What happened to RFF ?? Maybe its me ?

[Graham Line]

I always start my visit by clicking on 'New Posts' tag on the toolbar across the top. It makes it very easy to keep track of current events.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

tell us, not what you want, but what you think a great site looks like.

The Landing Page: Something like Expressions. Full of random links, enticing, modern.

The Users Galleries. As those at Expressions. Customizable colors, text areas, images sizes and so on.

Forums: Something like Shutterseek.

Paid for by users all paying $3 (about €2.35/£1.60) a month. No advertisers (sponsors) at Expressions, although Shutterseek has small context sensitive Google AdWords ads.

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

Ralph,

As I said, I have no problems with World Cup being on the front page. I am suggesting that the Tour de France be on the front page during July as well. After July, send it to to the Siberia known as ANFSTD.

 

[Toby]

If there is one thing currently I would change about RFF it's those three poxy stars you get when you subscribe. I don't think that there should be any obvious distinction between members in the forums. Also if a member is very knowlegeable and answers lots of questions why should he pay? He's contributing his knowlege for free, why should this make him a second class citizen if he doesn't want to subscribe. I wouldn't unilaterally declare myself as an expert in photography but I did do a postgrad in photojournalism and I've worked professionally in the photography and motion picture industry. It cost me close to £10,000 to do my postgrad and I am happy to share any knowledge that I gleaned from it, indeed I feel almost compelled to help anybody if I feel I have the knowledge to do so, I'm giving away my experience for free. There were others far more knowledgeable than me who gave away their hard learned experience for free who have gone now. One aspect of charging a even a voluntary subscription is that RFF is effectively charging those who are giving away their experience or skills for free, which is the resource that others feel obliged to pay for, and whilst I realise that the running of RFF takes money it's the depth and experience of the members that is the real resource here not the server capacity

 

[Kim Coxon]

I can really empathise with these thoughts (or at least most of them 😉 ). A short while ago, I started the "I'm Staying" thread. (http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24887 if you missed it) Of the 5 pages that it generated in a couple of days, most seemed to be saying that they liked it here and it was a good place.

OK, it's not perfect but what place is? I can also relate very strongly to DMR's comments. Perhaps we have "tolerated" the recalcitrant children a bit too long. However, several have said that we have acted too quickly. Time will tell. In the end I think one of the strengh's of this forum is it's diversity in a narrow area if that makes sense 😕 .

There is something for everyone if you look for it. True there will never be enough comments in the Gallery for some but the monthly theme goes on, the FSU comp is running as are the W/NW threads. We will attract the casual member who comes to find out how to fix his RF or looking for advice on the next purchase. Many of these will drift off again but hopefully some will stay.

I said what I liked in the I'm Staying thread so I won't repeat it. However, just as a thought, if we say what we don't like and get rid of it, we could end up with little left. So with the possible exception of the "stars", would it not be better to say what we like and try and enhance that whilst accepting that others have different ideas rather than always saying what is wrong?

It may be simplistic but isn't the future likely to be better if we are positive about it? I think the alternative is far more likely to create a sterile place where a few remain to continue the same old arguments.

Kim

"Camera and Coffee"; " how to improve?"; "Provia 400 @ 3200"; " Let's create a FSU Frankenstein..."; "Beyond Words: Photographers of War" or "Willy Ronis and HCB": yes, all are RFF threads. That's not bad...🙂
Why complaining about the site and the declining interest when there are high quality threads. The last two I mentionned were very interesting; who among those who complain did participate in?
The fact is we are numerous and we can't all have the same interest. Some are interested in the RD-1 and I'm not. I'm interested in Willy Ronis, some are not. That's just diversity! You don't like the Classified (I'm not fond of this), just don't look at it, it's quite simple.
Now, I hear again that the new members are spoiling the RFF ... it's always the same old story and it's really getting annoying.
I'm fine with this site. I did not financially contribute but I don't feel a second-order member. I try to do my best to participate in threads (even though I should refrain myself from writing some stupid things 😉 Jenni) and to share my pictures (even though they are no good).

Mojitos? One please I need it 😀

SP 2005, oh nice! 🙂

Football? we should take and share photos of exuberant supporters; what do you think, Jenni?

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

the old RFF was like classic Coca Cola, this is the new Coke.

I miss the homemade chemist's concoctions a.k.a. "old classifieds", but King-sized broiled "new" classifieds are the new way. The Have-it-x-way.

