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Poll

Is it a good idea or bad?

Good Idea
85 (46.7%)
Bad Idea
97 (53.3%)

Total Members Voted: 158

Author Topic: Confirmed Identities on MSG (trial for a month?)  (Read 40137 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

« Reply #25 on: May 29, 2013, 04:37 »
+18
The more you try to 'sanitise' this forum, the less useful and relevant it will become.

If this place becomes yet another guarded corporate mouthpiece ... then an alternative forum will simply spring up to take it's place.


rubyroo

« Reply #26 on: May 29, 2013, 04:47 »
+13
Well I'm protective of my privacy on the Internet as a whole, for perfectly rational and logical reasons and I would never sign up to any forum or other form of social media that insists that I have no right to my own privacy.  I'm not sure what sort of assurance it is that 'only members' would know people's real names, since anyone could become a member and I'd have no idea as to the kind of person they were in reality or what they might do with that information.

If you make it compulsory, then I'll be out too.

« Last Edit: May 29, 2013, 04:51 by rubyroo »

falstafff

    This user is banned.
« Reply #27 on: May 29, 2013, 04:49 »
-1
True! and well spoken!  there are many examples of this. Brilliant forums turning into almost religious cleaning-up and left are the corporate mouthpieces. :)

« Reply #28 on: May 29, 2013, 04:55 »
+1
Well I'm protective of my privacy on the Internet as a whole, for perfectly rational and logical reasons and I would never sign up to any forum or other form of social media that insists that I have no right to my own privacy.  I'm not sure what sort of assurance it is that 'only members' would know people's real names, since anyone could become a member and I'd have no idea as to the kind of person they were in reality or what they might do with that information.

If you make it compulsory, then I'll be out too.



Thanks for the thoughts.  The reason I thought to hide names publicly was to make it so google search wouldn't pick them up.

rubyroo

« Reply #29 on: May 29, 2013, 04:59 »
+3
Could you really guarantee that there's no glitch that would suddenly, accidentally, reveal people's names?  That's happened to me on an agency before.  Can't remember which one it was now, but it was very shocking at the time.

I hope you decide against this idea, and I hope Microbius comes back!

« Reply #30 on: May 29, 2013, 05:05 »
0


This thread was mostly sparked from my participation in that other forum which seems so much more .. well, .. professional.
What other forum may I ask?

« Reply #31 on: May 29, 2013, 05:06 »
0


This thread was mostly sparked from my participation in that other forum which seems so much more .. well, .. professional.

What other forum may I ask?

http://forum.freeflysystems.com/index.php

« Reply #32 on: May 29, 2013, 05:10 »
+15
You realise, of course, that this would allow the agencies to impose censorship on your site. All they would have to do would be to announce that people showing disrespect for them in any online forum would be liable to have their agreement cancelled (I have a feeling Fotolia has actually said something like that) and everybody would know that posting here is equivalent to cancelling your account with one agency or another.

« Reply #33 on: May 29, 2013, 05:12 »
+3
I hope you decide against this idea, and I hope Microbius comes back!

So do I. He's a good bloke who's opinion I always value and one of a very few selected posters I immediately turn to when I see their name. Of course I say 'he' ... but who knows?

rubyroo

« Reply #34 on: May 29, 2013, 05:15 »
+7
Same here.  One of my favourite posters on the forum.  It will be a poorer place without Microbius.

« Reply #35 on: May 29, 2013, 05:22 »
0


This thread was mostly sparked from my participation in that other forum which seems so much more .. well, .. professional.

What other forum may I ask?

http://forum.freeflysystems.com/index.php

Thanks, but I think it's much easier for a forum like this.

« Reply #36 on: May 29, 2013, 05:45 »
+5
I like the idea. I am doing business on the internet and for me an online forum is like a trade show or business conference, except that it is always available and ongoing. Since I dont hide my business, I wont hide my name, at least not from other forum members. Since everyone can see my  portfolio and website links and certainly there are also people following those links with, "inspirational" intentions, I do sometimes feel that I am being taken advantage of by those who dont share their identity.

There have also been numerous bizarre comments by people who are anonymous and who clearly feel entitled to post and critize others from their "safe" hiding places. So I really think this place will be more professional and interesting if the members take this as a real business place and know the people here are real and they might meet them anyway at places like the microstock expo, photokina or other industry events.

