View Full Version : What is it with this forum?
I've been a member here since before Jeff changed over from the previous messaging system. I have had very few - if any - problems.
I look at the other photo forums I've found and tried and abandoned or occasionally been thrown off and wonder what the key to Jeff's success is.
Remember the photos of the Vienna pride parade? I laughed and so did others - they were great photos - we laughed at the subjects. Somebody presented a similar thread on another forum and shortly after somebody complained about it, saying there was no need to ridicule the people. I posted that it was the subject's choice to stay at home and read a book or go out and engage in activity on a parade that might reasonably lead to mirth and my post got deleted.
On another forum photos of firearms cropped up with everybody presenting photos of theirs. Then it all went political and everybody ended up getting upset and half the people who'd innocently posted photos before the politics started got banned.
I have tried a number of forums and this is the one - the sole forum - that I keep coming back to. Today I just abandoned a forum as the views of some of the members were somewhat wierd and the moderators were backing up the wierdos. That's usually led to my getting expelled from a forum. I recall being expelled from a forum for stating a referenced fact about airport security in answer to somebody's question. I didn't understand that either!
There are some very popular alternative forums that I've abandoned for the reasons above. One forum owner begged me to return after I abandoned the forum and within a week of being begged to return I ended up leaving again as the politics were getting very heavy and definitely not to my taste.
What's the secret? At a guess, I'd say that the members here are more in tune with each other.
FLiPMaRC
10-15-2008, 02:06 PM
Each forum community has their own rules. Each forum have their own moderators. Most have close minded power hungry moderators that basically runs the site on how they see fit. They will ban you if your fart don't stink the right way :p Which in turn attracts members of the same mind set.
This forum is not heavily moderated :cool: I can't name one Moderator on this forum :D It's basically run my the members themselves, and we all learn to get along I guess.
cdifoto
10-15-2008, 02:14 PM
It works because it's small. As long as it stays small, it can be minimally moderated. Other sites that don't work are either huge and unmoderated or huge and heavily moderated. Unfortunately, the latter is the only way to have a cohesive forum that's usable. The former is a big mess.
It works because it's small. As long as it stays small, it can be minimally moderated. Other sites that don't work are either huge and unmoderated or huge and heavily moderated. Unfortunately, the latter is the only way to have a cohesive forum that's usable. The former is a big mess.
Lol. Remember newsgroups?
After they were hit by spam it was hard to find anything.
cdifoto
10-15-2008, 02:37 PM
I'm too young to remember newsgroups. :D
D Thompson
10-15-2008, 03:22 PM
I think what makes this place a success is that its mostly made up of people wanting to learn and some that are happy to share the knowledge they have without presenting a "know-it-all, never-wrong" attitude. Plus throw in a few with a good sense of humor. Also, I agree with Don - it's small.
Spookonthe8ball
10-15-2008, 04:44 PM
For the most part people on here stay on the topic of photography and try to keep this forum as a learning tool and a place to post some of their work. We may be small, but the replies are quick and to the point.
There are a few posters that I really enjoyed that don't appear here any more such as Coldiron. He was very informative on lens issues and I miss his input. Other forums I have visited have too many trolls or want to argue over Canon/Nikon ect. Most of the posters here know that it is the photographer and not the camera, that make great pictures. Many discuss our equipment in a civil way and compare their best uses and suggest ways to get the best out of what we have. Keep it coming! Jeff must be doing something right :D
Spook
cdifoto
10-15-2008, 05:15 PM
Jeff must be doing something right :D
Spook
*Hands spook a wet-nap so he can clean his nose.*
sw2cam
10-15-2008, 08:54 PM
I'm to old to remember newsgroups .............
faisal
10-16-2008, 12:09 AM
I think it's something to do with the lack of moderators and a administrator who doesn't ban anybody (who isn't spamming) without a good reason....
