"Aggressive" Forums on ShutterStock?

[le_cyclope]

Reading the forums on SS, I found them very "rough" lately...  When I began on microstock sites last fall, that was the reason for which I did not submit to SS.

Of course I changed my mind about submitting to SS, but I still find the forums ungainly (a new word from my Harrap's French-English dictionnary  ).

Of course I don't want to start another thread of that nature here but I want to know if I'm the only one uncomfortable with that!

Claude

[le_cyclope]

Forgot to mention:  just had my first EL on SS today!

Glad I changed my mind about submitting to them

Claude

[wysiwyg_foto]

I will never forget the critique thread about a model with acne riddled skin where the MIZ "photoshopped" a lunar landing craft landing onto the "craters" of acne on the model's cheek.  It was absolutely cruel but I laughed so hard my stomach hurt.

I think it's just the various communication styles - you don't have to participate in the forums to submit. 

[le_cyclope]

I didn't saw that one but I'm sur that I would have laughed a lot too!

But I'm talking about people bashing each other and submitter(s?) banned from the site and so on...

And why only on SS?

Claude

PS If someone has a link on what wysiwig_foto was talking about, I would appreciate...

[yingyang0]

But I'm talking about people bashing each other and submitter(s?) banned from the site and so on...
And why only on SS?

It really comes down to one person and the lack of moderator control that has cause a polarization on the SS forum.
There are two "camps", those that worship Rider99 and those that despise him. Personally I think he's an incredible photographer that is incredibly abrasive. Basically what happens every time is that Rider will berate someone and the "hate Rider" camp will attack Rider.

The reason it is only on SS is that SS lets this kind of abusive posting continue. Rider has his photos on other sites (like iStock) where he has posted a few times, but the other places shut him down before he has the ability to create a "hate Rider" camp.

Until SS decides to start enforcing civility the forum threads will continue to be like paraphrased below:
Critique Forum
poster: Why was my photo rejected? It is a great photo.
Rider: The photo sucks. You have no eye for photography. Go find some other work.
"Hate Rider" Camp: The photo is find, Rider you suck
...continues ad nauseum.

[epixx]

There are two "camps", those that worship Rider99

Ummm... I think it's Rinder. I agree that what causes this is the lenient moderators. The opposite is the case at the IS forums, where any criticism of anything, or a question that has been answered in another thread, will assure that the thread is locked without warning.

Still, SS is nothing compared to the forums at dpreview....

[Pixart]

The SS forums are a bore anyway... show me your best photo of a tulip... and it's usually the same 5 or 6 people doing all the talking.  Much nicer place here.  Even though we can speak uncensored, everyone is respectful.

[CJPhoto]

That is why I only look here (and one other independant).  To much crap at the other.

iStock is very fast to delete (and ban) so they dont have the same issues.

[Clivia]

I don't bother with the SS forums anymore because they are so depressing. The same people grinding the same axes over and over. Its a shame because they used to be great fun.
The only forum I bother reading nowadays is this one, everything you need to know ends up here, without a big pointless argument.

[chellyar]

It is really odd, sitting on the fence.

But I agree that it is the lack of active moderation that has lead to the state of the SS forums.  I have been involved with running some busy forums in the past, and ran a very busy multi line dial-up BBS in the early 90's.  There is a fine line between censorship and moderation IMHO.

Interesting to see on 'that' thread there were some posts from Rinder that disappeared, I think the admins are trying to 'keep it clean' without appearing to censor it too much.

Best we all sit on the fence and wait to see what happens, hopefully the SS admins will start to gently moderate their forums, as it appears they are doing with 'that' thread, and bring it back into line.  (There have been some posts to the thread disappear after I read them.)

When I first started the Microstock game the SS forums were the most helpful and active across the sites, but now it's got out of hand I don't take part.

Just to stroke Leaf's ego a little, I think he is doing a great job of keeping things on the straight and narrow here, three cheers for Leaf.. :-).