I do understand the fear of being scared of agencies as they all read here and agency members have made it clear to many people, including to me, that they dont like what I write. But it hasnt stopped me from being here.

But if someone really feels that threatened then I think a paid option to be anonymous is a very sensible way to handle the dilemma. Maybe lower the amount to 3 dollars for those who really feel the need for total privacy. It might be the agency, their "real world boss", even their government in some countries.

Overall I believe that real names visible to registered forum members with portfolio links will raise the level of professionalism. It just becomes more of a business place.

« Reply #37 on: May 29, 2013, 05:52 »
+15
Overall I believe that real names visible to registered forum members with portfolio links will raise the level of professionalism. It just becomes more of a business place.

But nobody except Leaf is doing business here. For the rest of us it is more like a coffee shop where you can drop in for a chat..

« Reply #38 on: May 29, 2013, 05:57 »
+3
But thats business...the watercooler, the coffee shop where everyone in the marketplace chats and "trades" (exchanges) information. Many things you read here help to grow and improve your business.

Not all business events/places involve direct selling and the customers. 

« Reply #39 on: May 29, 2013, 06:12 »
+1
If I understand correctly, the idea is to reveal real names and 1 portfolio link to logged in members.
I am OK with both, but I wonder if the poll should not be split up in yes/no for both changes.  Reading the posts I have the impression that people object more to showing their real name than to revealing 1 portfolio link to logged in members.

gillian vann

  • *Gillian*
« Reply #40 on: May 29, 2013, 06:12 »
+3
the one thing i hate about forums is how fake and sickly nice everyone is, outdoing each other with their perfect platitudes - well you don't see that here at all, which is refreshing. But what we do have are people who are probably more touchy and nastier than what they are in real life.

For those who oppose this can you think of a way to improve the situation?

jbarber873

« Reply #41 on: May 29, 2013, 06:18 »
+7
   I have never hidden my identity, as my username attests. Partly because micro stock is not my only income source, but mostly because I grew up in a world where you were allowed to have an opinion without being punished. As others have noted, some agencies and the people involved in them, deeply resent negative opinions, most notably FT. Sadly, they earned those negative posts and deserve them fully. If fear of reprisals gets in the way of telling the truth, then that will have a profound impact on the value of discussion here. I have the luxury of not caring what these companies do, but not everyone is immune to the long reach of the agency "woo yay" police.
   Don't be so worried about being "professional". You should have the courage to stick to something that has worked out pretty well so far. There are so few places in the world that allow honest discussion. We can deal with trolls, and in fact they add interest to the mix.

CD123

« Reply #42 on: May 29, 2013, 06:22 »
+7
I have always been pro transparency with identities, but can understand some people want to stay anonymous. I will be quite satisfied if one need to reveal your true identity only to Leaf when registering. This can be done by email, so the info is not even stored on the public server for security.

This will sort out this double identities and at least he will know who he is addressing in case of disciplinary matters and prevent a banned person from coming back. As site owner I think he has the right to this and we will be none the worse from it (IMO actually better). Thus, transparent cleansing....  :P

rubyroo

« Reply #43 on: May 29, 2013, 06:26 »
+2
Excellent post jbarber, and you're right, it'll be a very different place indeed.

CD123:  I'm a lot happier with that suggestion.  I have no problem telling Tyler who I am, but I don't want that information stored anywhere that it could leach out.  (Just have to hope that Tyler's mind is a safe place... hahaha).

@ Gillian:  Great question.  I think if Tyler could look at what exactly he seeks to achieve, if this could be done by developing a new list of forum rules and enforcing those without having to change anything else, then that would be the ideal outcome (IMO).

« Reply #44 on: May 29, 2013, 06:27 »
+17
Well, my main reason to be on MSG is to get a lot of news in one central place and to listen to different opinions of people about the markets and agencies.

The main reason I am less often on MSG than I used to is the relatively small amount of people who are trying to hijack almost any useful thread with their repetition of the same story each and every time to each and every thread and start to pick on each other. And all of those are hiding behind anonymous accounts. I don't think that is just random.

cuppacoffee

« Reply #45 on: May 29, 2013, 06:31 »
+1
I think a required link to a portfolio is sufficient. Some microsites allow you to be anonymous so a link to one's port will still afford some form of anonymity while at the same time discouraging opinions and advice from those hiding what kind of images they may or may not produce.

