I hope this message finds everyone here well. I am a bit hesitant to post this, but something has been bothering me for some time, and I decided I had to get it off my chest. I am writing to express my deep frustration and disappointment with some of the members of this forum, specifically the disturbing trend of users who actively participate in discussions about equipment, techniques, and the intricacies of photography, but fail to share their actual work. They talk about GAS attacks, spend thousands of dollars they often claim they don’t have, on equipment they then don’t use. At least they don’t show us that they use it. As far as I can tell, they don’t post to any other forums either.

Photography is an art form meant to capture and convey moments, emotions, and stories. It is an act of creation, a way to connect and communicate with the world and with fellow photographers. However, a significant portion of our users seems to have lost sight of this fundamental aspect. Instead, they engage in endless debates about the esoteric details of lenses, shutter speeds, sensor sizes, file formats, and gear-related topics.

It is truly disheartening to witness such dedication to these technical aspects without a corresponding commitment to sharing the fruits of their labor – their photographs. Discussion about equipment and techniques is undoubtedly valuable, but they should be in service of the primary objective of photography: capturing and sharing images that inspire and evoke emotion.

As Theodore Roosevelt once said:
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

In the context of photography forums, the "man in the arena" should be the individual who actively captures moments, share his/her work, and invite constructive criticism. He is the one who truly contributes to the growth of the photography community. It's time for those who hide behind technical jargon to join the ranks of those who dare to share their artistic creations.
I urge all of us prioritize the sharing of photographs alongside technical discussions. By doing so, we can foster a more vibrant and inspiring environment for photographers at all levels of expertise.