NEW >>> the option to accept 'anonymous' critique/comments...

<p>Historically, all critique or comments on user images have been attributed to the person making them, see screenshot below. The thinking was that you needed to stand behind what you said and put your name to any post you made. This works well in any number of instances, but also brings up a few problems. The two largest are:<br /><br /></p>

<ol>

<li>While for many serious artists, the criticism aspect of the critique process is more important than the praise aspect, some people react harshly to any critique that they perceive as negative. So after a user would make the effort to explain what they saw in an image and how they thought it could be improved, they would be attacked and harassed for those words. This unsurprisingly had a chilling effect on many of photo.net's best and brightest users. Why would they bother taking the time to help someone improve their photography if they were just going to be attacked in return. Lacking any way to discern which critique requests were from people who would accept honest critique and which were from those who would not, many simple stopped critiquing at all.</li>

<li><br />Many people in our community have forged strong friendships on photo.net, and that is wonderful. But for many of us, telling your friends what you honestly think of the result of their hard work is difficult. While our friends may be perfectly willing to accept our criticism, even if it is more negative than positive, many of us feel as though we are being disloyal by not being supportive. Now, of course that is just a head game that people should work through for their sake and the sake of helping a friend improve. But it is what it is and it, like issue #1 above, has caused many very knowledgeable photographers to not leave critique.</li>

</ol>

<p><br />To address these (and other related) issues, photo.net has set up a system where users can choose to accept anonymous critique from other users. This allows people to be a bit more free with their worlds without the fear of getting harassed in return or upsetting a friend or any of the other reasons that cause people to leave mindless "nice shot" critiques rather than helpful feedback. Please read the Q&A linked below for more information. If you have a question that is not answered there, please post on this thread or use the "Contact Photo.net" link at the bottom of the page and send your question via email.<br>

http://www.photo.net/help/gallery/critique/anonymous-critique<br>

<img src="../help/gallery/critique/images/anonymous-critique.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Good idea.</p>

<p>Out of interest what will the default setting be when I add a comment to a rating? Currently it makes me identifiable when I do (which is fine with me by the way), but maybe this switch needs to be added there too.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>Out of interest what will the default setting be when I add a comment to a rating?</p>

</blockquote>

<p>It works the same as submitting via any other method. When rating, you are just clicking through to the image's page when leaving a comment.</p>

<p>Thumbs up on this new functionality.</p>

<p>Hi Josh,</p>

<p>In a broader context, I don't believe anonymous postings should be allowed here for any purpose, specifically ratings or critiques. It just serves to promote nonsense responses like the "nazi" comment in the screen shot you posted.</p>

<p>If people don't have the balls to post under their own names, they shouldn't post at all.</p>

<p>As to the OP taking offense at a well-intended comment, there may be two problems:<br>

1) The OP is overlfy sensitive, and needs some counseling in that respect, or<br>

2) The poster needs to refine his/her interpersonal communication skills.</p>

<p>These same problems arise in real person-to-person contacts, and should be addressed and corrected for the benefit of both individuals.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

<p>- Leigh</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p>In a broader context, I don't believe anonymous postings should be allowed here for any purpose, specifically ratings or critiques. It just serves to promote nonsense responses like the "nazi" comment in the screen shot you posted.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Anyone leaving such a comment under their own name or via the anonymous system should be reported via the "abuse@photo.net" address or through the "contact photo.net" link at the bottom of every page. I make it quite clear in the FAQ linked to above that we will not put up with that kind of thing.</p>

<p>Like it. I do not quite agree with what Leigh said above - anonymous posting is OK, after all - possible misuse of the system does not lie in someone putting (or not) his (real or not) name above the comment. The abuse may be in the contents of the post - and if so, then the Admin has the means to chase the offender - whether he published under real, fake or Anonymous name.</p>

<p>I do not like the anonymous postings. If you have an opinion then sign it. I write my (polite) opinion and I write that this is just my opinion, nothing more than an opinion of one member. I do not see any military top secret about that.<br

<p>I probably won't use the anonymous side of the critique system, though I reserve judgment because just as my photography changes so does my use of PN and my approach to critiquing. Right now, I tend to prefer showing my face when I offer a critique and allowing the recipient of my critiques to check out my portfolio which may give them a little more info on where I'm coming from. I tend to do that when I am critiqued by someone else as well.</p>

<p>I don't mind other people having the ability to critique or receive critiques anonymously. It's hard to think of cases where I would criticize MORE freedom.</p>