A Sad Trend: Troll Voting - DPChallenge Forums

07/23/2003 08:38:33 PM · #1

My turn to jump into another had trend at DPC - complaining about comments/votes. I got my first blatant troll-vote comment on my trend photo (paraphrased to only vaguely protect the guilty):

"I love it but i am gonna vote low because [subject deleted] is mine---1"

Huh??? How pathetic. I hope they're joking, but it doesn't sound like it.

(Of course, I know someone will respond "how pathetic" to my whining. That's ok. I don't want their votes removed, all 1s factored out, all trolls banished from the site, or any other such nonsense. Just think it's valid that when someone voluntarily posts such a screwed-up comment, it can be shared with all.)

Sony DT 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 Aspherical ED Super Wide Angle Zoom

07/23/2003 08:44:32 PM · #2

Oh, nevermind. I just looked closer at their profile, and it's some little kid. Figures. How bout an age limit for voting? Nah, seems like there's some OK kids here. Oh well...

JPR

Sony Alpha a55

07/23/2003 08:53:49 PM · #3

"how pathetic," bashing children!

just kidding (no pun intended).

I think it's nice that kids are allowed on the site.

Konador

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

07/23/2003 08:56:38 PM · #4

Originally posted by JasonPR:

I think it's nice that kids are allowed on the site.

Ditto :-P

Jaxson

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

07/23/2003 08:56:56 PM · #5

Originally posted by ScottK:

Oh, nevermind. I just looked closer at their profile, and it's some little kid. Figures. How bout an age limit for voting? Nah, seems like there's some OK kids here. Oh well...

In a way it's good that this voter had the guts to put his/her name next to their vote.

How about this suggestion (as posted in another thread)?

"Maybe a way to eliminate this type of voting would be to make it compulsory to leave a comment if you're going to mark something a 1 or 2. This would help separate the jealous voters from the genuine voters. It's hard to think that a genuine voter would have marked either a 1 or 2 for the winner of the round challenge for example. In which case they more than likely would have left an interesting comment as to why."

IMHO

Message edited by author 2003-07-23 20:57:46.

07/23/2003 08:57:27 PM · #6

Originally posted by Konador:

Originally posted by JasonPR:
I think it's nice that kids are allowed on the site.

Ditto :-P

I do too. Just a little curbed frustration slipping out...

Message edited by author 2003-07-23 21:04:20.

Canon EF 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II USM

07/23/2003 09:03:11 PM · #7

Originally posted by Jaxson:

"Maybe a way to eliminate this type of voting would be to make it compulsory to leave a comment if you're going to mark something a 1 or 2. This would help separate the jealous voters from the genuine voters. It's hard to think that a genuine voter would have marked either a 1 or 2 for the winner of the round challenge for example. In which case they more than likely would have left an interesting comment as to why."

Yeah, ok, but it didn't do anything to stop a jealous voter...

And, jealous over what? I didn't think my shot was good enough to be jealous over! The score's certainly not showing it! Or wait, maybe that's why my score's below 9.... everyone's jealous of me.... they're all out to get me....! (Must... control.... parnoid.... thoughts....) ;-)

orussell

Canon EOS Rebel T6s

07/23/2003 10:00:17 PM · #8

Someone suggested mandatory comments for low/high votes a few weeks ago and most people dissed it, I do believe. I think it's a great idea personally. The problem is, as some have noted, most people will only offer one word comments to legitamize their votes.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

07/23/2003 10:11:07 PM · #9

When people deliberately do annoying things, the intent is to cause you to acknowledge to the "problem" they create, and to force you to change you behavior. It is exactly the principle under which terrorism operates, different only in degree.

I was always taught that when someone teases you, ignore them. If you get upset, pay attention, or change things to accommodate their misbehavior, they have achieved their purpose.

I for one do NOT want to have to read everyone's comments to judge if they are "legitimate enough" to warrant the vote they accompany.

I'd expect a lot of people to write out the number of their vote like on a check. I don't need a comment like "Two."

Message edited by author 2003-07-23 22:12:29.

Koriyama

Nikon D200

Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f2.8D

07/23/2003 10:17:22 PM · #10

Originally posted by orussell:

One of the great things about this site is that, on the whole, there's a great bunch of people who are dedicated to photography pitting their wits against each other earnestly and genuinely. Sure, there're a few trolls out there, too.

Even though I'm constantly amazed at how many poor shots actually do well, voting patterns probably reflect how the world sees our shots. This is encouraged more by having non-camera users voting as well. It's the mix of good and bad, genuine and trolls, sticklers and free-thinkers, which makes this site worthwhile.

Having said all of that, I do get terribly frustrated when I get comments about deliberate choices in my shots that show that the commentor doesn't have a clue about photography, then marks me down accordingly. Maybe there could be a system where photographers can disqualify certain voters . . . . (That would be a laugh.)

tarique

Nikon Coolpix 5700

07/23/2003 10:39:53 PM · #11

Originally posted by Koriyama:

[quote=orussell]Maybe there could be a system where photographers can disqualify certain voters . . . . (That would be a laugh.)

I have my own system for that - I remove the 10's and 1's and take the average - this for me is the real picture.

However I am more inclined to believe that this site is worth it for the learning experience rather than notching points.

