First, I am posting this to the General Photography discussion only because it appears to be the most widely read of the groups and I want this to go to as many people as possible.

Although I've been a member of Ugly Hedgehog for a relatively short time, I am saddened and appalled at the back-biting and rude attacks on minor things I have seen here. One in particular: Sinatraman's blast at the new member over her avatar. For god's sake, S, who the hel named you site censor? For one thing, I saw absolutely nothing wrong with her avatar. At least, I am assuming it is her you directed your venom toward, since you failed to identify your target. Get a life, sir. Your statement that it violates the site rules is pure bunk, and I think you know it.

This is but one example, but it is the final one. I am terminating my membership here. For a site that purports to be friendly and supportive, I have noted a tremendous amount of animosity, better-than-thou attitude, and just plain rudeness. I am done with it.

Dave K

This link sums it up nicely:

http://voices.yahoo.com/the-psychology-online-forums-750677.html?cat=9

Just read some of the replies above and you'll see it proven.

Here's one quote from the article:

"Different personalities play a role in the hostility as well. People might suffer from low self-esteem, shyness, or a physical disability that prevents them from feeling comfortable enough to socialize with others in real life. For these people forums can be greatly therapeutic and fulfilling. Some people are passive-aggressive or have other control issues and find themselves in an environment where they are free to assert their aggressive nature in full force with no repercussions. Others can be tremendously passive in real life yet anonymously they are finally given a voice in a place where their opinions mean something to a captive audience. Also present are "trolls" that are just itching to start flame wars no matter that the topic is about and live to argue."

A couple of points to make here...

First off, don't run away, this is a big group of mostly nice and fun people. Like any new group you may join, there will be an assortment of characters. And as with any new group your first impression may be that you feel uncomfortable and that maybe you don't belong here. Sometimes we leave a group for that, other times we stay and then fully realize we don't belong there, and sometimes we hang in there and find that these really are a nice bunch of people.

Yea, what he said!!!!
As with all groups you will find a few whiners, an asshole or two, a few prudes, a church lady and the rest are from nice people to a wealth of knowledge about almost any subject and hanging around these types makes it worth it to put up with all the others. When the assholes come around to chat with you, you make an excuse that you have to visit the toilet, when the whiners come around, you throw something back at them or just ignore them. When the church lady types come around, just tell them you are a Jehovah's "witness" or something. By the way I didn't even know Jehovah had an accident!

When you are with the rest, just enjoy their company and you will have a good time, absorb great info and become a better person all round for the time you invested.

As for that thread being discussed... number one, and this goes for ALL threads on here, you people should read everything before you post. Too many just read the first posting and then go to the end and comment, repeating over and over what others have already stated. Or they miss the point of the extended thread entirely, or comment on something that never really happened anyway. Or make a totally useless/pointless comment. So read a thread through before commenting and they all may turn out to be a lot shorter in future.

As for Sinatraman's comment, I never even noticed that Avatar as being anything like what it was supposed to be, I just saw a girl sitting in a chair. If you are so righteous and upright and holy, then why in the world were you looking so closely and concentrated at that avatar to find that tiny little bit of leg/butt behind the chair, that so offended you? Hmmm??? And as for filth, that stuff was what is called "Glamour Photography" in the photography business and there is big divide between glamour and filth photography, but I have a sneaky suspicion that you already know that.

As for protecting the kids from it, I seriously doubt there are any real kids who check in here and read through everything on a regular basis, there are too many "OLD PEOPLE" on here for almost all kids. With that said, take a look at the curves on Jessica Rabbit that is showing far more than any of those photos that the guy posted that he stole from other people's files off the internet. For those who still don't know it, he posted photos he called his own, which he simply stole from others on the internet and pretended to be the originating photographer.

The kids see far more revealing photos of women when they tune in to their favorite pop star or actresses like the horrible Cardasians. And have you bothered to ever look at a Calvin Kline or Cline ad campaign or seen some of the posters?

In fact just walking through any mall today, these kids will probably pass a Victoria's Secret shop and see up in the window, HUGE posters of women with more showing than any of those photos that fake photographer posted. Or look through some of the teen magazines out there or just at family TV shows.

Get with the 21st Century man and look around you, then maybe you'll just stop going outside anymore because what was posted is tame in comparison, get a real life and turn off some of the bible channels for a while.

Sorry this went on for so long.

First, I am posting this to the General Photography discussion only because it appears to be the most widely read of the groups and I want this to go to as many people as possible.

Although I've been a member of Ugly Hedgehog for a relatively short time, I am saddened and appalled at the back-biting and rude attacks on minor things I have seen here. One in particular: Sinatraman's blast at the new member over her avatar. For god's sake, S, who the hel named you site censor? For one thing, I saw absolutely nothing wrong with her avatar. At least, I am assuming it is her you directed your venom toward, since you failed to identify your target. Get a life, sir. Your statement that it violates the site rules is pure bunk, and I think you know it.

This is but one example, but it is the final one. I am terminating my membership here. For a site that purports to be friendly and supportive, I have noted a tremendous amount of animosity, better-than-thou attitude, and just plain rudeness. I am done with it.

Dave K