Just because there are people that agree with you AND you have found a way to justify your actions, it doesn't make it OK to continue to bump this thread to the top. I can think of lots of great, informative posts that would be helpful to many if only they remained at the top for all to see and enjoy. FORTUNATELY, that is not how the forum works.
I guess if you think you are better then everyone else, by all means, just keep bumping your post.
If I see a thread I'm not interested in I simply don't click on it, and there are many I'm not interested in. As a newbie here myself I've been treated kindly by several members who have gone out of their way to give me a helping hand and point me in the right direction. This was done in the spirit of the art and for no other reason. I think that reaching out to newbies and lurkers and encouraging their participation in a warm and friendly way creates a community with a good heart and enthusiasm. Good will is contagious!
Although what Steady and others are communicating here is all sweet, warm and fuzzy, the truth of the matter is that this forum, without him, would be fine. Hear me out on this, as I'm not trying to be mean spirited. This forum needs us all, yet needs none of us.
I feel Steady and maybe some others are implying that this forum was on its way out until the kind hearted gentleness of a few came in and rescued it. If there are many that have been pushed away due to what someone has said, so be it, maybe they need to learn how to deal with it and not be so sensitive. I can leave, Steady can leave and about 50% of the good and bad from this forum can leave and yet it will continue without us. Not only will it continue, but it will probably still thrive. It's a good forum with A LOT of good people lurking and contributing. So I don't buy for even a second the notion that something is needed to make it better or to keep others from getting their feelings hurt or else the forum is in some sort of jeopardy. And though this may not be what is exactly being said, it is being implied.
What good is a place that needs massive amounts of sugar coating?
I say newbies beware and do not allow sugar coated comments to slow you down and keep you from being better. I believe they are more detrimental then helpful. Sugar coated comments can give a person false confidence (which is worse then lack of). It makes people weak and much less then what they can be. For example, if they believe what they are already doing is so good, they'll miss out on growth. I personally would gladly accept a harsh critique over a sugar coated critique and I have had several people over the years back me in PM's on this opinion, as well as the opinion, more recently, regarding Steady's over the top sugar coating. See Steady, you've been around since 2007 right? I've been registered since 2003. You have over 10,000 posts seriously? I have only 378 (including this one). Obviously I'm not much of a contributer, . So I don't say much, but I've been around for a while now through thick and thin and have even had my @ss handed to me a time or two for poor photography and/or hammering on someone else. It's all good and I'll take my lumps like a man, Lord knows I dish it out. So again, I don't buy the implication you are making. This forum is a great place to learn with or without the genlte touch and will continue to be such long after all of us are gone.
Brad Alexander wrote:
Although what Steady and others are communicating here is all sweet, warm and fuzzy, the truth of the matter is that this forum, without him, would be fine. Hear me out on this, as I'm not trying to be mean spirited. This forum needs us all, yet needs none of us.
I think you are selling yourself short with this analogy. The truth of the matter is that it goes much further than this. This thread could be a life, and this forum could be the world, and the breadth of your longevity here could be the entire length of human existence.
You're right, none of it matters. The planet will go on without us after humans are long since dust. The length of a post/life is fleeting, barely worth noticing in the overall scope of things. Why help an old lady across the street? She'll be dead soon, you'll be dead soon. The city will keep going, the street doesn't need either of you. Yet it does. What good is a street with nobody to use it? That'd be a sad street.
Given the fact that this forum is fine without Steady, and as I've shown above, the world is fine without humans and our fleeting, cosmic unimportance, how did you manage to get up the wherewithal to make your post amongst all this insignificance?
jdbennett wrote:
I think you are selling yourself short with this analogy. The truth of the matter is that it goes much further than this. This thread could be a life, and this forum could be the world, and the breadth of your longevity here could be the entire length of human existence.
You're right, none of it matters. The planet will go on without us after humans are long since dust. The length of a post/life is fleeting, barely worth noticing in the overall scope of things. Why help an old lady across the street? She'll be dead soon, you'll be dead soon. The city will keep going, the street doesn't need either of you. Yet it does. What good is a street with nobody to use it? That'd be a sad street.
Given the fact that this forum is fine without Steady, and as I've shown above, the world is fine without humans and our fleeting, cosmic unimportance, how did you manage to get up the wherewithal to make your post amongst all this insignificance?...Show more →
Dude, U R soooooo Deeeeeeeeeeeeep! Whoa...........Dude................
Steady...I just got done reading through your 7 Tips...and it was a great read. Thanks for putting the time and effort into it. I am hoping that I can get the most out of this Forum and your suggestions are definitely pointing in the right direction. Thanks Again!
jdbennett wrote:
I think you are selling yourself short with this analogy. The truth of the matter is that it goes much further than this. This thread could be a life, and this forum could be the world, and the breadth of your longevity here could be the entire length of human existence.
You're right, none of it matters. The planet will go on without us after humans are long since dust. The length of a post/life is fleeting, barely worth noticing in the overall scope of things. Why help an old lady across the street? She'll be dead soon, you'll be dead soon. The city will keep going, the street doesn't need either of you. Yet it does. What good is a street with nobody to use it? That'd be a sad street.
Given the fact that this forum is fine without Steady, and as I've shown above, the world is fine without humans and our fleeting, cosmic unimportance, how did you manage to get up the wherewithal to make your post amongst all this insignificance?...Show more →
You are taking what I've said out of context and way too far. I figured I'd have to contend with people like you. I'll simply do my best to ignore you. There is no getting through to you anyway.
