Author Topic: Fotolia D-Day (Deactivation Day) - May,1 (Read 307743 times)

MisterFX · « **Reply #975 on:** May 13, 2014, 14:21 »

SHAME ON YOU, MICROSTOCK GROUP!!!! If you haven't noticed, you have lost a more than nine-year member in good standing from this forum. Thanks to the number of negative [-1] ratings on LisaFX's posts, her posts have been taken down. She didn't use profanity, she wasn't personally insulting, and she didn't call out any of you by name, which is more than can be said for the way she was treated. You were all ready and eager to rake her over the coals for a very tough decision she had to make as a business person, a wife, and a mother. Do not, for a moment, think that she selfishly came to her decision lightly. We have a daughter in college and need all the extra income we can get right now.

The fact that her posts have gone dark because of too many [-1]s is the same as stifling her, gagging her. You took away the one thing she has to offer you; sound advice. She has given a great many of you countless hours of counseling, friendship, and guidance through tough times and decisions. And you threw her out of your lives.

I am not eloquent. I am not a writer by nature, but you all deserve to founder in the dark without her guidance. SHAME ON YOU, MICROSTOCK GROUP!!!!

disorderly · « **Reply #976 on:** May 13, 2014, 14:42 »

Sorry, MisterFX (but not really sorry), but as much as I have admired and respected Lisa over the years, I have to agree with those many minuses on her recent posts. I don't know that she would have lost much income by opting out of DPC; I doubt and hope that there won't be much income from that source at all. But I believe that there is only one right side in our dispute with Fotolia over DPC, and that we either stand up for fair treatment or accept that we are hurting not just ourselves but every other microstock provider.

I interpreted Lisa's remarks as believing that we're screwed no matter what we do, so we may as well do whatever gives us the best benefit in the short run. I think she's wrong, and I think she's going to do significant damage by her decision. Do you really expect everyone to just accept that damage without complaint?

For the record, I didn't vote any of her comments down. I reserve that option for posts that are dishonest or willfully ignorant or just plain mean. But I can't be sorry that others showed their displeasure in this way. Fotolia needs to be dissuaded before they do incalculable and irreparable damage to everyone here. My sympathy for your short term pain is real, but it's not enough to make me ignore my own long interests.

stocked · « **Reply #977 on:** May 13, 2014, 14:57 »

+1 for disorderly exactly my feelings I can't remember any bad words against Lisa and a vote down is nothing against the person it just shows the disagreement with an argument.

Shelma1 · « **Reply #978 on:** May 13, 2014, 15:01 »

Agreed...I didn't see any put downs of LisaFX, simply people disagreeing. If DPC goes kaput, she earns more for her sales through Fotolia. I wish I had more files to opt out.

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #979 on:** May 13, 2014, 15:07 »

Has Lisa got barred from the forum because of those negatives, or has she just left? She certainly should not be barred, she's always been a very helpful and sensible voice. What's more, I can still see her posts though I can't see her profile.

I think using negative votes against someone just because they hold a different opinion from your own is not really a good way of proceeding. Vote people down for being rude or offensive, but not for stating what their position is and why. And if there is some automatic banning system based on negative votes now, then I think that should be scrapped.

I hope she'll be back with us soon.

mlwinphoto · « **Reply #980 on:** May 13, 2014, 15:22 »

I didn't notice any personal attacks against Lisa either. However, I will say that she and anyone else who decides it is in their best interest to stay in the DPC has every right to do so and that decision should be respected. I'm not with Fotolia so I have no vested interest in the agency....and while I agree that the DPC is potentially harmful to the microstock industry I tend to agree with Lisa that it's problems run alot deeper than just Fotolia's actions. I'm making the business decisions I need to make in order to get out of microstock as I really don't see what we can do to turn things around....it would require an international effort of cooperation among all MS contributors and that will never happen.....e.g. no content on the agencies, no agencies.

I'm also going to say that I think this heart/minus thing should be scrapped all together. I can't think of any one thing that tempts divisiveness toward other contributors on this site more than that does.

