DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Web Site Suggestions >> PM'ing During Challenge
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 25 of 50, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 03/17/2004 12:50:01 PM · #1
I would really like to put forth the proposal that we mask member ID's on comments until after a challenge is over.

Sure, provide the photographer feedback through comments so that as they freak out while they watch their scores plummet they can uderstand the reasons behind it. But please, I would really like to my comments to maintain a certain anonimity at least until the challenge is complete.

Maybe provide a choice to the commenter to remain anonymous. I just don't want to be bombarded with PM's during the contest telling me how I can't "see". The onus in any challenge is for the entrant to impress the judges, not the other way around.
 03/17/2004 12:59:39 PM · #2
just do like I do, delete them, or just don't reply until after the challenge.
03/17/2004 01:02:53 PM · #3
I understand that comments used to be anonymous during voting in the earlier days of dpc. So the programing is definitely possible and probably a fairly easy change to make. Most anything that would encourage more commenting, and more candid comments, would be a positive change. I'd like to see it myself.
 03/17/2004 01:17:43 PM · #4
I do not agree that anonymous voting would be positive change. I think then it would be more of offensive and pointless comments. If I dont like the images i´m voting for I just say so but try to explain why and I´m hoping for others to do the same on me.
 03/17/2004 01:21:39 PM · #5
I am for optional anonymous commenting. I think it might encourage more people to comment. There might be abuses, but that doesn't bother me much. Or you could put a little "violation" button next to each comment. If someone is really rude or obscene or violates the terms, you could press this and it would be sent to the site council. (And sends an electric shock through the internet to the offender's computer, rendering it inoperable ;)
 03/17/2004 01:23:15 PM · #6
Originally posted by garlic:

I do not agree that anonymous voting would be positive change. I think then it would be more of offensive and pointless comments. If I dont like the images i´m voting for I just say so but try to explain why and I´m hoping for others to do the same on me.

Whatever, just get rid of PM's until the contest is over! I left a comment and in like 30 minutes got pm'd about it.
 03/17/2004 01:36:38 PM · #7
I think I agree on leaving PM´s until after the contest. BUT then its yesterdays paper and dont bother to send someone PM then, but then agains thats maybe just fine.
 03/17/2004 01:39:31 PM · #8
I, for one, think the comments should be completely anonymous before, during & even after the challenge.

I have had the experience of leaving some comments and then afterwards someone hasn't like what I commented so they went ot my entry and made negative comments abut it.

If you want it to be known that you are makeing the comment, you could just sign your name to your comment.
 03/17/2004 02:16:41 PM · #9
Originally posted by rickhd13:
If you want it to be known that you are makeing the comment, you could just sign your name to your comment.


this is exactly how it used to be, and i would really like to see it change back that way again.

i have received a few PMs from users who have felt the need to explain their photo while the challenge is still going on. while that hasn't influenced my vote, i can see how it might for others.

i would prefer to remain anon during the challenges and then have the names revealed when the scores are.
 03/17/2004 02:21:14 PM · #10
I would back Edward̢۪s original suggestion. Mask the commenter̢۪s id until after the voting. Not, however, for his reasons. I have voted and commented on numerous entries over the past month and a half that I have been a member and have not once received a PM. I tend to reserve my comments to where I can make what is, in my opinion, constructive suggestions. Only rarely do I comment on what I consider to be outstanding; I let my score do that so my lack of PMs is not because I always praise the entries.

