Negative threads, trolls and other issues

[dave lackey]

Well,
At the suggestion of Stephen, I am following through with my volunteer/sacrificial post to elicite discussion on this wonderful forum about:

ALL THE NEGATIVISM that hits in the form of certain threads!

Personally, I only came to this forum for information on rangefinder cameras. After 35 years shooting Nikon SLR's and DSLR's, I am now interested in RF photography. Indeed, I am about to jump into a Nikon S3 2000 and a Leica M with a Leica M8 in the future. I need information including the "bad" but it can presented in a much friendlier, less adversial manner than "trolling".

My problem with some threads is the blatant negativism that does not advance my knowledge of these wonderful cameras and does nothing constructive...they actually waste everybody's time, not just mine. 😡

Another problem is the impact of these comments on future purchasers of these fine instruments...if I were younger, I might, just might, be persuaded by these posts. But, I am wiser than that now...(to paraphrase an old song)...

I know that Stephen and the moderators try their best to stay out of discussions and I think they would like to know how YOU folks feel about certain threads.

Soooo....I posted this thread for discussion.

How about it guys/gals? 😱

 

[FrankS]

Could you be more specific?

 

[steamer]

Which negative Nikon threads are you referring to? The Nikon area seems to be an oasis of gentility. As for the rest, what can you expect when people discuss politics, religion or Leica.

 

[oscroft]

Hi Dave,

I agree that negative approaches and trolling are frustrating and annoying. But I've been involved with Internet discussion forums for quite some time, and I think RFF is much better than most. I think the moderation is probably about right too - light but effective.

Best regards,

 

[paragon]

quote "blatant negativism"

This is the first negative thread that I have read

 

[rover]

Which negative Nikon threads are you referring to? The Nikon area seems to be an oasis of gentility. As for the rest, what can you expect when people discuss politics, religion or Leica.

blah blah blah :angel: ....

Dave actually is referring to a recent M8 thread. In a lot of ways RFF is what it is and no individual can change that, and the moderators more or less are able to stay out of things because for the very most part, there is no reason for moderation. We are all pretty well self moderated. That said, if we accept that we are all different and interact with respect and courtesy for each other we are fine.

Then of course we don't want to censor something......

Stephen has stated before, we should be able to have spirited discussions without arguments or personal attacks. That bit of grayness is pretty good actually if you think about it and the best "rules of the road" at this point.

 

[ruben]

There are not only negative threads but also negative single posts, provocative ones. This problem is following us all the time. Upon it some people either leave or stay from afar.

What can be done ? First what you are doing right now, here: re-calling our attention. Then it seems we all need more tolerance when sometimes a folk jumps with a negative post.

"A palabras necias, oidos sordos"

Finally if we happen sometime to be on the offending side, we can always do our best to redress the situation. Members dridlings, Ash, rxmd, can testify about me at these regretable instances.

Cheers,
Ruben

I wish I could have a single example of the viceversa, but I am not going to cry either. I will maintain myself at my best cool blood.

 

[darkkavenger]

I prefer to stay off these discussions. I just frown when I notice something that displeases me, because no matter how much I'll shout or brag, it won't make someone change his mind. So I frown upon these things and pass on. The latest displeasant thread I encountered was about that black S3 nikon with some pretty offensive comments. I refrain from entering such discussions, it does not interest me. I have my life and my work to deal with, photography is my pleasure and hobby, and I do not come here to "burn the heathens and convert people to my opinions".

All the best,
Max 🙂

 

[Sisyphus]

Dave,

I am not really sure what you mean by negative comments on this forum?

I have not been a part of this forum for too long, but it my experience, from the threads I read, everyone seems to be polite and respectful. Maybe I have read a few where a few people did not like this camera or that camera, but I always related that to personal opinion and preference.

I also do not think this forum is trying to persuade anyone to buy a leica, a rangefinder, or any other type of camera. I really think it is and has been a forum to share your love and passion for photography, first and foremost, to talk to people who have a similar passion (especially since my wife gets bored with this conversation), have a specific passion for RF cameras and Leicas in general, and every once in a while wish soemone a happy birthday or two, celebrate the delight in someone's new bundle of joy, and offer empathy and support when a loved one passes on.

My 0.02, thanks!

 

[emraphoto]

well i assure you my friend the trolling and generally negative or provocative posting in this forum is quite minimal compare to few of the "un-ruly" photo forums out there... take a quick look at the craigslist.org (the wild west) photo forum or for that matter some of the going on's at pnet. all in all i think this forum is fair and quite "positive". the odd OBVIOUS troll does rear it's ugly head from time to time but generally it is ignored.
passsions ignite once in a while but as a whole these folk are leaps and bounds above most of the forum's i have come across...
regards
john

 

[dave lackey]

Okay...too general, for sure...to be more specific here is one thread...

go here:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37513

In fact, the moderators had to post a "sticky" for some time because the negative posts got so bad.

