Even the veneer of 'community' has been shown to be micro-thin. It's all "I'm all right, Jack" from the relieved, and even a few, I'm still down, but I'm happy for those who are up.
Isn't that a prime definition of masochism?

Yeah, note also that the poster concerned considered that hanging on to what you've been entitled to is being "up", losing out is apparently what you should expect from life.

That thread is creepy. They start to seem like victims.

As in some of them are happy their partner's stopped beating them (for the moment)?

Too bad the higher levels haven't moved much.  To me, 1.2 million RC is just as unattainable a goal as 1.4.  

And I agree, Balderick.  It certainly skews the equation when people are counting themselves "winners" just for not losing a % level.  That is still losing, IMO, because of the drops in Vetta royalties.   Even the scarce handful of people who are getting a royalty bump are still having their Vetta commissions cut.  

Are there ANY real winners among the contributors in this situation?  

Are there ANY real winners among the contributors in this situation?  

I guess a handful of newbies who are really good will have shifted up a level or two, but they are the ones who would have made the 40% after a year or two, which in most cases will now be unattainable.

I have no idea how people make plans moving forward.
There has always been little point in uploading less desired images, even if unique.
There seems little point in everyone competing in the already overpopulated, if popular, areas.
Like I said in another thread, it'll be all about finding a niche which no-one else has access to, yet is still wanted by buyers. I'm afraid my brain doesn't work that far (I've never been able to second-guess buyers), and I don't have unique access to anything I'd be able to sell photos of.
Totally demotivating.

A 25% drop in income for me....Happy (?) New Year!  I've been with traditional stock agencies for 20+ years and have never seen contributors treated this way....if this is what microstock is all about, no thanks.

Quote from: lisafx on January 07, 2011, 18:43

Are there ANY real winners among the contributors in this situation?  

I guess a handful of newbies who are really good will have shifted up a level or two, but they are the ones who would have made the 40% after a year or two, which in most cases will now be unattainable.

There's one such contributor - very talented, I'll grant you - who is going from 30% to 40% (and was even at the 150K target level).

There's one such contributor - very talented, I'll grant you - who is going from 30% to 40% (and was even at the 150K target level).

It's great port but I doubt it has been created in the last year or two. Looks to me like an 'old & bold' pro who has given up on his previous markets and moved to micro. To create that port, as well as the talent, would have required an eye-watering investment in the shoots themselves.. They deserve every cent (and more) of their 40%. Not sure I can so easily see the justification for IS's 60% slice of the pie though.

pfft... .

haha the best comment so far.

On one of the countless threads created on msg about istock in the past few months, I remember someone saying that istock takes and when the time comes gives something back, so as to appear as the good guy again. I've noticed other agencies doing exactly the same thing too. I wouldn't be surprised if these newly announced levels were the actual levels originally agreed on in the first boardroom meeting they had, probably in the spring or summer of last year.

I remember someone saying that istock takes and when the time comes gives something back, so as to appear as the good guy again.

Judging by many of the comments in the iStock thread, it doesn't seem like they're appearing as the good guy to most contributors (at least, of those who are posting). So if that was their plan, it failed.

credit targets = hampster wheel  

 

You and Sue have covered it pretty well.

As a "non" I don't think the 15% will change or improve, so not only on the wheel, but it squeeks and needs some grease.

Quote from: alias on January 07, 2011, 18:37

That thread is creepy. They start to seem like victims.

As in some of them are happy their partner's stopped beating them (for the moment)?

Perfect, and so is the Stockholm Syndrome analogy, but then you added Rev. Martin Niem�ller quote which I think I had on the bottom of my first web page and it hasn't ever left.  Good one!

(There are all kinds of micro defenders and cheerleaders, including the abused IS lovers in denial)

I'm at 36,705 RCs will I get bumped to 37,000 since I'm at 99.2% of the level needed?

Why should you be? If you are "bumped" then someone with 36,410 will want to know why they shouldn't be, too, and so on ad infinitum.