The reason I would mask the id of the commenter is simply to prevent the commentee from having a chance to plead his/her case with more information than the title which is the rule of the challenge. After the vote, open it up. In some cases, interesting relationships and discussions may ensue.
03/17/2004 02:33:54 PM · #11
Ok, since I am the one that prompted this thread I'll put my two cents in.
The site made it easy to PM during the challenge, not me. There is a name right next to comment...takes just a second.
If I get a contructive critique(comment) I usually don't bother to comment back. It means that the person took the time to look at the photo and "see" it, good, bad, or whatever.
If I get a "doesn't meet the challenge" that is inviting a PM. Sorry, but thats how I feel. Do you think that most people here enter a photo that they think does not meet the challenge? Well, I do know a select few that do that to get the crowd going, but it is still not the norm of the photographers here.
Do I shoot what I like, yes. Do I shoot specifically for the challenge, usually not.
I shoot what I want to shoot, photos that I feel would be worthy entered in any photo contest. Thats the key. Here most are not shooting a photo that would be seen as good anywhere but here. I don't agree with that thinking. Photography is still art. It will always be art to me.
So if you have nothing to say other than DOES NOT MEET THE CHALLENGE maybe you should look at the photo a second time before you comment,or just skip it and move on. It is not helping me in any way shape or form to get that comment. After all, the scores will tell me that, won't they.
BTW for anyone I pm'd that thinks it's for you to change the score, it would take a lot more PM's to make any difference.
My thinking in PMing someone is to make them learn to take another look before they jump to a quick doesnt meet the challenge decision.
03/17/2004 02:53:03 PM · #12
I understand what you are saying Terry though I might not compleatly agree with you.
I´ve sometimes got the comment that my image dont meets the challenge and maybe sometimes deserve it. To my surprize I got this comment few moments ago to my big surprice because if I´m ever meeting the challenge than it is now. I was realy iching to send a PM to the commenter and ask him to taka another look (or simply taka a look) at my image but I´ve decided to do not. I´ve been thinking: "shall I PM after the challenge?" But why should I? He obviously dosent have looked properly at my image and then its just his problem.
If you get some good, well thought over comments than it is another thing. You can PM on that one after the challenge and maybe have some educating discussion.
 03/17/2004 02:59:21 PM · #13
Most comments here seem to be agains PMing, and I certainly understand why. PMing does not bother me though. Most are defensive in nature, which is understandable human nature. I participate in other sites and they 'identify' commenters (and you get each comment via email) but there is no 'response' button. You know who commented, so you can take their comment for what it is worth (some folks' opinion's obviously carry more weight than others)and reply if you wish. What I find more interesting, is those sites have very few if any non-conforming pics for challenges. They have fewer challenges per month, so perhaps more time to think about it helps some too. I see many entires for the sake of an entry here - a lot of the "Do I shoot specifically for the challenge, usually not." but enter it anyway. That irritates many of us that take the challenge title/subject seriously, as an assignment and try to take as artistic a shot as we can think up and achieve given the timeframe (and work, weather, etc). Conflict got several flower entries. Why waste everyone's time with that? If the assignment was car crash and a pic was submitted of a hospital bed we might get it, but it does not meet the challenge regardless of how good a bed pic it might be.

I don't see PM as affecting the votes or voting. If someone responds to a comment they have identified themselves, good or bad. I doubt you are going to convince someone that grain is good that a flower is a conflict or your pic is not a 1 but a 10.

The soapbox is now available.

chris
03/17/2004 03:07:58 PM · #14
bestagents- I didn't say I "enter it anyway". I just said I don't shoot specifically for the challenge.

I go out for the day, knowing what the challenges are, and shoot away. I shoot somethings I think might work, and I shoot somethings just for me. Sometimes they are one and the same.

I look through my pics, find the good ones, and see if they fit the challenge.

I like to shoot birds and other wildlife, so they are usually what you will see in my challenge entries. But, I don't just stick one in. I skip the challenge if I'm not gonna meet it.
 03/17/2004 03:08:32 PM · #15
Who is PMS-ing?
 03/17/2004 03:10:06 PM · #16
I don't really think its that big of a deal. I really enjoy seeing who has left comments. I always reply back after the challenge anyways, so to me (at least) it is not that big of a deal.
 03/17/2004 03:42:27 PM · #17
I never reply during the voting unless the person asks for some specific information.

A comment of "doesn't meet the challenge" I simply mark as "helpful" and move on -- it tells me that my theme was not clearly communicated in at least one instance.

But I would like to make it EASIER to reply to comments by making the link to the commenter's name lead directly to a PM popup window. I, too, rarely get around to replying (thanking people) afterwards, partly because it's such a pain to always have to go to someone's profile page to send them a message. What's the point of having an "educational" site if we don't encourage feedback and dialog?

