fun reading on photonet

[ikophot]

Doug

Very well written, I like RFF because it is civilized and friendly and I hope it stays that way, and at photonet I read only the classic camera forum, I think that forum is ok.

 

[Doug]

Sorry, Frank; that wasn't my intent, but I see how that could be taken as directed at you. It CAN be wicked fun to stir the pot a little! I was a message board volunteer at AOL for some dozen years, so I've seen a lot.

Thanks to you and Ikophot for postive comments. 🙂

 

[Oldprof]

Is the online society real, or is it a virtual reality? Are other participants real people with real feelings or are they objects to toy with, to one's own amusement? ...

RFF is a "golden" place where bad behavior is not the norm, and anyone browsing the forum can see there's little "fun" to be had in bad behavior. And this is largely self-regulating; RFF members are not easily baited ...

Great post Doug! Your comments are very perceptive.

 

[Penguin_101]

BTW, what is with post your pictures in an unrelated thread?? Reading it again while not tired changes my view on it a little.

 

[Doug]

Do you mean the pics posted by Mihaela T, Penguin? I think it was (her?) attempt to demonstrate expertise to lend more weight to her written comments about Raid Amin. Futile, really, as Raid could then post his best photos and there could be a big battle over whose are better!

 

[back alley]

the anonymity of the net can be intoxicating to some.

joe

 

[FrankS]

Joe, and everyone else here, please feel free to give me the word if I start acting snarky here at RFF! I'm a little embarassed by that thread on photonet.

 

[nwcanonman]

Holy Crap!
Raid states he's a "professor", but his Master Baiter comments make him to be a JR high drop-out.
All I use Photo.net for is a web based photo display page. Most of the other stuff in their forums is "snarky" - LOL.

 

[zpuskas]

That was certianly an interesting thread (on photo.net); one of the reasons I have migrated to RFF. Unfortunately as an open forum one allows all to "contibute" to the discussion and sometimes ego and self get in the way of meaningful dialogue. One person can ruin it for many--which is a general rule in society; that's why we have laws. Hopefully this forum won't imitate photonet.

 

[tedwhite]

Well, Raid did come across initially as someone with but a vague grasp of the task at hand.

Any photographer who leads workshops in various parts of the world would have no need to ask such questions, as he/she would have known the answers long ago.

Later we learn he's really going to teach some sort of course on quality control - we don't know in which arena of quality control - but things do get a bit clearer.

It was worth the read just to get "photo.net drive-by muggers."

Ted

 

[Bertram2]

Is the online society real, or is it a virtual reality? Some of these people, to various degrees, have sociopathic tendencies. Some amuse themselves at the expense of others, and for some the web forums are stages for role-playing. For some it's a place to let out their agressions without "real" consequences (but which can turn deadly). Some become online predators.

Well said , Doug ! I must admit the www has changed my opinion about the human beeing in general essentially. Tho my job keeps me in contact with many people permanently since almost two decades the web first told me how many sickos and idiots really are out there. It did not damnage the principles of my humanistic education but it is a bit frightening sometimes and I admit it has cost me some illusions I could afford before the web came.
I think it is the anonymity of the web which has that unmasking impact for a certain kind of people who are simply to stupid to realize that this anonymity does not protect them and their mean behaviour but makes their personality transparent for everyone .
And one of the best places to watch poor little would-bes shouting all over the place with pants down is PN. Out of control for ever, as you said, because already over the point of no return. Too many sickos have attracted more sickos, it's THEIR place now.
Best,
Bertram

 

[back alley]

lord of the flies...

 

[LazyHammock]

I have read threads on PN for a good while but never thought of joining because of the attitudes of certain "members" - I tend to ask a lot of stupid questions. I recently joined RFF, I hung around here for a little while but hesitated to join because it seemed too civilized - I suspected you might be a cult!

 

[back alley]

ooommm

ooommm

ooommm

😉joe

 

[Todd.Hanz]

I have read threads on PN for a good while but never thought of joining because of the attitudes of certain "members" - I tend to ask a lot of stupid questions. I recently joined RFF, I hung around here for a little while but hesitated to join because it seemed too civilized - I suspected you might be a cult!

just don't drink the koolaid! 😉

Todd

 

[nwcanonman]

Joe,
And I thought your mantra was "Canoooooon, Canoooooon, Canooooooon.........."
LOL

 

[tedwhite]

No, it's CAN-oonnnnnn, CAN-oonnnnn.

Or blowing through an elk horn. After all, look where he lives.

OTOH, look where I live. YUK.

 

[nwcanonman]

Ted,
In another month you'll be chanting, "Ooooooh, it's Hoooooooot!"
I grew up in the Mojave desert - Yuk is right ~ ; - )

 

[Doug]

I think it is the anonymity of the web which has that unmasking impact for a certain kind of people who are simply to stupid to realize that this anonymity does not protect them and their mean behaviour but makes their personality transparent for everyone .
And one of the best places to watch poor little would-bes shouting all over the place with pants down is PN. Out of control for ever, as you said, because already over the point of no return. Too many sickos have attracted more sickos, it's THEIR place now.

Excellent observations, Bertram! But there are some who are amazingly tolerant of the predators, apparently not recognizing the nature of the beast... Saying they have the right to express their opinions, and the right to enjoy the forum discussions. I think these "rights" assume honesty and good intentions, and the apologists seem not to take notice when these factors are absent.

I agree about the anonymity, and that it's an illusion at best, because it's amazing how quickly one can use internet resources to gather information about someone. Funny how a predator who realizes he has pushed someone a little too far can get nervous about having his real name mentioned online even though he's used it in his signature in past posts that are still available! Yeah, I am thinking of a specific past situation on AOL! And it can actually be frightening to think some nutcase who's taken a strong dislike to you online might actually travel some distance to track you down and do you harm. Best to avoid emotional disputes and be discreet with personal info.

 

[Bertram2]

But there are some who are amazingly tolerant of the predators, apparently not recognizing the nature of the beast....

Doug,
unfortunately it runs like in real life, this tolerance is the humus on which these pis-en-lit flowers thrive ! Maybe the reason why seldom virtual community has enuff capablity of self-purification. Offensive and agressive behaviour must be anwered on the same level, there is NO right which could justify it.
So the only soloution is still a wise moderator, keeping the discussion on a constructive level and free of offenses, showing off, schoolmasterish remarks of smart asses and devasting critic of photos.
And so I think a good part o the lean-back- style here on the list is Joe's merit, he keeps an eye on this issue as for example Stephen Gandy does at CVUG list.
Good virtual communities live mostly on a good moderation, seems it hasn't changed much since we left school ? 😀
Bertram