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DPChallenge Forums >> Current Challenge >> Voting preferences/ Hide identity or not?
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 10/22/2008 11:55:33 PM · #1
Hi
Being a newbie here I have a few questions regarding voting and comments. I notice that in my preferences panel I have the option to hide my identity for comments I give on challenge entries whilst the voting is still in progress and that my identity then only becomes visible after the voting period is over. Is this an option that is generally used by members here? Is it the preferred option most members use or not?
Ok that's one question.
I have one more at this stage. I see that someone has given a comment on my entry which is still in the voting stage. The comment was very positive and instructive but the commenter has interpreted the process by which a certain color was obtained incorrectly and I wish to explain how it was actually achieved. I can see who gave the comment as that member has chosen not to hide their identity. Is it against the rules or etiquette for me to send that person a private message explaining why the image is as it is?
Thanks guys
Jan

Message edited by author 2008-10-23 01:35:37.
 10/23/2008 12:00:12 AM · #2
I don't stay anonymous, at least I don't think so anyway.

Sometimes you have to take DPC voters with a grain of salt in competition. They can be bit harsh at times. I don't mind if someone ever PMs me with questions. I'm always happy to answer.

Just be cordial and tactful.
 10/23/2008 12:01:16 AM · #3
It's your choice whether you want to hide your identity during voting with respect to comments. If you do, you'll be a "baghead" - your comment will appear with a little baghead icon and Anonymous until the challenge ends. Most people who do this do it so they DON'T get emails during voting with respect to comments they've left.

It is not against the rules to PM a commenter during a challenge but it isn't very nice to tell them off, either. :-) If there's something you wish to explain, you can do so, though some will wait until after the challenge is over to protect the anonymity of their entry.
 10/23/2008 12:04:44 AM · #4
Originally posted by Melethia:
It's your choice whether you want to hide your identity during voting with respect to comments. If you do, you'll be a "baghead" - your comment will appear with a little baghead icon and Anonymous until the challenge ends. Most people who do this do it so they DON'T get emails during voting with respect to comments they've left.

It is not against the rules to PM a commenter during a challenge but it isn't very nice to tell them off, either. :-) If there's something you wish to explain, you can do so, though some will wait until after the challenge is over to protect the anonymity of their entry.


Thanks Melethia and also the other posters who answered my question. No ..it's not that I want to tell them off at all..I just want to explain why my entry has a certain appearance as the commenter thinks it's due to a particular reason which it is not. But yes..I dont want to reveal myself to the commenter just yet of course so I will leave it as it is until after the voting.
Jan

Message edited by author 2008-10-23 00:09:49.
 10/23/2008 12:19:31 AM · #5
I don't hide my identity. Not many people do.
I get emails from people in regards to comments I have left (so if its me, feel free to email). I am happy to discuss what I saw. Even if it is something different to what was intended, the voter and commentor can only go off what they see. In the end, we all have different likes, dislikes and ideas, hence the spread of scores that always occurs.
I will though never, ever change my comment or score, either in a positive or negative way, because someone has contacted me. I thunk that this would go against the aims of this site.
 10/23/2008 12:26:15 AM · #6
Originally posted by kaiser_chief:
I don't hide my identity. Not many people do.
I get emails from people in regards to comments I have left (so if its me, feel free to email). I am happy to discuss what I saw. Even if it is something different to what was intended, the voter and commentor can only go off what they see. In the end, we all have different likes, dislikes and ideas, hence the spread of scores that always occurs.
I will though never, ever change my comment or score, either in a positive or negative way, because someone has contacted me. I thunk that this would go against the aims of this site.


