Shenanigans at the SWPP

Status
Not open for further replies.
POAH said:
what I don't understand is why people join in the first place knowing that it is just a pay and go exercise.
Click to expand...

Because people who want to "do a few weddings as a bit of beer money" can get themselves looking legit far faster this way.....nothing like belonging to a "professional organisation" to boost your status to the gullible public.:cuckoo:

Nothing like being able to make use of that gullible public by "providing" the "professinal organisation.....for a small fee". There used to be the same thing with a presscard. In the back of AP years ago you could "purchase" a Press Card....someone had realised that there were a whole raft of idiots who thought that waving a piece of blue card with "UK PRESS CARD" or similar printed onto it, along with a few lines assuring that whoever read it the holder was a bona fide photographer.......they sold thousands. They were useless of curse, but there were new gullibles coming along all the time - schools turn them out every year. They are called school leavers/colllege leavers/university graduates or dropouts.....all looking for a fast track to being "a photographer".

What people forget is, there is only one thing that makes you a photographer...............................................................................





























..............................................a camera.:thumbs: (And maybe the ability to use it. Although that could be argued is only a GOOD photographer. Bad ones need only have a camera).
 
The best way a a photographer can prove themselves able is by the quality of their work, and of course from bona fide references.

Just plonking a logo on your website or letterhead is not enough, especially when it means very little, and after the Gareth Bowers incident in the summer , unfortunately it damaged the SWPP's reputation.
 
mercedes said:
From what I've read on the linked posts a few ex/members seem desperate to stir as much trouble as they can. Most forum admins have to be seen to do something rather than let anarchy and discontent rule, so I feel if members value their chosen 'club' it need supporting.
Click to expand...

It's not that way at all, I can assure you. :)

I'm still a member and I have been as fair as I can about the benefits I have received through membership as well as the concerns I have about the professional standing of an organisation that I am a member of. After all I get tarred with the same brush BY being a member.

It's never been a case of anarchy but I will grant that there has been some discontent. Most of that discontent has surrounded the "£99 and you are in" which SWPP don't seem willing to change despite the protestations of members (both qualified and unqualified) The criteria for awarding an L and the monthly judging which seems erratic to say the least.

One example that I remember quite clearly because I asked SWPP for an explanation (which I never got btw) A photographer submits an image to the monthly competition where it receives (quite rightly) a Gold award. The highest quality an image can achieve. The photographer in question submits said image as part of a panel for an A qualification (they currently hold L) and the image is rejected as not being of sufficient quality for an A. :shrug:

(It wasn't me btw!) I'm not THAT mad :naughty:

I certainly don't dispute that the magazine is a good one even if the content is 70% unchanged month to month with all the advertising. It's more of a trade directory really :) Handy when you want something at your fingertips, granted.
 
jamesoliverstone said:
Apologies, I was only saying that technically you "could", not that you "would".
Click to expand...

I know, no probs :) It was just in case anybody made the assumption that Private messages weren't private on here :)
 
I run a car forum and having to do back end maintenance, I can say the only things I can't easily read is passwords which get encrypted. No doubt people cleverererer than I could decrypt these as well.

Whilst I can act as voyeur I choose not to.
 
Well doesn't this just underline why all us photographers outside the wedding market look up to this sector so much. :lol::lol::lol::lol:
 
A bit of schadenfreude is always good for the soul...
 
dod said:
I have no interest in the other forum, they can do what they like.
Maybe. But we are in fact talking about 'another' forum here in part - SWPP, so surely you actually are interested in 'other' forums:thinking:

You however should stop making sly digs at this one.
Sorry? Not sure I fully understand your point-what digs at this one? - I'm referring to many other websites I'm versed with. I think this paranoia says more about you than me....:nono:

It's not the first time you've done it
Really?:shrug: Better remind me.

and it does become quite tedious.
You think running a forum's should be all roses & sunshine?

If you're not happy go find one where you get as much leeway as you do here.
Leeway? What extra leeway's been exercised then? And who said I wanted to find another forum?!:shrug: Contortions of your imagination again.

