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loosing interest in photography forum

  • 12-06-2012 11:33am
    #1
    PCPhoto
    Registered Users Posts: 6,584 ✭✭✭


    like many others who browse the main forum only, I have noticed there are fairly limited and often repeated topics.

    In my efforts to give my opinion on them I feel like I have been attacked for trying to explain (my understanding of the law) - I realise that no everyone wants to read what the law is and no-one wants the law to be compared to something else - especially as it ruins their point ...ie the child porn reference in the recent "worlds best photos thread".

    I understand some people are sick of me voicing my opinions and "telling" people what the law is and for this very reason I do not intend to get involved in these threads in the future.

    2-3 years ago this place was fun - people enjoyed a bit of banter, people looked for advice and others pointed them in the right direction and some pointed them in the wrong direction, now the main forum is all about the legalities of photography ! company X is using my image, copyright theft or accusations/implications of breaking the law...or people asking "where can I get the cheapest and best camera for virtually no money"

    I have in the past facilitated many boardsies in getting their images published in the national newspapers and making each of these boardsies earn money from their published images - not once asking for financial compensation or any kind of money or anything in return ...... I intend to continue that (as usual free of charge).

    I have tried to make a contribution to the photo forum community but at the moment I will not be taking an active role on boards photo forum simply because any time you point out the legal/correct thing - people attack you and from the various other responses people are fed up with my contribution.

    I will float around for now - but will not be contributing in any more of the legalities of photography threads - whats the point !! (I may consider leaving boards in the future as I feel the community is not what it used to be)

    Best of luck people.


«1345

Comments

  • #2
    pete4130
    Registered Users Posts: 3,944 ✭✭✭pete4130


    I hear where you're coming from. A lot changed when the T&C were altered a year or two ago and the forum lost a lot of its older, regular posters.


  • #3
    thebaz
    Registered Users Posts: 13,570 ✭✭✭✭thebaz


    i rarely use it now - found it a great place a few years ago when i re- started out - as you say very helpful and supportive - whether it is a case you just outgrow things, whether its boards, facebook, flickr - not sure - but just do the odd browse here now


  • #4
    the_tractor
    Registered Users Posts: 301 ✭✭the_tractor


    Hopefully the forum will live on longer, at least until the 32 County Photo project is finished.

    :P


  • #5
    smash
    Closed Accounts Posts: 34,809 ✭✭✭✭smash


    PCPhoto wrote: »
    I have in the past facilitated many boardsies in getting their images published in the national newspapers and making each of these boardsies earn money from their published images - not once asking for financial compensation or any kind of money or anything in return ...... I intend to continue that (as usual free of charge).

    This is the kind of info that the forum needs to be honest. It's useful and benefits the community, but there's a lot of people who seem to get worked up about sharing such info.


  • #6
    jpb1974
    Registered Users Posts: 3,017 ✭✭✭jpb1974


    Man.. I really think you're spitting the dummy out of the pram here.

    It's a simple as this, If you said -

    "I plan on getting a Canon 1D X next week"

    I wouldn't respond by saying

    "Do you plan to pay for it?"

    and thus, whether I meant it or not, implied that you might be planning to steal it. If that happened to me... I wouldn't be impressed.

    There's a time and a place for teaching people the wisdoms of copyright law... usually when asked for, broken or there is a definite intent.

    You went from there, to talking about child pornography in an effort to bolster another point. I mean.. that's just way out there.

    You just need to accept that maybe you were wrong, suck it up and move on. Fact is, nobody is going to hold it against you... I know I won't. But publically whinging about it, whilst trying to generalise it by saying the whole forum is in descent is just making a mountain out of a molehill.


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  • #7
    ScumLord
    Registered Users Posts: 28,789 ✭✭✭✭ScumLord


    PCPhoto wrote: »
    like many others who browse the main forum only, I have noticed there are fairly limited and often repeated topics.
    You'l find this to be true of areas of your life as you get older. everyone you know is having the same conversation over and over again, it's basically the same story on the news every night.


