Censorship at his best on FT forums...

[cphoto]

Wow!

The FT police is watching the forums very closely these days!

I was replying to someone complaining about L size being available to the same price than XS.

So I said this was also really unfair for vector artist, who spend so much time creating vectors, and I was also suggesting that Fotolia charge more sub credit depending on the size: for instance you get 25 credits per day and can spend 25 credit for 25 XS files, but these 25 credits would give you access to only 5 XL.

10 minutes later my post was edited and a few sentences removed 

Also they tried to prevent us from seeing the French Forum and vice versa by routing HTTP requests from http://fr.fotolia.com/forum to http://us.fotolia.com/forum

But there is actually a very easy workaround to still see both forums.

[madelaide]

I think that, unless people are unpolite in their words (like saying they are being robbed or that site management is incompetent), it's unfair to censor the forum this way.

DT also closed (but did not delete posts) a thread of mine in the suggestion forum exactly about ideas to change subs model.

Regards,
Adelaide

[Phil]

I got banned from their forum.  Got a warning which was fair enough, made two very tame comments and now get 'sorry you are banned from the forum'.

So I think big deal, fotolia and their forum has never greatly excited me, but last batch of 25 images (which has been accepted at ss 100%, StockXpert 100%, 123rf 24 out of 25 (others still waiting) so we are not talking rubbish) I get 23 out 25 rejected for type of image. And the entire batch is reviewed in less than 1 whole minute !! 

So I thinks someone is trying to give me a message So to others it might be worth being careful what you say

on a side note.  I am really beginning to wonder.  I rank between 300-500 (currently 376) and this has made $1150 in 15 months.  There must a lot of people making next to nothing there.  When you look at the work involved in their categories etc, high rejections etc for how many people is it worth while? Personally I've made almost that much on Alamy in the last 2 weeks and am averaging not far from it monthly. I am really beginning to think you are right cphoto about moving more into macro.

Phil

[litifeta]

$1150 in 15 months. Yeah you are taking my sales! WOuld love that from FT.

[cphoto]

I got banned from their forum.  Got a warning which was fair enough, made two very tame comments and now get 'sorry you are banned from the forum'.

So I think big deal, fotolia and their forum has never greatly excited me, but last batch of 25 images (which has been accepted at ss 100%, StockXpert 100%, 123rf 24 out of 25 (others still waiting) so we are not talking rubbish) I get 23 out 25 rejected for type of image. And the entire batch is reviewed in less than 1 whole minute !! 

So I thinks someone is trying to give me a message So to others it might be worth being careful what you say

on a side note.  I am really beginning to wonder.  I rank between 300-500 (currently 376) and this has made $1150 in 15 months.  There must a lot of people making next to nothing there.  When you look at the work involved in their categories etc, high rejections etc for how many people is it worth while? Personally I've made almost that much on Alamy in the last 2 weeks and am averaging not far from it monthly. I am really beginning to think you are right cphoto about moving more into macro.

Phil

I used to rank in the 500-700, and now since the subs I sinked at 1200...
In 2 years I made a bit more than $1000 so yes it's not worth it.  I stopped uploading anything with them...

Better grow my port with Macros. like you said one month with Alamy = 2 years with FT, LOL.

-Chris

[a.k.a.-tom]

funny to read these comments.... I have almost come to a stop uploading to ALL my micros...  In over a month, I've  only sent 3 pix to SS (all rejected, didn't like the way I cropped them...pix of a hydroelectric dam) and 2 of the same pix to StockXpert (not reviewed since 5/24 & will probably be rejected there too).

I am not totally ready to give up on SS & IS.... but all others INCLUDING FT (which I gave up on well over a year ago)....   I stopped.

I'm prepping all my work for Alamy now.  Unless you have a folio the size of  the Congressional Library... the ROI is becoming less and less attractive in the bulk of the micros.    ....at least for me.

 =tom

[4seasons]

funny to read these comments.... I have almost come to a stop uploading to ALL my micros...  In over a month, I've  only sent 3 pix to SS (all rejected, didn't like the way I cropped them...pix of a hydroelectric dam) and 2 of the same pix to StockXpert (not reviewed since 5/24 & will probably be rejected there too).

I am not totally ready to give up on SS & IS.... but all others INCLUDING FT (which I gave up on well over a year ago)....   I stopped.

I'm prepping all my work for Alamy now.  Unless you have a folio the size of  the Congressional Library... the ROI is becoming less and less attractive in the bulk of the micros.    ....at least for me.

 =tom

Almost the same here..
I almost stopped to upload on microsites because of the main reason: I'm creating and preparing my works to Alamy. It's kind of building a new portfolio with a new images as I'm not uploading my microsites' images...

Don't have sales there yet but the ROI must be high enough in the future to reason my work and time today.

[madelaide]

It seems we will have to rename this site at some point to "macrostockgroup".   

Regards,
Adelaide

[le_cyclope]

It seems we will have to rename this site at some point to "macrostockgroup".   

Regards,
Adelaide

No need for that since Alamy is going down to microstock! 

Claude

[Mellimage]

Wow!

Also they tried to prevent us from seeing the French Forum and vice versa by routing HTTP requests from http://fr.fotolia.com/forum to http://us.fotolia.com/forum

But there is actually a very easy workaround to still see both forums.

