Terrym9 Loc: Hillsboro, Oregon

Thanks for the response, (and Longrangefinder) I wondered if that was it.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Of course there are cliques- there are cliques everywhere in the world. What's worse is SOME folks get together and GANG UP on or start threads and make derogatory remarks about other members who they disagree with or don't like. This stars a secondary clique of theses distractors- a total waste of time and effort. There is nothing bad about folks that are interested in a specific area of photography to participate is a specialized section.

What's wrong with the "Advice" section- it hasn't even started yet? If folks with advanced knowledge wish to share it in an organized manner- that is not elitism. It might just turn out to be a valuable and beneficial resource.

I find that the folks who BLOW HARD, show attitudes of superiority and profess to know-it-all, usually don't know all that much. The quiet, humble and kind folks usually have the most to offer. it's kind of an inverse equation.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Works for me too.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Agree. I’m willing to read and learn from the group. I think this is well-intentioned. Too often we get inaccurate information on UHH— and then a lot of time is spent debating....when the “facts” that follow are really only personal bias.

blackest Loc: Ireland

It's not 2 tier it is something different another specialist forum section and there a lot of them, on here it takes nothing away from what we already have. what it won't have is the usual spats between members who just don't like each other it's designed to be short and sweet answers. You can choose where you want to post. There will be no trolling in this new section. like most of the other sections it will be moderated.

To give a simple example of what is a bit of an issue have a look at this thread

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-511717-1.html

This thread was started by a new user, who has 2 posts to his name.
What does he think he got himself into?

lets see how this new section goes.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

I have a friend that managed to eliminate all of the negativity, trolling, bad mouthing and fake news from his life!
But his cave is cold and damp!!!
SS

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

I think this will be a valuable section, but it is optional, not a change to general forum behavior. I'm sure that you have noticed that there are many people that offer incorrect advice or guidance, or begin a response with something like "I don't know anything about this but...". Perhaps this new section will filter out some of the noise to provide a more concentrated and higher quality set of responses, avoiding the vendor or format bias, or just plain misinformation.

It is most definitely worth considering for a month or two to see how it develops.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

It may work. I have expressed my thoughts in another thread.
The inability OP to interact with the mentor is a concern--especially when the mentors disagree.
But, more to the point--I don't like exclusion, and would rather see a free flow exchange of ideas from everyone.

Larrymc Loc: Mississippi

The solution is pretty simple. if you have a question ask it twice only use a different title one for the "pros" and one for the 'Main Photography Discussion" then everyone from the "pros" down to us lowly camera owners can have input. See how easy that was?

Larry

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Personally, I think it is a bit of a mixed bag, but the discussion forums still exist and are open to everyone. The lack of a feed back mechanism concerns me somewhat, but the mentors are a carefully selected and experienced group. Especially if the focus is more on photography than on equipment or form factors which can still be discussed ad nauseam in other sections.

TonyBot

I was in retail for more years than I can (care to) count. There are always going to be trolls, and there just isn't any way to hide from them. If you don't let them bother you they can be very, very instructive. We have on UHH a good share of them, but even they come out and give some very sage advice sometimes. Learn what you can and ignore the sometimes very idiotic and inane responders.

In either case: good luck to you - it's too bad you are leaving.

SheilaG Loc: Central Arkansas

I'm new here and a novice, but I think "Advice from the Pros" is a good idea for a new section. Like all the other sections, if your not interested in it for some reason, just don't visit. Nothing is perfect and time will tell if this effort is one that is productive for those that seek help there. At least it is a new attempt to expand and improve.

Everyone learns things differently and at all skill levels, this is just a different avenue to seek out. I don't think it takes away from the rest of us or the other sections.

I've been in many groups, clubs and situations working with large groups of people and the one thing that is constant is that there will always be those people who can't be satisfied, know everything and it has to be their way of thinking or its wrong. It doesn't help to leave something or somewhere your fond of, or you will always be on the move.

This board is rich in people with experience from many areas of photography, they will take the time to share and most of them are nice. That is enough to make me want to stay around for a while. I hold a volunteer position in a non-profit now. It is the same way. But, everyone is a volunteer and we make the best of the bad situations and enjoy the good. Thankfully there is more good than not.

Bill_de Loc: US

They have opened up the original questions for the OPs to interact.

If they opened it up for everybody, wouldn't it be just another "Main Photography Discussion" ? The answers there are often all over the place so that the person asking the question can walk away not know what was the correct answer. In the new section, IIRC, the mentors will work out their differences to come up with a satisfactory conclusion.

Long before forums there were message boards. Any that I entered allowed for closed discussions in private rooms, entered by invitation. Some were hidden to the public while others could be followed.

The biggest issue I see with the new section is making sure they have good, knowledgeable people in place. They need to want to help rather than show off how smart they are, or think they are. They have made a few good choices IMHO.

--

CO

I agree with your posts. Photography is too broad for a small group to have all the answers. The mentors are no doubt knowledgeable but can't possibly have all the answers. There needs to be a free flow of ideas from everyone as you say.

I started thinking about something. I'm a mechanical engineer and machinist with 38 years of experience and machine high precision components at my job. I've made all sorts of custom items that I've needed for photography out of plastics and aluminum. I once gave advice to someone here on UHH who wanted to construct a custom bracket to mount a studio strobe on a boom arm. I gave him ideas that solved the problem. As good as the pros are, I wonder if they would have solved the bracket problem.

SonyA580 Loc: FL in the winter & MN in the summer

I looked at the "advice from the pros" for the first time tonight. The advice may be professional but the question seems to me to be the same as the regular forum.

The only difference I see is instead of 10 people giving various answers, only one person answers.

Without "professional" questions do you really have professional advice?

I'll give it some time and see if it pans out.