Current State of Affairs on Photo.net

compared to its former self

I'm not doing so hot compared to my former self either.

In the few days I let my membership lapse last week there were blank spaces between some photos for what I assume were spaces for ads, but no ads. Edited September 11, 2021 by Sanford

I don’t know, I rarely go into galleries anymore because I find them so dysfunctional. Early on, back in the aughts, I spent most of my time in galleries, which functioned well and both facilitated and even encouraged interaction.

Likely so, but I’m not sure what the ramifications of that are to this discussion. 20 years ago, even if fewer photos were posted to the Internet than today, enough were posted so no one could encounter them all. We’ve always looked at what we’ve looked at.

What's not to grasp? People go elsewhere now simply because there's far more to see that's relevant. PN presently is a backwater forum site--whatever management's foibles. Curious what PN's long-term Alexa scores look like.

 

Personally, I've tired of the rising percentage of scolds, cranks and pedantic boors who camp on the forums. Who needs it? Not me. Adios

"Well, the content is being thinned partly due to the disingenuous site redesign of the galleries section that the site owners instigated. Many photographers who frequently posted their photos in the galleries simply left because they could not live with the constant glitches". Supriyo

 

Some truth in a piddle way.

 

However, the reality is, the various management styles, were all looking for harmonious love-ins; without challenges ,or, discourse of agreement.

 

Boring, and banal,: sort of like a hippy love in with the happy stuff.

 

There we are as of today ,with moderators swinging the axe of loving harmony ,....back in the day, under Greenspan, it was was the wild west....with all those interesting characters in play...and the rich photography they provided.

 

Goodnight Vienna.

Edited September 11, 2021 by Allen Herbert

The previous owner use to contribute to the Forum and you had access to him. Not sure what is going on right now or if this site is running on Automatic. I thought you moderators had access to the owners ?

My main regret was that they discontinued the @photo.net forwarding email address. My hopes were that PN would have its own email server. Having @photo.net on one's business card would be very useful, and by itself would be worth the cost of membership.

 

Also, admins tend to be overzealous, confusing flamboyance with outrageousness, and we lost some of our best members thanks to the 'cleansing'. Yes, there were some blowhards, but so what? Ignore them and move on. The Leica forum was *the* place to be.

 

I discovered PN in the late '90s (the best time to be alive!) and I was a member for most of that period. Back then, PN had a personality leading it, that being Phillip Greenspun. He was a real personality and I always enjoyed reading his posts and his blog, 'Travels With Samantha'. His inbox was, no doubt, packed to the brim at all times, but such is the price of fame!

 

Karim, you probably remember the heydays of the Off Topic forum. Its consquences were disastrous to quite a few members/subscribers.

The previous owner use to contribute to the Forum and you had access to him. Not sure what is going on right now or if this site is running on Automatic. I thought you moderators had access to the owners ?

 

Are you speaking of Glenn?"

It is a nice forum. Too bad not more participation, but I've seen worse.

 

Who pays the bills? It can't go on for free as far as internet costs.

Karim, you probably remember the heydays of the Off Topic forum. Its consquences were disastrous to quite a few members/subscribers.

 

I wondered why they didn't have one here. I like them.

 

Will this forum go poof one day? I mean sometime soon from not having an owner?

Karim, you probably remember the heydays of the Off Topic forum. Its consquences were disastrous to quite a few members/subscribers.

I do. There is an OT forum on two other websites I visit regularly, and there are almost no issues there. Then again, those are cinematography related, and I have found that DPs are much more measured and helpful than their photographer cousins. I don't know why, but it is the case.

Still wondering if anyone has ever tried the "Purchase a Print" option.

Although it is really irritating to see how badly the site performs as a place to show images (e.g. non existent POTW ("15 editors have chosen these photos from..." Cant they just remove these nonsensical claims?), I'm not sure the forums are any worse than they were say 10 years ago, in terms of content. Same old same stuff. Just like other photo forums.

Even though i think diversification has long been an issue here at PN. I did feel that there was more of a representation of different photo styles years ago. The changes and quirks have homogenized the site and that has continued to drive some notable talent away new and established. Some interesting people have abandoned or banned. I imagine coming here now for the first time and moving on with little pause... for a few reasons not least being the lack of diversity and open mindedness. Kudos for being unique from other social media giants... but sorry to see how limited it is becoming. Edited September 13, 2021 by inoneeye

Still wondering if anyone has ever tried the "Purchase a Print" option.

I did ! I purchased 3 Photos from the forum 2 that are hanging in my living room and bedroom. I had them professionally framed at Michael's the popular Art store when they had a sale.

In the interest of clarity, I was not banned. I simply moved on. While cleaning out bookmarks on a browser that I seldom use, I stumbled upon this link and was surprised to find it still active. Happy to see that despite the owners pimping out what's left of the site to flog their crappy courses while letting the place fall into ruin, some of you have remained and carry on carrying on.

Folks, lets assume the "horse" is recovering and give it some time and the benefit of the doubt.

"Even though i think diversification has long been an issue here at PN. I did feel that there was more of a representation of different photo styles years ago. The changes and quirks have homogenized the site and that has continued to drive some notable talent away new and established. Some interesting people have abandoned or banned. I imagine coming here now for the first time and moving on with little pause... for a few reasons not least being the lack of diversity and open mindedness. Kudos for being unique from other social media giants... but sorry to see how limited it is becoming" inoneeye.

 

I agree, word for word.

 

"Folks, lets assume the "horse" is recovering and give it some time and the benefit of the doubt" Sandy.

 

The man with cowboy hat, the giant Montana steaks, and the six-gun....used to be a proper Sheriff like Wyatt Earp in Dodge city, has a very good point..

 

Forgive the troubled humour, but both have realistic thoughts.

Edited October 24, 2021 by Allen Herbert

Folks, lets assume the "horse" is recovering and give it some time and the benefit of the doubt.

“The interest I have to believe a thing is no proof that such a thing exists.”

―Voltaire

“The interest I have to believe a thing is no proof that such a thing exists.”

―Voltaire Sam.

 

Creativity, and the believe, is what drives humanity forward.

 

Allen Herbert.;))

Jeez, who needs Voltaire when we have minds of our own;))

Of course the other choice is far less words and far more photos experimenting with the opportunities out there. If this site fails it's our fault not some hidden power.

2f this site fails it's our fault not some hidden power2 eric

 

The reality, the truth..

Of course the other choice is far less words and far more photos

"No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world." -Dead Poet’s Society

 

Words needn’t compete with photos. They’ve both always been welcome at PN … by most. Often, they complement each other and they can be symbiotic.

Heck, sometimes they're even in the picture ...