BryanChristopher Loc: Princeton, NJ

Hi my name is Bryan and I am a photographer. I'm not the best out there and I'm not the worst. Funny thing is I had a starting point years ago when I didn't know aperture from my.. well you get the idea. I had an old school Pentax SLR (notice I didn't say digital) years later I bought a digital point and shoot and couldn't figure out for my life why I couldn't get certain photos. So I started learning how to accomplish what I saw in my head when I took a photo. Lets jump forward 15+ years.... ZOOOOM!

I owned a portrait studio that I promptly sunk into the ground. I got up dusted myself off and tried again and again and again. I learned all the way home wee wee wee!

(now we're jumping forward to present day)

I'm sitting here enjoying my coffee and the pleasant weather and decide to check out Ugly Hedgehog and I see forum after forum of self proclaimed and accused "old farts" in forums where "rule enforcement" is over coming the fact that a newcomer to photography is asking for advice. Which turns into a six page BANTER of who's an old fart verse who can type in "teen talk shorthand" and I think WOW this is so exciting I've got Jerry Springer right here why do I need to watch trash talking tv.

Well here's my closing thoughts:

1- Rules: We have them to maintain order. Are they good, yes. Can becoming a police state create disorder? YES

2- Old Farts: Being or being perceived as an old fart is a state of mind and behavior NOT a reflection of AGE. The definition of old fart is someone that is "boring and old fashioned" Personally, when I think of an old fart I think of a cranky old fellow (or lady) whose been beaten down by life and takes out his (or her) aggression on other by the "enforcement" or over enforcement or "rules"

3- Other Dumb Banter: I'm wasting my time RIGHT NOW I should be searching forums for advice I can take or advice I can give not trying to teach people lessons on etiquette. In my humble opinion (or IMHO for the short handers) EVERYONE FAILED because a post got hijacked by BANTER not advice. Banter about who's doing what and how they said it when it was clear and obvious that true advice was being shared. Advice being shared with a photo on another persons post OH MY!

Now last time I checked photography was a visual art. Let me type this again for the visual impaired. VISUAL ART. Remember what visual means? "Of or relating to seeing or sight"
If we see the wrong way how is not seeing the right way going to help? I think the mistake here was reading toooo much into the rules (see how I did the extra "o"s "o's" o oo ) I don't know the proper grammar for that but then again I'm not here for a grammar lesson, I'm here to learn about, what the hell am I here to learn about? Oh yeah! the VISUAL ART of PHOTOGRAPHY. Now how am I gonna do this.. hmmm... MAYBE just maybe I'll share some of my photos for critique to get advice and offer some of my advice from my experiences and supply a VISUAL aid in the form of a photo I took. hmmm...

I sure hope I can do that here. I sure hope everyone remembers why we're here.

I notice there are a TON of newcomers to photography here and a lot of people here that "enforce" without discretion that have little to no photos and dare I say POOR photography skills. Do we enforce possibly because we can not do? Now now Bryan I think we are digressing because we're upset and rightly so. See how this makes me crazy?

I have an idea! From now on let us focus on photography and "enforce rules" with discretion. Lets all get along and learn together I'm sure there are other sites out there for proper grammar and etiquette. Maybe we can use Robert's Rules of Order? Although I personally do not agree with "teen shorthand" I do believe the BEST way to maintain this is by setting an EXAMPLE.

Remember folks, young and old farts alike we are here for the photography.

Go take a picture and cheer up! ;) (that's shorthand for a smile and a wink)

Elle Loc: Long Island, NY

I haven't checked out any photos you may have submitted so there's no comment forthcoming regarding your talents in that direction but I do like your writing style. Found it to be humorous, direct and on the money....keep it up.

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

BUT it is ALWAYS POSSIBLE to get TOO EXCITED and fill your posts with a surfeit of CAPITAL LETTERS.

What are you doing, if not trying to present your own version of what the 'rules' ought to be? By and large, I rather like UHH, because the vast majority of people here do, in fact, get along. There are a few timewasters, but that's true anywhere.

Cheers,

R.

Wabbit Loc: Arizona Desert

Alright Doc ..... here's a hearty welcome .... rules

1. ya can't leave Doc unless you have a Doctors note or a letter from ya motta

2. If you don't like what ya readin, tough, don't read it

3. If ya got any questions refer to #2

4. And don't even think about jumpin cause we got bars on the windows and we're on the ground floor anyway

gym Loc: Athens, Georgia

[quote=BryanChristopher]
2- Old Farts: Being or being perceived as an old fart is a state of mind and behavior NOT a reflection of AGE. The definition of old fart is someone that is "boring and old fashioned" Personally, when I think of an old fart I think of a cranky old fellow (or lady) whose been beaten down by life and takes out his (or her) aggression on other by the "enforcement" or over enforcement or "rules"

The term 'Old Farts' can also be an affectionate one, referring to older people who aren't ashamed to be getting older, and are, in fact, proud of the fact that with age often comes wisdom.

You'll find Old Farts that fit both definitions here. And if you try, you can enjoy them both.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Thanks for sharing

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

Hi Bryan!
I enjoyed your dissertation, probably because I have my reading glasses on, and I enjoy my reading glasses.
I might suggest that basic rules are a good thing when there is a group of more than six people congregating. Since we don't have professional "rule keepers" here, we must make due with amateurs, some of whom are better than others at being tactful.
Proper grammar and punctuation make it easier for others to comprehend a question or statement, thus resulting in a better and more useful response. Personally, I've never corrected anyone's grammar, spelling, or punctuation, but I have moved on from several threads because it was just too difficult to decipher the poster's question or comment.
I hope you will enjoy UHH as much as we do, and stay with us a long time!

Horseart Loc: Alabama

Hi Bryan. Welcome to the group. I'm Jo. I am one of those grammar freaks, but I can almost always tell what someone means when they post and realize that some may be from other countries and may not have mastered the language so well just yet. Either way, I don't care how you say it, I'll read it. You can always do what I do. I read, I decide if I want in on it or wish to stay out of it. If I wish to stay out I hit the proper key to get me away from it. If I want in, I dive on in and usually find it amusing.
Most of the people here are really good people and any time you have this many gathered together, there will be a few "grumpies" who will be pleased by NOTHING!
Jump on in here and hang with us. Your room is at the top of the stairs, to the right. You'll find some great photos here and a lot of humor mixed in with all that other "stuff", so just let yourself enjoy.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Roger took the words right out of my mouth. :)

Ya gotta love the irony.