

 

[panocho]

Glad yah like it here...ive never really seen a proper argument, and if there ever was one, it would be over quickly im sure!

Well, of course we all like it here! but that's because we all are 16! ...You know, when you get older you get bitter

 

[Patrick]

I haven't spent much time at dpreview to notice. I think photosig.com (both the forum and critiques) are just as bad as photo.net.

On www.photosig.com people are really hungry for their point ratings.

I once gave an HONEST thumbs down rating on a photo I thought was poor. The photographer therefore lost ONE POINT, he then gets his revenge by deducting like 20 points off my rating by giving me thumbs down ratings on about 10 of my crits.

That's why I like this forum better!

I agree....Stopped signing in and posting pics for that reason. I wanted to get honest critiques...Never happened.

 

[sbalsama]

AH HA! Someone agrees with me! I love TPF for its small, "tight-knit" good natured community. On the other hand, Photo.net's scale of information is almost matched by it's nasty nature and otherwise warped sense of community. But, I need both sites so thus I am a member of both.

 

[Nikon Fan]

TPF's the place to be for me!!! I was on another forum, but no one would ever critique posts, and when they did it wasn't productive. Sometimes they wouldn't even respond to people in what would be our general photo gallery which is what this is about to me...I was also invited to a Missorui photo forum, but after actually posting and doing things there I didn't really like it. They beg people to post, and then don't comment on pictures. I even had someone tell me I needed to take another self portrait b/c it didn't include a full picture of me That's what's cool about this place, you get honestly critiqued, but also are treated with respect. I wouldn't say it's photography's fault, just the internet atmosphere in general...sometimes you find a good group sometimes you don't...TPF IS A WINNER :thumbdown: :thumbdown: :thumbdown: