MWAC Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy

Over the last couple of months I have noticed that when I get that yellow bar at the top of the forum notify me that I have a new PM, my heart actually drops. Why do you ask because chances are it’s going to be PM telling me that my views are “stupid”, “foolish” or I should “go back to Canada so an American can have both my husband and my jobs” . There use to be a time if I got a PM it was from a friend sending me a personal joke, offering some advice, checking in, or simply reminding me that I have an open invitation to visit them in their home. I still get those (hugs to those members, I puffy heart you). Now if I open my inbox and the person sending me the PM hasn’t sent me a PM before, I’m reluctant to open it.

I use to openly share my flicker account on this forum, it was in my signature. I loved meeting new people and adding them to my contact list on flicker, it gives me an opportunity to quickly see what everyone is up too, that was until recently when someone decided that it was ok to post comments there that were not welcome. For the first time since I created my flicker account almost 2 years ago, I had to ban someone from seeing my feed. I’m sad that I feel like I can’t openly share a simply photo feed here any longer.

I’ve had members question the looks of my children, question my parenting because I haven’t made corrections to my children’s physical appearance, called names for my political views (I’m very, very liberal), had members try to take stabs at me to get me to say something they can use against me. Even after the name calling has started and I have left the thread, they will continue to take jabs at me (I’ve been talked down to, called names, told my views don’t count because I’m not American or even because I’m female) and the whole time I reply openly and on the forum.

I openly share information with people, have posted tutorials for everyone to use, have sent other members tutorials on how to achieve a certain idea in PS, have sent templates I have personally made to others. I’m pretty much an open book, if I know how to do something I will willing share it with whoever asks, yet people think they are allowed to personally attack me in the most cowardly of ways. I’ve never said everyone has to like me, poop I don’t like everyone here, but I do ask that you not send me mean, nasty, vile pm’s simply because you don’t agree with me. If I don’t agree with you, I’ll post it for all to see, I’ll state my reasons why I feel the way I do and you will have your opportunity to state yours. I can honestly say, if anyone here has received a pm from me out of the blue, it’s only going to be a “hey, I say your post about blah, blah blah, I just wanted to let you know that I think you did a wonderful job” or “I saw you asked if I can send you such and such, can you send my your email address and I’ll get that right out to you” or “Great Job on such and such, I remember when you first started posting, man you have grown by leaps and bounds” or my personal favorite “would you mind sharing how you got that effect in the picture you posted in such and such thread ? I would love to give it a go”.

So what I am saying is that I am going to be taking a step back from UHH, the personal attacks have become too much and the fun is slipping away. I’m not leaving but I will be cutting back on what I bring to the forum, I’ve made some great friends here and don’t want to lose contact with them, I look forward to speaking with them on a daily basis. But I will no longer be an open book on the this site. It’s sad, as I loved being able to share information I have received from very talented photographers with the members here, but the joy of doing so have been striped for the time being.

larrycumba

Sounds like a good idea. On an open forum such as this, complete openess can bring unwanted attention.

oldmalky Loc: West Midlands,England.

Im very sorry to hear you have been subjected to such cowardly attacks and i will continue to enjoy what you post wether it be critique or a photograph and i look forward to when you return on here full time.

Oldmalky

snowbear

I am sorry that you have been the target of the prejudice and ignorance of some of the members. You have to put your family and yourself first.

I'll be looking forward to those posts you decide to make.

Hoss Loc: Near Pittsburgh, Pa

Glad to hear you are still going to be around!!!!
I always enjoy your photos and comments.

Take care
Mike

gmcase Loc: Galt's Gulch

I find this appalling. This forum needs an ignore function. I own a forum where little moderation is applied except in cases where threats are made. All I can do is ban those who threaten but so far it has quelled these situations immediately. It has an ignore function that can be applied to posts and/or pm's and works well.

By the way, you are American, North American and are in the US legally. I have a lot of Canadian work associates and we kid each other all the time about the US vs Canada. They can really dish it out but it is only jest. One of them responded to one of my quips by saying "Yeah? But we have equity in our homes". I still get numerous chuckles over that one a year later.

I'm so sorry you are subjected to this stalking like activity. If I could take them out to the woodshed for you I would. :D

jdeanb Loc: Texas / central

Ahh come on you are too tough to let a few rude people win. I enjoy your post. I don't always agree but that's ok to.

tk Loc: Iowa

The nasty PMs are attacks and that is the one thing I feel needs to be addressed and controlled by Admin. Please feel free to contact me at any time MWAC for chat and banter. I'll be there.

Teri

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

I hate liberals and especially 'very liberal liberals '

But they go the same way as spiders. I honor anyone's thoughts and can read them and listen to them BUT that doesn't mean I have to slander or PM them with nasty comments.

Always enjoyed your posts and photos but didn't always comment on either.

Hope you stay around and come back in active sooner than later.

Sarge

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

MWAC,
I'm sorry to see you cut back but do what you have to do.

I've valued you as an "online" friend for quite a while now.

Just PM me if you need anything or want to vent or just keep in touch.

Bob

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

I'm sorry to see these negative, ignorant people can have this effect on you, and our forum, and I hope this does not serve as a "feather in their cap". Somehow the good have to be stronger than the bad.
I've always enjoyed your photos. I kept thinking: There's a goofy Mom and some goofy kids, and I'll bet they're having a ton of fun with these photos. And beyond that, it has always been easy to see the love there is between these people in their funny pictures.
On another level, these goofy pictures were always on a very high technical level, to be admired and learned from.
I'm a conservative, you're a liberal. Should that prevent us from respecting and enjoying one another? Hell NO!
Even if you only back up a little, we'll still miss you alot.
All the best to you, Mom.

Lmarc Loc: Ojojona, Honduras

[quote=MWAC]



I feel very similar about these things. For these reasons I have been here a lot less than in the first months. You and I joined at the same time and we've both suffered through "Julie", "Rhino", "Roger Allen" and a few others who just seemed to delight in the discomfort of the rest of the forum members. People will always have differing political opinions, and the "General Chit-Chat" forum seems to brings them out.

I am probably the very opposite of "very very liberal", but I will respect your right to your views as I know you will mine, and I will certainly not disparage you, call you names or insult you and your family because we think differently.

I don't come on this part of the forum nearly as much now because the verbal venom is mental poison to me. I like to see other points of view, but when it becomes personal it's beyond the pale. I think some people make controversial posts just to see how much they can shake things up, then sit back and enjoy the show.

Hang in there, you're a better person for it!

djw60 Loc: Vermont

Don't go too far!
Your photography is great, your critiques are fair, and I enjoy reading your posts.
Some people are just ignorant, & unfeeling with no sense of class.

I for one look forward to seeing your future posts.
Take care,
Donna :)

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

It is too bad that there are such negative people out there. Just remember that those that put down others are trying to build themselves up. I tend to feel sorry for them, they are losing out on so much by their negativity. Try not to let it get to you.
I enjoy your posts and respect you are a photographer and value your opinion.

Acountry330 Loc: Dothan,Ala USA

Sorry you have been hurt by some people. You have your opinion like I have mind. I don't need to belittle you just because I do not agree with you. Some people are just mean. Hope to see you around in the future where we can disgre in a nice way.