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Author Topic: What's Wrong With Anonymous?  (Read 27737 times)

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Uncle Pete

« on: March 17, 2014, 09:49 »
+2
As everyone here has seen in some recent discussions, there are people who are anonymous who have an agenda for coming here. Their mission is almost 100% about running down some specific agency or area of Microstock.

Interesting article on one of the journalism education sites.

Our reasoning is that readers have a right to know who is speaking to them, and writers need to take responsibility for what they say.

Wow that said it! But there's more: A pen name can also provide a license to lie,

http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/top-stories/242620/are-pen-names-ever-ok-in-journalism/

Yes it does cover some reasons why a pseudonym is an acceptable choice. But people here have to decide if they want credibility and accurate NEWS or if it's going to be a playground for anything goes.


Goofy

« Reply #1 on: March 17, 2014, 09:53 »
+3
As everyone here has seen in some recent discussions, there are people who are anonymous who have an agenda for coming here. Their mission is almost 100% about running down some specific agency or area of Microstock.

Interesting article on one of the journalism education sites.

Our reasoning is that readers have a right to know who is speaking to them, and writers need to take responsibility for what they say.

Wow that said it! But there's more: A pen name can also provide a license to lie,

http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/top-stories/242620/are-pen-names-ever-ok-in-journalism/

Yes it does cover some reasons why a pseudonym is an acceptable choice. But people here have to decide if they want credibility and accurate NEWS or if it's going to be a playground for anything goes.


Very good point! But also remember that some Microstock editors/reps read this forum and might go after what was said by the person even if is true! In my personal experience I had an Editor/part owner go directly after me after I made a true comment. I felt intimidated to say the least...

« Reply #2 on: March 17, 2014, 09:57 »
+1
Im with you here. I wished people would not be anonymous.
But there is one special good reason to be anonymous in this environment:
The agencies may take revenge for something you say.
Which is very unprofessional, and not good business conduct.


« Reply #3 on: March 17, 2014, 10:24 »
+3
Isn't anyone who posts here, without a link to their portfolio, in effect anonymous?

una

« Reply #4 on: March 17, 2014, 10:27 »
-1
I agree with Goofy and JPSDK.

Beppe Grillo

« Reply #5 on: March 17, 2014, 10:32 »
-1
How can I say so many bad things about YAY and Depositphoto if I am not anonymous????
(and a little coward too)

« Reply #6 on: March 17, 2014, 10:44 »
+3
It's good to see what Uncle Pete, Goofy, JSPDK, Rimglow, Una and Beppe Grillo have to say about people using noms-de-plume, both for and against.

Funny the names some people are christened with!

At least you know I'm really Tony Robinson.

« Reply #7 on: March 17, 2014, 10:47 »
0
I only recently added links to my portfolio. There were a couple of reasons why I went anonymous for a while. One being I had a small portfolio. The other being I didn't realize I'd be coming to this forum as much as I do.  Not hidden agenda, although I was initially accused of having a hidden agenda by many. In reality I was fairly green to selling stock and my understanding of the agencies and business didn't span back to the so called glory days of microstock...so my opinions were immediately deemed as having an agenda, especially if I said anything positive about some of the most hated agencies...in reality I just wasn't screwed in a$$ by them yet... :P

StockPhotosArt.com

« Reply #8 on: March 17, 2014, 11:05 »
0
I completely agree with the advantages of being anonymous, because at this point I refrain myself from making certain types of comments protecting myself from any type of punishment from the agencies. Unfortunately there seems to be some stories where contributors were punished by things said in this forum.

But I share the worries of the original topic.

What I really would like to have is in MSG is some type of certification for common members just like there is for agency spokespeople.

Sometimes we read people raving about BME and we never know if they have 5000 or 50 images on an agency, and it's hard to understand how relevant some data coming from them is. Not that they are lying or that they shouldn't be taken in consideration, but in some topics it would be important to know if a contributor is on this since 2004 or 2014.

This could mean some work on the part of Leaf, but if it would be possible to certify some contributors that could still be anonymous, but have info that the member participates in stock since year X, have a portfolio of over Y images and is non-exclusive or exclusive on an agency, could help on the relevance of they write and understand if there's a partial opinion or even an agenda.

Uncle Pete

« Reply #9 on: March 17, 2014, 11:06 »
+3
I can't disagree with anyone. There are reasons for some people to be using Anonymous Pseudonyms. They fear retaliation from some notable agencies, one has even gone to the point of openly threatening members with removal and holding any earnings.

