sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

janice, no you aren't hurtfull and yes a christian should live a fife that lets the light of Jesus shine through them to draw people. I admit i don't always do that. However the apostles didn't back down standing up for what is right at the cost of their very lifes, whom am I to do less? You are right i will send admin a pm, and i encourage others to do the same. We have no idea how many good people have left here because of a few rotten apples.

Janice Loc: Kentucky

I understand what you are saying and I agree to a certain degree. If you push people away rather than bring them in its counter-productive, yes? Maybe just tone it down a little so people aren't put off, not saying stop, ok?

MWAC Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy

I've alreaady said I was sorry to the board for my ONE post to a certain member of the board, it was over the line on my part and I should have walked away instead of letting someone push my bottons.

But when that poster takes it upon themselves to start over 5 threads bashing me (and Rachel on a few), post on random threads in the intro sub-forum to new posters about me and then after the Admin deletes the 5 threads (the ones in the intro forum still are there by the way, you can find them if you really want), all to get more of a rise out of me. I ingored her random rants and went on my happy little way. But when she posted one here, and copied and pasted my original post (with no reference to what had happend before, and stated that I had sent her a nasty PM, which I have never PM'd her ever and she actually had sent me a PM full of name calling and swearing) I think I have every right to defend myself.

She should actualy count her luck stars, I simply didn't copy her PM to me and post it on the board for all to see. Instead, I sent it to the Admin.

To the other member of the board who sent me a nasty PM: I never sent your nasty, hate fulled PM to the Admin, I feel people are allowed to have their opinions, you didn't resort to swearing or name calling and even thou your PM was nasty in nature, I will simply place you on my ignore list. I have also never publicly outted them here on the board and most likely never will. I've never had a beef them, so I filed the PM away (never replied to it) and moved on.

ianhargraves1066 Loc: NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Florida

When you recieve sexual or beligerat messages, you are the one that chooses to open them ,
However it seems some people provoke the randy men and encourage them by replying and apparently provoking them even more. All you have to do is refuse to open the message and they will go away. On the main board if you get a nasty or sexist PM cut and paste it into a post and humiliate the person concerned into ceasing their behavior and or will quit. You have lost nothing if they quit. There are several real perverts sending messages and I get to see them all. So be warned there are methods to get rid of you.

Ian

Janice Loc: Kentucky

Even though you feel you made a mistake, you apologized and you did do the adult thing. Be proud of yourself. Everyone is aware of the mess that came about from you and Rachel trying to help someone and they know you didn't mean any harm. Keep helping those who want help. In fact there is someone here who really wants help and hasn't received much so far - look for wolfsmate. And myself too for that matter. I think you have been helpful to many.

jkaye65 Loc: Chico, CA

Seeing some of the goings on on this forum (and I've played a small part) reminds me of a Nascar race. You have your go getters like Stewart, Johnson and Gordon who will do anything to get by you, including bump you into the wall. But if you bump a Stewart, Johnson or Gordon they go ballistic and whine and complain like babies.

I see lots to Stewart, Johnson and Gordon type personalities on this site. They can dish it out, but can't take it.

There is no way to police that. If you boot repeat offenders, then the next group will step up and take their place.

Another problem is the dummies that open up the links with the strife and complain that they have to read it. Duh! people. Pick your poisons.

ShakyShutter Loc: Arizona

Is there some methodology being mentioned that would somehow prevent a Face Book style flamer from simply re-upping after being banished?? Not easily done. And nothing could prevent a PM attack if someone is determined.

The best defense in this case is that a few sane users here should inject some maturity into a conversation to cool things off from time to time.

MWAC Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy

I think it's the nature of the beast. We all know photography (or any art) is very personal to the artist. Throw in that fact that, like me, my subjects are my children, it makes it very personal.

Since I open myself up to C&C, I expect negative feedback, it's just the way it is. I recall the first time I put a picture up for C&C and I got handed my butt in a sling. I swear I cried, it beat me down. I had been told by my family that I rocked the camera and to hear strangers tell me other wise, I figured them all off their meds. Why couldn't they see that I was a MASTER...

Being an adult, I realized I had asked for honest feedback and received it, I put on my big girl panties and went back to that forum and looked closely at the feedback and took it for what it was worth - honesty. I then picked the two top complained about issues and asked questions on how to improve on those. I worked my butt off and when I was getting great feedback on those issues, I moved on to the next two on my list. I've continued to work this way for over a year, slowly I have gotten my work where it is now. No where near perfect but lightyears ahead of where it started.