Could you describe this workaround? The German site I am registered with is not known for making changes very public. So I would love to keep reading the US forum. (No use for me to trying to read anything in French...)

[cphoto]

Wow!

Also they tried to prevent us from seeing the French Forum and vice versa by routing HTTP requests from http://fr.fotolia.com/forum to http://us.fotolia.com/forum

But there is actually a very easy workaround to still see both forums.

Could you describe this workaround? The German site I am registered with is not known for making changes very public. So I would love to keep reading the US forum. (No use for me to trying to read anything in French...)

I'm sending you a PM, otherwise FT police might find out ;-)

If anyone wants to know how to access the US forum from another country, send me a PM. 

[Mellimage]

That should work, thanks!

[madelaide]

But there is actually a very easy workaround to still see both forums.

Humpf.  I'm a member of the US site, but I can't participate in the PT/BT forum anymore?

Regards,
Adelaide

[DanP68]

Wow!

The FT police is watching the forums very closely these days!

They sure are.  From Chad Bridwell, posting on the Micropayment group:

In concern to the discussions happening in various forums, we believe the majority of these discussions are not constructive and organized by a few to cause riots in the community. We also believe there are those who seek after selfish means of popularity and personal gain. Such discussions are dangerous not only to Fotolia but the entire community because we know that many buyers read and research your words. We believe in free speech but we will not tolerate such discussions from people who benefit from Fotolia’s success by day and tear us down at night. We will not allow this to continue. If we believe a members actions or comments (on or off Fotolia) are detrimental to the growth of Fotolia we will not hesitate to take action and remove their account regardless of their rank or past success. 

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/micropayment/message/20539

Better not say anything anymore.  They apparently are reading all the indie forums and looking to close down the accounts of those critical of them.

[rjmiz]

...and I almost tend to believe they're taking down all the names of ALL the rebels too!
There'll be hell to pay when this is all over.

A few microstockers might even regret they became involved in this ridiculous rebellion.
There will be consequences I'm almost certain. (hehehe)

Cranky MIZ
The voice of reason

[Jack Schiffer]

Twenty lashes with  camera strap

[Travelling-light]

Maybe only those who fought for the changes should receive the benefits. Those who sat silently on the fence, or who advocated acceptance, should get the original rates offered....

[DanP68]

A few microstockers might even regret they became involved in this ridiculous rebellion.
There will be consequences I'm almost certain. (hehehe)

Gee, do you think Fotolia will ban us from Shutterstock?

[Secretariat]

A few microstockers might even regret they became involved in this ridiculous rebellion.
There will be consequences I'm almost certain. (hehehe)

Gee, do you think Fotolia will ban us from Shutterstock?

 

[RacePhoto]

Actually I support the right that any site has to censor or control what goes on at their site. They own it, they make the rules, that's that. They also run the business and they can make any rules they want about who sells photos there and who doesn't. (this goes for all sites) We as photographers, offering our wares on a site have very few rights. It isn't like the agencies are an employer or other type of business.

We can be accepted or rejected or banned, on a whim. No protection, no appeal, the microstock sales sites are tiny dictatorships. The site owners are Kings (or Queens) of their own domains, they can rule as they please, within the law. There's no law that protects your freedom of speech or rights, on a PRIVATE website.

The same laws that some user want to assert, in fact, protect the site operators, who has their right to publish or not publish and allow or not allow, whatever and whomever they want, on their private site.

I'm not one of the dissenters or one who boycotted uploads to Fotolia, because I have no uploads to any Micro sites in the last month, so it would be dishonest to claim I wasn't doing something, that I already wasn't doing.  I think my sales at Fotolia are at $1, maybe less, after six months, so it wouldn't matter if I was banned.

However, this jumped out at me, and if quoting it gets me onto the Triple Secret Probation Shite-List, that's life.  I have nothing against Chad or Fotolia and he seems to be responsive and cares enough to read forums to see what's going on, instead of sitting blind in some office. That's good.

We believe in free speech...

If we believe a members actions or comments (on or off Fotolia) are detrimental to the growth of Fotolia we will not hesitate to take action and remove their account... 

Ah Chad, I need to point out, you are contradicting yourself, in the same paragraph of the same message.

You don't believe in free speech. Banning people for what they write off your system is censorship.

Just admit it and let people deal with that, as they may. Don't try to say you aren't doing something that you threaten to do two sentences later. 

Same as all the other sites. If any of us, as a contributor, don't like what they are doing or how they do it, then no one is holding our feet to the fire or holding our photos hostage. Close your account and pull your photos.

[cphoto]

We believe in free speech...

If we believe a members actions or comments (on or off Fotolia) are detrimental to the growth of Fotolia we will not hesitate to take action and remove their account... 

Ah Chad, I need to point out, you are contradicting yourself, in the same paragraph of the same message.

You don't believe in free speech. Banning people for what they write off your system is censorship.

Just admit it and let people deal with that, as they may. Don't try to say you aren't doing something that you threaten to do two sentences later. 

Exactly right, it's like saying subscription is the worst thing an agency could do because it only provides short term gain (to Fotolia), and then a couple of month later have a subscription model where you don't even let your contributors opt-out.

Looks like Chad is pretty good at contradicting himself