Yes, that's something I'd say would make me want to use a Pseudo if I was with one of those agencies. I'm Not.

The second part which isn't anything to do with the first part. (almost sounds legal or like a baking recipe?) Is that if someone wants to news about what agency X is going to be doing, (like IS percentages of the imaginary revenue sharing) and they are anonymous, people here need to assume, it's not credible information.

Reasons for being anonymous are many, protection, fear or retaliation, Etc. Not wanting to be associated on Microstock with a professional name or image.

Other reasons are trolling, fabrication, prevarication, making up rumors and factoids, and spreading hate and disinformation.

I can respect the first group. All should beware of the second.

Dear Mr Trousers  ;) You can see a link to my site, and email me if you want. That's not anonymous. I'm sure you know the difference, and my name is Pete and I am an Uncle. LOL It's not about pseudonyms, it's about credibility and standing behind ones claims and words.

Interesting idea: What I really would like to have is in MSG is some type of certification for common members just like there is for agency spokespeople.

Yes a seal of veracity:

I agree with Goofy and JPSDK.
« Last Edit: March 17, 2014, 11:36 by Uncle Pete »

EmberMike

« Reply #10 on: March 17, 2014, 11:11 »
+4

I understand the fear of retaliation, but I think the anonymous folks should know that being anonymous in any forum greatly diminishes the value some folks will place on their comments. Especially in this business, where we talk about levels of success, portfolio performance, etc., knowing where the comments about those things come from can be extremely important. There is a world of difference between someone saying they are having problems getting new images to sell at whatever agency for example when that person has 10 images in their portfolio or 10,000. Even the kind of work people do is important contextual information in any discussion here, and without that it is often really difficult to gauge the significance of a comment. 

« Reply #11 on: March 17, 2014, 11:41 »
+1
I was very naive when I joined this forum, I would have been anonymous today, I still can I know ;)

ruxpriencdiam

    This user is banned.
  • Location. Third stone from the sun
« Reply #12 on: March 17, 2014, 11:50 »
-3
Pete's just fishing around the lake a little bit to see what kind of fish take the bait!

« Reply #13 on: March 17, 2014, 11:52 »
-1

I understand the fear of retaliation, but I think the anonymous folks should know that being anonymous in any forum greatly diminishes the value some folks will place on their comments. Especially in this business, where we talk about levels of success, portfolio performance, etc., knowing where the comments about those things come from can be extremely important. There is a world of difference between someone saying they are having problems getting new images to sell at whatever agency for example when that person has 10 images in their portfolio or 10,000. Even the kind of work people do is important contextual information in any discussion here, and without that it is often really difficult to gauge the significance of a comment.

Hey mike,

You can't have the bolded statement read like that. It is an oxymoron. "Anonymous in ANY FORM and SOME."  But okay I hear what you are saying. And I would rebut some of your statement, or maybe add to it, that it depends on the value anonymous posters add to the discussion.  I do gripe like many others, but I also try to be helpful when I can, I've helped others who have private messaged me, I have been helped by others, I try to add some ease in some of my posts, lightening up the mood, et.  To me you can clearly tell when most anonymous posters are knowledgeable, legitimate and well intended, regardless of whether they have opposing opinions.

Moreover, there are a few anonymous posters who really don't add value to many discussions and do seem to be on a mission. But you can tell, you can weed them out. I personally don't go to someone's port to determine whether they are credible or not, rather I read what they have to say, and oftentimes it is far more informative BECAUSE THEY ARE ANONYMOUS than a similar post that is sanitized from a public post.
« Last Edit: March 17, 2014, 11:54 by Mantis »

« Reply #14 on: March 17, 2014, 11:54 »
-5

I understand the fear of retaliation, but I think the anonymous folks should know that being anonymous in any forum greatly diminishes the value some folks will place on their comments. Especially in this business, where we talk about levels of success, portfolio performance, etc., knowing where the comments about those things come from can be extremely important. There is a world of difference between someone saying they are having problems getting new images to sell at whatever agency for example when that person has 10 images in their portfolio or 10,000. Even the kind of work people do is important contextual information in any discussion here, and without that it is often really difficult to gauge the significance of a comment.

Speaking for myself, I don't mind at all if being anonymous "disminishes the value placed on my comments". I'm here to learn and gather information: now and then I can offer bits of my own data, but that's secondary (for me).

