pjreed Loc: Tonopah, Arizona

I saw this same piece. Thank you for posting

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

That reminded me.

Just this week, when a UHH member thought my critique was too harsh (I had said "you didn't nail focus" ) he (not even the OP..just another member on the sidelines) said the same thing to me..."maybe you need glasses" as if I can't tell when something is in focus.

I know that right now we are speaking about critique to the OP but there are also snide/rude comments thrown out from the peanut gallery that are unhelpful too.

Quickflash Loc: Loganville, Ga

Yup, I don't have the time nor the inclination to make this stuff up.

thefunxtr Loc: Atlanta

no ... but obviously somebody is making stuff up!

Just for the record, it was not just one member that disagreed with you on that thread rpavich ... at last count it was NINETEEN other members that disagreed with your comment, and not a single one of them used the phrase ..."maybe you need glasses"! Why did you twist the story like that?

MWAC Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy

umm if your 13 you are NOT allowed to be here. This site is for adults only (over the age of 18). And yes I have reported this to the Admin.

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

(a) What's the problem? I have yet to see anything here that would deprave or corrupt any reasonably sane 13 year old. It's a much nicer place than a great deal of what is readily available on the internet.

(b) What can you do about it? Another e-mail address and another pseudonym, and he's back in. If he wants to be, after that reaction.

Just puzzled.

Cheers,

R.

Kid Karats Loc: Wiscasset, Maine

So the question of what makes a photograph good, or good enough, or whatever criteria some unknown comes up with remains unresolved. The fact is that when an infinite number of people take an infinite number of photos over an infinite amount of time, what kind of result do you expect? I propose a different approach, or different attitude entirely. Change the question from what is a photo to what is a photographer? In my not so humble opinion a photographer is the sum of his or her work. Not a collection of bodies and lenses, or software, or the ability to bullshit about photography. It is the work. I hope this clears the air for the more perceptive among our group. Glad to help.

MWAC Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy

I'm sorry but if we have rules that we ALL agreed to when we signed up for this forum (over the age of 18, no nudity, etc) then they should be followed.

Personally, I don't want 13 year old children here, if I wanted to hang out with children, I have 3 of my own. The maturity level is not there, we already pussy foot around feedback for members, I can't even picture what would happen if we had children posting their pictures.

kweinberg Loc: Bucks Co. PA

Ahhh, but Roger... That would mean giving up ancient wisdom to youth. Are you sure they can handle the immense power and awesome responsibility? ;>

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

I have to agree, the TOU clearly state 18 as a minimum age. (Even though they also state this is a "Family Friendly" site, an obvious contradiction). There are plenty of posters on here who have no right to pass on their outlandish and derogatory remarks to our youth, they get enough of that in the schoolyard these days. ADMIN has already closed the accounts of several minors who have been on here, and some adults as well.

healthydogs

Actually, Kylan you can be forgiven for not realizing this is for adults over 18 - since so few act like adults.

Behind the anonymity of the keyboard it seems we all regress to the 4th grade and the characters that come out are the same ones you used to see at recess.

We have the class clowns, the bullies, the smart-alec's that no one likes, the loudmouths, the mean girls (of either sex), the teacher's pets, the shy ones, the snipers who run and hide, the sarcastic ones, the suck-up's, those that pretend they want to help but really want you to always lose at dodgeball so they can rescue you, and finally, the very few you would consider worthy of your attention who consistently offer a rare nugget of value.

rpavich was correct- it IS dysfunctional. Please do not model yourself after what you've just experienced here. I'm glad that you had the courage to speak out. Someone has to be the adult. Frankly, I hope you don't get booted. Your perspective is valuable.

Anyhow, Kylan, there you go. Those are the kids who are in here. There are probably others I missed. And it IS hard to sort them all out without getting yourself clobbered (just watch what happens to my note here!)

But, as one poster said, it's all very simple for us if we want to make this an easier place to learn:

If someone doesn't ask for a critique, don't give one. If you do, be kind and polite about it.

If you offer an opinion, own it. Don't state it as a fact. And don't argue with someone else's opinion that was given to an original poster, not to you. That's called hijacking the thread - it happens here ALL THE TIME. If you simply want to weigh in on someone else's opinion, that's just noise pollution.

I suspect the hurtful BS that's seems to be on the increase would decline quickly if OP's would rate on a scale of 0-100 the helpfulness of each response they generate. Wouldn't it be revealing to discover just how much value we are giving to those who actually want help?

Maybe not as much as we think.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

An absolutely WONDERFUL suggestion!!!!
One I really wish ADMIN could/would implement!!!
Everyone does has that ability right now, but the time it takes to go through each responders profile an submit a rating is confusing and difficult, it should REALLY be easier to do!

healthydogs

OP's don't need to rate the responder, just the response. Some thing like: "Thanks, that was helpful. I give it a 77"

Responders might strive to be more helpful with each succeeding response.

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

What has changed? We don't KNOW that Kylan is 13. We don't KNOW that you're a Mom With A Camera. And you're not 'hanging out with children': you're on an internet forum. You're not using your own name. Maybe Kylan is. What is the problem?

Do you sincerely believe that everyone swears, hand on heart, to obey every petty rule on every forum on the internet? Because if you do, you're the one who needs a more adult world picture. How many people do you know who have never lied about their age?

What WOULD happen if 'children' posted their pictures? I've known some very good young photographers. Sometimes better than their parents. Often less egotistical, too. Why would anyone need to 'pussy foot around'? I really can't see the problem with any 13 year old who wants to post here, while pretending to be over 18, as long as they agree to play by grown-up rules. What 'maturity level' are you talking about?

In the mid-1970s I qualified as a teacher of 11 to 18-year-olds. I soon learned that distressingly many teachers were more childish than some of their pupils. That's one of the reasons I quit teaching in the late 1970s.

Growing up is a process. People don't just throw a switch at 18 and change from a child to an adult. Or at least, real adults don't.

Cheers,

R.

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

YES!

Cheers,

R.