p.4 #1 · Does this forum have a negative tone lately?
Monito wrote:
Using a hide button can make you answer a question that has just been answered completely and well by the person you hid. It becomes a good way to look foolish or look as if you couldn't be bothered to read the thread in a rush to post.
When you hide an FM member, everyone but you sees their statements about you which might be libelous. If the hidden member is clever enough, the statements can be just believable enough to be damaging to a reputation.
I have never seen the need to use hide buttons in any forum. Blocking PMs is another matter. ...Show more →
I've never used "hide" buttons (much) until recently. However, I was getting caught up in responding to often and too quickly to certain specific posters, when I really should have (in many, but not all cases) just let it go. Some arguments aren't worth having, and others aren't worth the nastiness that will ensue if you take them on.
I use the "hide" button in mainly two ways.
First, there are a very small number of folks (maybe one or two?) whose posts I simply don't want or need to see at all. I've seen enough of what they post over a long enough time that I know that there isn't any reason for me to look at what they post. What they say doesn't concern me, to be honest with you, and I don't even click the unhide button to see what they had to say.
Second, for me the hide button also acts as a brake on my inclination to reply to certain messages and certain people. There might be a dozen or fewer in this category. I'm interested enough in what they might say that sometimes I'll click the unhide message button and take a look, but that extra step of having to unhide the message first reminds me each time that I don't need to reply. In fact, I decided a few weeks ago to make it my policy to not reply to their messages, even when they are directed at me. (If their message gets taken up by others in the thread, I might - or might not - join that subsequent discussion.)
So, in most cases it isn't that I never seen the hidden messages. Instead, the hide feature works as a reminder to me that I don't need to worry about replying to such folks.
About the concern over "libelous" statements in forums, I'm not too worried and for several reasons. First, whatever reputation we create is probably the sum of a lot of factors besides any single post or the opinion of any single poster here - and not, quite frankly, what any individual in the FM forum thinks about us. Second, it is well-known that when a person is recognized by more than a few people, the likelihood that someone will develop a dislike for that person is almost certain. It comes with the territory - and it will make a person crazy to try to change all of those folks.
p.4 #2 · Does this forum have a negative tone lately?
I do not use the "hide" button much, however, the other day while I was trying to "hide" Dan Mitchell, Roger Cicala, Alundeb and the Photon guy, I hid myself inadvertently, so I thought at first that Fred had banned me from FM, which in itself wouldn't be a big loss to me, or to the forum for that matter.
p.4 #3 · Does this forum have a negative tone lately?
PetKal wrote:
I do not use the "hide" button much, however, the other day while I was trying to "hide" Dan Mitchell, Roger Cicala, Alundeb and the Photon guy, I hid myself inadvertently, so I thought at first that Fred had banned me from FM, which in itself wouldn't be a big loss to me, or to the forum for that matter.
We four (the "cabal", or "fractious inner circle" of FM) wondered where you had gone!
p.4 #10 · Does this forum have a negative tone lately?
PetKal wrote:
I do not use the "hide" button much, however, the other day while I was trying to "hide" Dan Mitchell, Roger Cicala, Alundeb and the Photon guy, I hid myself inadvertently, so I thought at first that Fred had banned me from FM, which in itself wouldn't be a big loss to me, or to the forum for that matter.
There have been times when a 'Hide Me' button would have come in handy, being invisible might have lessened the stares, whispers or the 'Hello there', 'Hi', 'Why don't your legs work right?'
From a child no button is required they are just trying to learn, understand...it's usually a few of the 'adult' age that are less cute, ignorant, they usually speak louder and sloooower as well. A simple smile, a brief 'hello' is usually enough to make clear there is a genuine human being inside, not just a chaotic blob of gray/grey matter.
We all have our moments of angst...even in public forums. Trolls there are in most walks of life, given 'photography' is such an individual creative expression, is it not expected ego will emerge on occasion and that lofty perch will eventually give way to a firmer stance on terra firma.
A lurker for many years before joining, these last few have been quite enlightening, even when disagreement leads to uncommon ground. This is a photography forum, it entertains and teaches; we aren't solving world peace here...unless I missed something
p.4 #12 · Does this forum have a negative tone lately?
That's too complicated for me. I just don't bother to read or reply if things get off the hook. Albeit I have gotten sucked into a few silly threads I've managed to steer clear 99% of the time. It's too much work typing endless messages to no avail. I could be doing something useful like sleeping or drinking a cold one...
gdanmitchell wrote:
I've never used "hide" buttons (much) until recently. However, I was getting caught up in responding to often and too quickly to certain specific posters, when I really should have (in many, but not all cases) just let it go. Some arguments aren't worth having, and others aren't worth the nastiness that will ensue if you take them on.
I use the "hide" button in mainly two ways.
First, there are a very small number of folks (maybe one or two?) whose posts I simply don't want or need to see at all. I've seen enough of what they post over a long enough time that I know that there isn't any reason for me to look at what they post. What they say doesn't concern me, to be honest with you, and I don't even click the unhide button to see what they had to say.
Second, for me the hide button also acts as a brake on my inclination to reply to certain messages and certain people. There might be a dozen or fewer in this category. I'm interested enough in what they might say that sometimes I'll click the unhide message button and take a look, but that extra step of having to unhide the message first reminds me each time that I don't need to reply. In fact, I decided a few weeks ago to make it my policy to not reply to their messages, even when they are directed at me. (If their message gets taken up by others in the thread, I might - or might not - join that subsequent discussion.)
So, in most cases it isn't that I never seen the hidden messages. Instead, the hide feature works as a reminder to me that I don't need to worry about replying to such folks.
About the concern over "libelous" statements in forums, I'm not too worried and for several reasons. First, whatever reputation we create is probably the sum of a lot of factors besides any single post or the opinion of any single poster here - and not, quite frankly, what any individual in the FM forum thinks about us. Second, it is well-known that when a person is recognized by more than a few people, the likelihood that someone will develop a dislike for that person is almost certain. It comes with the territory - and it will make a person crazy to try to change all of those folks.
p.4 #14 · Does this forum have a negative tone lately?
For myself I see less negativity, personal attacks, etc now than I did a year ago.
Granted I have cut back the frequency of my visits to FM and the number or types of threads I read or post in.
In a way I am thankful of the negativity back then as it drove me to spend less time here on the forums and more time photographing, reading photography books and finding new uses for my photography.