At my age, I am hardly new to forums. I avoid the bad ones and migrate to good ones like this! So, I am used to BS from a number of posters who only like to argue.

Have no idea what to expect from this discussion except maybe to keep our awareness up and not contribute to these so-called trolling threads.

Indeed, this entire forum is one of the best I have ever been on! Hope we can keep it that way! No,...that's not right...I am sure we can keep it that way!

😀

 

[doitashimash1te]

I prefer to stay off these discussions. I just frown when I notice something that displeases me, because no matter how much I'll shout or brag, it won't make someone change his mind. So I frown upon these things and pass on. The latest displeasant thread I encountered was about that black S3 nikon with some pretty offensive comments. I refrain from entering such discussions, it does not interest me. I have my life and my work to deal with, photography is my pleasure and hobby, and I do not come here to "burn the heathens and convert people to my opinions".

All the best,
Max 🙂

That's exactly how I feel about it.

 

[jan normandale]

Dave is this thread about the Leica M8 your issue? It seems to be a forum populated by M8 users/believers and M8 detractors.. if so there is little new about this kind of "debate" If you like the M8 and own one don't expect every camera user to agree that you've made the 'best move'. It's like arguing about favourite baseball teams or anyother polarized event. Hopefully it doesn't change your intent based on your own needs.

Even among the Nikon users there are debates.
In the end it's all opinion.

 

[foto_fool]

Dave (OP) - we have both been around long enough to know that online forums sometimes serve as places where a few people can act out issues they can't deal with offline. So be it - personally I feel that it is an important safety valve.

RFF seems to me to be a diverse and intelligent community. I too come here for technical support for my hobby, and also some emotional support - I like to know how others deal with GAS and talent deficiency frustrations. I also really appreciate guidance from the pro photographers who get involved. I can put up with - or ignore - the occasional negative post I encounter.

And if - as happened yesterday - some members go off on religious or political tangents I do the same as I do with television or radio: ignore it, or yell at it and then turn it off 🙂.

In my experience, this community self-moderates extrodinarily well. And when things go a little off the rails the mods here do an extrodinary job of keeping order with a light hand (thanks guys).

just my 2 cents - John

 

[dave lackey]

Like I said...this was a sacrificial thread...

😱

 

[kshapero]

I think we get an A- for being positive as a collective at RFF. I would not want to A+ because it would be boring. BTW, what is trolling?

 

[35mmdelux]

i don't see many neg postings on this site. i've seen "spirited" discussions but not much more than that IMHO. Its goes to credit the leadership here as well as the community its developed.

 

[FrankS]

If someone posts something negative about a camera that they own or have owned, then their first hand experience cannot be rebuked. It should not be generalized though as it it based on a single isolated incident.

If someone posts something negative about a camera that they don't own, then it shouldn't be taken as anything more than an baseless (in the first hand sense)opinion.

What's the problem?

 

[giellaleafapmu]

ALL THE NEGATIVISM that hits in the form of certain threads!

I am not sure what are you referring to...

A recent thread about ecology was indeed a bit trolling, but that happens quite often if you speak of politics...

If instead you are referring to the recent M8 thread or similar threads about supposendly good or bad products, then I do not see the problem.

If someone writes something like: "All users of the XXX camera are stupid idiots who do not deserve to be called photographers", than this is offensive and trolling so such a posts should be edited (in my opinion at least) by the moderators. However, if someone writes: "Look, it seems that the XXX camera has this issue" and another person reply: "Look this is not the case, also the YYY does something similar" and the discussion goes on and on I do not see a real problem. In fact, I think it is good to be able to read other people opinion and use that to decide whether to purchase something or not. Of course there is the possibility that some of the posts come from people involved with one brand or another, but I always found (on this forum as well as other) that usually this is very rear. If someone said a film was not good and that was not the case eventually some person would post a test which gave some real fact.

Of course, there are sentences in a grey area. Something like: "Bringing the XXX camera to a desert is completely stupid" or "XXX's ingeneers made a stupid mistake when they designed this and this". I think these sentence should be avoided but I also think they are often due to mistakes in writing or an eccess of entusiasm for or against something and are not real trolling (remember that many of us are not native speakers of English).

I definitively prefer to read a post which is possibly of a troll to knowing that is a product has an issue and someone point it out that could have been censured...

GLF

 

[dave lackey]

Okay,
Enough already.

Moderator, please close my thread.