Let the negatives begin.....

fujiko · « **Reply #981 on:** May 13, 2014, 15:24 »

Sorry to see Lisa leave, I always thought she was a great contributor and forum member.
I don't understand why all this, it's only negatives and disagreement, nothing really serious.
As for her reasons for not opting out of DPC.

Quote from: lisafx on May 12, 2014, 15:55

1. Micro stock was over when Getty started giving everything away for free.
2. .37 beats the he11 out of .28, and even more so out of free.

Those two, I think are wrong.
1. Getty started a dangerous trend of giving images for free, sure following google like mentality that content has to be free and the money is on big data, user data, ads... They say it's to fight piracy and they try to fight it using free content (embedded) against free content (pirated).
2. Is a short term gain. Fotolia is not trying to fight piracy with DPC, they can't win free with $1. They are going after existing on-demand clients. Low price with low volume. It will have far worse consequences for current market and prices because it targets the market itself, not the piracy.

Can't argue with points 3 and 4, hopes and business decisions are personal.

I hope she comes back.

Pixart · « **Reply #982 on:** May 13, 2014, 15:24 »

How does one know they've got negative posts? Are you actually supposed to go back and check if people like what you are saying?

All families disagree at times. Lisa knows we love her. I have popped in and out of this thread, I hope everyone has been respectful of my sistah.

Ron · « **Reply #983 on:** May 13, 2014, 15:34 »

My take is she didnt get banned, why on earth would she get banned, but she left. Which is a big loss to the forum. Period. I hope she comes back when this is over.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #984 on:** May 13, 2014, 15:40 »

Quote from: MisterFX on May 13, 2014, 14:21

The fact that her posts have gone dark because of too many [-1]s is the same as stifling her, gagging her. You took away the one thing she has to offer you; sound advice.

I know you aren't familiar with the forums, but anyone can see posts that have been hidden because of minus votes - it's not a gag and the post is there for everyone to read if they wish.

I'd also agree with other people that the + and - votes are about agreement or disagreement with a point of view, not a popularity contest or referendum on a person's value. Lisa has been a very valuable voice here and I'm sorry she chose to leave. I hope she decides to come back - that does happen, including with me. I left after a series of dust-ups with Gostwyck and later decided the value here was worth returning (this was several years ago now).

I strongly disagree with the point of view Lisa took over Fotolia's Dollar Photo Club, but there's no ill will - beyond a lot of ill will directed at the slimeballs that gave us anything about which to disagree. There's a very dark place waiting for those wretches, I hope.

I'm guessing I speak for more than just me when I ask Lisa to reconsider her departure. We don't have to agree with you to want you around here

Pixart · « **Reply #985 on:** May 13, 2014, 15:57 »

Lisa signed out over DPC? Wow. Goes to show you what a hot button this topic is.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #986 on:** May 13, 2014, 15:59 »

Quote from: MisterFX on May 13, 2014, 14:21

You were all ready and eager to rake her over the coals for a very tough decision she had to make as a business person, a wife, and a mother. Do not, for a moment, think that she selfishly came to her decision lightly. We have a daughter in college and need all the extra income we can get right now.

it's curious that the rest of the world and us microstock contributors here at MSG don't have any personal and financial issues just like you and your wife Lisa have, I understand that our own problems are always bigger than the other but that is unfair and far from accurate most of the times so don't play the victim without knowing other life stories

that said I don't think there is a single person in this forum that haven't been bullied, I have been many times and I have faced it like Lisa should do as well, anyway I don't think that anyone bullied her apart from disagreeing, Lisa is and was always respected in this forum, perhaps more than all

when we make a decision because we truly believe in it then we shouldn't worry with others opinion, it's a public forum and sometimes we don't hear what we wish

Pixart · « **Reply #987 on:** May 13, 2014, 16:09 »

I haven't had a conversation with her myself, but I'm guessing Lisa feels betrayed by MSG. That is exactly how I feel by Fotolia. Betrayed, deceived, taken advantage of. That's whey everyone is so jumpy about this topic.

leaf · « **Reply #988 on:** May 13, 2014, 16:23 »

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on May 13, 2014, 15:40

Quote from: MisterFX on May 13, 2014, 14:21

The fact that her posts have gone dark because of too many [-1]s is the same as stifling her, gagging her. You took away the one thing she has to offer you; sound advice.