Well, actually, I've a feeling I know what this is about. Just a great shame that you dictate members keep grievance's out of the boards, and yet you do just the opposite. Shame.
Click to expand...

RichardtheSane said:
If you are referring to here,
Click to expand...
I take it this was said as a post dod comment. Sorry, no 'here' reference this time. Maybe next time!:lol:
 
Merovingian said:
I take it this was said as a post dod comment. Sorry, no 'here' reference this time. Maybe next time!:lol:
Click to expand...

I'd check the ice you're on, just in case it gives way.
 
dod said:
I'd check the ice you're on, just in case it gives way.
Click to expand...
Really? Such as? I mean, you do have some substantial, majority agreed reason?
Should I take this an official threat then?, or is it forum banter? Tricky to tell these days. I would have assumed the appropriate method would have been via PM no?
 
Will you please behave yourself on my thread or kindly remove yourself from it.

Your presence seems to be contunuing on the basis that you can bait the mods and that will only end up in tears and I'd much rather you did it elsewhere.

Thank you :)

Mind the doors please, mods may I request you close the thread please.
 
Merovingian said:
Really? Such as? I mean, you do have some substantial, majority agreed reason?
Should I take this an official threat then?, or is it forum banter? Tricky to tell these days. I would have assumed the appropriate method would have been via PM no?
Click to expand...

We tried the PM route and it doesn't seem to have made any difference. You are the one who keeps dragging things up in open threads. Now how about you stop trying to derail the thread?
 
Merovingian said:
Really? Such as? I mean, you do have some substantial, majority agreed reason?
Should I take this an official threat then?, or is it forum banter? Tricky to tell these days. I would have assumed the appropriate method would have been via PM no?
Click to expand...

you should really raise any issues you have in the staff room via the contact us function. anymore in this thread or any others and you will get time off too.

Sorry Ali
 
AliB said:
Will you please behave yourself on my thread or kindly remove yourself from it.

Your presence seems to be contunuing on the basis that you can bait the mods and that will only end up in tears and I'd much rather you did it elsewhere.

Thank you :)

Mind the doors please, mods may I request you close the thread please.
Click to expand...

Appreciate your point, a fair one. But I'm still not really sure I really understand how you think I should behave or why think there's any baiting going on?!
 
mods may I request you close the thread please.
__________________
Click to expand...

I thought only the Jones did that sort of thing :-)
 
Has this thread re-opened? I thought it had run it's course? I need to know more how this forum is run. The poster above is suspended? What's that all about? Was that Sarcasam or a bit of banter?

Sorry, only really posted regulary on one other forum.

Back to the OP.................thanks for your PM, have PM'd you back.


Regards,
Nige.
 
andrewc said:
I run a car forum and having to do back end maintenance, I can say the only things I can't easily read is passwords which get encrypted. No doubt people cleverererer than I could decrypt these as well.

Whilst I can act as voyeur I choose not to.
Click to expand...

No need to. you just edit a PHP file or two, and you can have a universal login (password) for all accounts. Lots of admins use this approach to deal with muppet users who cant do this that or the other with their account - this is done with forums, stores, any application with a database/password really

(not saying anything about the owners of this forum, just commenting on what is technically possible)
 
NigelPaul said:
Has this thread re-opened? I thought it had run it's course? I need to know more how this forum is run. The poster above is suspended? What's that all about? Was that Sarcasam or a bit of banter?

Sorry, only really posted regulary on one other forum.

Back to the OP.................thanks for your PM, have PM'd you back.


Regards,
Nige.
Click to expand...

Probably worth you having a look at her posting history - it's littered with digs, aggro, wind-ups and generally looking to make life difficult.
 
It was re-opened because after we thought about it, we decided there no real reason to close other than a few sarcy comments, and there was possibly some good discussion still to be had.

So, if it all gets back on topic and remains that way, it will remain open to run its natural course ;)

As you were chaps.
 
