comments - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

03/26/2004 10:19:29 AM · #1

some comments require an answer, is it possible, if you click on
the name and give them an answer they would know who they voted for?
does it matter

justine

Canon EOS-50D

03/26/2004 10:22:46 AM · #2

Originally posted by goodman:

some comments require an answer, is it possible, if you click on
the name and give them an answer they would know who they voted for?
does it matter

There is no official rule against you responding during a challenge.
Some people object and frown on any communications during the challenge. Others (like me) don't care.

Jovi

Sony DSC-F717

03/26/2004 10:26:04 AM · #3

With so many comments that i've left i forget which picture they're referring to when they send me a PM. Actually, i'm just happy that they found my comment helpful.

daisy77

Nikon D70

Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4.0 AT-X Pro DX

03/26/2004 10:28:07 AM · #4

Originally posted by justine:

Originally posted by daisy77:

Originally posted by lenkphotos:
Also, ...wait one day before PMing in response to a perceived rude comment. In most cases you'll let it pass.

this might be off topic but i thought it would be illegal to respond to a comment while the voting is ongoing... i've had a couple of questions on my orange entry and was inclined to wait to answer. am i allowed? i guess clarification would be optimal but i don't want to misbehave.

?

No, it's not illegal to answer them during the challenge. SOME people frown on it, some don't ..but there is NO rule. You can answer their question-or whatever.

this from another post (i'm not html savvy enough to creat a link to the thread which is entitled "things i've learned on DPchallenge"...)

Koriyama

Nikon D200

Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f2.8D

03/26/2004 10:37:57 AM · #5

Originally posted by daisy77:

this from another post (i'm not html savvy enough to creat a link to the thread which is entitled "things i've learned on DPchallenge"...)

All you have to do is to copy the url of the thread and paste it into the comment box which appears when you click on the 'world' icon above each post reply screen. It's the 4th from the left.

The thread in question

brett2004

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

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

03/26/2004 10:41:15 AM · #6

I will respond at times. And I ask questions of people when I leave a comment in hopes they will reply to clarrify their entry to me. Some do and some don't. But I have found that when someone asks me a question, I will respond and try my best to keep the name of the picture secret and keep it as general as possible. And I also try to let them know that I am not trying to persuade them, only answering the question asked. I have never had any problems doing it this way.

If I get a rude comment, I normally don't reply - because who really cares. But a couple of times I did just to let them know that this is a LEARNING community and leaving rude comments doesn't help me make my pictures any better. But I always wait until the challenge is over to do this.

daisy77

Nikon D70

Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4.0 AT-X Pro DX

03/26/2004 10:49:21 AM · #7

thanks koriyama...still not sure i'll be able to do it but i'll keep trying! best,

03/26/2004 11:05:39 AM · #8

Originally posted by goodman:

some comments require an answer, is it possible, if you click on
the name and give them an answer they would know who they voted for?
does it matter

Personally, I reply during the challenge, and I have been doing it a lot with this challenge because I have needed to defend myself and explain how I did the shot. I think anwering questions for clarification is fine. I generally wait till after the contest to hand out my thank-yous though. That's just how I do it. I also try to keep anonimity to the best of my ability. I just answer how I did the shot without actually giving reference to which one it is.

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

03/26/2004 11:39:41 AM · #9

Any communication between the commenter and the entering photographer before voting closes compromises the anonymity of the challenge to some extent. I'm sure that most people have honorable intentions when they do so but they open themselves to suspicions that can easily be avoided by waiting the few days until after votes are final. Add to that the possibility of the commenter being one of us who "frown" on such activity and may punish it with a lower vote.

brett2004

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

03/26/2004 12:00:50 PM · #10

Originally posted by coolhar:

Add to that the possibility of the commenter being one of us who "frown" on such activity and may punish it with a lower vote.

I fear voters of your kind. And why should you "punish" when it isn't a rule? I think that is pretty harsh! I think you should punish because the picture doesn't meet you standards or the rules of the challenge, not because you disagree with someone answering your question before voting is over. Punish based on site rules - not your own.

03/26/2004 12:28:18 PM · #11

Originally posted by brett2004:

Originally posted by coolhar:
Add to that the possibility of the commenter being one of us who "frown" on such activity and may punish it with a lower vote.

I fear voters of your kind. And why should you "punish" when it isn't a rule? I think that is pretty harsh! I think you should punish because the picture doesn't meet you standards or the rules of the challenge, not because you disagree with someone answering your question before voting is over. Punish based on site rules - not your own.

Thanks for the back-up. I NEVER "punish" someone's shot because of frivolous and petty things. I can understand the anonimity issue, it's not like I go around telling everybody what my shot is and why they should vote it high. I just thank them for commenting and clear up any questions they have. I don't think people are commenting on shots to find those who will communicate back and "punish" them for doing so. I persoanlly enoy it when I get some sort of response from a comment I made, even if it's during the challnege. Their reply to my comments doesn't change the way I vote on a shot, because I had already made that decision prior to the comment anyways. Whe I reply to someones comment, it is not to sway their vote, rather clarify and thank. But to "punish" for this (and the fact that there is absolutely NO rule aaginst it) seems a little absurd to me, I vote on the merits of the shot.

