Growing Popularity of RFF

Gabriel M.A. said:
Free CV 21mm f/4 Color-Skopars for all? :D
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I support this too :D

And for the rest? Beef up the server, bring back the random gallery and keep a light hand when moderating.
 
BillP said:
Wholeheartedly agree. The heavy hand of censorship here stifles debate like a layer of sago. Controversy is not a sin. Lively debate informs and stimulates. This is a forum not a reading room. By all means nip personal attacks in the bud, but let other weeds come to fruition.

Regards,

Bill
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I, for one, do not agree. RFF is lively and civil. I like it that way.
 
"How we can make RFF even better?

Stephen"

If the issue of the Random Gallery is solved, this will balance the site beyond the gear side, and attract more people with interest in the artistic side of photography.

Image making photographers are in deep need of feed back. Dennying them the Random Gallery is like dennying them oxygen.

Cheers,
Ruben
 
Congrats to Stephen, Jorge and the mods - I think you guys are doing a great job.

People come here because when they google a rangefinder question - ANY question, I have found - a post from RFF pops up near the top. And the threads have useful, real-world information from users at all levels of skill.

People stay for the free beer - oops, sorry! - I mean, they stay for the inclusive tone and generally tolerant atmosphere. This is really a big tent. Newcomers are acknowleged (welcome pellothed1) and the folks who have been here the longest are cool with them jumping into long-running discussions.

There is very little personal sniping, especially in the technical discussions but even in the OT threads when they get really inflammatory. And as others have noted, if someone is so thin-skinned that they can't stand the heat, they are welcome to get out of the kitchen.

I have no problem with the banner ads - I don't feel like I am being sold to and the sponsors participation in threads makes it clear that they are not here just to flog their wares.

RE: site improvements - I'm in the "if it ain't broke..." camp. Sure a bigger, faster server would be great - but expensive. And if you have never migrated a site this big to a new server, don't go suggesting it unless you are willing to do the work yourself :bang: i mean...:D .

I say, thanks and keep up the good work! Cheers! - John
 
pesphoto said:
My only thing is the banners. Could we maybe have one on the main page that rotates between each sponsor and then have a separate page that shows them all at the same time so we dont need to have them all on the main page at once? I just get turned off by too much advertising, just me. Though I understand their importance to the site.
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pesphoto, lets look at from the other end. I am damn glad Stephen doesn't put any dumb a-s Google ads up there or ads for Casino night, etc. At least the ads are about our lust, so I am ok with that.
 
I am a latecomer to this site as well. I happened upon this site after digging out my old Olympus Ace and shooting a roll. I wondered if anyone else even remebered this camera! Enter.....RFF Forum.
I have not only enjoyed the quality of conversation and information but also reading back through older topics.
I am proud to be a member here. I wouldn't change anything for now, if it were up to me. Some RFF gear would be nice, hats, tshirts, and the like.
 
I think the forums work very well, in part because the tone is civil and moderators are doing a good job.
 
More RFF pass the camera projects, may be a rental program to have members try other gear, more photo projects,more,more more.....

Kiu
 
I would like to see premium memberships return (i.e. paid memberships) and their associated ability to post classified ads free of the $2 fee. I would rather buy and sell here than at Camera Gas (it's policies are too slanted in favor of buyers).
 
Personally, I am a pre-30s user (21) who just got into film for the first time (taking courses on developing, etc...) however I have been a digital SLR user for quite some time. I felt that I wanted to find something more to photography that would give me a much better understanding and enjoyment out of the process.... I tend to get bored with the digital area of photography. I know all of the ins and outs of photoshop and can do any sort of processing I would ever want to do in it, but I just get bored with the fact that its just so easy... with film it seems more magical and mysterious as you dont know what you got until you start developing and printing, etc.


So as for the forums go, I enjoy how they are quite a bit so far. Ive mainly been sticking around the FSU RF area, but Im extremely interested in medium format photography, etc.
 
Nothing really to change, I like it just the way it is. But you could add a feature, to make our photos earn an income. How about a RFF stock photo agency, where anyone can view our photos, and can buy usage for a set or negotiable fee. We can upload as many or as few images as desired, RFF could keep a small percentage as a brokers fee, to keep the ads and banners away. I'd be more apt to post more photos if I knew someone might like my images and have a use for them, and would pay for them.

Robin
 
Please don't change anything especially when it comes to censorship of controversial topics, such as religion and politics. While discord is healthy, it could lead to vitriolic disagreements, that has plagued other internet fora.

RFF, is perhaps one of the friendliest fora, in this age of information superhighway.
 