  • #8
    AnCatDubh
    Registered Users Posts: 6,392 ✭✭✭AnCatDubh


    You've certainly been an incredible help to a lot of people - and I hope people have in return at bare minimum expressed their gratitude to you for your assistance.

    It's entirely reasonable for you to feel the way you do. Almost a right of passage at this stage with forum posters, and in my experience not boards specific - remember that bloody excellent flickr group with really nice people involved that we all thought we'd marry? :D My personal take from observations on such matters over a lengthy period of time is that it is generally a cycle

    Lurking->Enthusiasm->Mundane->The place isn't what it used to be->Disillusionment->Lurking (occasionally active lurking).

    even happens category moderators :pac:

    Anyhow, best of luck to you in all future endeavours. You've been a gem around these parts.

    We'll be watching for you on the news reports ;)


  • #9
    jpb1974
    Registered Users Posts: 3,017 ✭✭✭jpb1974


    Lurking->Enthusiasm->Mundane->The place isn't what it used to be->Disillusionment->Lurking (occasionally active lurking).

    1. Enthusiasm (The length of this term typically decreases based on the number of loops)
    2. Drop Off - "been busy lately, haven't had much time"
    3. Mundane
    4. Disillusionment
    5. The place isn't what it used to be thread
    6. Lurking
    7. I'm back ("It's been a while since I posted" or a good argument breaks out)
    8. Goto Step 1


  • #10
    kensutz
    Registered Users Posts: 9,186 ✭✭✭kensutz


    I agree with Paddy, the forum has become a bit stale with repeated topics (copyright,usage etc) although I find most new threads that start suddenly end up in The Workshop forum. I myself have just lurked a lot on the forum for a few reasons but it seems to be caught in a vicious circle, i.e, it goes from being mundane to picking up where everyone is having a laugh back to being mundane. It's been like that for quite a while and I think it's just a case of trying to get the old regulars back and encourage the newer members to participate.


  • #11
    jonniebgood1
    Registered Users Posts: 3,577 ✭✭✭jonniebgood1


    AnCatDubh wrote: »
    My personal take from observations on such matters over a lengthy period of time is that it is generally a cycle

    Lurking->Enthusiasm->Mundane->The place isn't what it used to be->Disillusionment->Lurking (occasionally active lurking).

    even happens category moderators :pac:

    Yippee.....

    I thought it was just folks in the history forum who could get disillusioned!!! This realisation has cheered me up no end>>> (jonniebgood1 in full stage 2 mode :D)


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  • #12
    smash
    Closed Accounts Posts: 34,809 ✭✭✭✭smash


    kensutz wrote: »
    although I find most new threads that start suddenly end up in The Workshop forum.

    I don't really get this, it's a sub forum and a lot of topics just get lost in there because they're moved. I think the main forum should be about photography related subjects in general, then have sub forums for C&C and copyright issues.


  • #13
    Fujiguy
    Registered Users Posts: 62 ✭✭Fujiguy


    PCPhoto

    I don't know about the copyright argument ( didn't see it so will not comment ) but on a personal level, i have just starting using boards again because of photography, and my current situation allowing me to spend more time reading posts. I posted a question here the other day about photography as a job, honestly i felt a bit stupid asking it, but i needed the information and did not know where else to get it.

    Anyway, you took the time to write out a very detailed and honest answer, which actually made me realize on a personal level what i wanted to do, and what choices i needed to make. I think it would be a great loss to the forums should you leave, and can only thank you again and hope you reconsider.


  • #14
    Borderfox
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 10,257 Mod ✭✭✭✭Borderfox


    I would like to echo fujiguy's sentiments. Pcphoto has helped a lot of people on this forum (including myself) with no regard for personal gain and I feel that sometimes he is jumped on for giving people the answer they dont want to hear.

    Regards the forum, a lot of the things are cyclical and will ebb and flow.