The pub goers still make the place, in spite of the peptic menu changes.

 

[Rich Silfver]

Putting "ANFSCD" back on the frontpage might be a good idea 🙂

It never was part of the front page.

 

[back alley]

It never was part of the front page.

that's true.
jorge never wanted it there.

maybe we need a contest to come up with an alternative to the anfsd page or a re-formulation of it's purpose?

joe

 

[Kim Coxon]

"Smokers Corner" - A place where you go to stop offending the more "healthy". 😀

Kim

that's true.
jorge never wanted it there.

maybe we need a contest to come up with an alternative to the anfsd page or a re-formulation of it's purpose?

joe

 

[JoeFriday]

this conversation reminds me of the old saying "if you have to tell someone you're famous, you're not".. likewise, if you have to keep reminding everyone how great RFF is, maybe it's time to give it another thought

I personally wasn't at all affected by the recalcitrant children.. well, not very much.. I simply added a few people to my ignore list and avoided certain threads

rather, what dampened my enthusiasm was the way many people insisted this was a fun place, and we better start enjoying it, whether we liked it or not

that and the way the new classifieds sucked all the charitable nature out of the site.. I have a half dozen cameras, lens and body caps, and a few meters that I was planning to give away, but now that it's become such a hassle to list them here, I'd rather keep them in a box in the closet.. either that or put them up on photo.net

 

[back alley]

i don't honestly find the new classifieds all that much of a hassel really.
and if you remember, i was dead set against them so it's not like a wanted them in the first place.

the other contrary thing i hear alot, is how the site has become too commercial, yet the classifieds are tucked away and you have to go there to get there. shouldn't that be better than having them on the front page?

 

[ywenz]

Why are ppl bitchin' about the site being too commercial? As long as there is no crazy pop up ads, then I'm fine with the advertisment.

I bet if the sponsors provide more members-only deals, then all the cries will be silenced.

The bulk of the site - that is, the message boards are still the same since day one. As far as I'm concerned, the site hasn't really changed. If you really miss the departed members, maybe you should dig out their email address and continue your rf talks with them that way.

On the flip side, the new classified section does suck. The interface flow is entirely different from the rest of the site. It is very confusing to use if you don't use it enough, same applies to the gallery.

 

[JoeFriday]

I wasn't blaming you or anyone else, joe.. merely voicing my opinion based on what I feel

the classifieds work fine for buying and selling semi-valuable items.. but I don't think it's as spontaneous or charitably-minded as it was.. having to go through a process to list a low-cost item, like a cheap lens cap, for example.. where with the old system, someone would just start a thread saying "hey, I have a cheap lens cap.. gimmie a buck to cover shipping" and a happy new owner would be found in minutes.. now, with the classifieds being segregated.. I mean, separated, the process of redistributing items of that sort is more work than it might be worth.. based on the few ads of that variety, I think I'm not the only one feeling that way

hence my belief that the site has been forced into a more capitalist nature.. either that or we just all ran out of junk to give away

 

[sbug]

(snip)

I said what I liked in the I'm Staying thread so I won't repeat it. However, just as a thought, if we say what we don't like and get rid of it, we could end up with little left. So with the possible exception of the "stars", would it not be better to say what we like and try and enhance that whilst accepting that others have different ideas rather than always saying what is wrong?

It may be simplistic but isn't the future likely to be better if we are positive about it? I think the alternative is far more likely to create a sterile place where a few remain to continue the same old arguments.

Kim

Agreed, constructive criticism is much more useful than criticism alone. I'll run my two gallery ideas up the flagpole again as constructive criticism.

1. Find a way to be notified when someone comments on one of your photos. This is huge for me. I'm never going to spend time going through all of my photos in my gallery looking to see if anyone has commented on them. Being notified is gratifying and because you know about the comment it gives you the opportunity to reply should the comment include a question.

2. Find a way to track new photo postings from other members whose work you like. I don't think this requires much explanation.

If I could only get one of these it would be #1 by a landslide. When you see that someone has commented on your work you are much more likely to view theirs and possibly leave a comment for them. Good for all.

 

[Rich Silfver]

#1 would be awesome.