I think majority of people here have thick skin and respect (for the most part) one another, while still having a great sense of humour
I only feel the wrath of Jeff when it comes to spammers :) which is good
I enjoy a good flaming sometimes ;)
FLiPMaRC
10-16-2008, 10:13 AM
LMAO! I had to Google to find out what's a "newsgroup" :D
Dread Pirate Roberts
10-17-2008, 02:18 AM
It's a sad indictment that everyone has said it's a small forum.
This is a brilliant site, the only photography related site I regularly visit. I learn heaps and try to help others in turn.
I assume Jeff wishes it would grow in popularity to generate more business and it'd be nice to facilitate that::(
mugsisme
10-17-2008, 10:32 AM
It's a sad indictment that everyone has said it's a small forum.
This is a brilliant site, the only photography related site I regularly visit. I learn heaps and try to help others in turn.
I assume Jeff wishes it would grow in popularity to generate more business and it'd be nice to facilitate that::(
The good thing about this site is that it *IS* small. You can recognize names, and become cyber-buddies with people here. I have found people here to respectful and polite, even when they disagree with you. It is a good mesh. Some of the bigger sites are too big. There are too many people. Yeah, I recognize names, but that is because I lurk and rarely post. I have gotten burned one too many times. (There really is a polite way to say your pictures suck. :D ) I also love coming here. If I have a question, I will come to this site before I go to any other. I do recommend it to my friends when they get a camera and have questions. But I don't want to see this one become one of the sites where you are scared to post a picture or make a comment and have someone say you are an idiot.
Beowulff
10-18-2008, 07:49 AM
Totally agree with this:
.....I have found people here to respectful and polite, even when they disagree with you. It is a good mesh. Some of the bigger sites are too big. There are too many people. Yeah, I recognize names, but that is because I lurk and rarely post. I have gotten burned one too many times.I frequent one the "other" forums — one that appears to now be run by a tribe of aboriginals from some South American jungle area — and it's a soapbox of single-minded, self-opinionated, self-styled 'experts' with the typically closed mind-set of the dSLR owner. If you ain't in one of their "cliques", you simply don't rate a mention, and you're not allowed to "upset" the clique. It's now become so large as to be almost (literally) unmanageable by its moderators at any meaningful level. Anything goes it seems!
Without wanting to sound totally like a brown-nose (yeah, yeah, I know LOL), I truly think Jeff runs the best photography review site, and the best photography forum on the web.
Cheers :)
I tend to agree... Jeff actually reviews the cameras. At least one other site seems just to copy the advertising crap and post that as a review.
I am familiar with the clique-ridden forums. I can name 3 off the top of my head right now. Been there, seen them, done them.
S_p_i_d_e_r
10-18-2008, 02:51 PM
No politics = a key to success :)
cdifoto
10-18-2008, 02:58 PM
We're sitting at the Loser's Table in the Lunchroom of Life. United by our common geekdom. That's why it works so well.
:D
faisal
10-18-2008, 03:33 PM
hahaha....^^^^^
on a serious note....I also think the lack of post whores also helps...I know some sites where people have 5000+ posts after just 1 year....and 4000 out of them don't add value to the forum.....
cdifoto
10-18-2008, 03:34 PM
hahaha....^^^^^
on a serious note....I also think the lack of post whores also helps...I know some sites where people have 5000+ posts after just 1 year....and 4000 out of them don't add value to the forum.....
Geez you don't have to go singling me out like that. Not cool, man. :eek: :o :rolleyes:
faisal
10-18-2008, 03:46 PM
Geez you don't have to go singling me out like that. Not cool, man. :eek: :o :rolleyes:
no ones singling you out...I said 1 year = 5000+ posts....you've been here 3 years...you don't post whore...no ways....I love your shots and they add great value to this forum....sorry if it seemed like that...
cdifoto
10-18-2008, 03:47 PM
Oh sorry I forgot to include my just f*ckin with ya tags.
