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 05/19/2006 09:57:08 PM · #26
Originally posted by Art Roflmao:
I've got nothing relevant or important to add. I'm just popping in to disrupt. ...and also for the popcorn.


also wanted to quote this... how appropriate. ? lol... hahahaaaa...
 05/19/2006 10:08:47 PM · #27
I LOVE the mix of topics we have, and I agree with the others that talked about community spirit etc.

Personally I think that just like "small talk" is something we engage in in "real life", various forum chat seems the natural online equivalent.
For the threads that I really am not at all interested in, there is always the ignore function.

It would be nice, though, if we had more options to customize our forum preferences, so people who want to see nothing but photography topics, can choose that option (and be antisocial :-p )

05/19/2006 10:10:28 PM · #28
Originally posted by Beetle:

It would be nice, though, if we had more options to customize our forum preferences, so people who want to see nothing but photography topics, can choose that option (and be antisocial :-p )


That is actually an option. Check your "my preferences" page. You can choose to hide any section you want.
 05/19/2006 10:16:24 PM · #29
Originally posted by amandalore:
Originally posted by posthumous:
dpc forums are like a salad, and salads taste better with cheese.


LM *** AO!!!


Agreed!
 05/19/2006 10:19:58 PM · #30
Originally posted by mk:

That is actually an option. Check your "my preferences" page. You can choose to hide any section you want.

Other than turning off DPC Prints threads, I have never tried turning off anything else. Does it work well, or are there too many overlaps?

If it does work, then it might be good to have some sections that are very clearly assigned for "chat" purposes, i.e. NON photography related so that it is easy to turn them off.
 05/19/2006 10:22:53 PM · #31
Originally posted by Beetle:
Originally posted by mk:

That is actually an option. Check your "my preferences" page. You can choose to hide any section you want.

Other than turning off DPC Prints threads, I have never tried turning off anything else. Does it work well, or are there too many overlaps?

If it does work, then it might be good to have some sections that are very clearly assigned for "chat" purposes, i.e. NON photography related so that it is easy to turn them off.


I think that's what general discussion and rant are intended for. I don't know how well the others work because I don't have any sections turned off. I do make liberal use of the "ignore thread" feature, though.
 05/19/2006 11:06:46 PM · #32
Hi,

I've been a participant in online forums since about 1980 and a moderator of several groups since 1990. My experience has been that "social" messages unrelated to the forum topic are essential to maintaining a sense of community. But when these messages dominate a forum, it turns into a clique which drives many people away.

I think DPC is doing fine in this regard. The structure of the forums allows people to ignore the treads that don't interest them so people who aren't interested in the social exchanges can ignore them.

But I would also like to support Coolhar's concern. I'd like to see more substantive discussions of photographic topic. My approach would be to increase the serious photo discussions rather than decrease the social discussion. I know that I'm guilty of making quick and easy social postings rather than spending the time necessary to write something meaningful about a serious photographic topic. I'll try to write more about photography. Will you join me?

--DanW
05/19/2006 11:34:00 PM · #33
Originally posted by wheeledd:
I'd like to see more substantive discussions of photographic topic. My approach would be to increase the serious photo discussions rather than decrease the social discussion. I know that I'm guilty of making quick and easy social postings rather than spending the time necessary to write something meaningful about a serious photographic topic. I'll try to write more about photography. Will you join me?



I'd love to see that. And, more support in the Critique Club. And more tutorials (which BTW are easy to put together).

I've been around different online forumns since the late 80's myself and this is one of the best I've ever became attached to. Currently, it's the only site I ever post to or read on a regular basis. The feeling of community here is strong and newcomers are welcomed.

Sure, we have our "class clowns", including a guy named yanko, a Crayola reject (sorry crayon :-P), and someone that answers when you ROFLMAO, but then we have an insightful musical bear and a sneezing doctor that can breakdown and analyze photos on different levels. It balances itself out.

Don't diss the fun :-) And, my profile is an open book if anyone wants to talk about photography or any other subject.

Now, back to that silly Thread Killer thread for me :-)
 05/20/2006 01:00:50 AM · #34
Originally posted by mk:
I think that's what general discussion and rant are intended for. I don't know how well the others work because I don't have any sections turned off. I do make liberal use of the "ignore thread" feature, though.

I want to see a one click ignore thread option versus the current 4 click ignore. I don't need to see every dicsussion about Canon lenses, but can't resist the off-topic banter about how many bottles of wine are on the wall... ;)
 05/20/2006 05:04:28 AM · #35
Originally posted by coolhar:
... Hard to argue against spending some resources on something that many people seem interested in. But my feeling is that if we try to be all things to all people we will lose our identity as a website community organized around photography. Photography, especially trying to learn to do better photography, is what we all have in common. It degrades the quality of the site if so much of our discussions revolve around things that are not in the main vein that should be of interest, at least marginally, to all users. I just think we, as a group, can do a better job of being about out common interest if we are not trying to embrace everything else as well.

