I'm not the Admin, but I've been here for a while, and been involved with running my own forum(s) as well. In the interest of fair play and bringing new users up to speed, I thought I'd post a few general thoughts on posting, replying, and general use of the forum.

1) When replying to a post, use the "QUOTE REPLY" button, so readers will know which other post you're referring to. Add your comments BELOW the quoted post. Feel free to EDIT OUT unnecessary text of the original if you need to.

2) It's generally considered bad form to add your pictures to another person's post, especially if the subject matter is different. This is called "hi-jacking".

3) It's OK to add pictures when the original poster says "Lets see your pictures of {insert subject here}" - This means that we want to see your pictures in the same subject area. Generally, these "gallery" type posts are NOT for criticism and critique.

4) If you have a question, use the SEARCH feature up on the top of the main navigation bar, below the word 'Photography'. Chances are, it's been asked and answered already. If not, feel free to start a new thread and ask away.

4b) If you have a technical or usage question, it often helps to know what kind of camera you are using, and what kind of pictures you like to take. Just asking "What kind of lens should I buy?" is a little too open-ended.

5) Remember that often it's difficult to comprehend 'alternate' meanings from the written word. You might think your post is in a joking, light-hearted manner, but the reader might think you're very serious, and take offense. Even adding :) to a post doesn't always help. So think before you type.

6) Pay no attention to posts by "Sinatraman" - he's a fictitious user invented by us to maintain a load on the system.

7) That last item is a joke. See what I mean?

I would like to chime in with comments if not observations and I am new. I have not looked at very many post and rarley look at the photos but did see the one in question. Then this one caught my eye since it made referance to "new users" and I am definitely that. I've been here two days now and am sure I've probably broken most of the rules already. As a newbie I was shocked at how Rachel jumped all over ddfs12. A quick glance at his stats told me he had been a member for a whole whopping 24 hours. Hardly enough time to figure it all out. Only the most astute would read the directions first then play. ddfs12 in 24 hours had already made 34 replays. He was having fun. At that rate he was already a regular. What really killed the tone of Jennifers thread was all the yelling and apologizing. Not much consideration was given to jennifer or the new poster. For the rules to be effective they should be given to every new subscriber before they can post. Then an improper poster should be completely ignored as if they had not even posted and only the original poster should say "sorry but critiques are given only to the original poster unless invited to do so by the original poster" or that should be the default heading at every post. That would avoid those ugly scenes.
I'm sure I'll get some wrath for this but it's only my observation as a newbie. This is meant to be constructive and not scathing. There are a lot of good people here helping people that ask for help and we are all waiting our turn. Criticism should be handled carefully until you know exactly how thick a persons skin really is.

I'm not the Admin, but I've been here for a while, and been involved with running my own forum(s) as well. In the interest of fair play and bringing new users up to speed, I thought I'd post a few general thoughts on posting, replying, and general use of the forum.

1) When replying to a post, use the "QUOTE REPLY" button, so readers will know which other post you're referring to. Add your comments BELOW the quoted post. Feel free to EDIT OUT unnecessary text of the original if you need to.

2) It's generally considered bad form to add your pictures to another person's post, especially if the subject matter is different. This is called "hi-jacking".

3) It's OK to add pictures when the original poster says "Lets see your pictures of {insert subject here}" - This means that we want to see your pictures in the same subject area. Generally, these "gallery" type posts are NOT for criticism and critique.

4) If you have a question, use the SEARCH feature up on the top of the main navigation bar, below the word 'Photography'. Chances are, it's been asked and answered already. If not, feel free to start a new thread and ask away.

4b) If you have a technical or usage question, it often helps to know what kind of camera you are using, and what kind of pictures you like to take. Just asking "What kind of lens should I buy?" is a little too open-ended.

5) Remember that often it's difficult to comprehend 'alternate' meanings from the written word. You might think your post is in a joking, light-hearted manner, but the reader might think you're very serious, and take offense. Even adding :) to a post doesn't always help. So think before you type.

6) Pay no attention to posts by "Sinatraman" - he's a fictitious user invented by us to maintain a load on the system.

7) That last item is a joke. See what I mean?