« Reply #15 on: March 17, 2014, 11:57 »
+4

I understand the fear of retaliation, but I think the anonymous folks should know that being anonymous in any forum greatly diminishes the value some folks will place on their comments. Especially in this business, where we talk about levels of success, portfolio performance, etc., knowing where the comments about those things come from can be extremely important. There is a world of difference between someone saying they are having problems getting new images to sell at whatever agency for example when that person has 10 images in their portfolio or 10,000. Even the kind of work people do is important contextual information in any discussion here, and without that it is often really difficult to gauge the significance of a comment.

Speaking for myself, I don't mind at all if being anonymous "disminishes the value placed on my comments". I'm here to learn and gather information: now and then I can offer bits of my own data, but that's secondary (for me).

yeah, guess we should all be like you, enjoying everything we can get and sharing nada, oh whatever!

Goofy

« Reply #16 on: March 17, 2014, 12:02 »
+3
On my full time day job our senior management released an "Anonymous" Survey that would encourage the honest feedback of what our employees thought of upper management- well, once the survey was done that particular senior VP came to my desk (I was the Chief of Technology at that them) and ask me to drill down (IP Address) on a particular survey from one employee that gave the Senior VP low marks! So much for 'Anonymous' surveys in my company- once the word out nobody dares give honest feedback on our surveys...  :-[




« Last Edit: March 17, 2014, 14:16 by Goofy »

« Reply #17 on: March 17, 2014, 14:13 »
-3
I have noticed a drop in honest feed back once the campaign to villainize anonymous contributions took hold here.

If you want a pasteurized board where everyone is afraid to say what they think go to the mirco boards. I find sycophantic feed back designed to win preferential favor with the sites distasteful, I would rather hear honest uncensored feedback from someone who is anonymous.

To wrap it up, I prefer widespread anonymity to the axiom: I don't want yes-men around me. I want everyone to tell the truth, even if it costs them their jobs!

« Reply #18 on: March 17, 2014, 14:31 »
+2
I've talked a lot of trash about agencies and have never been anonymous or seen any perceivable actions against me. I'd think if retribution is going to happen, it is more likely to come from other contributors than agencies. So if we all try to be respectful in our disagreements with agencies and other contributors, we are less likely to see any negative consequences of stating our opinions (anonymous or not).

« Reply #19 on: March 17, 2014, 14:31 »
0
To wrap it up, I prefer widespread anonymity to the axiom: I don't want yes-men around me. I want everyone to tell the truth, even if it costs them their jobs!

that is why you are anonymous...

« Reply #20 on: March 17, 2014, 14:46 »
+10
When all is said & done, other people care a lot less about anything we have to say than we think they do...

KB

« Reply #21 on: March 17, 2014, 15:55 »
+1

I understand the fear of retaliation, but I think the anonymous folks should know that being anonymous in any forum greatly diminishes the value some folks will place on their comments. Especially in this business, where we talk about levels of success, portfolio performance, etc., knowing where the comments about those things come from can be extremely important. There is a world of difference between someone saying they are having problems getting new images to sell at whatever agency for example when that person has 10 images in their portfolio or 10,000. Even the kind of work people do is important contextual information in any discussion here, and without that it is often really difficult to gauge the significance of a comment.
I understand and agree this is a problem with being anonymous. The speedometers give at least a little hint as to whether someone is a complete novice, one of the top tier, or somewhere in between. Though it seems their use has somewhat grown out of favor recently, for some reason. Even if one has portfolio links, I think the meters give a quick visual cue as to the poster's ranking, and I wish more people would use them.

As an IS exclusive, I wouldn't write many of the posts that I do if I couldn't be anonymous. Being totally dependent on one site (owned by a company that seems determined to run it into the ground), it would be even more stupid to make negative comments about them that could result in retaliation of some kind. I'd rather not post than have to post non-anonymously.

marthamarks

« Reply #22 on: March 17, 2014, 16:06 »
0
Isn't anyone who posts here, without a link to their portfolio, in effect anonymous?

Well, I (for one) am most decidedly not anonymous. Happy to be ID'd by my own name and photo.

marthamarks

« Reply #23 on: March 17, 2014, 16:08 »
+2
The speedometers give at least a little hint as to whether someone is a complete novice, one of the top tier, or somewhere in between. Though it seems their use has somewhat grown out of favor recently, for some reason. Even if one has portfolio links, I think the meters give a quick visual cue as to the poster's ranking, and I wish more people would use them

I actually have no idea how the speedometers work or how to read them. They mean zip to me. How do you choose or choose not to use them?

Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #24 on: March 17, 2014, 16:15 »
+1
I didn't even realize they were speedometers.  ???


 

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