every single post on the istock forum:

[Magnum]

Welcome back, Batman 

Ya think...   atleast two of them schizos... There should be some kind of id control for new members.  I bet 50% is just fake-lurkers.

[bittersweet]

Welcome back, Batman 

Ya think...   atleast two of them schizos... There should be some kind of id control for new members.  I bet 50% is just fake-lurkers.

I moderated a forum that uses this same software, so I'm certain that Leaf knows exactly who possesses multiple identities. As long as they aren't stirring up too much trouble, he has no reason to use the "ban IP" function. 

[loop]

I find this text a very laborius try, but really weak and full of clichés to be a good piece of humor. Try again.

[travismanley]

Oh man, I havent laughed this hard in awhile. 

[jsolie]

SJLocke: 200% of my pictures are accepted and featured on page 1 of best match. You are non-exclusive and therefore do not exist.

I wish.  The first part, I mean.  You may just be a figment of my imagination and not exist.

*whew*  And here I was thinking "Is he Chuck Norris?"   

[puravida]

btw , who is pieman

Lobo.  He is known for having a love of pies. 

Not in the "American Pie" sense though.   

But we could start that rumor. 

lobo the wolf? when he's coming?

[crazychristina]

My feeling is that istock started as a community and became a business, and the community aspect is still very strong, almost to the point of being a cult. The others all started as businesses.

[bittersweet]

strong community = cult

that's even funnier than the original post. 

[crazychristina]

strong community = cult

that's even funnier than the original post. 

Some contributors have become very dependent on istock, and have very emotional responses to the apparently whimsical changes wrought by TPTB. Not a cult maybe, but close...

[BImages]

strong community = cult

that's even funnier than the original post. 

Some contributors have become very dependent on istock, and have very emotional responses to the apparently whimsical changes wrought by TPTB. Not a cult maybe, but close...

Yeee, it's like a drug, and there's some highly addicted person there. Some of them tend to become very aggressive on weekends, when sales are lower. 

[crazychristina]

...and don't forget the secret gatherings called istockalypses (now open only to exclusive cultists members) where, by all reports, bachanalian orgies occur. Istockalypse...certainly has a religious ring about it to me.

[stacey_newman]

"iStock is the favorite target of choice around here. There's no sense fighting it. I think it relieves some of the feelings of failure and disappointment for those who aren't up to learning anything, taking an objective look at their own images, or working hard enough to make it there. (After all, shouldn't they be out shooting instead of here complaining on forums?!) It is so much more comfortable to blame someone else, and if you can get others to jump on your bandwagon, all the better. It also gives all the wannabe comedians an outlet for their angst.  "



this is really funny....perfectly said. I needed a good laugh tonight, thanks :-)

[epixx]

Great post Catastrophe   

Ummmm... you didn't just copy/paste it from the IS forum, did you    

[michealo]

...and don't forget the secret gatherings called istockalypses (now open only to exclusive cultists members) where, by all reports, bachanalian orgies occur. Istockalypse...certainly has a religious ring about it to me.

lypses aren't always exclusive only, for example Malta wasn't - but the take up by non exclusives was low (3)

[crazychristina]

Malta wasn't actually marketed as a 'lypse was it?

[puravida]

21 hearts for you already catastrophe !  looks like you're on your way to get that cash bonus.  woo hoo

[cobalt]

Malta wasn't actually marketed as a 'lypse was it?

There are all kind of Lypses, big ones and small ones. Usually they call them "Minilypses" There is a whole forum on istock where you can announce your event and team up with other istockers. Most events have both exclusive and non-excusives. They take place all the time all over the globe and many people use it as an excuse to travel the world to attend these events.

"istockalypses" are the ones organized by istock HQ, but there are many, many more Lypses -The "Stiff´upperlypse" in London, the "Eclypse" in Spain etc...

http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_threads.php?forumid=79

[null]

Not a cult maybe, but close...

A sect? A religion? Everything that starts with an "I", like iPod and iPhone is a sect. Except the Mac, that starts with an "M". That's why it's a religion and not a sect. 
Istockalypse Now: I love the smell of rejections in the morning. 

[Maui]

There is an iMac, too, of course 

[null]

There is an iMac, too, of course 

iReally? I thought that was just an iBox with fancy iCons around a PC inside. 

[madelaide]

Whenever I see those announcements and threads about lypses, they remind me of trekkie meetings. I even laugh at the idea there is some equivalent to the salute "live long and prosper".   

[loop]

Well, have you ever been at some Lypses, you would now that they are photosessions with professionals settings, models and equipment and some time to enjoy yourself, if you want, and get to know others photographers you only knew by their work.  A good opportunity to learn from others that know more than you, as well. Minylipses are exactly the same thing than organising sessions with some other photographers sharing costs and expenses. Black masses and any kind of "cult" are reserved for the fantasies of these who love to have fantasies without knowing the real thing.

[lisafx]

I think that there must be a lot of learning that goes on at lypses, because over the years I can think of many examples of people attending one and afterwards their work (lighting technique, model posing etc. ) shows a marked improvement. 

I hate to travel or I would have been at one that allowed non-exclusives.  Keep thinking there has to eventually be one in Florida.   As it is I have managed to meet up with a number of contributors when they are in central or western Florida vacationing.  Standing offer to get together with any others too

[cobalt]

Hi Lisa,

if Florida was any closer, I´d love to shoot with you. And spend a week-end at Disneyworld ;-)

Of course lypses are just normal photosessions, they just have fun names, that´s all.

[MichaelJay]

I even laugh at the idea there is some equivalent to the salute "live long and prosper".   

Oh, yeah, there is: Our standard salutation is "Shoot, upload, repeat"