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Thread: Stopping Posting

  1. #11

    Stopping Posting

    I was personnally shocked to see to what extend the level of the discussions here has dropped over the course of 7 or 8 months.

    This used to be a quiet but civilized place, like the LL or Rob Galbaith forums, but it has a come down to some sort of sub-DPreview level.

    I am not speaking about the technical content of the discussions, but about how people address each others.

    I had sort of thought that the average LF shooters were educated folks, overall on the senior side agewise, and this still appears to be true. However, judging from the discussions I have been watching recently I have started to wonder... am I really not gonna grow any wiser as time passes by?...

    Another theory, younger folks like me have been playing with the net for 17 or 18 years, roaming forums, leaving thousands of posts etc... while the slightly older people who have been joining these places recently are actually still in their learning phase medium wise? One could only advice healthy readings like the writtings of Sherry Turkle on multiple personnalities for instance.

    Cheers,
    Bernard

  2. #12

    Stopping Posting

    Am I missing something here? I haven't noticed a high level of rancor flying around here on the LF Forum! Maybe I'm part of the problem because somehow it just doesn't bother me. Frankly, I'd be more put out by a bunch of mealy-mouthed politically correct groupthink than I am over the moderate level of passion exhibited here for a passion-inspiring topic like photography! I think most of us would be insulted if we were accused of not being passionate about photography. Gene, I looked over some of your posts and perhaps you are more on the soft-spoken side. In your first post you mentioned attending John Sexton's workshop so you know that Sexton is pretty much of a gentleman, although probably not quite what I would consider soft-spoken. That made me think of Bruce Barnbaum, who is decidedly NOT soft-spoken, and Ray McSavanny, who is decidedly soft-spoken, and the time that I had the pleasure of attending a workshop with all three of them together. Had the workshop been put on by three McSavannys it would have been rather dull and sleep inducing; had it been three Sextons it would have been somewhat like a college lecture panel; and had it been three Barnbaums it would have been like watching professional wresling! However, it was none of those, but was truly exciting and inspiring because of the different personality types and the interaction thereof. I see the same thing here on the LF Forum and I hope that you reconsider signing off because we really need everyone, and in the end, we are all after the same thing: a passion-inspiring image. By the way, I wonder if you would have signed off the LF Forum had Ansel Adams visited this site and posted his opinion of Ronald Reagan, which was anything but "cordial." By the way again, I was accused by Barnbaum of not being passionate about photography, and it has inspired me ever since.

  3. #13

    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    God's Country
    Posts
    2,080

    Stopping Posting

    Gene,

    I think this forum is one of the better ones around... sure, there are times where people get a little bit more inflamed than other times but this is simply a reflection of their passion on the issues. Right or wrong... they do take a stand and aren't namby-pamby about where they're coming from!

    For the most part though... I find people here are pretty civilized toward one another. And, there are some GREAT folks who don't have any problems sharing their knowledge about large format photography with others. All I can say is, "I've learned a lot from this forum." And, to them... I say, "Thank you!"

    Lastly, jumping off isn't the answer! Remember, in order for you to change the system... you have to be involved!

    But, if you're convinced you're "outta here" then I'm sorry to see you go and I'll bid thee farewell.

    However... do reconsider!

    Cheers
    Life in the fast lane!

  4. #14
    Yes, but why? David R Munson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 1999
    Location
    Saitama, Japan
    Posts
    1,494

    Stopping Posting



    I'm sorry to see you go. It's unfortunate that things get stupidly dramatic at times, but then I still feel like this forum is about ten times better than any other forum I follow. I've been here since I was 14 (I'm 23 now), and this is still about my favorite forum. Like others, when I find that a thread is going somewhere I don't really like, I just stop reading it. Pity that these threads still manage to scare some people away.


  5. #15

    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Posts
    538

    Stopping Posting

    Gene,

    I expect we are all spending too much time at the cathode ray tube these days. Makes one grumpy.

    I, for one, have been huddled between the keyboard and the buzzing window air conditioner attempting to escape the sweltering oppressive summer heat here in the Berkshires. Today, for example, it is predicted to once again spike over 80. No relief in sight!

    But as the intolerable weather very soon passes, the apples and pumpkins are ripening in the orchard and field. Corn is well along. Leaves will be turning in six Saturdays and first snow in eleven or twelve.

    Won’t be long before New England housewives will be dreaming of bayberry-scented soap balls in the guest bath and the honey-do lists will be lengthening prior to the holidays. My bride has already begun her canning.

    So now’s the time to get away from the forum, out into the field to clear our head and make pictures for a while.

    Local teenie queenies who are too precious to be talked to by mere mortals all wear earphones in perpetuity as their defense mechanism.

    My personal tool for ignoring oral flatulence whilst on location is the dark cloth. Keeps the sphincters at bay.

    Lots of rude, miserably unpleasant, socially inept people in this world who have a clumsy knack for hurtful insulting commentary. Guess we have our share here.

    But after a day in the field with the Ebony and Chester the Springer, I’ll be too tired to donate a rodent's buttocks.

    Gene, if you are up Massachusetts way, stop by for a gentlemanly glass of fresh cider (after you have washed up with bayberry). Hope to see you back here in the Fall.

    Warmest regards...

  6. #16

    Stopping Posting

    John Cook, you continue to amuse me! You should write a column or something... You could call it "How to be Alive in the Digital Age" or whatever.

    As for an across the board retreat from this forum because of a sad handful of folks who think they know it all and furthermore, think it is their job to share their "wisdom" veiled in stupidity, harrassment, and outright rude commentary... well, why would you go and do something like that?! They are easily ignored. Try it and see for yourself

    I will continue to frequent the posts here as, more often than not, they are filled with the type of education that I would be hard pressed to find elsewhere. Most of the folks are kind, more than willing to share their knowledge, and thrilled to help a newbie in the realm of LF photography. Thank you to those of you in this group!!

    And to the ones who think nothing of flinging insults with wild abandon and generally attempting to make those who disagree with you bend to your ways of thinking by way of ridicule... I have two words for you -- Buggar off!

  7. #17

    Join Date
    Jan 1999
    Location
    Redmond, WA, USA
    Posts
    119

    Stopping Posting

    hey gene, better lighten up there, buddy. in the grand scheme of things, neither you, this board, nor its members are important. if you want to be bitter and angry about something (about what, i confess, i don't know) better you go do it somewhere else. there's some noise on all boards and i think, by and large, the moderators do a pretty darn good (and often thankless) job. i find ignoring arguments i find silly and/or non-productive to be the best use of my time. try spending less time reading posts and more time printing. :waves:

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