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10/15/2015 11:25:30 AM · #1
DPC seems dramatically different from the days a few years back - way fewer (on no) comments, fewer participants, votes, etc. Anyone have any thoughts as to why this is so? I know I've been sporadic myself, but it's not due to not wanting to participate. And when I can submit an entry, the main goal beyond getting the camera out of the bag, is to receive constructive feedback. :)
10/15/2015 12:02:07 PM · #2
10/15/2015 02:43:35 PM · #3
haha I had a feeling that would be the standard reply
10/15/2015 06:12:15 PM · #4
the horse is getting smaller.
10/15/2015 08:22:15 PM · #5
Originally posted by tnun:

the horse is getting smaller.


But we kick harder
10/15/2015 10:03:12 PM · #6
'twas social media killed the beast
10/16/2015 09:51:33 PM · #7
A big shout out to Tate, who has commented on both my offerings currently in the mix. THANK YOU!

I will try to get some commenting done this weekend in return!
10/16/2015 10:09:54 PM · #8
Originally posted by Melethia:

A big shout out to Tate, who has commented on both my offerings currently in the mix. THANK YOU!
I will try to get some commenting done this weekend in return!

Wait, you have two images in voting? I have one Tate comment on one of my three in voting. None are scoring well, and I only one other comment besides Tate's.

I will try to do some commenting this weekend.
10/16/2015 10:50:28 PM · #9
Yes, hell hath indeed frozen over (and since we've had record highs for the past several weeks, apparently Los Angeles is NOT hell, contrary to popular opinion). I do have two in voting. Both are doing rather well for me! Had to enter Jan's challenge, and lucked out on another. :-)
10/17/2015 05:26:41 AM · #10
Originally posted by stevieian:

... way fewer (on no) comments.....

Membership keeps shrinking. I still renew each year, but I guess many people are looking for change and improvements. DPC is stagnant..... sort of ok with me, but not with many others.

The reason I don't comment as much is that I am sick of negative reactions. Yes, I am aware that I can report a rude/inappropriate comment, but I really don't want to do this. Most people seem to want a comment that says "You are amazing. You are God's gift to photography. You are IT"
Anything other than praising them like they are THE best simply isn't welcome. I don't often comment anymore, because I just don't think this is helpful, whereas honest feedback IS useful - both positive and negative.

I, and many others, have often suggested a fix...... let people announce what type of comment they want to receive during voting stage, but this has never happened. Hence, I try to just shut up as much as I can.

If I KNEW my comment (good or bad) was welcome, I'd love to try and help.

10/17/2015 07:52:29 AM · #11
I am going to give commenting a go again and see how it is.
I will be honest and if people find they don't enjoy it please just ignore me.
It may not last long.
10/17/2015 10:37:18 AM · #12
THIS is why I no longer comment...damn if you do, damn if you don't.
Only comments I will make is if you get my personal ribbon during challenges. UNTIL change is made
Same with me...

After voting if anyone wishes to cc my images feel free I still need all the help I can get especially with colors and editing ..for now I am thinking about starting a thread for after voting for those wishing to receive cc or comments. Then I won't have to worry about backlash for my honest thoughts..I do like to comment bwcause it helps me to really look at a photo better.

Originally posted by Beetle:

Originally posted by stevieian:

... way fewer (on no) comments.....

Membership keeps shrinking. I still renew each year, but I guess many people are looking for change and improvements. DPC is stagnant..... sort of ok with me, but not with many others.

The reason I don't comment as much is that I am sick of negative reactions. Yes, I am aware that I can report a rude/inappropriate comment, but I really don't want to do this. Most people seem to want a comment that says "You are amazing. You are God's gift to photography. You are IT"
Anything other than praising them like they are THE best simply isn't welcome. I don't often comment anymore, because I just don't think this is helpful, whereas honest feedback IS useful - both positive and negative.

I, and many others, have often suggested a fix...... let people announce what type of comment they want to receive during voting stage, but this has never happened. Hence, I try to just shut up as much as I can.

If I KNEW my comment (good or bad) was welcome, I'd love to try and help.


Message edited by author 2015-10-17 10:42:45.
10/17/2015 01:05:13 PM · #13
Originally posted by jgirl57:

THIS is why I no longer comment...damn if you do, damn if you don't.
Only comments I will make is if you get my personal ribbon during challenges. UNTIL change is made
Same with me...

