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DPChallenge Forums >> Current Challenge >> Is it me, or is this terribly rude?
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05/01/2008 02:46:57 AM · #1
Sometimes i'm not the most creative when it comes to titling my images. I just don't put much thought into it. My recent entry isn't doing terribly well, but i'm proud of the shot, and it has 1 comment. The comment reads:

Originally posted by anonymous:

I like this shot until I read the title


I guess I'm not really sure how to take it. But my first reaction was to be taken aback, that someone would even consider not liking a picture simply because of a title. The way I score a challenge has about %.01 to do with the title, and wouldn't consider downvoting it because of one, let alone make a comment like that.

/rant over

Might need to move this to the Rants forum :)

Message edited by author 2008-05-01 02:47:48.
05/01/2008 02:51:12 AM · #2
They are probably just syaing that they don't think the title works with the image?
05/01/2008 03:00:46 AM · #3
It is possible that the title of your shot could be taken as being rude to them. It would be quite easy to do, especially if you are making some political/religious statement.
05/01/2008 03:01:59 AM · #4
At least you got a comment on your image...

Seriously, I wouldn't worry too much about it. It's easy to take comments personally, but this one isn't too bad. Clearly the commenter doesn't have the capacity to contribute a comment that actually applies to the image content itself, so you can enjoy the fact that you're probably better than they are. ;)
05/01/2008 03:33:14 AM · #5
Never take too seriously. But wonder about the meaning. Some people are very very word oriented - I am one of them, though I too try to discount titles in judging images - and maybe for whatever reason your commenter was just severely offputted for reasons best known - or not - to theyself.

Perspective, perspective, o camera people.
05/01/2008 03:53:34 AM · #6
If you are going to give a picture a title, I believe it has to be appropriate and should help the viewer with the image, rather than hinder their perception.

If you don't want to title the image, fair enough...
05/01/2008 04:20:43 AM · #7
I believe it's far more rude to call someone out in a public forum (and during a challenge at that!) who has taken the time to comment on your photo.
There is a danger that you put many people off commenting if you react with a thin skin.
05/01/2008 05:58:59 AM · #8
Whether you agree or not, I think this comment is probably a fair representation of the viewers thoughts, and not rude in any way. I'd take this comment on board, and let it inspire you to greater creativity in your titling in future, or maybe stick with "Untitled" if you really can't come up with anything. A bad title can certainly pull the image down. You should thank them for reminding you of this. Remember, in the end, you are still allowed to disagree. (Also, don't forget that the comment won't be anonymous after the end of the challenge, and everyone will know who you called 'rude'. What will the honest commenter think about that?). :)
05/01/2008 06:13:50 AM · #9
No I don't believe it's rude at all.
05/01/2008 06:36:25 AM · #10
There is always a chance the person saw your photo as meaning one thing, and doing so well, however after reading the title it became obvious that it was not your intended message and therefore you failed to express yourself clearly.
05/01/2008 06:43:27 AM · #11
I got that last week too, I think I am going to start naming mine "If your the type that needs a title to make the picture better, stop voting"
05/01/2008 06:43:43 AM · #12
A bad title can RUIN a good photo. I'm a slight title nut (might even have been my comment - Doh!)
Numerous threads about how people feel about titles and how they affect the score - everyone has different opinions. Best just to get over it and learn something from it.

FWIW, my most hated are ones with an explanation in the title - i.e. "Handheld" or "No wires or string used" - crap like that.
05/01/2008 06:50:45 AM · #13
Originally posted by BobsterLobster:

I believe it's far more rude to call someone out in a public forum (and during a challenge at that!) who has taken the time to comment on your photo.
There is a danger that you put many people off commenting if you react with a thin skin.


I agree.

You should have contacted the member through PM.

As for the question at hand. It's kind of difficult to give an opinion when we don't know what the title is but I don't think it was rude.

05/01/2008 06:55:06 AM · #14
Originally posted by FourTDSean:

I think I am going to start naming mine "If your the type that needs a title to make the picture better, stop voting"


A title isn't needed to make a picture better, though if it goes against the image, it will detract from its appeal.

I think TogTog has hit the nail on the head:

Originally posted by togtog:

There is always a chance the person saw your photo as meaning one thing, and doing so well, however after reading the title it became obvious that it was not your intended message and therefore you failed to express yourself clearly.


Message edited by author 2008-05-01 06:55:25.
05/01/2008 07:01:58 AM · #15
you know what I just realized....

This site isn't called digital photo titling challenge. regardless of how bad your title is, one should vote based on the photo. If a title is going to affect you that much then don't read it. If the mona lisa was called "dude dressed in drag" would it have been any less of a painting? If the title cant make the picture better, than it shouldnt be able to make it worse.
05/01/2008 07:12:58 AM · #16
People seem to be assuming the commenter gave a lower vote than s/he would have after reading the title. I don't think we can assume that. I have commented unfavorably on titles every now and then, but they have not changed my vote.

Query: would you have thought the comment was LESS rude if it said "I don't like the title."? If so, why? I think to call this comment "rude" is really,really a stretch. As someone else said, what's rude is calling it out in public, IMO.

R.
05/01/2008 07:27:41 AM · #17
Can't comment without knowing the title or seeing the image. If your image is titled "F**k Off" then I can understand. I doubt that it is, but I don't know what it is.

Originally posted by FourTDSean:

you know what I just realized....

This site isn't called digital photo titling challenge. regardless of how bad your title is, one should vote based on the photo. If a title is going to affect you that much then don't read it. If the mona lisa was called "dude dressed in drag" would it have been any less of a painting? If the title cant make the picture better, than it shouldnt be able to make it worse.