Sam_Alfano wrote:
If I see a thread I'm not interested in I simply don't click on it, and there are many I'm not interested in. As a newbie here myself I've been treated kindly by several members who have gone out of their way to give me a helping hand and point me in the right direction. This was done in the spirit of the art and for no other reason. I think that reaching out to newbies and lurkers and encouraging their participation in a warm and friendly way creates a community with a good heart and enthusiasm. Good will is contagious! ...Show more →
Hi Sam,
Thanks for adding to the Positive flow of this thread.
I think you are a very good addition to this forum and I have enjoyed seeing your Self Portrait work (which is very good as SPs with studio lighting).
I hope you will continue to enjoy the forum and participate.
jdbennett wrote:
I think you are selling yourself short with this analogy. The truth of the matter is that it goes much further than this. This thread could be a life, and this forum could be the world, and the breadth of your longevity here could be the entire length of human existence.
You're right, none of it matters. The planet will go on without us after humans are long since dust. The length of a post/life is fleeting, barely worth noticing in the overall scope of things. Why help an old lady across the street? She'll be dead soon, you'll be dead soon. The city will keep going, the street doesn't need either of you. Yet it does. What good is a street with nobody to use it? That'd be a sad street.
Given the fact that this forum is fine without Steady, and as I've shown above, the world is fine without humans and our fleeting, cosmic unimportance, how did you manage to get up the wherewithal to make your post amongst all this insignificance?...Show more →
This got me laughing...in a good way.
Good humor showing the absurd argument taken to extreme. (I was reminded of "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" while reading it.)
Thanks for posting it as it offers a little levity into the thread.
countj01 wrote:
Steady...I just got done reading through your 7 Tips...and it was a great read. Thanks for putting the time and effort into it. I am hoping that I can get the most out of this Forum and your suggestions are definitely pointing in the right direction. Thanks Again!
Hi Joseph,
Thanks for the note and for the positive attitude. I am glad you found the Seven Pages of Newbies Tips (On how to post on a photography forum) helpful.
I also noticed your recent posts too. I am glad to see you posting some pics and look forward to seeing more of your work here.
Brad Alexander wrote:
You are taking what I've said out of context and way too far. I figured I'd have to contend with people like you. I'll simply do my best to ignore you. There is no getting through to you anyway.
I think the Grinch stole your sense of humor, lighten up (stop-up?) Bard!
(and I didn't take your post out of context, I did the exact opposite...I put your post into context while taking your stated principle to the extreme. Moreover, my post actually agreed with your post. You are mostly right. I was merely pointing out the paradoxical nature of being right about such a principle and also posting about it)
One of my goals here with this thread is to get more people to post their photos on this forum or to participate by giving more comments on those photos that are posted by others.
Obviously, there are a lot of lurkers who visit this site frequently, yet never post photos or comments.
In response to this Newbies thread, some have written to me with very nice notes explaining their reasons for not posting here in the forum.
I think it would help this forum if folks here read a few of these quotes and thought about what they could do to help others feel welcome here or to encourage more pics and comments to be posted.
Here is a verbatim quote (excerpt) I received from a recent note (PM) regarding why one Lurker lurks here. I thought it was very well written, and this is just a small clip from the note itself. Read it and see if you agree:
____________
VERBATIM QUOTE FROM LURKER NOTE to SH:
"Well, as to my status on these forums, first I'll say that I truly enjoy viewing the pictures posted. I find so much inspiration in others work. That said, however, I have to say that I rarely read the feedback. I guess that's for two reasons; 1) sometimes the feedback can be quite scathing. This seems so unnecessary and bordering on cruel at times. I don't see how this is helpful to anyone; 2) on the other extreme, folks frequently will say 'great job!' or 'excellent work!' in feedback, when in fact the work may be mediocre or even downright poor. I don't feel this approach is much more helpful than ripping people and their work apart. I imagine that people post because they would like honest critiques of their work, as the point is to get tips for improvement."
Pfiltz wrote:
SH, lurkers have been around as long as forums have. Some folks comment, some folks post images, some just "lurk".
Nothing wrong with lurking..
They'll post when they're ready to post. Either way.
See you got a bump on "your" thread too. It's back at the top now...
Sure, there is nothing wrong with lurking. Nothing at all.
But, when people take the step from Lurker to Participant, they gain more value (by getting comments on their own photos) or by participating and helping others on their photos.
That mix of participation is what keeps a place like this lively, educational, or entertaining.
Otherwise, it devolves to a small group of people and becomes "clique" like...or like "an old boys club." When that happens, it inhibits others from contributing.
I know this from seeing that happen on other forums and others recognize that too. It happens on this FM site and other sites. Even some lurkers have written to me that this forum appears like that to them. And I have seen some forums here that look very "closed" to outsiders too.
My POV is that we should do what we can to encourage more participation by Lurkers or Newbies.
seriously? I have only 378 (including this one). Obviously I'm not much of a contributer, 
. So I don't say much, but I've been around for a while now through thick and thin and have even had my @ss handed to me a time or two for poor photography and/or hammering on someone else. It's all good and I'll take my lumps like a man, Lord knows I dish it out. So again, I don't buy the implication you are making. This forum is a great place to learn with or without the genlte touch and will continue to be such long after all of us are gone. 
