gessman Loc: Colorado

Some folks in our lovely forum are being a little flippant and somewhat disrespectful of the group as a whole. They're critiquing images without benefit of reading the entire post and thereby putting themselves in a position of missing the whole point, in addition to posting what several others have already said. Is that what this is all about, or should we not comment unless we read everything that's been said? IMHO, it would seem to be of more benefit and cut down on a lot of excess reading, that desires the time to reply, if each of us could just refrain from commenting if the poster's original questions have already been adequately replied to in cases dealing with mere mechanics. If it's a matter of philosophy, that's another different - I feel everyone should contribute who feels like it. I could voluntarily withdraw and stand a lot less involvement but I don't want to do that and yet I'm spending a lot of time answering the same comments multiple times. Folks commenting without reading the other posts is contributing to that. I don't want to be rude and appear to be ignoring anyone but that's happening because I can't get around to everyone. What do you think?

Yooper Loc: U.P. Michigan

I agree, gessman, and once again you've brought up a subject worthy of discusssion. I am guessing that in many cases it is not intentional, but rather a case of not understanding forum etiquette. It is human nature to want to have our opinions matter, and if someone is searching through topics and find one that they have an opinion on, it is only natural to click the reply button of the original post and answer, not knowing that the question has been answered 55 times or the subject has now changed in the post to something completely different and the original question is now moot. People have a need to feel important, and helping someone find the answer to a question can make us feel like we matter.

The question is, how does one change this? My impression is that this forum is drawing in throngs of people every day, and many new members may need to be educated regularly or this will snowball out of any resemblance to order.

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

I agree. Maybe there should be a thread that stays at the top of the page with forum rules and ettiquete. but seeing how many people here don't even read their manuals it probably wont do any good.

photocat Loc: Atlanta, Ga

Agree, however, it seems to be the way of the internet.

I try not to repeat help when it has already been addressed, perhaps just adding something new.

Don't know if this occurs because folks don't read the entire conversation, or they just want their 30 seconds of fame.

It would be nice to come up with an answer.

SOme place in my files, (however, may have been lost ) I had a great piece about this very subject. Perhaps I will see if i can find it and post.

rayford2 Loc: New Bethlehem, PA

Gessman you're a valuable contributor and I agree with most of your post. One of the most important things I've learned about any info group is how to keep myself from asking the same questions that were previously answered.
In the case of UHH if I have a mechanical or advise question I click to "Home" and then click "Main Photography Discussion" I will find (as of this post) 22 pages of topics that, in most cases, will contain a reasonable answer I can use.
My suggestion to anyone out there is to be specific in your Topic Title. Don't title a topic with "Nikon Lens" and then ask a general question about f-stops or ISO unless it's proprietary to that particular item. I'm a newbee at this and maybe this will help others.
Please keep us informed, Gessman...Thank you.

SnapHappy Loc: SW Florida

While I agree with everything you've said I must add a personal frustration that may shed some light on this particular occurrence. Several times I've posted a comment, as I'm doing now, only to find that after I hit Send there have been 5 or 6 other posts in reply that came online before mine. That's not anything that we, the contributors, can control, right? I'm assuming that's a website/forum design. I've wondered how to alleviate the redundancy but don't know if I have any control over it, other than to keep my fingers clasped tightly in front of me.

:lol:

GTinSoCal Loc: Palmdale, CA

I disagree, people ask questions on forums to get a feel for the consensus. A question that has dozens or hundreds of responses with the majority of them being the same will hold more value for the person asking it than a thread with a bunch of differing answers.
I personally look for answers that have several people witht he same opinion.
Since most questions in our particular area are simply opinions, there are no definite hard set answers.

gessman Loc: Colorado

I've seen the same thing and in fact, subsequent to my original post on this, I posted comments making that point. I'm not talking about that as much as the other point I was trying to make, i.e., people posting where it is blatantly obvious they weren't keeping up with what had been said. Back in the '50s we used to call it "coming out of nowhere with a weird statement that didn't apply in any way to the conversation." Repeats are not, IMHO, as bad as a comment completely out of context. I think if a person is inclined to comment he/she ought to at least know what the conversation is about, and if possible, know whether their point has already been offered.

GTinSoCal Loc: Palmdale, CA

I agree with you there, and have to admit, I am guilty of doing it too. :-(
I do TRY to avoid it, but sometimes my mouth (or fingers) get ahead of the brain! LOL

G

gessman Loc: Colorado

There certainly is merit in confirming opinions but when someone asks a specific, fairly uncomplicated question that doesn't involve either opinion or is philosophic in nature, it doesn't deserve 50 answers either all the same or different. Again, however, as I said in my earlier response, I'm not talking simply about repeating posts but rather, I'm talking about people who reply to a post when it is obvious they haven't bothered to observe the context of the conversation, hence making it look like their comments are "off the wall" and not related to the discussion. I could offer you an example but I'm trying to cut down on my comments, at least a little.

gessman Loc: Colorado

Evidently you're too quick for me 'cause you caught me between replies. Repeats happens but at least we can tell what each other is talking about.

DB Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC

Hmmmmmmmm would an ignore or delete button work. We could ignore people we don't want to read posts from or we could delete posts on a thread .... would be nice to have control of what appears on our screen.... This is a new forum site so it will take time to work out the kinks...

But then what the heck do I know lol

hobbycam Loc: Now in "Hollister, Ca."

I am new to this forum and do enjoy oll of the comments made good or bad<G>
but,for my 2 cents, pleae. I must add, keep it fun,dont get too strickt or overbearing on this forum please. I have seen forums come and go because it just became way to onesided or overly strick. I love this forum and would like to see it k\ligve a long and wonderful life. Just my opinion :-)

May God Bless :-)