While I have no problem with the off-topic noise as it can at times add a bit of depth to an otherwise non-discript photography discussion, I do agree with the above. However, I don't think anything needs done other than the obvious restricting of such antics to the General Discussion forum (or the Rant if a volitile subject).

I do see it as a sign there just isn't enough photography related going on here to keep the growing populous occupied. Sure the challenges offer a distraction twice (and sometime 3 times) a week, but there is more going on than that. Robert has a Landscape thread that degenerates occasionally into a "Show me what you can do with this photo" thread, but he pushes it forward again before long. There are the 'Photo a Day' activies (including the 30 portraits) and many others that pop up from time to time. I would like to see these 'extras' become on-going, prominent and official aspects of the site. The problem is that nothing but the challenges are prominent -- even the critique club is pushed into the back room only present on the submission page and a single menu option. Even the critiques themselves don't do much to promote the club -- not because they are few, but because they come after the challenge is over and the community has moved on. I would wager only a few are seen by more than the photographer of the photo they are left on.

The challenges alone were probably fine when the community was smaller -- but with this many people dropping in at all hours of the day and night and every day of the week more is needed. Without organized activities the community can get involved in they will undoubtedly find other less productive antics to keep themselves occupied.

David
 05/20/2006 05:21:06 AM · #36
Without the off-topic subjects:

-I would have never known about the Diva Cup
-I would never get to play games like parking a car as fast as I could.
and
-I wouldn't have known which toilet to choose

IMO, I enjoy the off-topic conversations just as much as the photography ones.

05/20/2006 07:59:37 AM · #37
Originally posted by David.C:

Without organized activities the community can get involved in they will undoubtedly find other less productive antics to keep themselves occupied.
David


Please explain what is wrong with finding what you call "less productive antics”. All communities or Clubs offer diversity. If members want to discuss subjects that are not photography based they are not being less productive they are developing friendships with fellow members and networking but they still share that common denominator of photography.

If these forums were purely photography how many people would stay active here?

05/20/2006 09:19:29 AM · #38
Originally posted by keegbow:
... If these forums were purely photography how many people would stay active here?

The same question framed slightly differently might ask if we need the people who would leave if our forums were steered back toward photography?
 05/20/2006 09:30:45 AM · #39
Originally posted by coolhar:
Originally posted by keegbow:
... If these forums were purely photography how many people would stay active here?

The same question framed slightly differently might ask if we need the people who would leave if our forums were steered back toward photography?

Need them? Absolutely not. These off-topic posters are a worthless stain on the DPC community.
 05/20/2006 10:43:53 AM · #40
Originally posted by jhonan:
Originally posted by coolhar:
Originally posted by keegbow:
... If these forums were purely photography how many people would stay active here?

The same question framed slightly differently might ask if we need the people who would leave if our forums were steered back toward photography?

Need them? Absolutely not. These off-topic posters are a worthless stain on the DPC community.


worthless??? a little harsh don't you think? I like the "worthless" threads and the people. If someone needs help or advice then why would anybody really care if they publicly asked??? Believe it or not I am the same person online as I am offline and could possible ask you a question that "YOU'D" take wrong but then could probably see that I am joking. Point is you always need a break from whatever your doing so if in the middle of voting and need a break then do so. Some use the forums others have drinks. Some even get hitched together or and fallen in love due to forums etc.

Speaking of stains, does anybody know how to get stains outta whites??? ;D
 05/20/2006 11:10:47 AM · #41
Originally posted by notonline:
worthless??? a little harsh don't you think? I like the "worthless" threads and the people.

I detest them and their liberal attitudes. I believe it is the responsibilty of the SC to protect us from their mindless chatter, cleanse our forums, secure our virtual borders, and return us to the traditions of old.

And to answer your other question; Persil.
 05/20/2006 11:10:57 AM · #42
greased lighting works wonders. it's harsh, but it works.

05/20/2006 11:32:47 AM · #43
Resolve Carpet Cleaner
 05/20/2006 11:43:45 AM · #44
Originally posted by David.C:
I do see it as a sign there just isn't enough photography related going on here to keep the growing populous occupied. Sure the challenges offer a distraction twice (and sometime 3 times) a week, but there is more going on than that. Robert has a Landscape thread that degenerates occasionally into a "Show me what you can do with this photo" thread, but he pushes it forward again before long. There are the 'Photo a Day' activies (including the 30 portraits) and many others that pop up from time to time. I would like to see these 'extras' become on-going, prominent and official aspects of the site. The problem is that nothing but the challenges are prominent -- even the critique club is pushed into the back room only present on the submission page and a single menu option. Even the critiques themselves don't do much to promote the club -- not because they are few, but because they come after the challenge is over and the community has moved on. I would wager only a few are seen by more than the photographer of the photo they are left on.
David

I think David is on to something here, maybe the solution isn't to mess with the forums, but add a part to the site. Call it something like 'Current Activities' and make it moderated by the Site Council. The self-portrait series is a fine example. I didn't know it existed until it was half-way done because it was buired in the forums. If I had seen it a few days in advance in a 'Current Activities' section I might have joined. This could be a new menu item under 'Community', or it could even go in some very compact way into the upper left corner, along with the Site news and polls.
 05/20/2006 12:08:34 PM · #45
Originally posted by karmat:
greased lighting works wonders. it's harsh, but it works.