« Reply #46 on: May 29, 2013, 06:34 »
0
I am ok with it. What i think is funny is that both baldricks and gostwyck are objecting (and others), and yet i see people here addressing them by their real first name. I know who they are and i cant imagine it would be too difficult for someone like an agency to find out anyones real identity. I understand the idea but really, if i felt that threatened by an agency, i wouldnt be there. Oh wait, im not.


It would be a shame to lose a lot of good knowledgeable people, but i do think people should be accountable for themselves.


As far as sean and retaliation, i was under the impression that had to with stocksy, not because he spoke his mind. He spoke his mind for several years and remained at the top until stocksy.


I see both sides of the argument, but my vote always goes for honesty.

« Reply #47 on: May 29, 2013, 06:36 »
+7
Since everyone can see my  portfolio and website links and certainly there are also people following those links with, "inspirational" intentions, I do sometimes feel that I am being taken advantage of by those who dont share their identity.

You are not 'being taken advantage of'. You are voluntarily giving away your own 'trade secrets'. Why? You might have an image/series that is making you say $50 per month. It only needs one or two folk to click on your port, identify your best-sellers and attempt to replicate them to either halve that income or worse. What's the point? It's entirely possible that your own microstock income might have been reduced by several hundred $'s per month ... just by virtue of the portfolio links that you chose to publish on this forum.

No other business would even dream (make that a nightmare) of sharing such information/ideas with the competition.

I'm not surprised that microstockers are so often regarded as 'amateurs' ... when they act in such an absurdly amateurish fashion. Money matters ... at least to the professional stock photographer.

You need to wake up Jasmine. This is not 2004 and we are no longer in the 'moms with cameras' era when we all helped each other because it was our hobby and the sums earned were a pittance anyway. For many of us this is our actual livelihood and it is not in our interests to give away more information to the competition than necessary.

« Reply #48 on: May 29, 2013, 06:44 »
+2
   I have never hidden my identity, as my username attests. Partly because micro stock is not my only income source, but mostly because I grew up in a world where you were allowed to have an opinion without being punished. As others have noted, some agencies and the people involved in them, deeply resent negative opinions, most notably FT. Sadly, they earned those negative posts and deserve them fully. If fear of reprisals gets in the way of telling the truth, then that will have a profound impact on the value of discussion here. I have the luxury of not caring what these companies do, but not everyone is immune to the long reach of the agency "woo yay" police.
   Don't be so worried about being "professional". You should have the courage to stick to something that has worked out pretty well so far. There are so few places in the world that allow honest discussion. We can deal with trolls, and in fact they add interest to the mix.

Great post jbarber873 ... whoever you are. Can't believe that Mr & Mrs Barber873 named their offspring simply 'j' all those years ago

« Reply #49 on: May 29, 2013, 06:48 »
+2
   I have never hidden my identity, as my username attests. Partly because micro stock is not my only income source, but mostly because I grew up in a world where you were allowed to have an opinion without being punished. As others have noted, some agencies and the people involved in them, deeply resent negative opinions, most notably FT. Sadly, they earned those negative posts and deserve them fully. If fear of reprisals gets in the way of telling the truth, then that will have a profound impact on the value of discussion here. I have the luxury of not caring what these companies do, but not everyone is immune to the long reach of the agency "woo yay" police.
   Don't be so worried about being "professional". You should have the courage to stick to something that has worked out pretty well so far. There are so few places in the world that allow honest discussion. We can deal with trolls, and in fact they add interest to the mix.

Great post jbarber873 ... whoever you are. Can't believe that Mr & Mrs Barber873 named their offspring simply 'j' all those years ago
I wouldn't leave MSG but I would sanitize my posts.  Any criticism of the agencies would go away.  I would just be a lurker. I'd participate in other topics but none in which I'd comment on negative "issue" about an agency.  That is a form of sanitizing the forum. I have already been threatened at one agency about what I say and I see no reason they wouldn't follow through with my criticism and their threats.
« Last Edit: May 29, 2013, 07:22 by Mantis »


 

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