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03/01/2012 09:46:28 AM · #1 |
After reading so much about commenting on photos in a challenge, I sat back and did some reflecting on the issue.
If you want to read this response, greatâ€Â¦ if you get half way through and decide you don’t agree, alrightâ€Â¦ if you feel the need to immediately close out the tab because you don’t feel like reading, that’s fine as well.
But here’s my position on things.
While I understand that many people vote low, I do feel that *I*, personally, would like a comment as to WHY it elicited a low vote. But *I* am also looking for constructive criticism (heck, it doesn't even have to be constructive) while I am here. I would like to become a better photographer, editor, and would like to understand what moves people and why.
I do see now that this is not what everyone would like. I also have come to realize that there is a lot of petty, middle-school behavior going on around here. People are sending nasty PM’s to others because of the “comment” they gave on a particular photo. People are saying “rude” things AS comments on photos. But in the endâ€Â¦ WHO REALLY CARES?
Does it REALLY matter what other people think of your photo? And if you are upset with a particular comment that someone leaves, ask yourself thisâ€Â¦ why are you entering a photo in challenges where leaving comments are an option?
If you do not want negative comments, don’t enter pictures. That simple.
Not everyone is going to have the same perception of things as othersâ€Â¦ not everyone is going to have the same idea of what “quality” is. Our individual differences are what make this place interesting, inspiring, comical, heartfelt, and so on.
Think of it this wayâ€Â¦ there will be people who PURPOSLEY give someone a low vote for one of three reasons:
a) you were way off the mark with the photo in some aspect
b) they just didn’t like the photo
c) they really liked the photo but have this self-serving need to make THEM appear better, so by giving a low vote, they THINK they are increasing their chances at doing better
Does it really matter why you got a low vote? In the end, NO. We all vote differently. We all have our own ideas on what makes something good or bad, quality or crappy, what moves us and what doesn’t.
So rather than bashing each other for our individuality, how about we appreciate it. I would much rather live in a world (or be part of a forum) where people are not afraid to speak their mind, where people can express themselvesâ€Â¦ whether it’s good, bad, or ugly.
Why live in a place where everything is peace, love, and harmonyâ€Â¦
I like seeing another person’s point of view, whether I agree with it or not. It’s one of the things that open my eyesâ€Â¦
Stand up for what you believe in. And if someone doesn’t like it, oh well. Don’t be afraid to speak your mind.
That all being said, this doesn’t apply to only commenting on picturesâ€Â¦ it applies to the forum as a whole, it applies to our every day lives.
Know the line between what is acceptable, and what is just downright aggreious. We are going to encounter things we don’t believe in, we will have experiences where we will not all agree on things. But rather than think “well that person is wrong because blah, blah, blahâ€Â¦Ă˘€ť, embrace their individuality. When someone puts you down, when they try and insult you/intimidate you/whateverâ€Â¦ you don’t have to agree with them, but you don’t have to retaliate either by stooping to their level either.
In conclusion, I like the idea that was mentioned earlierâ€Â¦ about having the boxes regarding comments
a) Critique me (this opens the floodgates)
b) Leave me alone (which could restrict comments on particular images in the challenge)
c) If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all (but this leaves you open for people still saying negative things)
Perhaps that’s something the site council could look into? I don’t know. Just a thought.
And if you stuck with me throughout this entire essay (lol), please comment on what you think would improve DPC, what was wrong with my thoughts, etc. I’m a big girlâ€Â¦ I can handle itâ€Â¦ and for future reference, it takes A LOT to offend meâ€Â¦
So let the opinions/thoughts/critiques/etc begin. :)
Message edited by author 2012-03-01 09:47:21.
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03/01/2012 09:56:43 AM · #2 |
When I was new here, I commented very heavily for the first year or two, and I commented more heavily on the 4's and 5's I gave out. It's easy to say nice things about a shot you love, and the problems with the really bad ones are easy to identify. It's those mediocre ones you have to think about. Decent enough, but they don't light your fire either.