Comments are no longer anonymous because we felt strongly they shouldn't be afterwards, and it seemed pointless to hide them. It also can lull commenters into having a false sense of security in anonymity, perhaps forgetting when they write the comment that their name will be visible later.
 03/17/2004 04:16:07 PM · #18
Originally posted by GeneralE:
.

What's the point of having an "educational" site if we don't encourage feedback and dialog?


That`s the crux of the whole issue.
If I am moved to comment on someones image..I see no reason to hide my identity..If the person wishes to explain a point or take issue with any points I made then that`s fine, this gives you and them the chance to exchange views and maybe both will learn something from it!

Whether this happens during or after the challenge is immaterial to me..I really can`t see anyone being coerced to change their vote..unless there is something fundamental that they have missed in which case it is surely right that they should look at it again.
03/17/2004 04:52:37 PM · #19
Hook up a (preference) to choose to be visable or anonymous on our profile pages. The user can choose to be visable or not for any reason. Both sides win. However, I like to know who left a comment and if needed to discuss more about a photo. That's what we learn here. Comunication as well with photos.
03/17/2004 05:01:01 PM · #20
Anonymous commenting is asking for trolls (or people who act like them). We complain all the time about the quality of the comments now ... imagine if we didn't have to be identified with them.
 03/17/2004 05:06:19 PM · #21
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Anonymous commenting is asking for trolls (or people who act like them). We complain all the time about the quality of the comments now ... imagine if we didn't have to be identified with them.


hmmmmm,....I can see your point! Good point that it is.
 03/17/2004 05:08:34 PM · #22
Originally posted by GeneralE:
But I would like to make it EASIER to reply to comments by making the link to the commenter's name lead directly to a PM popup window.


YES!


03/17/2004 05:09:51 PM · #23
Since voting is supposed to be anonymous, why are comments not anonymous during the voting? I feel that one of the very nice things about DPC is the anonymous voting; it really cuts out the "sycophant syndrome".
BTW, Anonymous comments would not have to rule out PMing, since the source and destination of the PMs could be anonymous.
I think it would be far better, though, to keep comments anonymous during voting to...
1.) Encourage honesty in comments; less "sugar coating"
2.) Allow for folks to really consider the comments they receive, not respond in haste
3.) Last and most important, retain full anonymity of voting. Currently if I would respond to 10 comments, I would reveal my identity to about 5-7% of the voters; not alot, but enough if they change their vote in resopnse to my PMs (I actually only PM someone during votign if they PM me first).

I feel just as strongly that after voting is over, the commentors' names should be revealed. This will discourage those who might leave rude or inappropriate comments if they remained completely anonymous.
It's sad that we have to consider these things, but it is a fact of life.
03/17/2004 06:51:04 PM · #24
Originally posted by geewhy:
..I really can`t see anyone being coerced to change their vote..unless there is something fundamental that they have missed in which case it is surely right that they should look at it again.

If there is something fundamental that has been missed by the voter, then the entry (including the image and the title) has failed to communicate to that voter. If you give the photographer an additional opportunity to explain the entry you are giving an undeserved advantage that it would be impossible to extent to all the other challengers. Personally, I don't see anything gained by allowing PM'ing between the voter and the photographer during voting, and I see several ways in which such communication is detrimental to the integrity of the challenge. The case for communication after voting closes is the flip side of the coin, i.e.- the more the better, and the easier the better. Waiting until the end of the week is a small price to pay to increase the validity of the competition.
 03/17/2004 07:16:46 PM · #25
Originally posted by coolhar:
If there is something fundamental that has been missed by the voter, then the entry (including the image and the title) has failed to communicate to that voter.


Not necessarily,
There have been occasions, when I have noticed things after the challenge is finished that I failed to notice when studying the image and voting...(example 2nd place, Design and engineering)that wasn`t the fault of the creator of the picture..it was my fault for not taking enough time..I would have welcomed a PM from the person.
My feeling on leaving it until after the challenge is that many people may not bother by that time... or that we become so swamped by PMs that we start ignoring some or all of them and the learning process (which is the really important thing here) suffers as a result.
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 09/01/2025 11:14:03 AM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 09/01/2025 11:14:03 AM EDT.