After voting if anyone wishes to cc my images feel free I still need all the help I can get especially with colors and editing ..for now I am thinking about starting a thread for after voting for those wishing to receive cc or comments. Then I won't have to worry about backlash for my honest thoughts..I do like to comment bwcause it helps me to really look at a photo better.

Originally posted by Beetle:

Originally posted by stevieian:

... way fewer (on no) comments.....

Membership keeps shrinking. I still renew each year, but I guess many people are looking for change and improvements. DPC is stagnant..... sort of ok with me, but not with many others.

The reason I don't comment as much is that I am sick of negative reactions. Yes, I am aware that I can report a rude/inappropriate comment, but I really don't want to do this. Most people seem to want a comment that says "You are amazing. You are God's gift to photography. You are IT"
Anything other than praising them like they are THE best simply isn't welcome. I don't often comment anymore, because I just don't think this is helpful, whereas honest feedback IS useful - both positive and negative.

I, and many others, have often suggested a fix...... let people announce what type of comment they want to receive during voting stage, but this has never happened. Hence, I try to just shut up as much as I can.

If I KNEW my comment (good or bad) was welcome, I'd love to try and help.


This comment and, Julie's....is a symptom of something "happening" here on DPC. I only joined in January of this year (thanks, Julie), but having taken the time to look at some archives, I'm more than mystified by the HUGE reduction in comments and "enthusiasm" for challenges.

Also, it seems that the "primaries".....those known by their styles and their "fame".....get all the comments now, and even so, not as many as even a "nobody" got years ago.

I absolutely LOVE this site...for its vision, its diversity, community, world-wide appeal and submissions, helpful hints, and passion for the art of photography. There are SO many gifted peeps at DPC....so much to learn, embrace, so much beauty and talent to drip tears over.

But, like so many....it's discouraging when there are SOOOO few comments on why some of my images score so low. I'd love to know WHY. Even those who score well (by my standards) have few comments. But, I'm to blame, too....

Today, I will pledge to stop believing that I have nothing to offer comment-wise. I will comment on as many as time allows, but I also hope I'll see more from everyone else, too. I love photography as something which enriches me spiritually if not financially. I want to improve, even though my equipment budget is SEVERELY limited. Every photo I've submitted was taken with a Canon G15 glorified point and shoot. I couldn't be happier with the results.

But, what I NEED is CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. I'm gonna do better, too.......I promise!
10/17/2015 02:18:03 PM · #14
Plain and simple,it's the Facebook/Instagram culture. People want to post something and only see nice comments. Nobody really cares as much about what their friends/family post as they do about posting something and then seeing how many "likes" they get. For God's sake, people get likes on a picture of the latte they are drinking at Starbucks, this place does not fulfill that type of narcissistic need in people.
10/17/2015 02:33:13 PM · #15
I so agree with Luciemac , and I am going to strive to comment more, as well as enter more challenges. At this point, I don't care so much about the actual score (really), as much as getting an insightful comment or two, as long as I am happy with my entry. I still think DPC is a great site too, and it helps someone like me, who is not a professional photographer, take the time to pull my camera out of the bag and shoot things I would typically never think of to shoot. I love photography, and feel there's something to be learned by each & every entry. Including all of yours !

I wish there was a way to promote this site to gain more participation. Suggestions?
10/17/2015 04:15:15 PM · #16
Originally posted by stevieian:


I wish there was a way to promote this site to gain more participation. Suggestions?

Word of mouth. At an event today I struck up a conversation with someone also taking photos. I mentioned DPChallenge to her - I hope she shows up (she was shooting with a Sony camera). :-)
10/17/2015 04:33:41 PM · #17
I think everyone should get great praise for their images... no matter how out of focus, how dark, how distorted, mis-cropped, no color balance, etc., etc., etc, especially to the people that only want great comments on their work.

There is a very simple reason for this; They will be encouraged to keep shooting without changing a single thing. Instead of raising the bar, we lower the floor.

It's a win-win for everyone. The people wanting only pats on the back get their pat and marginal images look good and those with very good images look great. Most of the great images have left, so it won't affect them at all. DPC will have so many happy people, that the site won't know what to do with them all... and most of all, no dead horses need to get beat. The only down side may be that the popcorn consumption may go down, but I think we can live with that.

