Friendly reminder

Hi friends,

As a large public community, a forum can become a melting pot for different personalities to gather and occasionally bump heads.  One challenge with communicating via text vs voice is that words become much sharper and can carry greater unintentional weight.  As result the compound effect swings in the wrong direction.  Over the years I have spoken with a number of the members on this board and noticed there are so many similarities with you all.  One most notable attribute is you all seem to have a serious interest in photography (strange huh  ), you all enjoy helping others, and above all... you all have been super likeable! 

We all have crummy days, we all have said things we didn't mean, and we all have been misunderstood at one time or another.  A forum full of sharp and heavier perceived words can magnify all this on the wrong day... so if you are getting rubbed the wrong way, or just not mixing well with someone.  Grab some fresh air, a beer, tea, pop or what ever your drink is.  If you want to communicate with that person to clear the air, do so via a private message.  I have found by giving a 'situation' a few hours, before I 'react' allows me to think clearer, be less emotional, and respond with a message that is more likely to defuse the situation while making a very focused point.  If you have any further questions about our forum terms of use... feel free to view them here.  


Thank you all for your understanding, cooperation and above all, for being the best part of this community!

As always kind regards,

Alex

Hi Friends,

First off let me start by thanking those who took the time to read my original post from last night.  As many of you know, I started this company with the idea to provide an environment that would help people become better photographers, be inspired and meet like minded, great people like you.  One of my favorite quotes that has always resonated with special meaning to me is by Mahatma Gandhi "be the change we wish to see in the world."  There are many directions I can go with this, and how this thought has framed up some of the pillars that hold up the foundation here.  

Second... for those who did make a comment in this thread, and now see it gone.  Please accept my apology as I removed all from this thread.  In my original post I spoke about my opinion of how I respond to tricky situations:  I have found by giving a 'situation' a few hours, before I 'react' allows me to think clearer, be less emotional, and respond with a message that is more likely to defuse the situation while making a very focused point.  I share this as there were many "Reactions".  Many of you wrote great responses and I thank you for those.  To remove the inappropriate ('reactive' posts that were picking up momentum) it was easier just to remove all in one go. 

Third... there seems to have been some confusion about titles... let me give a super high level cliff note version of all the titles & roles on this site:


Member  {Registered users who are welcomed to use the site's free services} - Thank you for being part of the community

pt+ members   {Supporting members who have paid an annual subscription and have access to Premium Benefits of the site}  - Thank you for your support 

Vendor  {Companies/Individuals who have a product or service that is marketable to photography enthusiast, who are paying to have commercial usage of the site (basically they can talk/promote their product/service within the community, and clearly marked "Vendor")} - Thank you for supporting the site and community members

Agents  {Members who have volunteered to act as moderators in the community} - Thank you for supporting the community

Admins  {Many of the creative minds behind this site: Programmers, Designers and Logistical Staff}  - Thank you for being part of the team

Founder {Well that's me}. 

NONE of these titles give anyone the right to disrespect, insult, troll, intentionally provoke any person regardless of title on this community.   Just to clarify one step further: PhotographyTalk does not condone this sort of behavior.  There is a time and place for everything.  If you don't get along with someone, either take the discussion offline in hopes of a more private diplomatic handshake/settlement of views OR just completely avoid that person(s).  

If you have any further questions about our forum terms of use... feel free to view them here.  


Thank you all for your understanding, cooperation and above all, for being the best part of this community!

As always kind regards,

Alex

 Final thought on this subject came to me last night.  I'm a big reader and enjoy books on personal development, entrepreneurship or just business in general.  Any rate... I'm reading a new book by one of my favorite authors Bob Burg called 'Adversaries into Allies' .  Whether its a physical books or it's read on my iPad, I always have a highlighter marking up pages with terms or points that resonate with me.  Each day after I read, I review all my highlights too process and reflect. 

I'm sharing this page from last nights reading, not only do I find the timing ironic, I believe we all should consider this when posting and interacting with others.  Consider this food for thought...