Seriously, Roussak?

[Rob C]

Good to see you back, and to learn that your op was successful.

Thank you! I'm hoping the next one goes as happily!

Rob

[Rob C]

Agreed.

Thank you, stamper - I miss shooting, but life is complicated.

 Rob

[Rob C]

 Make that +3! I've had both eyes done Rob and now I just use glasses for extremely fine print. I have a little story to relate after your other eye has been tuned up

Thanks, and looking forward to the story, as I am to driving again.

Rob

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

In this forum there are extremely deep threads on so many camera-specific topics, going back many years. These threads are alive, being referenced and resurrected. People message me regularly with great gratitude for the info the’ve gleaned from them. This is largely due to long-time posters. Newbies are generally quiet but not necessarily non active. Many new contributors have valuable opinions and info to share. They may hesitate if they believe their take has been offered already. This is due to the age and depth of the forum. It is a trove.

The political discourse is actually somewhat useful and informative IMHO. It does not magnetize ripple away from camera discussions as much as we might imagine.
There is the natural ego bruising and miscommunications. Those are relatively benign and mostly born of old grudges etc. I don’t think they are that scary. People are generally civilized here. Generally 😉

What I don’t appreciate is aggressive ad-homonym attacks or childish tantrums. That stuff will turn people off and I won’t tolerate it.   

I personally find it odd when people summarize the site(s) inaccurately. If only because the assessment appears to be coming from a pretty limited view, or one with a resentment perhaps.

For example - the site proper sees up to 10-20k views per article  (after approx 1 month) now vs 800-2k views last year per. Growth.

The forum has a huge number of consistent viewers daily, numbering in the many thousands. This has also grown, again.
It has also mutated. The details of the ethnographic data and map of those data points shows increases over all, and a trend which shows the terrain of camera culture changing, shrinking and growing in respective areas at once.

The point is that long time contributors are deeply valuable, and should(?) see themselves as ambassadors. That is how I see them, and how newer contributors may view them. Conduct matters and the community is growing and evolving with a new batch of professionals learning from the experienced. As it should be.

 There are voices yet to be heard.   

Josh

Wise words, Josh.

(I usually refrain from reposting long posts in replies, but felt this one deserves it)

[josh.reichmann]

Wise words, Josh.

(I usually refrain from reposting long posts in replies, but felt this one deserves it)

Appreciated Slobodan.

I truly want to emphasis that this forum is a very valuable free and open-source school for hundreds and thousands of people, the world over.
This should not be underestimated.

J

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

Wise words, Josh.

I agree completely.

It is inevitable that the world of photography has changed a lot since the early days of LuLa. I am one of those who made the at times painful transition from wet/film to digital, and LuLa was my best resource for learning the New Ways. Back then I had lots of technical questions, which were answered very well by professional and experienced amateur photographers. Now I try to answer questions wherever I can offer help, and I mostly post images and comment on those I like.

I personally don't bother with most threads in the Coffee Corner (except for the Humor thread).

In my opinion, LuLa is doing very well. And Jeremy's moderation has been appropriately light, IMHO.

[Ivo_B]

The point is that long time contributors are deeply valuable, and should(?) see themselves as ambassadors. That is how I see them, and how newer contributors may view them. Conduct matters and the community is growing and evolving with a new batch of professionals learning from the experienced. As it should be.

 There are voices yet to be heard.   

Josh

Hi Josh,
Let me first say, I realize we are playing in your garden and I think all members should remember this simple fact.

I’m afraid your theoretical reflection above is merely an expression of hope and how you would like it to be.
May I suggest to reach out to the not so old members and ask them how they experience those good old ambassador members.
You could be surprised by the answer.

[Ivo_B]

And since the political discussions are back:

[Ivo_B]

Conduct matters and the community is growing and evolving with a new batch of professionals learning from the experienced. As it should be.

Josh

I’m not sure if I understand this correctly.
(My poor English, sorry)

If you say: new contributors should learn from the oldies about the proper conduct on Lula: yes, O yes. But is that how it is in reality? Do the old members exhibit proper conduct?

If you say: new contributors should learn about photography from the old members: There is no relationship between the grade of photographic skills and Lula membership ‘stamina’. This delusion is one of the reasons why new members are getting frustrated and stop contributing or step into the pitfall and become rude.
The self-righteousness of some old members is hallucinant and cynicism rules the roost.