Cheers, Me.

[Bateleur]

Cheers²

Me too

[a.k.a.-tom]

Just to stroke Leaf's ego a little, I think he is doing a great job of keeping things on the straight and narrow here, three cheers for Leaf.. :-).

Cheers, Me.

I concur!        This is the ONLY forum that I comment on now.  In fact it is now only one of two that I read (LO Odditorium is the other).  I completely enjoy MSG and have told other photogs to come here due to the 'family/friendly'  environment.  Thanks go to Leaf and all the members!
   Consequently, there isn't an active need for censorship here. The few times that Leaf has had to jump in.....   I don't think anyone could have disagreed with the need for it.      -tom
 

[leaf]

well thanks.  consider my ego stroked 

i would have to agree with tom though, it has been a pretty easy place to keep under 'control' - very seldom does anything ever need to be done to keep things in line.

[chellyar]

- very seldom does anything ever need to be done to keep things in line.

Yeah, but that's the point...  When things have needed attention you've done something..  A gentle prod in the right direction if you will.  It's what gives any online forum it's 'culture'.

Anyone who reads a lot of stuff on here, and takes part even a little knows that this forum as a certain 'feel' about it, and that you guide things along a bit...  Even if you don't see what you're doing as that, it's the end result.

[Lee Torrens]

I concur. This forum rocks! There are lots of forums one could participate on out there. Each microstock website has one and there are other independent forums too. This one has real community. People look out for each other and are pulling in the same direction.

It's the only forum where I participate too.

[KiwiRob]

The SS forums are a bore anyway... show me your best photo of a tulip... and it's usually the same 5 or 6 people doing all the talking.  Much nicer place here.  Even though we can speak uncensored, everyone is respectful.

I would watch what you say here because some owners post here and they will get you if you say anything too negitive.

I've given up posting at SS, its all a little silly there now. I like Rinder, he's interesting and helpful but do think he should have been banned along with the other chap who was, they were both as bad as each other.

[w7lwi]

Anyone familiar with the "Crater of Diamonds" diamond mine in Arkansas?  Great big muddy field that you get down on all fours and muck around in, getting filty from the dirt and mud.  But every so often, you find a diamond amongst all that muck.

SS forums are pretty much the same way.  A lot of muck and debris to sort through.  But every so often, something good pops out.  You don't need to look at each and every post.  Skip the obvious junk and cherry pick what may be helpful.  And while you're at it, give a helping hand to the newbies who are trying to sort their way through the same things each of us had to put up with and learn when we started out.  Yeah, some of their questions are basic in the extreme; but, we weren't born with that knowledge and neither were they.  Answer their questions and point them in the right direction so they can learn on their own.  And don't be"aggressive" about it.   

[Quevaal]

There are two "camps", those that worship Rider99 and those that despise him. Personally I think he's an incredible photographer that is incredibly abrasive. Basically what happens every time is that Rider will berate someone and the "hate Rider" camp will attack Rider.

Been there, done that. I'm not part of some camp, but I did get carried away once Rinder had ravaged some poor guy's photos, and the Rinder fans defended every word.

But generally, I'm not too active in any photo forums, because the things that truly are interesting to discuss can be bad for business and are better done other places.

[digitalshooter]

This forum seems just right.  Well, so far.  I guess anyone could explode at any time any where.

Shutterstock forums just have a lack of moderation when it comes to moderators cutting off asses.  On the flipside, istock has some moderators that are as smartassy as the people who should be banned on Shutterstock, but instead they block and ban threads and people on istock for small stuff (it seems, anyway).   When you have a forum you must understand that there will be heated and open debates, and you should allow them to a degree.  But you shouldn't allow one or two people personally insult others work or make personal insults, either - or for that matter have moderators that do the same. 

This is why while I don't post a lot here, I like it here better than Shutterstock OR istock.  One doesn't have enough control, the other has nazi moderators.  This one is just right.