[just f*ckin with ya]
[/just f*ckin with ya]
:D
faisal
10-18-2008, 03:53 PM
aaaaahh... I should have seen that coming... :o
I just didn't want to offend a person like you cause I do love your shots and do hope to shoot pictures like you someday.... :)
cdifoto
10-18-2008, 03:59 PM
Offending me is impossible. I dish out so much, it'd be hypocritical of me not to take ANYTHING in stride. :p
faisal
10-18-2008, 04:02 PM
Offending me is impossible. I dish out so much, it'd be hypocritical of me not to take ANYTHING in stride. :p
take ANYTHING....hmm....and nothing is impossible.... :p
seanhoxx
10-19-2008, 01:12 AM
Post whores/ where do I, oh umm sorry, I see what you mean, LOL. But anyway before spending lots of money and jumping into DSLR fun and games I did a LOT of reading and research, and I kept stoping back here. I have found this site to be a great self education tool, and a wealth of advice from the members, and you know what else is cool people post pictures here. I go to that other site that kind of sounds like this one, and only read there, it has a whole different attitude, I am glad to call this home, so keep up doing what ever it is your doing here Jeff!
Dread Pirate Roberts
10-20-2008, 05:53 PM
We're sitting at the Loser's Table in the Lunchroom of Life. United by our common geekdom. That's why it works so well.
:D
LMFAO thanks CDI, well worth your 6,xxx +1 post
adam75south
10-25-2008, 12:33 AM
what got me here in the first place was the detailed review of the 30d. i was looking to buy a DSLR and was in between getting the 30d and some lenses or the d200 and one lens. well after reading his review of the 30d i decided to check the forums for sample pics. saw one person's shot with a 50mm f/1.4 and a 30d and i was sold. a few months of reading i finally started posting. everyone was helpful so i stuck around.
Honest Gaza
10-27-2008, 05:31 AM
Yes, I enjoy this forum.....but it has not been without controversy.
We've had our share of inflammatory topics, our share of disputed claims and counter claims, our share of personal attacks....and of course, our share of non-photography related discussions that have got out of hand.
Even the occasional banning.
Yes, I enjoy this forum.....but it has not been without controversy.
We've had our share of inflammatory topics, our share of disputed claims and counter claims, our share of personal attacks....and of course, our share of non-photography related discussions that have got out of hand.
Even the occasional banning.
yeah agree
but we need to have anger and fights, we are human and a bunch of self-loving know-it-all photographers (or as I like to think of some, camera-fanatics-without-photography-skills)
yes that was intended to start some arguments
One of the things that draws me to photography as a business is that unlike the computer world, it's not filled with obnoxious geeks.
cdifoto
10-27-2008, 12:21 PM
One of the things that draws me to photography as a business is that unlike the computer world, it's not filled with obnoxious geeks.
You haven't met enough photographers.
Mark_48
10-27-2008, 01:14 PM
You haven't met enough photographers.
Nor enough clients.
cdifoto
10-27-2008, 02:30 PM
Nor enough clients.
Those too! :D
I mean photographer - not gear-collecting geek.
DonSchap
10-27-2008, 04:16 PM
Hey, I resemble that remark. There is nothing wrong with having shelves full of dust collecting glass ... the shelves collect glass ... the glass collects dust ... and you talk about it! Such is life at the business end of a camera body. :o
No. There's nothing wrong with collecting old cameras or even building a smart collection of new cameras. The problem comes when somebody who primarily collects and brags to his friends what he's got, calls himself a photographer because of what he's got.
XSiWorks4Me
11-24-2008, 08:44 PM
I just joined today....
And I can't beleive the even, educational, apolitical, and helpful overall tone of this forum after having read many musicians forums.
Musicians may be the most passionate people about their gear and the quickest to say...mine's better than yours, without posting some proof.....
Have a feeling I'm going to enjoy it here.
J.
S_p_i_d_e_r
11-25-2008, 05:50 AM
Welcome to the club :)
XSiWorks4Me
11-26-2008, 12:07 PM
Thanks for the welcome!
I stayed up too late reading this forums last nite and now am very late for work....
HA! Oh well.
Phill D
11-26-2008, 11:31 PM
I often do that too :)
And welcome from me, I've learn't a lot since joining. There are a lot of very knowledgeable people here willing to share.
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