But, it doesn't remove cheese... muhahahaha :-)

I know, predictable. But anyway...
 05/20/2006 12:12:47 PM · #46
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
But, it doesn't remove cheese... muhahahaha :-)

I know, predictable. But anyway...


I don't keep cheese around, as I'm lactose intolerant. I prefer to have my tongue in my cheek.

Message edited by author 2006-05-20 12:19:43.
 05/20/2006 12:12:53 PM · #47
jhonan, I really hope you are joking with some kind of dead pan humor, if you are, I find it funny, and if you are not, please take the BBC link and the payroll link and the Zach is 10 mo old ticker off of your profile, because that would help solidify your position that the DPC website should be strictly photography. (also, what did you post in the thread killer thread, I can't find it cuz that thread is over 160 pages full of chatter)
 05/20/2006 12:24:24 PM · #48
Originally posted by amandalore:
(also, what did you post in the thread killer thread, I can't find it cuz that thread is over 160 pages full of chatter)

Here's what I posted in the 'thread killer' thread;
Originally posted by jhonan:
This thread and everyone in it is a worthless stain on the fabric of DPC! You won't catch me out with your mindless liberal meanderings. You won't see me succumb to your immoral attitudes and unethical practises, no matter how much you try to brainwash me.

I have the SC on my side, protecting me and watching over me. And I'm watching you all!

I just asked Zach what his thoughts were on removing his ticker from my profile. He was shocked. He said "bababababa amama gaaaa ooooOOO!" - And if that doesn't help solidify my position, I don't know what will.
 05/20/2006 12:41:33 PM · #49
Originally posted by coolhar:
Originally posted by keegbow:
... If these forums were purely photography how many people would stay active here?

The same question framed slightly differently might ask if we need the people who would leave if our forums were steered back toward photography?


Need? Some of those clowns are on Critique Club, some of those clowns write tutorials, some of the biggest clowns are on SC... no, we don't need a single one of them?

I like fotofight.com, it's nice and stuffy and they stay on topic. It's boring, but hey there isn't much to get in the way of learning. Well, excepts that there isn't much content.
 05/20/2006 12:43:48 PM · #50
Coolhar. You are a pretty observant guy.

You are not alone as an individual who has expressed distaste at people posting non-photography oriented posts.

I do wonder if perhaps some might have missed the fact that "General Discussion" is for things that are NOT PHOTOGRAPHY RELATED. They need a place

There is a section for General Photography discussions. And several for specific photography discussions.

I got called out recently over something similar because I posted some 'diary' type entries regarding razors that were re-formatted for a thread in General Discussion. Even after I said in the beginning of the post that if you aren't interested, move on.

It's not skin off your back if someone posts something unrelated to photography in the area for non-photographic discussion.

So please lighten up.

If you want to contribute towards photographic discussions, do that. Goodness knows there are plenty of things that could be discussed. I've posted a handful of threads in the hardware section that were completely ignored. You didn't comment on them because you didn't see them, or perhaps you did, but weren't interested. I don't expect you to comment on anything... But would it be so hard to ignore other things that you don't like? Just pretend that you didn't see them...

Having said that, I too have noticed recently that a few months ago, 40-60% of my recent forum threads were in the hardware forum. Now, I seldom have a hardware forum listed there.

I actually belong much less actively to a forum on PDA's and on that site, which is brand-specific to Fujitsu-Siemens, there are unrelated forum areas. These do NOT get placed on the main page which is updated with recently active posts.

I wonder if it might be worthwhile to set all users to default to ignore all non-photography oriented forums... That would certainly keep the general forum list on the main page for most users, PARTICULARLY NEW USERS, heavily photography oriented.

Later on, when a user wants to get more involved in the 'community', then they could venture into their preferences and activate the general discussions...

There could be a sticky (possibly locked) thread in General Discussion that explained this (which would serve to encourage those interested to get more involved in the community).

I do agree with coolhar and several others that while having some general discussion available for the 'regulars', it would be good to keep our most powerful benefits proudly displayed...

I certainly value the photography oriented discussions much more highly than the fluff in the general discussion.

Message edited by author 2006-05-20 12:44:54.
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