I currently have a mentor, who tells me what is wrong with my images, man I should post some of that CC for members to see. If you think some of the feedback here is harsh, you haven't seen nothing.

tilde531 Loc: Seaford Delaware

I swear... it must be a full moon or something in this place.
*sad sighs*

I completely agree that the forum CAN and SHOULD be policed by a few appointed members who are always around. I used to own three Yahoo forums myself and was Moderator of two others (and they were ADULT sites, not even mundane, calm stuff to begin with, yanno?).

It can be done.

People have other stuff going on in their life and we can't control the way they handle it. In fact, individuals should be able to control themselves, but the reality is, we are emotional beings.

I hold a GREAT deal of respect for those who were involved that took the time to revisit their own part in the poop-slinging going on in here lately.

I have a GREAT deal of respect for those members who have gone elsewhere... although, their photographic expertise and talent and willingness to help anyone who wants it... TRULY wants it.... will be sorely missed. I am saddened deeply by that fact.

Power is a funny thing.
No-one has power over us unless we give it away first.

The immature, idiots who bully and harass people in here do not have power. They have nothing positive to contribute to the group and they know it. So they behave badly.

I'm extending an invitation to everyone worth their weight in talent, expertise and maturity.... to take your power back.

IGNORE.

Comments made on your photos do not make the photo crap. They don't CHANGE your photos, nor do they change the meaning of those sentimental photos. The only person who can change what your photos represent... is the photographer: YOU!

If we're here to show off, then we're in the wrong forum. We should have a website of our own to do that. One cannot please all of the people all of the time.

Everyone here has a niche to fill and those who don't... will eventually move on to another forum where they will get the attention they are screaming for.

For SOME: even negative attention... is attention!!

Please... PLEASE... let's take our personal power back as a forum and stop this crapola.
Let's stop feeding the nonsense.

MWAC: I respect you HIGHLY. I respect you as a person and as an accomplished photographer. I am not aiming this at you... it just so happened your thread was the last in line when I came on and decided to speak up. *hugs*
I would invite you to pay CLOSE attention and learn all you can from your Mentor because they are very wise and you'll benefit a lot more from that than from wasting your energy on this crap. Pretend the offending party is nothing more than what they REALLY are to you: a faceless, pointless name on a screen.

In all reality, they are not part of your life unless you let them be, by allowing yourself to be emotionally involved.

I'm emotionally involved with a select few in here... those whose opinions REALLY matter to me. The rest are nothing but names on a screen... and have NO POWER to control, bait, goad, bully or p-me off...

...because I won't give it to them. :)

**End of Rant**

Janice Loc: Kentucky

Well said! I agree

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

FYI i did send a PM to admin about this intolerable situation comparing the web site to the town of dodge city in the old west desperately in need of wyatt earp. (who after dodge city moved to little ol quiet tombstone arizona to get away from law enforcement....and thee rest is history. For those who don't know wyatt his 2 brothers and a dentist from Valdosta georgia by the name of doc holiday, became immortal for a little ol shootout at the ok corral.)

if more people send messages to the governor (admin) maybe hell send us a few texas rangers to clean up this pig pen (pun intended).

Elle Loc: Long Island, NY

As the administrator for another unrelated site but a newbie here, I've found the overall tone friendly and helpful. In fact, so much so, I've been glued to it for hours at a time. I noticed two incidents of some slight feather ruffling, one appeared to have resolved itself and the other hopefully is with the responses given. Considering the amount of people participating, the creative prides we all probably have, that's pretty good in my opinion. There is no shortage of unofficial monitors. My experience has been that ignoring a persistant troublemaker is usually the best way to handle one.

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

go to search type interesting and see what is a fine example of boorish behavior. also note some of the nastiness is coming through private messages. There is nothing wrong with heated debate even strongly worded, it at least shows passion and conviction, but when it becomes personnel, then a moderator is needed to in the words of america's greatest law man deputy barney fife "nip it, nipit andy, nip it in the bud"

howie Loc: Jersey Shore

Well spoken...thank you

Elle Loc: Long Island, NY

No problem recognizing boorish comments when seen nor distinguishing friendly jibes that familiar people might post to one another, pm's are a whole different story. They wouldn't be seen by anyone monitoring content.