wwp@yahoogroups.com:
Re: Comments
Victor 2007-Jan-03 21:41:00
I respectfully disagree with the "comments aren't competition"
viewpoint. While not as blatantly competitive as rankings, something
I would hope NEVER gets implemented, comments, and who gets them, what
sorts, how many, and so on and so on can easily become competitive, or
at least, appear competitive.
One of the (many) things that I've found attractive about this
endeavour is the egalitarian spirit it embodies. Everyone's work is
valuable, is worthy, and is given equal billing. No one's work is
held up above the rest. The technically brilliant, the mundane, the
"less than perfect", the visually stunning, the widely appealing, the
personal piece with meaning for, perhaps, just one ... they're all
treated, and viewed equally.
Now you might ask, what harm can comments do? And it's a valid
question. Perhaps none. Perhaps I, and others of like mind who don't
want comments on the site are full of hooey. Perhaps as (I think it
was Roger who) suggested, it might inspire people. Then again, it
might as easily disappoint if no comments, or only negative ones are
received. Personally, I'm inspired to improve by looking at the work
others have done, not by reading commentary of the sort I envision
will be most common.
In the end, what I think matters is what benefit would comments bring
to the site? Very little I think. If viewers are truly interested in
learning more about a particular entry, they can contact the
photographer via email. I've gotten a few, I suspect others have too.
The suggestion was made that this allows connection and feedback with
the audience. Unless there's two-way communication, then there's no
connection, just a bunch of "atta boys" and "nice image" postings at
best, a smattering of "me toos" and, hopefully, little if any
negativity. I would hope that we're doing this to please ourselves
and to share our joy with others. If they like it, great. If they
don't, great too. What someone may find to criticize about an entry
may be of little value to the person who created it as often it's a
matter of taste and opinion. If they're not critical, then it's just
a "fishing for compliments" contest.
Sorry I've run on so long about this. I rarely get involved in these
discussions as I'm fine with what the majority wants, but in many
cases, the majority is silent and a minority who want a change for
change sake gets their way by default. Once something like this is
implemented, it is nearly impossible to put the genie back in the bottle.
Victor Z