I asked for it to be closed last night because it had become a platform for mod baiting and yet more not even sly digs. It was obvious people were going to end up banned and I asked for it to be closed in an attempt to stop that happening. Unfortunately there is no stopping some people.

Happy to get the thread back on track. :)
 
andrewc said:
I run a car forum and having to do back end maintenance, I can say the only things I can't easily read is passwords which get encrypted. No doubt people cleverererer than I could decrypt these as well.

Whilst I can act as voyeur I choose not to.
Click to expand...

Richard King said:
No need to. you just edit a PHP file or two, and you can have a universal login (password) for all accounts. Lots of admins use this approach to deal with muppet users who cant do this that or the other with their account - this is done with forums, stores, any application with a database/password really

(not saying anything about the owners of this forum, just commenting on what is technically possible)
Click to expand...


Just to technically say what can be done.
I'm a member on a car forum, had a falling out with someone after a magazine photoshoot, who turned out to be a mod of said forum.
Amazing how many difficulties I experienced with my account, and some comments were made that I'd only voiced in PM's.

It's all down to the integrity of the mods/admins. Luckily on here they seem pretty fair/decent.
 
treeman said:
Just out of interest, are SWPP making any comments or even recognising some discord amongst it's members?

Or do these flares ups happen regularly?
Click to expand...

Going back to the original thread (again). It seems to be often as not that SWPP do not recognise these occurences, which I think is a mistake, as it would help to get them out in the open. It would seem they are under fire at the moment.
 
treeman said:
Just out of interest, are SWPP making any comments or even recognising some discord amongst it's members?

Or do these flares ups happen regularly?
Click to expand...

They suffer from terminal "Ostrich Syndrome".

They totally ignore it, bury their heads in the sand and hope it goes away.

Their general plan of attack is ignore it - it will quieten down after a couple of days and then in a week or so, something else starts so it is an ongoing round of members complaining about one aspect or another.

If there were to simply sit down and say "OK talk to us, what can we do to make it better" they would get some very good, constructive feedback from people who do actually know what they are talking about.
 
treeman said:
Just out of interest, are SWPP making any comments or even recognising some discord amongst it's members?

Or do these flares ups happen regularly?
Click to expand...

That's part of the whole shenanigans treeman. SWPP have said that they will "look at making some changes" that was about 4 months ago and I don't think the pace has been to the liking of some members. The made little comment about the member who was sued other than to say "we kicked him out" and as for recognising discord it certainly does recognise it. By expelling members and deleting threads apparently. Mark Pearson DID resign rather than SWPP expel him but they also cancelled the memberships of his wife and another photographer who works with him. One of the convention speakers has their membership cancelled on the grounds of "late payment of subs" which is correct and SWPP are within their right to do that. However posting a notice saying that the seminar they were due to deliver is cancelled because of a lack of interest is not the truth at all and is bound to reflect badly on the ex member concerned.

I'm not aware of these flare ups happening that regularly but with the level of censorship would anyone know? All evidence had been removed within hours and all you see are members profiles changing to ex member. There has been a lot of disquiet since the Blowers case and the MPA statement neither of which were adequately dealt with (my personal opinion) add to that judging irregularities and disquiet over the mentoring (or lack of it) scheme and there were a lot of members unhappy with the lack of response. The main problem that I saw was that the members asking (indeed pleading) for change were good established extremely competent pros. The very kind of people the SWPP need to progress. No point in having 1000 members if they are all new. Blind leading the blind then. They were very generous contributors and even contributed in nationally published magazines on a monthly basis.

I think it is important that people recognise that it IS a company, there to make it's owners profit and they will do that however they see fit. You are just a £99 commodity and they would much rather have quiet, sheep like £99 commodities than anyone likely to challenge the processes and procedures they choose to employ.

I have my ticket for a seminar in January and I'm still going. As DiddyDave has said in the past, the annual convention is actually a very good event with world class speakers and access to that CAN be worth the £99. I try to remain balanced about it and so long as people have some knowledge of the good bad and ugly then they are free to spend their hard earned where they think they will get best value.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top