Helen Hill finally says Ciao ... it's been Fun

Helen: you should do what you want to do, when you want to do it. and however long you want to do it. You've earned it.

Don't listen to anyone but yourself.
 
I saw this thread just minutes after Helen posted it, and over time, I have watched the thread progress.

RFF is the ONLY online forum or activity I participate in. I signed up with two other photo forums, but I never participate and rarely visit.

I have no Facebook, MySpace, Instagram, Twitter, Linkin or whatever the heck people do online these days. I only have RFF.

There have been a whole variety of "personalities" that have come and gone from this site, often it has been for the best that they no longer participate here at RFF, but not always. Regardless, I find it easy to keep things in perspective; there are personalities in this world. Some will be positive and enjoyable, some will not. I can manage...

I have been treated rather unkindly by some RFF members in the past. (some I see in this thread). But like most of us, I have a healthy thickness of skin and (more importantly) I understand that everyone has a bad day, and often online communication can be mis-interpreted/misunderstood. FWIW, some of you I now consider "RFF friends". Imagine that.

I have also seen some of the RFF community pounce and viciously attack certain new members in a manner that surprised me in their unwillingness to accept that there will be "personalities" among us (remember the Angry Photographer anyone? That was hard to watch.)

Over the years, I have also experienced the more permanent loss of some wonderful RFF members. I remain saddened by the loss of Tom A. and Stewart M.

Now, I see Helen is leaving! And, one of my favorite RFF members, Devin is now leaving. Huss is banned, and another member I like (Ko.Fe) is banned too. What's more, I notice that yet other RFF members that I appreciate have announced their intention to leave (in this thread). Wow!!!

I don't want sound hyperbolic, but the RFF I know and love appears to be disintegrating before me. I am sad.

I see the parallel with the world at large. Tensions, division, and strife -- so much of it the consequence of our stressful, isolating, and emotionally charged lives. The causes are obvious (mostly): coronavirus, autocrats worldwide making themselves felt, a near global depression economy, Trump (whether you love him or hate him) and difficult politicians/politics everywhere, and racial and socio-economic tensions boiling over. No wonder we're all on edge!!!

So now, small issues or annoyances are so easily blown way out of proportion and too often followed by rash actions that would not happen in a world with calmer heads. I find much too little comfort in my acknowledgement of this. People are still doing things that hurt.

In the end, I may leave RFF as well. Not because I'm angry with anyone here, but because of the devolved state of an online "place" (actually, a refuge) that I used to love. RFF may soon be gone, much like my childhood home in southern California -- completely unrecognizable.

What next?
 
Dear Helen,

May I suggest you give yourself a break from all this.

Look in other places, take your life in different directions for a while. Put your cameras away for whatever time you need. Then return to liven and make shine your time and our time here.

All these posts really mean that we love you, we miss you, and we want you back. And Many of us here will be left feeling abandoned and forlorn by your absence.

Even our glorious leader has indicated that the door is open for you to come back.

Do battle on the malcontents on this web site on their own turf. As someone far wiser than I once said, you will achieve more from the inside than by trying to fight on the outside.

It's as simple as that.
 
I can't help but wonder how many posters after # 225 in this thread read and understood # 225.

This thread's turmoil is all about a misunderstanding.

Helen and I had a good phone conversation this afternoon.

Helen will decide whatever she does, but things are good now between me and her.

Have a good weekend all,

Stephen
 
Thanks for the update, Stephen.

I'm relieved and pleased to hear that you and Helen had a good phone call and are now on good terms.

Very good news, indeed.

- Murray
 
CameraQuest said:
for those who missed it, in this long thread

Helen's outrage about Frank being allowed to sell again in the classified was her own misunderstanding.

He was not allowed to place ads or use this site again. Neither was Frank unbanned, nor allowed to re register.

In fact the classifieds which upset Helen so much were placed by Frank using another ID -- BART BART with SAME Avatar and pics as he was banned under, BLACK BART. Those ads have since been deleted, and BART BART banned. Both IDs looked almost alike, and could easily be mistken for each other.

Thinking that I had allowed BLACK BART back, without even checking with me or taking a look at the memberships (which she could have as a mod), Helen started this Ciao thread.

Helen also knew Huss and KoFe were banned temporarily. Yet she writes as though their bans were permanent -- knowing they were not.