 

[Kim Coxon]

Hi Joe,
Any FS, WTB, WTT threads in the main forum have been actively discouraged recently as have "dedicated" HU and links threads. However in the last day or so a complete darkroom has been "given away" on the main board and over the last few weeks quite a few other "surplus" items have gone the same way. After all there isn't a "For Free" section in the classifieds. 😉

Kim

I wasn't blaming you or anyone else, joe.. merely voicing my opinion based on what I feel

the classifieds work fine for buying and selling semi-valuable items.. but I don't think it's as spontaneous or charitably-minded as it was.. having to go through a process to list a low-cost item, like a cheap lens cap, for example.. where with the old system, someone would just start a thread saying "hey, I have a cheap lens cap.. gimmie a buck to cover shipping" and a happy new owner would be found in minutes.. now, with the classifieds being segregated.. I mean, separated, the process of redistributing items of that sort is more work than it might be worth.. based on the few ads of that variety, I think I'm not the only one feeling that way

hence my belief that the site has been forced into a more capitalist nature.. either that or we just all ran out of junk to give away

 

[xayraa33]

If you really miss the departed members, maybe you should dig out their email address and continue your rf talks with them that way

maybe hold a rangefinder camera seance.

now I have an idea why religious schisims happened ; - ))

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

that and the way the new classifieds sucked all the charitable nature out of the site.. I have a half dozen cameras, lens and body caps, and a few meters that I was planning to give away, but now that it's become such a hassle to list them here, I'd rather keep them in a box in the closet.. either that or put them up on photo.net

Yep ... remember the days when a member would post that he/she needed something, and other members would just gratuitously give what they didn't use away? Remember the days when passing on your equipment to someone else was about seeing the lens or cameras go to a good home, rather than about making money, or auctions, or bidding or formal classified ads? Remember when we would list small items for sale and set the price at zero dollars, or just shipping?

Those acts of unsolicited goodwill used to happen on a daily basis. I haven't seen anything like that since the new classifieds were instituted.

In those informal classified days, there was a sense of community, goodwill and camaraderie about selling and trading. Seeing your equipment go to someone in our RFF community at much lower prices, even though you could make a much higher profit at the "auction" site. Now, the classifieds is just a money machine, plain and simple, thoroughly indistinguishable from Evilbay.

These sentiments have been expressed over and over again by new and old members alike since the new classifieds were instituted. Question is whether something will be done about it. It would be a small change and gesture that would dramatically return a large measure of the communal sense of RFF.

 

[Dougg]

If there is one thing currently I would change about RFF it's those three poxy stars you get when you subscribe. I don't think that there should be any obvious distinction between members in the forums.

I agree 100% and even created a new member name to avoid it.

Also if a member is very knowlegeable and answers lots of questions why should he pay? ... One aspect of charging a even a voluntary subscription is that RFF is effectively charging those who are giving away their experience or skills for free, which is the resource that others feel obliged to pay for, and whilst I realise that the running of RFF takes money it's the depth and experience of the members that is the real resource here not the server capacity

But doesn't this also create a two-tiered membership structure? We have to then be divided into Those Who Give and Those Who Take. And that really is an invalid distinction I believe, virtually impossible, as for most it's both Give and Take. The very beginner (and I daresay all of us are beginners in some aspects of photography) asks predictable questions and usually grows quickly to contribute his own unique views and experiences. Some of us by nature will tend to answer more and ask less but there is always something to learn too by reading the forums.

 

[Kim Coxon]

I think you might be being a bit harsh. It still goes on but maybe not quite so obvious.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24917
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25569
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25486
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24986
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25617

Kim

Yep ... remember the days when a member would post that he/she needed something, and other members would just gratuitously give what they didn't use away? Remember the days when passing on your equipment to someone else was about seeing the lens or cameras go to a good home, rather than about making money, or auctions, or bidding or formal classified ads? Remember when we would list small items for sale and set the price at zero dollars, or just shipping?

Those acts of unsolicited goodwill used to happen on a daily basis. I haven't seen anything like that since the new classifieds were instituted.

In those informal classified days, there was a sense of community, goodwill and camaraderie about selling and trading. Seeing your equipment go to someone in our RFF community at much lower prices, even though you could make a much higher profit at the "auction" site. Now, the classifieds is just a money machine, plain and simple, thoroughly indistinguishable from Evilbay.

These sentiments have been expressed over and over again by new and old members alike since the new classifieds were instituted. Question is whether something will be done about it. It would be a small change and gesture that would dramatically return a large measure of the communal sense of RFF.