  • #15
    DaireQuinlan
    Registered Users Posts: 6,675 ✭✭✭DaireQuinlan


    smash wrote: »
    I don't really get this, it's a sub forum and a lot of topics just get lost in there because they're moved. I think the main forum should be about photography related subjects in general, then have sub forums for C&C and copyright issues.

    It seemed like a good idea when it was set up, the forum was being swamped in pointless and repetitive gear threads. I don't think it's such a good idea any more, the volume of posting on the photography forum as a whole seems so have dropped off a cliff over the last few years.

    I think it's down to a combination of a couple of things, a particularly disruptive poster who was banned too late and caused a lot of people to not bother reading the forum anymore, and the simultaneous rise in popularity of twitter, which established itself as an alternative bolt hole. Most people never came back.


  • #16
    sheesh
    Registered Users Posts: 4,080 ✭✭✭sheesh


    I don't post here as much as I used to either I look at the photo threads or I might answer some c+c requests I don't think its anything to do with the forum I think I just do photography stuff in real life more since I joined a Camera Club
    (Go ardfert Camera Club! Woot!) :D

    I still lurk it just has moved down the list of things I look everyday.

    PCphoto has always been good for giving advice on here, I met him at the Charleville Castle meet up and he was a sound guy in real life too.

    As a pro of course copyright is a big deal to him. pros take pictures to get paid.

    you do have people on here that cannot see/understand his point of view. They seem to wander in thinking copyright is really nothing to worry about but this is a photography board of course it is going to be important some people on here.

    I would be like going into the hunting forum and going on about animal rights.


  • #17
    jpb1974
    Registered Users Posts: 3,017 ✭✭✭jpb1974


    There's no doubt that PCPhoto helps people out. Personally I just think that there's a bit of over-eagerness to discuss some matters as per the 'World greatest photos' thread yesterday.

    In regard to the thread the OP seemed to take the "garda inquiry" with a pinch of salt, but you don't want to be scaring people off either... "jaysus, I went over to the photography forum the other day and 5 minutes later it was insinuated that I was a thief". I do accept that this wasn't the intent... but the dude was only looking for a link and said he wanted to make a collection. Why assume some sort of unlawful intent? It's frickin paranoia that has the world turning against photography in recent years, and now it's spreading to photographers themselves.

    Have to say.. I do agree about the sub-forum thing.. it does give the impression that there's very little being discussed.

    As for TheCageyOne... dude would wreck your head... but I think people gave him too much notice too. (S'up Cagey ;))


  • #18
    colblimp
    Registered Users Posts: 1,168 ✭✭✭colblimp


    jpb1974 wrote: »
    Man.. I really think you're spitting the dummy out of the pram here.

    It's a simple as this, If you said -

    "I plan on getting a Canon 1D X next week"

    I wouldn't respond by saying

    "Do you plan to pay for it?"

    and thus, whether I meant it or not, implied that you might be planning to steal it. If that happened to me... I wouldn't be impressed.

    There's a time and a place for teaching people the wisdoms of copyright law... usually when asked for, broken or there is a definite intent.

    You went from there, to talking about child pornography in an effort to bolster another point. I mean.. that's just way out there.

    You just need to accept that maybe you were wrong, suck it up and move on. Fact is, nobody is going to hold it against you... I know I won't. But publically whinging about it, whilst trying to generalise it by saying the whole forum is in descent is just making a mountain out of a molehill.

    That post is EXACTLY the reason PCPhoto is going to take a back seat. Some people...:rolleyes:

    I've had nothing but help from PC, not only is he extremely knowledgeable and helpful, but he's a thoroughly nice bloke as well. Stay in touch, PC. :)


  • #19
    lisatiffany
    Registered Users Posts: 536 ✭✭✭lisatiffany


    I can understand someone wanting to leave the group and granted I've only been on boards a couple of months now but you do get the odd annoyance here and there that can affect your daily mood. I like certain aspects like the random photo thread because I find its a good way to post and view other photographers work without getting lost in a bunch of flickr groups. I'm half and half about the C&C thread, some great stuff does get posted and it being the internet everyone is a critic so you kind of have to expect some extreme comments every now and then. The only thing I really don't like is some people seem to go out of their way to not mention an event or photo competition they know of until after its over, I never liked that mentality.

