I am fairly new to this site, but after participating in a challenge and reading through my feedback and the feedback of some other shots, I noticed a trend in a particular user(rgarza)in posting mostly pointless feedback, often consisting of the word "weak." For example, the only feedback the user gave me was "Weak weak weak." I wouldn't care, except I don't think I can take it seriously as ths user seems to randomly leave this feedback for good and bad submissions all over the site.
The user claims to have a Canon EOS 1D, however has not entered a single challenge and has no photos online to view (I realize the account hasn't been active for long, but I think there is enough evidence to draw these conclusions already). The users profile also has a false e-mail address. I would think that anyone owning such a camera would be capable of leaving slightly more intelligent comments.
The feedback this user has left for others seems to show that it is probably just a fake acct, most likely being used as a second account for someone who actually is using the site to enter challenges etc.
How can this be looked into? Or is something like this even considered to be a problem?
He shoots strait but he's not always aiming at the right target. I'd rather see either a detailed explanation of what's wrong with the picture or no comment at all, rather than "weak".
Better to keep one's mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt. (slightly paraphrased from Abe Lincoln)
I wish he left a comment on my picture. Even if he would have left one sounding "weak,weak,weak". So... if he read this thread... I can take a taugh comment... you can hit.
ON one of my entries- albeit it was terrible- someone left me a rude ass comment that was stupidly uncalled for. so I go to his portfolio and there are all these pictures of teddy bears.
so I pm him, which I rarely do to a commenter, and I say-
" I'm sorry my lousy picture distracted you from taking pictures of teddy bears."
I fell off my chair laughing and I still do when I think of his stuffed animal shots. pure comedy!
so some good can come from idiotic commects i guess.
ON one of my entries- albeit it was terrible- someone left me a rude ass comment that was stupidly uncalled for. so I go to his portfolio and there are all these pictures of teddy bears.
so I pm him, which I rarely do to a commenter, and I say-
" I'm sorry my lousy picture distracted you from taking pictures of teddy bears."
I fell off my chair laughing and I still do when I think of his stuffed animal shots. pure comedy!
ah sorry.. I didn't realize the user had already been discussed. I guess my forum search skills are "weak weak weak." ;)
Speaking of which, I think next week's challenge should be 'weakness.' The user would go immediately insane upon realizing that leaving 'weak' as a comment would be a positive thing!
Whether you find the user's comments funny or not, it is likely that the feedback reflects the voting, so it could very well be a bogus second account used to toss out 1's to people's work. It would be one thing if they were post-competition comments, but obviously these have votes attached.
Anyhoo, glad I'm not the only one who noticed! Time to return to working on my latest weak entry.
Rgarza gave me this comment in the money Challenge
HAHAHA
(i see your imagination went with your age? Maybe you should watch Barney the dinosaur to get your imagination working again?)
Were I learned early on to keep such comments to myself, I actually agree with some of his. Too many times people throw "weak" shots into challenges that don't fit the topic just to enter something. This site is for fun, so If I don't have a "constructive" comment, I don't make one.
...but some of his were on the money and quite humorous...
I received a comment from this person as well, but wasn't really upset by it. I did notice one of his comments left stated he couldn't think of a "witty remark", so I think he may have been trying to add a little humor to DPC. I did notice that some of his comments were indeed, right on.
The guy is clearly abrupt, impersonal, tactless and heartless - but he makes his opinions clear and does actually offer positives too. Fair enough really, and he's certainly characterful enough to generate two threads on the subject.
Speaking of which, I think next week's challenge should be 'weakness.' The user would go immediately insane upon realizing that leaving 'weak' as a comment would be a positive thing!
Rgarza gave me this comment in the money Challenge
HAHAHA
(i see your imagination went with your age? Maybe you should watch Barney the dinosaur to get your imagination working again?)
There is nothing constructive about that comment. No matter how bad or good a photo is no one should be subjected to receiving a comment like that. One word comes to mind after reading that comment. DEMEANING!
There is nothing constructive about that comment. No matter how bad or good a photo is no one should be subjected to receiving a comment like that.
You are right, noone would learn by getting such a comment. I always try to write comments where I tell the photographer what's it exactly that I liked or didn't like about the photo. Even if I find the photo bad, I try to find something good that could encourage the photographer. I can take critiques, but of course I love when I am told what and how should I improve.
Rgarza gave me this comment in the money Challenge
HAHAHA
(i see your imagination went with your age? Maybe you should watch Barney the dinosaur to get your imagination working again?)
There is nothing constructive about that comment. No matter how bad or good a photo is no one should be subjected to receiving a comment like that. One word comes to mind after reading that comment. DEMEANING!
Still, it's a freedom of speech environment. You just have to consider the source and let it go...
This same thing happened about a month ago - someone signed up, entered no challenges, made no forum posts, and for a challenge or two left biting, obnoxious, though on rare occasion insightful comments. A couple of threads were started and flooded by those who were the targets of his sarcastic comments, and he's since "disappeared".
I suspect someone who's a regular participating member here gets the urge every once in a while to just let loose on the whole community with a barage of slap-in-the-face comments. They create a new, dummy account, drop their bombs, then let the account "die". That way they can let their true feelings (hostilities?) loose, but not have to deal with the consequences. Lots of recent (and not so recent) threads deal with the frustration a segment of this community has with what they consider to be a lack of artistry or creativity within the broader, less experienced and less insightful masses. I think maybe these hit-and-run instances are a manifestation of that frustration, whether by an individual or, in copy-cat fashion, a group.
DISCLAIMER: As with all conspiracy theories, this one has no basis in fact or actual knowledge, and probably stems from the theorist's own false sense of oppression and feelings of inadequacy. :-) But then, even paranoid people have enemies...