:D

Mike
10/17/2015 10:06:03 PM · #18
Originally posted by stevieian:

...I, and many others, have often suggested a fix...... let people announce what type of comment they want to receive during voting stage, but this has never happened.


There already IS a fix: leave anonymous comments. Catering to people who cannot take a dose of reality when it comes to their work is NOT a solution. If we enter a challenger/contest/anything where our work is viewed in the context of other work, we MUST learn to expect a reaction. Receiving feedback, especially if it does not align with our own expectations, is as much of the learning process as giving a fair but honest critique.

Message edited by author 2015-10-18 11:43:49.
10/18/2015 10:31:57 AM · #19
Thank you, Tiny. I appreciate it.
10/18/2015 12:03:59 PM · #20
Originally posted by nam:

Thank you, Tiny. I appreciate it.


Neil is losing his touch, I got a nice comment as well (thanks).
10/18/2015 12:28:07 PM · #21
Oh dear, I do it on buses, on trains, in hotels, at home, in the street, and in the pub, so the results are often very different.
10/20/2015 05:37:56 AM · #22
Had a quiet spot this afternoon so decided to comment on every entry in the Re-Orientation challenge. I called 'em as I see 'em and tried not to be offensive but I suppose that depends on the thickness of the reader's skin, after 10 years here mine has grown quite thick.
10/20/2015 07:30:07 AM · #23
Originally posted by tanguera:

There already IS a fix: leave anonymous comments.

You mean the "Hidden during Voting" thing? You are still "Exposed" when voting ends, and if the person is still pissed off, well....

Originally posted by tanguera:

Catering to people who cannot take a dose of reality when it comes to their work is NOT a solution. If we enter a challenger/contest/anything where our work is viewed in the context of other work, we MUST learn to expect a reaction. Receiving feedback, especially if it does not align with our own expectations, is as much of the learning process as giving a fair but honest critique.

Personally, I don't care. I'm not going to be ignorant, but I won't let someone's thin skin stop me from commenting on others' images. That said, is it widely understood that there would be a serious reprimand should one be reported for behaving badly from a comment honestly left?

I know there has been much discussion about howe to leave a comment such that it shouldn't offend anyone, but one never sees/hears discussion on sucking it up and taking constructive criticism as a place to start work.

I've often opined that I don't want to be told how to fix my images, that I simply want impressions, but since commenting is on an anonymous photog, I take what I get.

I admit that I pretty much only comment on images that truly move me, good or bad.

I should work on that.....
10/20/2015 08:53:04 AM · #24
Someone at wrote an email to me and my boss saying I was a terrible manager, that the whole lab thought I was the worst, and that everyone was looking for a different job. Then HR told me I had become toxic. That sucked, although I'm lucky my boss thinks I'm great so I had no real worries about my job. (Apparently even HR thinks expecting someone to help out the team and also do the work accurately is asking too much. Message received. Not sure the COO would agree with you, but good luck with that.)

I felt some sadness and anger for about half a day with that. Then suck it up princess and move on.

But getting riled up because someone comments negatively on a b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l picture I took and posted on the internet? Ummm, no. And I kind of do feel like the 'anonymous' system helps since they can't respond right away and have to at least experience some time in between seeing a comment and then emailing me about it.

(And to the dear sweet employees looking for a job, somebody else can have you, good luck finding an easier gig.)

10/20/2015 12:50:05 PM · #25
Originally posted by NikonJeb:

Originally posted by tanguera:

There already IS a fix: leave anonymous comments.

You mean the "Hidden during Voting" thing? You are still "Exposed" when voting ends, and if the person is still pissed off, well....

Yeah, I originally worried a bit about having the identity revealed after voting. However, it seems like tempers have generally cooled by the time voting ends, and I think anonymous commenting works pretty well. If you are worried about how your comments might be taken, I would recommend you try the anonymous route.

Originally posted by MichaelC:

Had a quiet spot this afternoon so decided to comment on every entry in the Re-Orientation challenge. I called 'em as I see 'em and tried not to be offensive but I suppose that depends on the thickness of the reader's skin, after 10 years here mine has grown quite thick.

Thanks for the comment, Michael. It brings the total number of comments on my Re-Orientation to one. However, that is currently one more comment than the total I have left on that challenge. So, I need to get busy on that.
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