Helen writes about Ned being rude in the past, but Ned never did anything ilke this CIAO post in an effort to upset the membership.

Apparently Helen might be a tad stressed, like most everyone else in these difficult pandemic times. I wish her well.

Stephen
Click to expand...

I am glad that you and Helen had a chat.
 
CameraQuest said:
I can't help but wonder how many posters after # 225 in this thread read and understood # 225.

This thread's turmoil is all about a misunderstanding.

Helen and I had a good phone conversation this afternoon.

Helen will decide whatever she does, but things are good now between me and her.

Have a good weekend all,

Stephen
Click to expand...

This is how it should be. People will have a difference of opinion...sometimes its justified and sometimes its simply caused by a misunderstanding between the parties involved. There's usually a multitude of reasons behind such things, but the most important thing is that the individuals have a chance to discuss and air both their grievances and hopefully in time work things out. its not only in the benefit of the two involved but other individuals that might be impacted in some way. Thanks for the update Stephen on your conversations with Helen and hoping in time she will decide to grace her presence in these forums once again. A win for everyone.

Dave (D&A)
 
I think a month ban is a bit too long during COVID times, especially for members who seem to have fairly high regard among the community.

Maybe cut it to two weeks? Just my likely worthless to the community 2 cents...
 
Apparently there have been a couple of deletions in this thread since it started, as the counter says there is 250 at the time I'm writing this, but only 248 appear. I've always wondered about things like that here.

Anyway, I think the word "Ban" should only apply to permanent expulsions, and not to temporary situations. Maybe "Suspended" is a better way to address these temporary cooling off periods. That way no one hopefully will misunderstand the gravity of the moment.

PF
 
farlymac said:
Apparently there have been a couple of deletions in this thread since it started, as the counter says there is 250 at the time I'm writing this, but only 248 appear. I've always wondered about things like that here. PF
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If you post something and then you change your mind about it and edit the post to say “post deleted by OP” or something to that effect a mod will delete your post.

If you accidentally double post the same post a mod will delete your duplicate post.

It’s just the mods doing some house cleaning. Nothing nefarious or sinister going on here.

All the best,
Mike
 
Yokosuka_Mike said:
If you post something and then you change your mind about it and edit the post to say “post deleted by OP” or something to that effect a mod will delete your post.

If you accidentally double post the same post a mod will delete your duplicate post.

It’s just the mods doing some house cleaning. Nothing nefarious or sinister going on here.

All the best,
Mike
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Indeed so .
The mods do a great and rather difficult job at times .
They`ve just saved me the trouble of deleting a rather intemperate post I posted yesterday and I thank them for it .
 
NeonKnight said:
Should have been banned a long time ago for all those cringy pics of the homeless.
I'm not sour about HH leaving but I think her upcoming sales are in bad taste.
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LOL!!! oh dear, which pill didn't you take this morning.......
.
.
.
anyhows, on a lighter note being banned on an internet forum isn't life changing.
I recently got banned for the 8th time on Facebook...30 days in jail :D:D
 
That's great news! I'm very pleased that Stephen and Helen had a chance to talk. Fingers crossed that Helen will return soon. I already miss her presence. Class act both.
 
CameraQuest said:
I can't help but wonder how many posters after # 225 in this thread read and understood # 225.

This thread's turmoil is all about a misunderstanding.

Helen and I had a good phone conversation this afternoon.

Helen will decide whatever she does, but things are good now between me and her.

Have a good weekend all,

Stephen
Click to expand...

Thanks Stephen for the info, it is a positive fact Helen and you had a good conversation.

And even more things are now good between you and Helen.

All other points are less relevant, still hoping to see Helen back one day, when and if she feels it appropriate.
 
I am really pleased about Stephen's very recent post,it's good news.
I've been suspended, no big deal, it happened.
I'd never quit, my photography way too important to me..
Telling a dedicated photographer to not use "her" cameras is very insulting...
Think about it! We are in a time of turmoil, in a period of a Great Epidemic.
I see no light at end of tunnel or count the waves, when we are all
underwater. Time for thought, think of protecting others, near and far by accepting real medical facts.
Stay safe, make great exposures..
 
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Stated simply, I admire Helen. And I'm in favor of treating her assessment of the situation with the importance it deserves, and doing the right thing on the issues she described.
 
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