Hi Chief,
Thanks for your take. It was'nt you by the way but I must emphasize that I would not want or expect anyone to change their score in any way because I contacted them. That is certainly not the reason for me contacting the commenter. It really is just to explain why a shot is the way it is and to clear up any misconception. The person still does not have to like it more or less after that..that is not my objective. It is really just that I like people to know why a shot has a particular feature or effect to it. Of course I agree fully with you on the interpretation..everyone has his/her own way of seeing things irrespective of what the intention of the photographer was.
And yes..I have been voting with my identity visible as well. :)
Regards
Jan

Message edited by author 2008-10-23 00:41:53.
 10/23/2008 12:40:27 AM · #7
Totally off topic here, love the FZ quote ThingFish. He's the man. ;] Saw his son last year, great show.
 10/23/2008 12:54:21 AM · #8
If you choose to PM another member in response to a comment, just be careful to phrase it as conversational and not a confrontational effort get their vote to change. There are some people who no longer comment because they have received nasty responses from people offended by a comment. When I do so, I also make sure to thank them for taking the time to comment. This is even more important when my entry is doing poorly and their comment has given me insight into why.
 10/23/2008 01:29:33 AM · #9
Hi Jac...yes FZ rocks :)
Hi Steve...I agree with you completely.
 10/23/2008 01:58:40 AM · #10
Another option, and one I'd recommend in addition to PM'ing the commenter after the challenge, is to add the information to your photograph's "Remarks" section. That way anyone else reading the comment after the challenge will also get the benefit of your explanation/clarification.
 10/23/2008 02:12:59 AM · #11
Originally posted by Melethia:
Another option, and one I'd recommend in addition to PM'ing the commenter after the challenge, is to add the information to your photograph's "Remarks" section. That way anyone else reading the comment after the challenge will also get the benefit of your explanation/clarification.

Yes that's true and i did in fact add the information right at the start but unfortunately it can only be seen as you say after the voting is over. Which leads me to think..would it not be a good idea to have the information for a shot visible already during the voting period? Or is there a downside to that idea that i dont know about?
Regards
Jan

Message edited by author 2008-10-23 02:14:45.
 10/23/2008 02:22:59 AM · #12
The main reason for not showing the info during voting is to help maintain what degree of anonymity we can. Instead of adding the info there, I'd wait and respond directly to the comment in the photo's discussion thread -- remember, it works just like the forum threads.
 10/23/2008 02:29:30 AM · #13
Originally posted by GeneralE:
The main reason for not showing the info during voting is to help maintain what degree of anonymity we can. Instead of adding the info there, I'd wait and respond directly to the comment in the photo's discussion thread -- remember, it works just like the forum threads.

Hi Paul,
But showing the info would'nt give away one's identity would it? It does'nt show your name or anything at all.
10/23/2008 02:32:47 AM · #14
Depends what people write in it ...
 10/23/2008 02:37:03 AM · #15
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Depends what people write in it ...

Sure..of course one would have to be discreet enough and not let slip who you are.

Message edited by author 2008-10-23 02:37:17.
 10/23/2008 02:43:21 AM · #16
If it's any consolation, I've been suggesting that the information be available during voting for about six years ....
 10/23/2008 02:46:00 AM · #17
Originally posted by GeneralE:
If it's any consolation, I've been suggesting that the information be available during voting for about six years ....

So what were the objections leveled against the idea?

Message edited by author 2008-10-23 02:59:39.
 10/23/2008 07:40:17 AM · #18
Originally posted by ThingFish:
Originally posted by GeneralE:
If it's any consolation, I've been suggesting that the information be available during voting for about six years ....

So what were the objections leveled against the idea?

People should be voting on the image, not the comments or "explanation" of the photo captured. Plus, you know that many would give away their identity via what they say in the descriptive information and that would change the entire feel/concept of DPChallenge (losing anonymity).
 10/23/2008 08:41:35 AM · #19
Originally posted by GeneralE:
If it's any consolation, I've been suggesting that the information be available during voting for about six years ....


Yikes, that would really change this place a lot. I think what we have is fine, but if something changed, I'd go in the other direction and try a few challenges where even the titles were hidden. Judge the merits of the photo completely standalone. This also has the side benefit of removing the "title shoehorn" problem.

As to the original post. PM me (politely) about any comment at any time. We are here to learn from each other. I did actually do a minor update to my comment/vote in one instance due to a PM, where an "optical illusion" (or maybe too much beer) caused me to see a non-existant fault in a photo. Otherwise, I just provide more information about the original comment in my PM reply.
 10/23/2008 12:18:24 PM · #20
Thanks to all the feedback from all off you :) I see the point about the info being hidden and it makes sense in a way I guess.