    I guess people use the group for different reasons, I tend to check it daily to see what's been posted and there are quite a few regular users who post some great insight about their experiences and methods. I wouldn't leave the group completely but if things got a bit too ridiculous I'd just take a few days away and come back. Time on the internet goes much faster and in a week most people forget about one thing and move onto another. Every site and every forum has the same problems, some more than others but its not worth leaving them over.

    @PCPhoto - I've always found your input interesting and well thought out, I hope you stay but at the same time I can understand your reasons for leaving.


  • #20
    melekalikimaka
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 10,686 Mod ✭✭✭✭melekalikimaka


    i probably have 1000's of posts on here, used to love the forum... it used to be a good spot, full of dedicated posters, lots of discussion, debate, jokes, outings. it decended into b1tching and moaning and nearly all the dedicated crew faded off, disheartened, a few times there has been attempts to pick things up again, but there doesnt seem to be the community anymore, friendliness has been replaced with bickering in most threads.

    I studied a fricking degree in photography and this forum was pretty much my rock when things got tough and got me through it all.

    i still lurk the fringes in a hope of former glory tho


  • #21
    Hugh_C
    Registered Users Posts: 2,852 ✭✭✭Hugh_C


    it has become dull and a tiny minority of posters have become needlessly rude. Life's too short an' all that ...


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  • #22
    gsxr1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,167 ✭✭✭gsxr1


    PC Photo. I have used your advise on many occasions. (including advise on my limited kit) .
    I hope You stay . And I agree with you on the legal sh1t stuff. I just dont click it.


  • #23
    chisel
    Registered Users Posts: 215 ✭✭chisel


    @PCPhoto: I bought a flash off ya once and you gave me some good advice. Understand where you're coming from.
    **********************
    For me, I found when the sub fora were split off, the usual good content was just subdivided further. You'd click in and see no new posts. After a while I stopped clicking in.

    I think a forum like this needs a certain critical mass of posts to keep peoples interest. Once it gets dull, you lose people pretty quickly. I believe you need a certain mix of people: the brilliant, the occasionally brilliant, good, weird and beginner alike. Once any one group predominates things turn poor.

    I think all the other sub fora (maybe not pix?) should just be lumped back in here. At least then it would seem more "lively"?

    Also, maybe it was enthusiasm at the time, but it did seem like there was a good sense of cameraderie (!) here that made you feel like it was a club, maybe it was just the signal to noise was better?

    Anyway, I'd be sad to see this forum go south. Keep posting people!


  • #24
    AnimalRights
    Registered Users Posts: 7,067 ✭✭✭AnimalRights


    smash wrote: »
    I don't really get this, it's a sub forum and a lot of topics just get lost in there because they're moved. I think the main forum should be about photography related subjects in general, then have sub forums for C&C and copyright issues.
    I totally agree with this, I never check the sub forums and I often miss things because of this.

    kensutz wrote: »
    I agree with Paddy, the forum has become a bit stale with repeated topics (copyright,usage etc)

    We are just here too long... forum works in cycles basically.


  • #25
    AnimalRights
    Registered Users Posts: 7,067 ✭✭✭AnimalRights


    melekalikimaka wrote: »
    i probably have 1000's of posts on here, used to love the forum... it used to be a good spot, full of dedicated posters, lots of discussion, debate, jokes, outings. it decended into b1tching and moaning and nearly all the dedicated crew faded off, disheartened, a few times there has been attempts to pick things up again, but there doesnt seem to be the community anymore, friendliness has been replaced with bickering in most threads.

    I studied a fricking degree in photography and this forum was pretty much my rock when things got tough and got me through it all.

    i still lurk the fringes in a hope of former glory tho

    I disagree with all of that but then again we always did disagree so things are normal here I guess....which makes me right and you wrong. :)


  • #26
    colblimp
    Registered Users Posts: 1,168 ✭✭✭colblimp


    lisatiffany wrote: »
    The only thing I really don't like is some people seem to go out of their way to not mention an event or photo competition they know of until after its over, I never liked that mentality.