It's actually one of the best things you can do to improve your own photography. By making yourself think about why you do or do not like a particular entry, you will learn things you can apply to your own work. You'll actually learn more this way than by receiving the comments. Just try to be diplomatic with the critiques.
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03/01/2012 10:21:43 AM · #3 |
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
When I was new here, I commented very heavily for the first year or two, and I commented more heavily on the 4's and 5's I gave out. It's easy to say nice things about a shot you love, and the problems with the really bad ones are easy to identify. It's those mediocre ones you have to think about. Decent enough, but they don't light your fire either.
It's actually one of the best things you can do to improve your own photography. By making yourself think about why you do or do not like a particular entry, you will learn things you can apply to your own work. You'll actually learn more this way than by receiving the comments. Just try to be diplomatic with the critiques. |
I agree. And even with the mediocre pictures or the ones that do not elicit a "WOW" from me, I still try and find something to say. But I also end up looking at those photos even longer... which should make people realize that even a "meh" picture evokes SOME type of reaction. :)
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03/01/2012 10:23:16 AM · #4 |
ive only been here a few months and ive said similiar and its been said a 100o's times before it doesnt change anything unfortunately,
a far beter exercise is as steve says try to analyse why you think a shots only worth 5 and then comment that, my commenting has dropped off mainly because yeah how do you describe mediocrity
"this pic doesnt do it for me" or when you do comment on a low score you'll get a pm or some other user will pull you up on it. i commented on one and i think  blindjustice felt the need to have a poke after the challenge and it wasnt even his photo accusing me of missing the point etc etc boring....
opinions are like arseholes everyones got one
i look at the shots i really love and try and work out why, i find choosing a shot that will do well on here really hard but its getter easier and i use steve as a mentor and a spring board to bounce ideas of which has really helped me.
i try and enter every challenge even if its a 4 image its worth it if you learn something
and a few times when i was trying to break my 6+ cherry i started threads asking for feed back and it was much more valuable than in challenge commenting
//www.dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=1126855
//www.dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=1117717
//www.dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=1116623
//www.dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=1107831
i admire your gumption but id give up on ideas of changing the world, wait till you are scoring higher and you go from a score higher than the eventual winner to 5th place because the tactical vote crowd go out and hit you with 1's generally starting 4 hours upto rollover.
Message edited by author 2012-03-01 10:23:52. |
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03/01/2012 10:41:53 AM · #5 |
@Giles: I really appreciate your thoughts here. I know I won't change the world. I just wanted to share my thoughts. If I have provoked a different point of view in ONE person, or made ONE person think... then my post spoke. And by the two of you responding, I have elicited something here.
Like I have stated before, I am not going to worry if I upset someone with my comment. If I did... then they obviously didn't learn anything, and I learned even more about them. A winning situation for me.
And I have thought about starting a thread regarding critiquing my photos, which I will probably begin doing.
I am here to learn, to grow, and to understand other people's point of views. Plus, laughter is good for the soul, and here, I have found there is a LOT of comical things going on. :)
I will start entering more and more challenges... as the score doesn't matter that much to me. I do, however, enjoy seeing my score rise and fall... it gets my mind going... I begin thinking... "what is it that that someone liked/disliked"... "what moved that person in giving me a 2 or a 7", etc.
I don't get mad when my score drops... as many people here do (or at least from what I have witnessed, that's the implied message conveyed). I find it not only entertaining, but interesting as well.
Thank you again for your response... and perhaps I will start creating critique threads for my photos.
ETA: This has also elicited a large number of views in such as short time period! So it's continuing to create some sort of thoughts in the minds of others. >:)
Message edited by author 2012-03-01 10:45:59.
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03/01/2012 10:49:37 AM · #6 |
| i comment on the score threads purely for entertainment really, if my images is 6.5 the voters are all really clever great ppl, if its a 5.5 there are all a bunch of fu$%ing @Ă‚ÂŁ$% but hey ho thats life haha, it does get addictive though and like you say the frustrating thing is the votes you cant figure out or the unfair ones at the end. |
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