the joy of photography

[back alley]

what ever happened to the joyful times we used to have here at rff?

there is now an undertone of negativity and competition that was not present before.

i think some might like to blame me, or the other mods for being to light handed in our styles and still others would tell us that we are too heavy handed and dispense 'cowboy justice' in it's worst form.

there certainly are those few members that repeat the same mantra, be it pro film or digital, when film will die, slr / m4/3 / rf is the best for this or that.

we have banned trolls that return under new names only to be banned again.
they hate us but cannot stay away? i can't figure that one out...i assume there is a psychological term for it somewhere.

maybe we could all make a new concerted effort to be respectful of each other, talk with civility and possibly accept that just maybe we are not always right about everything?

joe

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Joe,

There are always arseholes. I truly believe that you and most of the other mods make like better via a light touch than you would by smiting the unrighteous at the slightest provocation.

My suspicion is that you're just feeling a bit low at the moment (it happens to us all) and that you are taking the negativity on board more than you need to.

I for one am profoundly appreciative of the calm and reason with which you normally approach things. The way you expressed your discomfort was an example of your skill at gentle and reasonable communication.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Sparrow]

we got bigger I suspect, a shame in some ways, and we all react to provocation eventually sad in parts. I'll drink to the last paragraph anyway

respect

 

[user237428934]

Compared with other forums I visit, the tone is moderate here. The debate film vs. digital is nothing compared to Canon vs. Nikon in other forums.

 

[back alley]

actually, i am not feeling all that low today but i do appreciate the kind words roger.

i think we have some members who are getting tired of the constant underlying negative tone and the repeated arguments by a handful of members who seem intent on ruining the atmosphere here.

 

[chris000]

'Tis human nature I fear.

I was always told there are three things you should never discuss in a pub ... Religion, Politics and another man's wife/girlfriend (at least not when he is in the room). Perhaps we should apply the same to internet forums.

Of course, that would still leave us film v digital, M's are the best thing since sliced bread (what was the best thing before sliced bread?), film will die imminently, etc. to argue about - but at least it would be a start.

Otherwise I will do what I do now, ignore it if it doesn't interest me, duck out of it when it turns nasty.

I remain chilled and content 😎

 

[Roger Hicks]

actually, i am not feeling all that low today but i do appreciate the kind words roger.

i think we have some members who are getting tired of the constant underlying negative tone and the repeated arguments by a handful of members who seem intent on ruining the atmosphere here.

Dear Joe,

At the risk of stirring the sh!t, I'd suggest that there are always a few very stupid, very arrogant people in any forum. I try increasingly hard to be neither, though of course I do not always succeed. It just seems to me that some people don't even try. There are also those who don't read what people say, but twist others' words so that they can disagree with them.

If anyone is actively trying to ruin the atmosphere, well, that's what the ignore button is for. At any one time I have two or three people on ignore (never more, so far). I realize that as a mod you don't have the luxury of ignoring people, but at least you can think, as I do, well, f*** 'em. (Not that I'm volunteering for this unsavoury task myself).

I really don't believe anyone can ruin the atmosphere unless we let them. And to anyone who accuses me of trying to ruin the atmosphere, I say, hey, that's not what I'm trying to do, but if you think that's what I'm doing, it's what the ignore button is for.

Cheers,

R.

 

[FrankS]

I know what you mean Joe, and I feel the same. RFF is bigger and not everyone is a buddy/great guy anymore. And by that, I don't mean everyone has to agree with everything all the time, but the atmosphere/tone has gotten nastier over the years.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

My personal problem is.....watching the Jerry Springer show in an afternoon! 😱

 

[dfoo]

Is it really so bad around here? I don't find the general tone of forum rude, even when the discussion does get into politics 🙂

 

[nikon_sam]

I'm not a big fan of stirring the pot but every so often a subject comes up and I do respond...I've also deleted many of my recent "Quick Replies" if I feel it doesn't really add to the thread or it's too negative...we all have up and down days and sometimes they follow us here...