    Why can't people stop b1tching about this and just let it go?! :mad:


  • #27
    AnimalRights
    Registered Users Posts: 7,067 ✭✭✭AnimalRights


    I think Cork people should have their own sub forum.


  • #28
    jpb1974
    Registered Users Posts: 3,017 ✭✭✭jpb1974


    This is a 100% true story -

    I took some photos of my sister's dog which I shared with her via email.

    She took the photos, totally and utterly bastardised them with some photo fúecker-up app in Facebook and then posted them on her wall.

    I told my mother how furious I was about it... and she was like "now son, remember, it's you sister and there is no harm done".

    I feel like dis-owning the beatch but fear that my parents wouldn't be too happy.

    Any advice?


  • #29
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 14,344 ✭✭✭✭[Deleted User]


    With regards to the OP; I like PCPhoto. He's been amazingly nice to me with anything I've ever asked him and he's even text me a few 'heads up' kinda messages in the past about things that may interest me.

    The guy is solid gold (and I still intend to meet him in person someday... just to shake his hand (and figure out how to steal his gear)).


    That said, my opinion on the forum can be summed up with a post I made in a different thread recently (asking about a sticky for copyright related threads):

    Deleted User wrote: »
    In my opinion, there aren't really that many of these threads, it's just that the forum is really bare since the creation of the workshop subforum, that we notice them more than before?


    I think the workshop sub-forum kinda killed the main forum? As far as I can see, if you want anything outside of copyright advice or C+C then you go to the workshop. Seems most advice or opinion threads, not related to a photo that you've already taken, are moved there anyway.

    Forum would probably be better off if the workshop was scrapped and amalgamated with the main forum again, and replaced with a C+C subforum, no?

    A single weekly/monthly challenge thread would make the photo challenge sub-forum redundant too, surely?

    But sure what do I know. I'm just banging on now.

    I'd be against a Copyright sticky. Stickies are generally useless. They contain too much information (which ultimately makes them unusable as the person looking at it won't know where to start) or they are rolling threads, like the buying advice thread, where genuinely helpful replies are few and far between. (I'm not just talking about those two as stickies, I do mean stickies in general. On most forums they're intended to help, but rarely do, it seems).

    All in my own opinion of course.



    Cabansail replied pretty much saying it wasn't going to change, which is fair enough, he's a mod and gets a say in what goes, and he knows the forum/s better than I do, so I won't argue with him.


    I have the Workshop forum as a 'favourite' on here, but not the main forum. The only times I really venture to the main forum is if I'm bored or want to swing by the Random photo thread.


    I must admit though, I've always enjoyed PCs posts. I'd assume he's very interested in the law in general, as he usually has a good take on different situations (including when he appears on other forums. I think I come across him on the Emergency Services and Legal Discussion forums a bit? Unless I'm confusing him with someone else, but I don't think so).


  • #30
    jpb1974
    Registered Users Posts: 3,017 ✭✭✭jpb1974


    Let's be clear... nobody is hating on the guy.

    It's like I love me ma to bits... but even she gets on me tits sometimes.


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  • #31
    dinneenp
    Registered Users Posts: 8,099 ✭✭✭dinneenp


    AnimalRights wrote: »
    I think Cork people should have their own sub forum.
    Couldn't call it a sub forum though. It'd be THE PEOPLES FORUM. (I'm
    from Cork).

    I find as well that there's less activity- I was away for over 2 weeks and there were 'not many' new threads in main forum.

    I find C&C threads can get high views but ectremly low replies/C&C.

    I'd like a random pics thread BUT with more comments. The random thread is nice to browse but virtually no comments on it and a lot of people don't want to post a new thread for a few photos but would like some comments on them.

    I agree- should be a legal sub-forum.

    Always found it odd that there's very little/no talk about new gear, models etc

    Cheers, Pa


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