First of all, my Flickr account is basically what I use to be able to post photos here, and to other forums I belong to. I don't have to worry about resizing the file to fit on their servers, and can access it whenever I want. I don't put much in my gallery here because I find it restricting to have to have another file in a smaller size and less resolution, thus creating another folder on my computer just to keep it all straight. And the time consumed creating these special files is something else I could do without.
I do appreciate the feedback I get when someone likes what I have done, or thanks me for the way I publish my repair work on old cameras. It is a great place to see what others are doing with the same equipment I am using. I like to think that I learn something everyday I go there. It's also great for keeping up with my old buddies and their photography, now that we are many miles apart, and don't see each other but every few years.
And I have made new friends all over the world, people I would never had met with my meager resources. But still, most of my small list contacts are members of this and other forums who use Flickr. I'm not in it to meet up with perfect strangers. And I don't always reciprocate when someone makes me a contact. I've got to know them first. I know Buzzardkid started a round of contact making when RFf went down last year, and I got quite a few hits from that, but I didn't want to have 400 people on my list.
And Flickr more or less leaves you alone, without bombarding you with all kinds of useless distractions, while still having some things that make the time there interesting.
PF
