Here's what I agree with wholeheartedly from your thoughtful topic, luvmypets: "Personally, I look forward to both galleries. I always want to learn and improve in whatever I do so I will spend time in the c & c to do just that. I will also enjoy just looking at photos of someone's pet or grandchildren or something they found that day they want to share."

And what LoneRangeFinder said about having specialty forums for particular interests makes the most sense. I've never understood why Wahawk thinks having a lot of sub-forums is a problem :) Once you've subscribed to what interests you, if you use "newest topics," you don't even have to click to the individual forums. It's all right there in one spot.

Great letter Dodie, You did a great job writing it. Looks like a lot of people agree with you! And yes this is suppose to be a fun site. What one person make think is a bad photo the person who took it posted it for a reason. If you see a picture you do not like no one is forcing you to look at it. I agree with you close it and go to the next picture. I know myself I am far from being a great or even a good photographer but I enjoy taking the pictures, yes I do have stories to go with my pictures. Life is too short to be so judgmental all the time. Enjoy the pictures posted.
Thanks for your letter Dodie! :)

Would be interesting to see how many users are STILL HERE instead of the count that shows on the Home Page since they do not allow people to 'delete' their account or 'remove' themselves from the User List. The 38,000+ is NOT an accurate figure since it still includes the ones that have left.

I know that I will NOT be posting any pictures and will very RARELY make any comments, and then only for a very few selected users. If it was possible to "delete" my account and my old posts, I would.

First, I'd like to say congratulations to all who wanted the new gallery. I am looking forward to it!! I'm sure it will solve a lot of issues that have been plaquing this forum.

I don't know if anyone else has noticed that there aren't as many replies to posts as there were before all this started. There were several people who would reply to almost every post even if it was just a smiley face or thumbs up; I'm no longer seeing some of those people. Maybe they feel their replies aren't appreciated. I have also noticed that there were people who posted something almost everyday and they aren't any more. Maybe they feel that what they were trying to share wasn't appreciated. I think that while trying to make improvements to the forum feelings have (I hope, inadvertantly) been hurt. That isn't right! Everyone should be able to post without fear of hurtful comments and unwanted criticism.

This is a big forum with room for everyone.

There are those that post who only want c & c which you will soon have. There are those that are just learning and don't want the harsh c & c but just a gentle nudge in the right direction. There are some that just want to share little pieces of their lives with their UHH family.

There is room enough for all!!!

I am disappointed that some who are excellent photographers have stopped replying to the latter two categories I mentioned. Could you spare a little of your time to give a thumbs up or "great set" to those people? Some just like knowing their photo was viewed and appreciated for what ever it was. There is no need to be cruel in any category. If you really don't like a post or photo, instead of being rude, just close it and go on to the next. There is absolutely no reason to be cruel, even if c & c is asked for.

I read a post this morning where someone tried something new; it wasn't a great photo and I'm sure they didn't expect it to be hung on a gallery wall but probably would have just liked someone to notice what they had tried. What I saw instead was a rather harsh reply. C & C had not been asked for. So, now what will happen. Will the person who posted the photo stop trying new things? Will he just stop posting his photos? Will he leave the forum feeling he has no place here? Is that the way he should be treated?

There have been a lot of people leave in the last few weeks for various reasons. Some because they felt this forum was too "snapshottish" and some because it was to harsh. I hope that this new gallery will allow all of them to return and enjoy the gallery in which they are most comfortable without wondering if they will be insulted or hurt. I also hope that those in the stronger gallery will spend a little time with the snap shooters to encourage them whether they are looking to improve or to just share a little of their lives.

Personally, I look forward to both galleries. I always want to learn and improve in whatever I do so I will spend time in the c & c to do just that. I will also enjoy just looking at photos of someone's pet or grandchildren or something they found that day they want to share.

This should be an enjoyable place to spend time whether you are here to learn or just share a little of yourself.

Please try to make it enjoyable for everyone.

Thank you for spending a little of your time to read what I have written. Please, think about what I have written.

Have a good day or evening!!!

When you signed up Wahawk there was a fraction of the members that there now are. Without the different interest sections photos are buried and hard to find. With the different sections you can participate in it is more like a friendly small forum. I can't even imagine trying to wade through all the photos if there was only one section. I have to agree when I first joined I knew everyone and I followed every single post. There were over 4,000 posts in the last 24 hours. No way to keep up with that many, but I have a few sections that I look at everything in.