I know you aren't familiar with the forums, but anyone can see posts that have been hidden because of minus votes - it's not a gag and the post is there for everyone to read if they wish.

I'd also agree with other people that the + and - votes are about agreement or disagreement with a point of view, not a popularity contest or referendum on a person's value. Lisa has been a very valuable voice here and I'm sorry she chose to leave. I hope she decides to come back - that does happen, including with me. I left after a series of dust-ups with Gostwyck and later decided the value here was worth returning (this was several years ago now).

I strongly disagree with the point of view Lisa took over Fotolia's Dollar Photo Club, but there's no ill will - beyond a lot of ill will directed at the slimeballs that gave us anything about which to disagree. There's a very dark place waiting for those wretches, I hope.

I'm guessing I speak for more than just me when I ask Lisa to reconsider her departure. We don't have to agree with you to want you around here

Well written Jo Ann.

leaf · « **Reply #989 on:** May 13, 2014, 16:23 »

i think I should relabel the hard and down arrow with words 'agree' 'disagree'. People often take much too much offense when they get a 'down vote'. It really isn't a big deal if someone disagrees with you.

loop · « **Reply #990 on:** May 13, 2014, 16:24 »

I've had posts with many minuses, and I don't care at all. On the contrary, it's a good indication that the idea or comment I've exposed is not shared. That's all. I value and respect many members of these forums, and I admire Leaf, but the people whose opinions could really hurt me are friends and family of flesh and bone, living around me.

Ron · « **Reply #991 on:** May 13, 2014, 16:29 »

Quote from: leaf on May 13, 2014, 16:23

i think I should relabel the hard and down arrow with words 'agree' 'disagree'. People often take much too much offense when they get a 'down vote'. It really isn't a big deal if someone disagrees with you.

How about showing the actual tally? So many hearts, so many down.

leaf · « **Reply #992 on:** May 13, 2014, 16:31 »

Quote from: Ron on May 13, 2014, 16:29

Quote from: leaf on May 13, 2014, 16:23

i think I should relabel the hard and down arrow with words 'agree' 'disagree'. People often take much too much offense when they get a 'down vote'. It really isn't a big deal if someone disagrees with you.
How about showing the actual tally? So many hearts, so many down.

Yeah. I want to do that but it is a big hack to get it to work. I haven't attempted it yet.

robhainer · « **Reply #993 on:** May 13, 2014, 17:10 »

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on May 13, 2014, 14:00

And here are screen shots (minus the missing megaphone tweet) of the images Dollar Photo Club used in their promotional tweets and which are now opted out and thus unavailable to buyers (click for full size)

My superhero photo.

I didn't know they tweeted it. I could have gotten a boost before opting out.

To be honest, my sales at FT have gone in the crapper since opting out. I'm not sure it was the right decision.

Mellimage · « **Reply #994 on:** May 13, 2014, 17:12 »

For me - sales were crap all April before opting out - and remained crap after opting out.
Rob - not sure that your decline in sales is directly correlated to opting out to DPC.

stock-will-eat-itself · « **Reply #995 on:** May 13, 2014, 17:48 »

Quote from: MisterFX on May 13, 2014, 14:21

I am not a writer by nature, but you all deserve to founder in the dark without her guidance. SHAME ON YOU, MICROSTOCK GROUP!!!!

Good grief, I thought she was a stock photographer not the embodiment of the second coming.

sdeva · « **Reply #996 on:** May 13, 2014, 18:19 »

I believe that the one thing we don't need, is to let emotions get in the way of what should be a direct business based approach. And the other thing we don't need is for for contributors to start falling out among themselves.

As far as this one goes (and as already pointed out by others), I really don't think any malice was intended - it looked like expressions of contrary opinions and no more than that.

