St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

If you don't know me, I'm Steve. If you do, you know I'm pretty quiet and don't publically complain too much if ever.

I normally don't see a reason to, you're adults and I doubt I'm going to change your mind, it's typically none of my business and mostly I don't have the time for it.

We'll today, I've had enough and am officially The Crazy One.

Mostly I'm upset most people don't respect the Weekly Photo Challenges, but I'm too nice a person to stop doing them for the one's who like them, so I've come to the proverbial fork in the road.

Do I continue running them for the benefit of those who enjoy them and ignore the people who never learned how to read?
Or
Do I walk away from the Weekly Photo Challenges and most likely this forum too?

It's sad to think I've spent three years here dedicating my time to helping others in a way I know how and all I want is for people to read the instructions. Is that really too much to ask?

Beyond that the other Rants are things that bother me, but I know will never change. I'm on a roll today though, so why not? Why not finally say something in the hope someone will actually listen.

Call me crazy if you like. Tell me where the door is, and no it won't hit me on the way out. Say what you like, but I'm tired of putting up with 70 year old children that yell at me because they didn't read the rules.

Why is it so hard to give a little respect?

Sincerely, Steve - The Crazy One

bodacious Loc: Oregon

Steve, nothing personal here but your rants are so much more condensed than mine I have to applaud you. Oh ya, don't give up doing what you do, many people on here enjoy and take part, at least visually what you do. Thanks Steve. Brian.

relaxcrazy.jpg

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

In the dawning days of the Internet, online nerds had a phrase that caught my attention: RTFM. It meant, loosely, "Read The Fine Manual." Read the instructions, do not pass go, do not collect $200. RTFM and THEN go.

It's a universal frustration. Fewer than 80% of adults read what they are told to, supposed to, need to, should, or would benefit from. Oh, we all are in the top 22% from time to time, dutifully slogging through that which interests us. But we are all in the bottom 78% when it comes to reading certain other things.

I guess what I'm saying is, you're fighting human nature! 70+ or not, people run on autopilot and forget to pay attention.

On sites like this one, you have to slog through a lot of muck and step in a lot of piles to find the pony. That's just the way it is. But it's worth it!

I'm of the opinion you should keep up the good work, Steve. Plenty of people appreciate what you do.

neds Loc: southbury ct.

I say vent all you want Steve,,,,That is why I love this forum Ned

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

When I surfed I used to say, "Y B Normal?"
- Maybe I need to buy a board and get back out there!

Thank you, and blessings, S-

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

I agree, but most people here are from the age of common courtesy and would not dare treating anyone in public the way they do here.
- Why have we allowed ourselves to become so detached?

Just like 'Guns Don't Kill People, People Do,' it's not the internet, it's how we use it.

Maybe I just needed to know it's not all me and what I'm doing actually matters. I'll walk away from this for a bit and cool off.

Thank you and God Bless! S-

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

I guess everyone has a bad day so I appreciate it! Cheers, S-

bodacious Loc: Oregon

Watch out for the sharks, they are real out there and mostly imaginary on the web. Surf on Dude. :lol: :lol: :lol:

boydimages Loc: California

There are instructions? When I first arrived here I participated in some of the Photo Challenges. It seems you have more patients than I. I soon quit because many of the images did not follow the theme. Some images were questionable if they should have been posted at all. I have not looked at the challenge in quite sometime. That said there were some nice images but the time cost to wade through to find them was too much. I would rather sit on my deck with a cold beer.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

It's easy for folks to "lob the grenade" in a forum where they really don't know anyone and don't talk face to face. There's the detachment of bombing the enemy from 50,000 feet up... You don't see or hear the carnage. Yet it's really there.

What you're doing DOES matter to the people who learn from it, and I don't think your frustrations are unusual or wrong... just natural.

As a trainer, I understand this sort of thing. I always try to reach the top 20% thoroughly, and take as many of the others along for the ride as will stay with me. By the end of the journey, though, lots of folks have found other paths. And that's OK.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Funny story -

I was going through a trying time in twelfth grade and cut school most days. I'd show up to take the tests and pass the finals, but mostly I went surfing and loved it.

One day, out on the water, it was getting late and I decided to come in. Leaning forward from a sitting position on the board something grabbed my foot and wouldn't let go.

I panicked a little, then looked around, saw a dorsal fin and panicked a lot!

Davy Jones' hand grabbing me turned out to be seaweed and the dorsal fin, a dolphin of course!

In my mind, I know it was funny, but I haven't been back on a board since.

In the end, I'll always be a child of the sea, but the mountains call to me now and I must obey!

God Bless! S-

bodacious Loc: Oregon

Never been into the surfing thing, guess the Navy time gave me enough salt water for several lifetime. Now motorcycles are one of my life long crazes but don't get me started or we could be here for days.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

I appreciate the candid comments and have to say it's a funny one.

When I started this, I thought it'd be a onetime thing, then maybe two and on it went. It was never meant to run for three years and as such I sort of made up the 'rules' as best I could and have only modified them a little when necessary.

The main points of the challenges, notice I did not say contest, was to teach something and have fun doing it. With that, I try to add hints and tips along with each challenge to give an idea to what it's all about.

Two things I decided way back when, that I'm sure people thought would have helped, was not to add any images to the challenge page as I was sure people would use it as a standard, and not to set the boundaries too tight so as not to allow for artistic expression.

To your point, there are times, when I let an image slide and there are times when someone surprises me and add an image I never thought possible, but still qualifies. For example, if the topic was Sky I would expect skies. Seems simple enough, but inevitably someone comes along and adds an image of a reflection of a sky. It's still a sky, so I allow it.

When in question though, I ask the person if they think it qualifies and why. Most of the time they pull it. And, sadly for reasons of abuse I've had to check the images much more thoroughly than I used to. I never wanted to be judge and jury, but when people pull images off the internet and claim them to be their own, that's too much for me.

I've let the not reading rules part fester for too long now. I get you're new and this is your first 'contest' so you forgot to add a title, but anything else is not going to fly anymore.

Be as artistic within the guidelines as much as you want, I encourage it, but at least read them. That's all I really ask.

All my best, S-

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Okay, so another story, but a short one.

I've been a mountain person for a long time now, but one of my friends kept bugging me to come to the desert with him and his friends. All I could think was, dirt and tumbleweeds, and did I mention dirt? I finally gave in and while there they encouraged me to ride a dirtbike.

While the bike was running, here were their instructions, "Here's the gas, here's the brake, here's the clutch, have fun!" and off I went.

Let's just say I bought a used dirt bike the following week and couldn't love it more! Good memories! S-

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

It's funny you say, As a trainer, as I'm a self-employed software trainer and practice management consultant. The point is, I had just got off the phone with, well let's be kind, a lady that doesn't know how to tie her own shoes, and then I read Replies to why people were disqualified. It was too much.

Well that was an easy therapy session and I'll send the check to the usual place. Thanks!!! S-