I'm a relative newbie here, a year or so, but have been a photographer for about 40 years (unfortunately I didn't start at age 10, either). I have been a volunteer officer in various organizations and can appreciate the time, work and patience that must go into being a moderator. Would that I had such lack of ego at times. I really appreciate the tone when in response to a newbie question the reply is usually to the effect that one might do a search for such and such or one of so and so's threads on it. There is none of the "if you'd just pull your head out and use the search engine you'll find more than YOU will ever understand about it" attitude from anyone. This as much as anything keeps new folks staying on. Now, if I ever get a DSL connection I'll try uploading some things from the Moskva 5 and Yashica GS that I didn't have before I found this place. Thanks to all for the continuing hard work.
 
Stephen thats great news to here and hope that your business is prospering as well because of the growth. For the most part i'm with Frank, If it ain't broke don't fix it. But Reuben and others are right about the gallery. But the thing that most people need to do is start sharing more photos for us to enjoy. Since I got my Bessa R & 35/2.5 CS lens from you I have started posting and spending more time in the gallery & I like seeing others work. That challenges me to get out more and enjoy my bessa and thats what it's all about.:)



Greg
 
sharpf8 said:
Please don't change anything especially when it comes to censorship of controversial topics, such as religion and politics. While discord is healthy, it could lead to vitriolic disagreements, that has plagued other internet fora.

RFF, is perhaps one of the friendliest fora, in this age of information superhighway.
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What he said. Also, what FrankS said. On other fora, the level of civility when discussing the aforementioned topics tend to head in one direction, and not a good one.
 
I don't have any major complaints at this time, and I think mostly "it ain't broke, it don't need fixed" applies.

A couple minor issues ...

1. To put this in geeky terms, go back to absolute time in the display of recently posted messages. Some of us will do a new message command, get distracted or have to do real work, and return minutes to hours later. A time of "7:15am" is correct all the time, but "7 minutes ago" is not.

2. Random gallery photos. :)

3. Here's an idea that I've seen on other systems. Make a user's first post subject to approval by moderators. This gets rid of those who use scripts to post spam on these systems.

As for moderation, I agree that genuine sincere debate should be allowed, even if it starts to degenerate into the same old red/blue left/right drek. However, personal attacks need to be stomped on immediately. (Apply Godwin's Law?) :)

Now, for my major rant of the day ...

I would like to see premium memberships return (i.e. paid memberships) and their associated ability to post classified ads free of the $2 fee.
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Let's see, how do I say this without using some very salty language ...

Gag me with a fork! Let's kill this one before it starts to spread! :(

I have had very few major gripes with this system since I joined, but this was one, probably the only one. The two-class system is not what we need. I'll speak freely.

When the two-class system was in force, I felt less valued for my participation in the gallery and in the forums (fora?). It's the users who make this system what it is, and we need to value all for their participation.

If there's a demand, set up some kind of an all-you-can-post buffet ad pricing for those who want to trade gear, but please don't start again with such nonsense as "gold membership", stars by the name, relaxed gallery rules, etc.

If you go back a year or so, you'll see that there was a down-hill trend when the two-class system was imposed.

You'll also notice that several of those who left during the rocky days are now back.

Please don't make that horrendous mistake again! :)

Thanks :)
 
I absolutely agree with dmr's thoughts on the 2 class member system! Please not again!

A suggestion for a minor tweak is to make email or PM notification of a gallery comment the default setting. That way one knows when someone has made a comment on one's photo in the gallery and one can respond. This would increase the functionality and interactiveness of the gallery part of RFF, which I think would be a good thing.
 
RFF is now my favourite camera forum, I came here as a confirmed film enthusiast and what i found was refreshing ; everyone can voice their opinions or photographs without fear of ridicule or scorn, and there are some real experts on here and none of them have a superiority complex and will exchange ideas and information with any forum member. The atmosphere is one of trust and friendship, nurturing ideas. Looking through the gallery gives me inspiration to get out and shoot (just need a scanner now so I can post a few pics).

That's enough sucking-up :D

I find the use of the forum , although slower than some, is still fast enough for me, and the advertising is not intrusive. Some of the sub-forums take a bit of navigation but I can find my way around this site OK now.

I thing being a worldwide forum increases the appeal, especially with the galleries - seeing real life in places i have never been is fascinating for me.

Long may it continue :D

Pete
 
I've been so surprised at just how much fun this site has been since I stumbled across it somehow. I'll say that I find things are great as they are. I've learned more in the last few months than I would have ever imagined, and hope I've passed on some just as useful info to others.

THANKS! to all of you.
 
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