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02/17/2006 08:46:29 PM · #1
I read this thread about 2006 Goals today.

I posted this:
"Take one photograph to put into the "Really Good" folder in my portfolio (it's empty)"

but I almost posted this:
"Comment in detail every day on one new photograph that I admire"

The 2006 Goals thread got me thinking, though. Almost all the goals posted are about the things we can measure; scores, ribbons, favourites, views, etc.

So, given that there are new threads every week moaning about lack of helpful comments, would it be a good idea to have, instead of a "helpful" box to check below each comment, a comment rating system, for example the same as on the tutorials? Your current average "comment rating" could appear on your profile page.

It would provide a worthy new statistic for the goals threads, but more important I think we'd all be better and happier photographers if we put more effort and imagination into our comments.

(I admit a certain bias here; I take my appreciation & enjoyment of other people's photographs rather more seriously than I do my own photography.)
02/17/2006 08:55:25 PM · #2
I think we all wish that more comments were thrown out there but sometimes we do not have the time. I find that if you really want a good opinion, post a photo, tell what you were trying to do with it and ask for comments please. Many people on this site are very willing to help out someone trying to improve or refine a technic. You will find that their comments can be very detailed too.
02/17/2006 09:03:42 PM · #3
I think the idea of a comment rating is actually kind of cool, I haven't commented in a while, but when I do I always try to make the most helpful comment I can and a measure of what the person though would be nice.
02/17/2006 09:09:51 PM · #4
Hah, all that would happen is that bland positive comments would score better than constructive critical ones.
02/17/2006 09:15:34 PM · #5
Quite frankly, a rating system for comments would do nothing more than generate more whining then there already is. Most comments are not intended as critiques in the first place.

The helpful checkbox is useless. Look and you will see that individuals will either check most every commment they get as helpful out of habit or check none at all. That means checking or not checking it means zip! Yet people whine about it being unchecked when the most likely reason it was not checked is because that particular person never checks any of them in the first place, helpful or not.

Another thing, if you are commenting to meet a numerical goal then their quality will suffer.

Message edited by author 2006-02-17 21:17:29.
02/17/2006 10:23:00 PM · #6
Hmmm..... disappointing responses, but not really unexpected.
It is indeed seen as better to receive than to give.
02/17/2006 10:46:56 PM · #7
Originally posted by ubique:

Hmmm..... disappointing responses, but not really unexpected.
It is indeed seen as better to receive than to give.

It is my opinion that it is a mistaken belief expressed in numerous forum postings that if you just prod people into giving more and better comments that it would somehow magically improve your photographs. Most people critiquing your photographs are likely just as much a novice as you are, including members of the critique club.

I am NOT saying comments cannot be useful. Once in a while they can really teach you something significant about photography you did not know. But mostly they are opinionated, cryptic, incomplete and sometimes contradictory.

Comments will always be less efficient educators than a good mentor, a good photography book and getting out there and entering a lot of challenges. You always learn best by doing!
02/17/2006 11:05:36 PM · #8
Originally posted by stdavidson:

Originally posted by ubique:

Hmmm..... disappointing responses, but not really unexpected.
It is indeed seen as better to receive than to give.

It is my opinion that it is a mistaken belief expressed in numerous forum postings that if you just prod people into giving more and better comments that it would somehow magically improve your photographs. Most people critiquing your photographs are likely just as much a novice as you are, including members of the critique club.

I am NOT saying comments cannot be useful. Once in a while they can really teach you something significant about photography you did not know. But mostly they are opinionated, cryptic, incomplete and sometimes contradictory.

Comments will always be less efficient educators than a good mentor, a good photography book and getting out there and entering a lot of challenges. You always learn best by doing!


You're right of course. But I am not suggesting that we will learn terribly much from reading other people's comments about our photographs; rather that we will learn quite a lot from the comments we make about other people's photographs. Thoughtful comments benefit the commentor more than they do the commentee.
(edit for spelling)

Message edited by author 2006-02-17 23:10:43.
02/17/2006 11:47:20 PM · #9
Originally posted by ubique:

You're right of course. But I am not suggesting that we will learn terribly much from reading other people's comments about our photographs; rather that we will learn quite a lot from the comments we make about other people's photographs. Thoughtful comments benefit the commentor more than they do the commentee.
(edit for spelling)

Great point. You are absolutely right!!!

I'd go so far as saying if you try to write a in-depth critique that you learn more by commenting on other photographer's work than you do from them commenting on yours.

Still doesn't mean a rating system is needed, though. ;)
02/18/2006 12:04:21 AM · #10
Originally posted by stdavidson:

... Still doesn't mean a rating system is needed, though. ;)

Yeah, I know. I wasn't really serious about my suggestion; we don't need any more damned statistics!
One of my occasional diversions on DPC is to check the commenting record (quality and quantity) of the complainants in these "I want more comments" posts. The reality is usually pretty embarrassing for them.
02/18/2006 12:10:56 AM · #11
I feel confident in the quality of my comments, though the quantity has fallen off as of late.

I think i've set such a high standard for quality of comments that I actually want to leave, that I inadvertently ran myself off from commenting....
02/18/2006 12:29:08 AM · #12
Originally posted by wavelength:

I feel confident in the quality of my comments, though the quantity has fallen off as of late.

I think i've set such a high standard for quality of comments that I actually want to leave, that I inadvertently ran myself off from commenting....

Your approach does you and reviewee the greatest service. I would not change a thing.
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