What has happened?

So anyway David...is Storm your name or just the effect you have on forums?

It's my real name! I don't know about a 'Storm' on the Forum, I think this thread has been very healthy and great fun too.

Regards
David

Nobody has to post a comment and nobody has to feedback. No binding obligation, Did you miss that bit?

However if you want something a bit more than an anodyne comment, perhaps thinking a little and explaining what you tried or did or thought, would help.

Equally if you post an image you are leaving the door open to feedback whether you want it or not. Most people would rather say nothing than say anything bad , negative, condescending or demoralising.

Do you really want feedback on those images? Or can you do it yourself? You don't need me to tell you anything about them at all.

I think this forum probably has a higher number of pro togs compared to other brand specific forums.

I also think the wide variety of subjects on this forum has inspired me to broaden my subjects. I have started to shoot birds nothing exotic but really appreciate the skill involved in that subject now.

I hope the stuff I have posted over the years here has also inspired and that I think is the main point of any forum like this, photography

Well there we are. Our difference in a nutshell.

How can anyone be so selfish as to expect that others should comment on their pictures, without being prepared to offer something in return?

I can understand fragile individuals being initially intimidated, but that's where it's important to reassure the novices - the emotional impact another's image has on them is just as valid as someone else's has on those that have been round the block many times.

And in some cases, more so.

I can imagine a horrible parallel universe, where the moderators kept count of images posted against comments offered. And then banned those that didn't meet some equation's requirements.

Only a fool would imagine that such was being advocated here. But that is a world apart from encouraging even beginners to believe that their naïve impressions are just as valid and often more interesting than the jaundiced views of those that have seen it all before.

I agree with this Gary and I have certainly been inspired by your images. We do see a broad range and although I certainly don't feel qualified to give an informed opinion on all the images, I do try at least to give an opinion as often as I can, as do many others.

I think this particular thread has sparked more comment in other threads, which can only be a good thing for the Forum.

Regards
David

Some of the more modern sites I use, actually rate the quality of posts and hence the worth of their members. It would be nice for some regular contributors to be recognised. People who post excellent images, provide decent c&c, provide technical solutions etc etc DrO, Smeggy, Mike P, for example and a whole load more folks too... I. E. The people who CREATE FORUM CONTENT.

It would help encourage useful contribution and deter delusional contribution and brash vacuous lickspittling.

You don't get decent content from lurkers!

Well if you'll show me the door I'll grab my bag

I was being realistic so used the word deter!

What a dreadful concept, having our posts rated and having us put into a pecking order of usefulness....

Pentax User is about everybody being welcome, not just a select few.

Modern, vibrant forums, where everyone is welcome.

Do you need examples of modern vibrant forums?

I don't think your previous post alluded to "everyone is welcome"

We are all equal and some are more equal than others

Post rating, karma points...

Apart from over-zealous modding, these are the two quickest ways to drive a forum into the ground...

Well now, the concept of a "like" seems to work quite well elsewhere. Hmmm Facebook for one?

Another forum allows "visitor likes". You don't need to log in allowing guests and lurkers to participate in their appreciation of the "content providers". Logged in users also can like and their likes are logged against their id's.

Another site allows you to like posts from other users. It makes you feel loved.

Here we allow the OP to like posts in their thread but there is no way for users to like the post, other posts, threads, etc etc....

I see comments such as "300 views and no comments ,....." A disheartened member opening themselves by posting their images to a great big fat zero.

I'm surprised it threatens people the idea that they might get encouragement. I'm hardly on the bleeding edge of tech but we do seem to have great inertia here, highly conservative in many ways.

I need to get my post count down to single figures a month, I feel the lower the post count the more important the post must be, so I'm going to try not to post for 20 years, I wonder if anything will change?