Some self-reflection can be beneficial, isn’t it?

Ivo

[josh.reichmann]

Some self-reflection can be beneficial, isn’t it?

Ivo

Probably all that needs to be said by anyone here.

The rest of your points are potentially salient, but’s it’s not just wishful thinking on my part. A mix of our two perspectives reflect the truth.
My motivation is to encourage where I can.
In the end, the culture of long term members will dictate the next.

Responsibility.

[Ivo_B]

Probably all that needs to be said by anyone here.

The rest of your points are potentially salient, but’s it’s not just wishful thinking on my part. A mix of our two perspectives reflect the truth.
My motivation is to encourage where I can.
In the end, the culture of long term members will dictate the next.

Responsibility.

Josh,

I will do my best to take my responsibility where appropriate.

Kind regards
 
Ivo

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

... I’m afraid your theoretical reflection above is merely an expression of hope and how you would like it to be...

And that is exactly why I said "wise words, Josh." That is how a good leader acts. He doesn't get into the fray with the rest of us jerks, doesn't assign blame, takes sides, castigates... He, the leader, inspires, motivates, appeals to our better side, sets a lofty goal.

It is up to us to follow and deliver.

[Rob C]

Is kool aid spelled with capital letters?

:-)

[KLaban]

Is kool aid spelled with capital letters?

:-)

:-)

[Ivo_B]

Is kool aid spelled with capital letters?

:-)

Just drink it, Rob. 🥴

[Two23]

I think I am justified in assuming that you did this specifically because you have some kind of hard-on for me, and you couldn't bear the thought of anyone actually replying to my.

Fuck you, Roussak, you incompetent dipshit.

I drop in to see how things are going for the first time in months, and what do I see?    Cripes.  Back to the Large Format Photography Forum.  BTW, I've been busy the past month or so getting everything together for my entry into wet plate.  Time goes on, but I go backwards.


Kent in SD

[petermfiore]

Is kool aid spelled with capital letters?

:-)

Not if one partakes in the elixir. Lower case works just as well.

Peter

[Rob C]

I drop in to see how things are going for the first time in months, and what do I see?    Cripes.  Back to the Large Format Photography Forum.  BTW, I've been busy the past month or so getting everything together for my entry into wet plate.  Time goes on, but I go backwards.


Kent in SD

Kent, I've been going backwards and forwards all my life; one gets used to it.

Apropos of nothing much, and quite off topic, but an idea that intruded just now: if there is one lesson worth the learning it's this: try to keep friends, and don't assume too much of them. Most of the folks I know today, especially those around thirty or so, network like hell and keep contacts very much alive. I sometimes wonder how they find the time to make a living. It's a pitfall for the lone wolf artist: he dies alone, too, if that makes a scrap of difference in the end. But during the living, it makes positive differences if managed well.

Wisdom pearl of my day, from wherever it may have arrived!

;-)

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

Is kool aid spelled with capital letters?

:-)

Ok... I’ll admit... I am not smart enough to get the obviously deep meaning of this. I know what kool aid is, metaphorically. So, can someone please dumb it down for me who is drinking it and why (in the context of this thread), and how capital letters would change the meaning?

[Ivo_B]

Ok... I’ll admit... I am not smart enough to get the obviously deep meaning of this. I know what kool aid is, metaphorically. So, can someone please dumb it down for me who is drinking it and why (in the context of this thread), and how capital letters would change the meaning?

Only Rob can clarify, I understood it this way:
https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Kool-Aid

Use of the term by those who are themselves Kool-Aid drinkers

In online discussions, accusations of "drinking the Kool-Aid" are often lobbed at skeptics by true believers. In particular this goes for conspiracy theorists and political extremists, who will throw the term about with abandon at anyone who doubts whatever BS they are spouting. For example, survivalists will call anyone who isn't making preparations for the imminent collapse of the world as we know it "Kool-Aid drinkers" (and also sheeple). Believers in conspiracy theories about the Federal Reserve, the New World Order, or 9/11 will also call those who laugh at the insanity of such drivel "Kool-Aid drinkers". They don't seem to get that they, themselves, are far more in line with those who followed Jim Jones into eternity than those who are based in reality and have better things to do than bother with extremism.