Whenever contributors get in solidly behind an issue, there's an impact!! I hope we remember that. Its up to us to hang in together and make ours a unified and meaningful voice.

Just my 2c

SNod · « **Reply #997 on:** May 13, 2014, 19:02 »

Small portfolio, 2k opted out.

KerinF · « **Reply #998 on:** May 13, 2014, 21:18 »

Lucky for me $:-\$ Fotolia seem to hate my photos. I am too embarrassed to even say what the percentage is, but it is not reflective at all of acceptance levels elsewhere (which are around 80-90%). I started submitting just iPhone photos to Fotolia through their Instant app, and then started submitting through the normal site.

Given my small number of images, I am planning on deleting all my hi-res images from Fotolia altogether and not submitting any more, but I will probably leave my (very) ordinary iPhone images submitted through Instant there, and also leave them on DPC, at least until I reach the next payout. Most of these were never taken with stock in mind but were just sitting on my phone anyway.

I am actually getting quite a few downloads for my iPhone images at Fotolia, don't know if that is through Fotolia or DPC. I don't really rate most of these images at all, and the fact that some of them sell for anything is a bit of a miracle. I may continue to upload some iPhone photos (only) through Instant, if I can be bothered wasting the time given the 80% rejection rate (whoops, I said it) now that they have stopped handing out the 1 credit for each image accepted on Instant.

So upshot is, I see Fotolia/DPC as an occasional portal for my second-rate iPhone photos moving forward, but nothing more.

Please don't shoot me down in flames! Just a perspective.

EmberMike · « **Reply #999 on:** May 13, 2014, 21:24 »

Quote from: MisterFX on May 13, 2014, 14:21

...You were all ready and eager to rake her over the coals for a very tough decision she had to make as a business person, a wife, and a mother. Do not, for a moment, think that she selfishly came to her decision lightly. We have a daughter in college and need all the extra income we can get right now...

A lot of people need every bit of income they can get right now. Many of us are in the same boat. Spouse, kids, mortgage, college down the road. My wife is pregnant with #2 right now, so we're a long way from college but don't think the vast expense of parenthood doesn't weigh on my mind anyway.

With all of the stresses of marriage and parenting in mind, I made my decision to opt-out of DPC and delete half of my Fotolia portfolio because I want to be able to still have my income for as long into the future as possible. Maybe microstock won't be around in 18 years when I've got one kid going into college and one coming out, but I'd still like to think I can still be in the business of making images and selling them, if I want to be. DPC is a threat to that. It's a reduction of stock image selling to a point where I'm not sure we'll ever be able to come back from if it takes hold, and there is no way that any of us can continue to earn, pay the bills, or put kids through college on nothing but subscription royalties.

You're offended that Lisa's opinion was beat up on in here. I get it. But I could take equal offense to your assertion that her point of view was so noble and respectable because of her role as a wife and mom. Matter of fact, I should be offended that Lisa's point of view is so short-sighted that it would seem she's only interested in scraping the last bits of money out of this business from any and all possible avenues, including DPC, even if that does irreparable harm to the industry and to people like me who need this business to survive not just in the short-term but in the long-term as well.

I like Lisa. I respect her right to make decisions about her business. But if someone comes into a public forum and makes it known that they are making decisions for short-term small gain and long-term who-gives-a-f***, I have the right to comment on that position. If only for the very reason you mentioned, that as a husband and dad, I have certain responsibilities to think about. Lisa took a position on this that, collectively with everyone else opted-in, puts my future at risk.

Frankly, I think Lisa got off easy with the responses she received here.

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Author Topic: Fotolia D-Day (Deactivation Day) - May,1 (Read 307743 times)

MisterFX

disorderly

stocked

Shelma1

BaldricksTrousers

mlwinphoto

fujiko

Pixart

Ron

Jo Ann Snover

Pixart

luissantos84

Pixart

leaf

leaf

loop

Ron

leaf

robhainer

Mellimage

stock-will-eat-itself

sdeva

SNod

KerinF

EmberMike

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