It's not like I start at a 10 on all shots and dock for small things and end up with a score after finding all the bad things, rather I start from the bottom and give points for small things that make the photo good.

This is just my two-cents worth. I realize everyone is entitled to their opinions, this is just mine.

basia03

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

03/26/2004 12:46:37 PM · #12

Originally posted by coolhar:

... being one of us who "frown" on such activity and may punish it with a lower vote.

wow, you're brutal! what does one have to do with another - we are voting on pictures here! and the choice of words, "punish" - are we in kindergarten here?

Message edited by author 2004-03-26 12:47:24.

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

03/26/2004 12:52:34 PM · #13

Brett2004-- No need to fear voters like me as long as you aren't trying to take advantage of the challenge. But I wish you would give serious consideration to my point of view. Replying to a comment is not a violation of the "letter of the law" but it is a clear violation of the spirit and intent of the challenge rules. Anonymity is a very basic and essential part of the dpc concept. Why would you want to engage in, or encourage, any activity that undermines that concept when such activity is so easily avoided?

How would you feel if your entry placed 4th, missing a ribbon by just a few thousandths of a point only to find out that the third place finisher had sent about 8 replies to commenters; and that more than one of the commenters had raised their votes after considering the photographers explanation? This case is mostly hypothetical but not at all far-fetched. There was a forum post recently where a voter said they raised their vote from a 4 to a 7 seven, if memory serves, after getting a reply from the entering photographer. It wouldn't take more than a very few of those to alter the placings, maybe only one would do in a small challenge. Look at the final average vote scores of the top 10 in the recent Portrait challenge. Several of the placings were decided by very small margins.

justine

Canon EOS-50D

03/26/2004 12:58:18 PM · #14

edited to remove.

Message edited by author 2004-03-26 12:58:54.

03/26/2004 01:01:24 PM · #15

Originally posted by coolhar:

Brett2004-- No need to fear voters like me as long as you aren't trying to take advantage of the challenge.

How would you feel if your entry placed 4th, missing a ribbon by just a few thousandths of a point only to find out that the third place finisher had sent about 8 replies to commenters; and that more than one of the commenters had raised their votes after considering the photographers explanation?

To the first part of your comment: I don't think most people are trying to take advantage of the challenge neccassarily, so you can't say that everyone is. I do realize though, that there are a few out there that do that ruin it for the rest of us. I still believe in keeping the anonimity to the best of your ability, I don't change my vote because someone sent a clarification or thank you.

And for the scond part: On DPC, that's just the way the cookie crumbles. If you missed out on a ribbon by a thousandth of a point (I know it's hypothetical), it wasn't neccassarily determined by a changed vote. Maybe a couple of people vote a few more "1's" for your shot over the one that won by that thousandth of a point. What I am trying to say here is that there are WAY too many variables to try to dtermine why a certain shot did better than another.

03/26/2004 01:05:28 PM · #16

Another point that can be considered is how the practice of replying during voting is unfair to all who don't have that opportunity to answer your question, or to explain their entry; and posibly influence your vote. To be really fair you would have offer that to all the entrants and entertain their replies. Better to let the image and it's title speak for themselves. I just think replying during voting is a practice with a lot of potentially negative aspects and little to be gained. It should be discouraged so that it does not become widespread giving cover for those who would abuse it among the many who use it innocently and honorably.

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

03/26/2004 01:09:11 PM · #17

Originally posted by coolhar:

Well said. Just remember, as with everything, there are a few exceptions. Personally, I don't do this all that often. But I have felt compelled to do so on a select few comments, especially with those who are less familiar with the site, I give them a general reply that doesn't neccassarily give away my shot, because my replies could apply to almost any shot anyways, I just try to "better" inform them. But I do agree with you.

brett2004

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

03/26/2004 01:29:48 PM · #18

Originally posted by coolhar:

I can agree with your point here. But I give people the benefit of the doubt. I generally start off trusting and detract from there.

Most of the time I am able to see the picture being portrayed by using the clues from the challenge description and title. But there has been instances where it may fit, but I can't really understand it. Some of these artists get pretty deep with their pictures. I don't want to rob anyone of a fair vote.

I am not trying to pick a fight or anything - if you don't agree with this (answering comment questions), that is fine. But you really shouldn't subtract points because of it. It is your opinion, not a rule. Not everyone knows your rules. So they shouldn't suffer blindly. If you don't want answers to your comment questions, you should either not ask, or reply to someone that does answer and let them know you prefer to wait until after the challenge is over to discuss it. Don't just get trigger happy and start deducting points.