The title is part of the presentation. Voters will be influenced by it, and we kind of know that or we wouldn't use them. Titles help to explain, clarify, or add context to what we're seeing. Sometime it does the opposite: it creates mystery. That's okay too. I even think "Untitled" is valid. I almost called my Free Study entry that. Use "Untitled" or number your entries if you don't want feedback on your title.

Just about any feedback is good feedback.
05/01/2008 07:42:53 AM · #18
Interestingly (to me anyway) I came across this thread after only a few minutes after quickly looking through the Free Study and I saw a photo that could very well belong the OP. As absurd as it might sound, this title was so cliche and overused that I felt (more so than thought) a real let down type of feeling that can be worded something like "Oh God, why did the photographer give this fantastic picture this title?"

I wouldn't be surprised to find that the image that I am referring to is, in fact, the same photo. I wouldn't vote the photo lower, but I would comment as to my initial reaction when I have time to vote and comment.

If it were possible to post the image along with this thread, I wonder how many people would say something like "ohhhh, now I see what the commenter was talking about. I agree."
05/01/2008 07:44:03 AM · #19
Originally posted by FourTDSean:

....

. . If a title is going to affect you that much then don't read it.


I can't really agree with you there. The title is part of the presentation of the image. The photog knows what he (she) was trying to capture when they took the photo, what their motivation was - but know one else does.
The title helps you to encourage the viewer to understand and empathise with the image, to explain what they are seeing in a literal documentary sense, or to explain an image by giving it a little background in a photojournalistic sense, or to just give an expression of emotion to help the viewer (who may have just looked at two hundred previous photo's) to pause and understand where you are coming from.

Sometimes an image can be so strong that it needs no title - but most images will benefit from a thought out title. As I say it is all part of the finished presentation of your work.

Originally posted by FourTDSean:

If the mona lisa was called "dude dressed in drag" would it have been any less of a painting?


I think this is an excellent question.

Would it have been less of a painting ? Technically - no. Not in terms of pigments, shape, light, shade etc.

In terms of viewer empathy and understanding of the image ? well the title would completely transform the viewers experience of looking at the same piece of artwork.
Because now the viewer would now look at the image in a different light. Instead of a simple descriptive title referring to the wife of a wealthy Florentine Silk Merchant, you would now have a title with a much more casual tone and the direct statement that you are being presented with a man dressed as a woman.
Some people may then be intrigued by this title - some may be put off by it.

Titles can have a direct influence on how we understand the visual information presented to us.

Originally posted by FourTDSean:

If the title cant make the picture better, than it shouldnt be able to make it worse.


It does because (as I said above) it helps you work out what you are looking at.

Imagine you are presented with a picture of a battered, dishevelled, young woman.

You would clearly react differently if the image was entitled

1) Survivor !!
2) Victim . .
3) What I do to woment that answer back . . !!

I would suggest that In the first case you would be glad that she had got through some unnamed ordeal intact

In the second you might well feel sympathy for what (unnamed event) had befallen her

In the third you might well be horrified at the title and thinking behind it, and wonder if the local Police are aware . .

Clearly this isn't a perfect example - but I'm sure you get what I mean.

As Art ROFLMAO said earlier - it's worth looking at the many and varied thoughts on putting titles on pictures :- )
05/01/2008 07:46:57 AM · #20
I want to say I understand how you (op) feel. However, I agree with the other respondants.

I had a similar reaction to a comment. I did not post my reaction but I was very upset. The problem is that my Title used poor grammar and I was called out on it. From now forward that image will always have the poor grammar and it will always have the comment pointing it out lest anyone missed it.

I feel sick again now. Thing is - I will be so much more careful in the future and it will NOT happen again. I have learned.

I guess that is really the point.
05/01/2008 07:57:06 AM · #21
I'd like to remind the OP that posting the text of a specific comment and referring to it as "terribly rude" does not encourage honest commenting. We ask that if you find that a comment to be abusive, you report it to the Site Council using the "Report Post" button. We will deal with it, and the commenter if it is truly abusive.
This comment, while it may not have pleased you, is not abusive, and should you consider what the commenter is saying, may in fact be quite helpful.
05/01/2008 08:10:46 AM · #22
I'm sorry, I may be in the minority here...but in all fairness, the title of a work is just as much a part of the work as the work itself. If I write a book about cats and name it "A Dog's Day", its going to garner comment about it. It takes creativity and thought to make a title for your work...and I feel it's just as important as PP. If you don't want to put in the time then just leave all your works "untitled".
05/01/2008 08:53:30 AM · #23
I didn't think a title made too much difference, until this one from the recent even challenge:

The clever title appeared to be a shoehorn effort to fit the topic and it distracted me from noticing how the shot actually did fit the theme. I should be more aware of such things.

Regarding the OP's question, It was blunt but not rude. Always wear a thick skin on this site. A further explanation of why the title ruined the photo may have been nice, and after the challenge you might want to PM the person asking (politely) for more explanation of his comment. They did take the time to leave you some feedback on why they voted it low, and that's a good thing.

Message edited by author 2008-05-01 08:53:52.
05/01/2008 08:55:29 AM · #24
Yes I think that the title is important Put it this way, you go out to dinner and on the menu are two options but they are exactly the same thing;

Pigs feet on a slice of bread

the other is

Delicate ham off the bone nested on top of warm homemade crusty bread.

Which one would you choose!!!!!!!!

Case closed!

Message edited by author 2008-05-01 08:56:01.
05/01/2008 08:55:39 AM · #25
I have made a comment like that before. I thought the photo was great. I just didnt see the point they chose for the title.

Like this

But this one was my favorite photo and title ever!

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