Message edited by author 2008-10-23 18:24:24.
 10/23/2008 12:22:03 PM · #21
if you dont mind people hating you for being honest about their photo, show who you are. if you'd rather keep your friends(or get a few), hide yourself under a bag. i prefer to let people hate me
 10/23/2008 12:43:42 PM · #22
Originally posted by JDubsgirl:
i prefer to let people hate me


I have not gotten any of those nasty e-mails in response to a comment yet. Maybe it's a matter of time. I'll try to just blow it off when that happens. The fact is, we can get a little harsh and flippant after being on this site for a while, and some new people are taken by surprise, and get understandably insulted. I got somewhat insulted when my second challenge entry received a comment of "Lacks impact". I have since dished out much harsher comments of my own.

Message edited by author 2008-10-23 12:48:52.
 10/23/2008 12:52:03 PM · #23
i kinda get scared that i am critiquing sherpets or some other photographer that's a million times better then me. it's like, i know im not good enough to sit there and critique these people, and then i find out later and am like ahhh i have stepped WAY out of bounds. does that make any sense?
 10/23/2008 01:39:58 PM · #24
Originally posted by JDubsgirl:
i kinda get scared that i am critiquing sherpets or some other photographer that's a million times better then me. it's like, i know im not good enough to sit there and critique these people, and then i find out later and am like ahhh i have stepped WAY out of bounds. does that make any sense?

Not really, because why should the identity of the photographer change the way you think or feel about a photo? Only you know what you like (or don't) and why ... if the identity of the photographer changes the way you feel about it, then you're not really looking at the photo objectively.

And if, for example, you take a second look at a picture you didn't like at first because you learn it's by a photographer you admire and respect, then maybe it's time to take a closer look for the "hidden value" in all the pictures you see here.
 10/23/2008 04:57:49 PM · #25
Originally posted by yospiff:
Originally posted by JDubsgirl:
i prefer to let people hate me


I have not gotten any of those nasty e-mails in response to a comment yet. Maybe it's a matter of time. I'll try to just blow it off when that happens. The fact is, we can get a little harsh and flippant after being on this site for a while, and some new people are taken by surprise, and get understandably insulted. I got somewhat insulted when my second challenge entry received a comment of "Lacks impact". I have since dished out much harsher comments of my own.


You know, you have made an excellent point, Steve in saying that we can tend to become harsher and flippant on our comments and scores once we have been here for awhile and especially, after being insulted quite a number of times. I'm finding that happening even on the threads in the forums lately. For a new member, this can be quite unnerving and quite the "jolt".

I remember someone commenting on a photo of mine that just about sent me over the edge. They said, "no effort". That one comment made me angrier than a bull with a red flag waved in its face! How does one judge "effort" in a shot? I know that for instance, if I had shot the my shoes and the ground beneath me and it was unfocused, unedited and just stuck in there, and unfitting of the challenge...it could be interpretted as that, but that was not the case. It had actually taken me several hours of set up and editing and more shooting it! Ok, so it didn't live up to this person's expectations and their comment showed such but, to make a comment like that without anything further, just irked me to no end.

However, I do have to say that while I had a challenge or two where I was irked to no end and went in and gave out some lower than usual scores, I have tried to learn from my own emotional upsets in here and do the OPPOSITE to what I've had done to my shots in here. I try to leave a positive comment wherever I have something to say and I try to "temper" any criticisms that I have with contructive opinions where possible.

And, yes, to hit the topic at hand here...I also fear criticising some of the "famous" in here too! But, when I think about it more fully, as long as I'm not out there, being an "idiot", what can I say that would be so stupid? Moreover, the fact remains that even the top ribbon winners have had their "bombs" and have deserved comments that reflect their less than glorious shots too! No one in here is a world famous photographer who is above peer comments. At least, I'd hope that they don't see themselves that way! ;)
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