Koriyama

Nikon D200

Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f2.8D

07/23/2003 10:47:29 PM · #12

Originally posted by tarique:

However I am more inclined to believe that this site is worth it for the learning experience rather than notching points.

Tarique, I agree with your sentiment, but I'd like to add that points are a clear indicator of public taste, and that there's a correlationship between the ability to take (or make) high-scoring photographs and the depth of the learning experience, at least for me, personally.

tarique

Nikon Coolpix 5700

07/23/2003 11:26:23 PM · #13

Originally posted by Koriyama:

Tarique, I agree with your sentiment, but I'd like to add that points are a clear indicator of public taste

True I also agree to all of what you are saying, to misquote someone - Public most of the time doesn't understand a damn ;-)

Jaxson

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

07/23/2003 11:29:43 PM · #14

Huh?? Did I say you were jealous? My comment was cut and pasted from another thread in reference to someone else.....as clearly stated.

Maybe you didn't notice that my comment was within quotation marks (" "). "Quotation marks [ â�� â�� ] to set off material
that represents quoted or spoken language". Quote UnQuote :)

And, jealous over what? I didn't think my shot was good enough to be jealous over! The score's certainly not showing it! Or wait, maybe that's why my score's below 9.... everyone's jealous of me.... they're all out to get me....! (Must... control.... parnoid.... thoughts....) ;-)[/quote]

PSUBecker

Sony DSC-S85

07/23/2003 11:50:00 PM · #15

Okay, I am fairly new to the site... however. I posted a comment about a trend shot, saying that perhaps it could be more in focus, and outside of the title I think that it lacked creativity and didn't really apply to the contest, and I got a very unhappy reply from the photographer. But the picture IS out of focus and it does lack imagination. So, if you're going to post a picture that isn't so great and ask people to comment on it. Don't get upset when they do. So far I have only posted one picture, during the round contest and I would love for more feedback on it. Good or bad. P.S. I did give the picture a 5 anyhow!

myqyl

Nikon D3100

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G DX VR

07/23/2003 11:55:04 PM · #16

A vote of 1 IS a comment... You just need to learn how to read it

tfarrell23

Sony DSC-F828

07/24/2003 12:48:35 AM · #17

[Well... I never vote a "one" ... I think it is ridiculous... even the worst photos on this site...average better than a "one"...you people have that right...to vote ..1 to 10... but let me tell you...anyone who.. submits, and is up for a score, deserves...better... I have no Idea WHAT comment you are trying to make... unless you want a negative response....meaning, I ain't learning nothing here, Goodbye...Sheesh... actually this is not about....winning... it is about learning... a "one" does nothing at all...even Burt Reynolds (lol)... that black pic....proved that... we all might have a Challenge that we should have the worst PIC? sheesh...this site is get too stupid...I think I will stay away from the Challenge forums from now on...it is amazing to me ..when I joined this site 8...9 months ago...It was enjoyable... a learning process... and now someone defends a score of "one"...

quote=myqyl]A vote of 1 IS a comment... You just need to learn how to read it[/quote]

Jaxson

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

07/24/2003 12:54:39 AM · #18

Well said!!!

Originally posted by tfarrell23:

[/quote]

tfarrell23

Sony DSC-F828

07/24/2003 01:07:03 AM · #19

on this site... I think there is no reason to vote so low .....people get discouraged...a "one" does just that..

quote=Jaxson]Well said!!!

Originally posted by tfarrell23:

[/quote][/quote]

nborton

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

07/24/2003 01:26:12 AM · #20

i don't really see what the big deal is. many of the pictures that won in the past have recieved ones. what's more important than score is where you place in the challenge anyway. that's the true test of how good the picture was compared with others. also statistics will win out in the end anyway.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

07/24/2003 01:27:16 AM · #21

Originally posted by Jaxson:

Huh back at ya?!?!? Now I'm totally confused! Quotes of quotes within misquotes... ;-)

I did assume that at least you were agreeing with the quote, and I didn't take it as meaning you thought I was jealous, I was saying that they kid who commented to me was jealous (I assume), that I'm not sure why (I like my shot OK, but it's not an award winner), and that a rule like that wouldn't have stopped him from voting 1 (which I'm happy to allow anyone to do for any reason whatsoever and leave a comment or not). And I was just kidding around there at the end. Just trying to lighten the whole tone up a little.

....When starting a thread, there needs to be an "Are You Sure You Want To Open This Can Of Worms" button - maybe I would have passed...

Message edited by author 2003-07-24 01:38:33.

nborton

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

07/24/2003 01:28:23 AM · #22

on a follow up. i'd have to agree that there is no reason to purposely bash someone's picture or vote low without reason.

Message edited by author 2003-07-24 01:29:22.

07/24/2003 01:32:48 AM · #23

Originally posted by PSUBecker:

Welcome to the site. What you just experienced is an unfortunate side effect giving a few people here an honest opinion. I've been fortunate, and it hasn't happened to me yet. But I hope I can encourage you to ignore it. Over time you'll get lots more responses thanking you for your opinion. They just sometimes don't come until after the voting is over. (There's a sort of unwritten, unagreed upon, hottly contested rule that some people like to maintain annonymity for entries until the voting's over, and so most people don't send out the genuine responses until the end.)

Message edited by author 2003-07-24 01:39:24.