 

[Roger Hicks]

I'm not a big fan of stirring the pot but every so often a subject comes up and I do respond...I've also deleted many of my recent "Quick Replies" if I feel it doesn't really add to the thread or it's too negative...we all have up and down days and sometimes they follow us here...[/QUOTE]

Dear Sam,

Especially when either (a) drink has been taken or (b) someone has forgotten their medication.

Cheers,

R.

 

[emraphoto]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humility

 

[peterm1]

I certainly hope we can maintain a civil forum.

A few years back I was frequenting the photo.net Leica forum but just had to stop as there were so many abusive trolls that it became a distinctly unpleasant experience. I left the forum never to return (in a posting sense) but did occasionally (about once every 6 months ) drop by to see what was happening. I noticed that for a long, long time the site was nearly moribund and can only assume that others felt like me and left it in droves. I am told it has improved since but still do not bother with it. That would be a terrible outcome for us if we fell into that trap.

I don't get the sense that we are like that (having had personal experience of it I can say that was much worse than anything I have experienced here.) But we do need to keep alert. Now and then I have unintentionally offended people by making robust comments that were not intended to be harsh but maybe sounded so to someone reading the unadorned words, but if I realize I have done that I try to make a point of clarifying and apologizing.

I must admit I do get tired of these relentless digital v forum threads that just seem to bring out entrenched views of members and wish people would learn that "whatever floats their boat" may not do the same for other people - there is no absolute answer and whats more, no need for one.

 

[antiquark]

there certainly are those few members that repeat the same mantra, be it pro film or digital, when film will die, slr / m4/3 / rf is the best for this or that.

Maybe you need a new section, hidden from public view alongside "Off Topic." (Usually the only people in Off Topic are those who really really want to be in Off Topic.)

Call this new section "The Dead Horse." It's where you can move threads where people are beating a topic that's already been beaten to death. 🙂

 

[nikon_sam]

Call this new section "The Dead Horse." It's where you can move threads where people are beating a topic that's already been beaten to death. 🙂

Thanks, I needed a good roll on the floor...😀😀😀

 

[peterm1]

Yes and this can be the avatar for anyone posting there. :^)

(sorry - a bit of humor helps)

 

[Sparrow]

I know what you mean Joe, and I feel the same. RFF is bigger and not everyone is a buddy/great guy anymore. And by that, I don't mean everyone has to agree with everything all the time, but the atmosphere/tone has gotten nastier over the years.

I've always thought that disagree and respect were not mutually exclusive, I disagree with folk I like and respect all the time.

Here as we've grown people have posted who are all disagreement but post no photos for me to respect ... I rise to the bait sometimes, so I'm guilty too I suppose,

 

[gdi]

maybe we could all make a new concerted effort to be respectful of each other, talk with civility and possibly accept that just maybe we are not always right about everything?

joe

That would be great, but I don't think it very likely to happen. Is this the worst place I have seen on the net? No, but it is a lot worse than it used to be. Granted I have only been here for 4 years (Member Number 8545; the latest members are in the 36000's), but the atmosphere is far more acerbic.

And I agree with a poster above it is not just the film is dead, digital sux, you are an idiot for buying a Leica/Fed/Bessa/Blah/Blah/Blah, posts that have changed the character of the forum. There are a number of arrogant and simply rude members who take every opportunity to insult people based on their religion, or their nationality, or political viewpoints.

It gets oh so tiresome to come to a photography forum and read again and again posts from members (usually ill-informed ones) how ignorant or stupid or looney people from your home country, or you neighbors of a particular religion are. Sure, you can put them on ignore - but why should you have to? Would most of us put earplugs in to avoid hearing someone insulting us in a bar? I think most will either confront the rude behavior or leave. And we see these choices being made every day in this forum.

Make no mistake I am not against a healthy debate - but name calling and insults are not healthy. It is petty and poisonous to a community - real or virtual. It all comes down to the type of forum the site management and mods want - this thread is an indicator of which direction things have gone to this point.

 

[Sparrow]

sorry joe, did it again :angel: