I followed a TP Business thread that didn't end in argument...

you think business is bad , go discuss bird photography for a bit ;)
 
Seems very few parts of the forum don't end up in some part of a p***ing contest these days...what on earth happened to the community spirit that was here a couple of years ago...and I don't really buy the idea of the community has got larger being the cause as the level of active members seems to be pretty static even though the total membership has risen...
 
I'm not sure I agree.

I see more people taking badly to honestly given crit. I see more people who think they're the god of all things photographic.

In the first case - that's kind of the way the world is going.

In the second case - they're just funny.

I think the underlying values are still there though.

And then of course, you get people who like to emphasise the negative. Or, what's the point of this thread?
 
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Its the nature of the beast. Quite a few people about who think they know it all and when someone posts a different view they are convinced they are trolling, or whatever name once to give it. And worse in my opinion start making links that don't exist across multiple posts.

Comprehension seems to be getting worse, and even radio 4 has swear words.

Conversation purely based on words is always going to be limited. I prefer to assume best intentions since one can't hear intonation nor body language. Heck English might not even be the first language or someone could have a different cultural background. This could all result in written word which may not have all the pleases and thank you in them, wrapped up with a nice ribbon and boy. Doesn't mean bad intentions, it is merely different.

I would assume best intentions, blame the corrective spelling, bad education and their parents first, before attacking the poster. :)
 
The point of the thread simon ess - humour - something many people seem to be lacking in and could do with more of ;)

Don't get me wrong I'm all for a good argument, but as in a discursive one rather than (as often happens) a slanging match

People can make statement they entirely believe to be correct and yet others know they are wrong, handled correctly the point can be discussed and corrections taken onboard. Handled poorly and all Hell breaks loose lol

Thankfully, I've never made a mistake in anything I've ever said and my direct Yorkie approach has never been taken the wrong way either :)

(Some of the above may not be entirely accurate btw)

Dave
 
If there was a landing page that we were all forced to read with "An argument is to prove that you are correct whereas a debate is to discover what is correct" we might have an outside chance.

That or "This is NOT the right room for an argument".
 
MWHCVT said:
Seems very few parts of the forum don't end up in some part of a p***ing contest these days...what on earth happened to the community spirit that was here a couple of years ago...and I don't really buy the idea of the community has got larger being the cause as the level of active members seems to be pretty static even though the total membership has risen...
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I think the community spirit is still there - there are loads of examples of members helping each other out , is just sometimes obscured by a minority bickering and getting into cock measuring contests. Also while you are right that the active level as remained consant i think the troll quotient has inceased in line with membership size
 
People can be a bit harsh, and I admit I am guilty of getting into 'debates', although these are normally in off topic. However I have ignored one person on here because of a comment he made along the lines of bikers deserve what they get if in accident, I can't remember the exact wording. This imho is way below the belt. There are others on here where discussions have got a little heated, but its a forum and this is all part of the fun. We all have disagreements but unless someone says something below the belt it IMO they stay in that thread.

One thing I have noticed though is how bickering starts on threads made by newbies asking for advice. It must put people off the forum, especially with the little note that pops up before you log in. Someone may have given bad advice but let the op make their mind up about it.

That said this site is full of pretty much a fun bunch of people who are good enough to give their time to give advice and contribute to the forum :thumbs:
 
MWHCVT said:
Seems very few parts of the forum don't end up in some part of a p***ing contest these days...what on earth happened to the community spirit that was here a couple of years ago...and I don't really buy the idea of the community has got larger being the cause as the level of active members seems to be pretty static even though the total membership has risen...
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Hmm. Not sure how far I agree with this and, no, I'm not trying to start an argument :). I've been around for a few years and I think there's more sheer rudeness, on a personal level, than there used to be; but there's always been a fair amount of bickering and squabbling. That's the nature of forums and largely anonymous discussions.

It does seem more common in the Business & Professional and OOF forums, but I suppose there's nothing surprising about that. A lot of the threads in the former have financial implications for the poster - which is usually a bit of a sensitive area - and many of the threads in the latter are about controversial subjects that people feel strongly about.

Doesn't bother me very much. I have my own opinions about some things, but I'm not particularly interested in converting anyone or arguing about them.
 
From my perspective, when some people find it rude when a potential client is asking for a discount, then what chance is there in a normal conversation.

Each to their own, I do think many people can be overly sensitive and don't assume best intentions first.
 
dejongj said:
From my perspective, when some people find it rude when a potential client is asking for a discount, then what chance is there in a normal conversation.

Each to their own, I do think many people can be overly sensitive and don't assume best intentions first.
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2 points there -

First line - yep - that thread is one which inspired me here :D

2nd line - I find it hilarious that the overly sensitive ones often fly off the handle when anyone suggests they may be being a bit overly sensitive PMSL

Dave
 
DG Phototraining said:
2nd line - I find it hilarious that the overly sensitive ones often fly off the handle when anyone suggests they may be being a bit overly sensitive PMSL

Dave
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Indeed - the other irony is that those who preach tolerance for all have so little for anyone who disagrees with them ;)
 
big soft moose said:
Indeed - the other irony is that those who preach tolerance for all have so little for anyone who disagrees with them ;)
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True - but if anyone disagrees with you (when you know you're right, as I ALWAYS do) then they are tw**s and get all they deserve via written humiliation and questioning of their mother's marital status at their time of birth :D

Dave
 
My theory is that the stroppy erberts are subjugated either at work or home. Get on the internet and their alter ego takes over, only got to look at those reading Guns and Ammo in Smiths.

Think in their own minds they are Tony Soprano, but in reality more like Alan Partridge
 
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MWHCVT said:
Seems very few parts of the forum don't end up in some part of a p***ing contest these days...what on earth happened to the community spirit that was here a couple of years ago...and I don't really buy the idea of the community has got larger being the cause as the level of active members seems to be pretty static even though the total membership has risen...
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To be fair Matt, I don't think the community has changed that much - I think it's more the way your browsing habits have evolved.
When you first joined up, you got involved with a 365 and your interest was in some of the more creative areas of photography. Nowadays you're more inclined towards the business and forum discussion areas.
There's still a huge amount of community spirit in the project areas of the forum and business has always been . . . well . . . business - it's always going to draw stronger opinions and discussion than elsewhere.
When I first joined, I remember there being a big argument with allegations of rigged voting in POTY, complaints about posters in classifieds, much hand-wringing about the quality of critique and a fair few OOF fallings out . . . actually it all sounds kind of familiar :thinking:

And does anyone else remember the dedicated wedding forum? That was a barrel of laughs :LOL:

Not saying that the arguments are OK (and certainly not saying that I don't care) but while weddings may have switched to birds for a few months and some familiar posters have been replaced with new faces I don't think the sense of community has disappeared.


p.s. Off now to run some cyclists off the road, let the dog loose to terrorise the neighbourhood, (since this was supposed to be about business threads) shoot a couple of weddings for free before bedtime ;)
 
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SarahLee said:
And does anyone else remember the dedicated wedding forum? That was a barrel of laughs :LOL:
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A can of coke and packet of crisps and the was my Friday nights entertainment sorted :thumbs:

How I miss those days :(
 
tijuana taxi said:
My theory is that the stroppy erberts are subjugated either at work or home. Get on the internet and their alter ego takes over, only got to look at those reading Guns and Ammo in Smiths.

Think in their own minds they are Tony Soprano, but in reality more like Alan Partridge
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I imagine them sitting overweight in their stained vest top like that guy in the movie Seven making accusations at others that they are trolling when someone has a different liberal view.
 
It's always the same few too!

But hey, you'll get same on any forums.
 
dejongj said:
I imagine them sitting overweight in their stained vest top like that guy in the movie Seven making accusations at others that they are trolling when someone has a different liberal view.
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b****r! did I leave my web cam on again? :(
 
simon ess said:
And then of course, you get people who like to emphasise the negative. Or, what's the point of this thread?
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DG Phototraining said:
The point of the thread simon ess - humour - something many people seem to be lacking in and could do with more of ;)

Dave
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Crikey - I did have a temporary humour bypass there. Apologies to one and all.
 
SarahLee said:
When I first joined, I remember there being a big argument with allegations of rigged voting in POTY, complaints about posters in classifieds, much hand-wringing about the quality of critique and a fair few OOF fallings out . . . actually it all sounds kind of familiar :thinking:
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Its the same on every forum about anything everywhere at anytime ... my sister is a mod on a forum about keeping rats, not the most contentious subject you'd think but you wouldnt believe the ammount of crap that goes on, likewise I used to be a mod on a narrowboat forum ... which eventually folded when the principal sponsor pulled out , in part because of all the back biting and silly s***. (we had one episode of death threats being made over a thread about what make of stove was best... by that standard TP is pretty mild)

About the only forum I know which isnt beset with that kind of thing is barry boys - and thats only because of fairly liberal rules on things like swearing, and a self moderating membership who tear people who step out of line limb from limb, and trolls are positively welcomed as troll baiting is a recognised sport.
 
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big soft moose said:
- and thats only because of fairly liberal rules and a self moderating membership who tear people who step out of line limb from limb.
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And then we get RTM's when that happens :D
 
On gaming forum I go on no one ever really argues. The worst thing anyone ever says is if they are accusing the other of doing something with a goat.
 
Cobra said:
And then we get RTM's when that happens :D
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Although BB has an RTM function its basically only used to report spammers - not least because the mods will probably tell you to f*** off if you bother them because someone called you names. (in fact if you show yourself to be a cry baby they'll probably join in)

To be clear i'm not advocating that policy for TP - it wouldn't work here , i'm just saying a policy where one member telling another that they are a semi evolved primate who enjoys oral sex with whelks is not seen as a problem, and everyone is expected to have a thick enough skin to cope , does in the long run cut down on the fighting and general buggering about

this very NSFW thread on what to do if the site content offends you tells you all you need to know ( I recomend a TP version ) http://www.barryboys.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=2921
 
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SarahLee said:
To be fair Matt, I don't think the community has changed that much - I think it's more the way your browsing habits have evolved.
When you first joined up, you got involved with a 365 and your interest was in some of the more creative areas of photography. Nowadays you're more inclined towards the business and forum discussion areas.
There's still a huge amount of community spirit in the project areas of the forum and business has always been . . . well . . . business - it's always going to draw stronger opinions and discussion than elsewhere.
When I first joined, I remember there being a big argument with allegations of rigged voting in POTY, complaints about posters in classifieds, much hand-wringing about the quality of critique and a fair few OOF fallings out . . . actually it all sounds kind of familiar :thinking:

And does anyone else remember the dedicated wedding forum? That was a barrel of laughs :LOL:

Not saying that the arguments are OK (and certainly not saying that I don't care) but while weddings may have switched to birds for a few months and some familiar posters have been replaced with new faces I don't think the sense of community has disappeared.


p.s. Off now to run some cyclists off the road, let the dog loose to terrorise the neighbourhood, (since this was supposed to be about business threads) shoot a couple of weddings for free before bedtime ;)
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I'm not sure Sarah, all I know is I'm not feeling the same passion I once had for this forum...in used to love spending plenty of time in all the critique sections but just struggle to do even that now :(
 
Cobra said:
Very true very true :p
But the first time you did it, you didn't know it was me. :p
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Also very true :) and you were in the company of a lady, so I don't think you fit the profile.
 
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