Post by jiro on Oct 9, 2011 14:12:03 GMT
I am adamant to write this down but due to the recent situation that seems to be arising, I think something has to be said about the forum membership and the appropriate action that each of us as present members of F-Stop Cafe has to consider and understand. Guests who can read this statement would probably know also why we are here and what prompted us to have F-Stop and what is really our goal in setting up this forum.
THIS FORUM WAS WAS FOUNDED ON FRIENDSHIP FROM A HANDFUL OF INDIVIDUALS WHOSE DESIRE IS TO GROW MORE ON THEIR PHOTOGRAPHY WITHOUT ANY HINDRANCE TO DEVELOP THEIR VISION. It was not founded on negative feelings against individuals or organization. From my conversation and exchanges of ideas with the core members, THEY FELT THE NEED TO FORM A GROUP WHOSE MAIN OBJECTIVE IS TO GIVE HONEST CRITIQUE OF THEIR WORK BASED ON THE MERIT OF THE SHOT. No biases, no honey-filled words to simply cheer up the photographer, just an honest critique of what makes the shot work and why. It was this BELIEF that through this method of objective commenting, the original core members will grow more both as a photographer and as an individual. They even took the initiative to share information on how to help each other develop the skills to become a better critique to augment the values of the group and fulfill their objectives.
Along the way, as the days progressed, some of them opened up an idea that was accepted enthusiastically by the core members: TO SHARE THE CONCEPT OF THE GROUP TO OTHER PEOPLE OR TO THE PUBLIC SO THEY, TOO CAN BENEFIT FROM THE PRINCIPLE OF GIVING HONEST CRITIQUE TO A PHOTOGRAPH. It all happened too fast, due to the relaxed atmosphere and the friendship that these people have learned to appreciate from each other. Like all other forums, there has to be a definite CORE VALUES or MISSION STATEMENT that the forum has to follow or adhere to to guide itself as it grows. However, due to the complexity of the way each of us responds to day-to-day interaction with other people, you may find it hard to see where are your guide marks or guide lines to know where the forum is going. So, with the main statements stated and shared, I would like to offer my opinion as to how the forum would grow from this day forth.
1. THE FORUM WILL GROW BASED ON THE QUALITY OF ITS CONTENT AND NOT IN THE NUMBER OF MEMBERSHIP ALONE. The reason why people tend to stay more on one forum is because they find things inside that they need to help them learn stuff and build their knowledge. It's like a market, you don't shop around at the same place if you think the quality of the merchandise in that store doesn't go with your taste. WITHOUT QUALITY CONTENT people will go somewhere for the same basic needs they have.
2. THE FORUM WILL GROW IF THERE IS RESPECT AND CAMARADERIE SHOWN TO EACH OTHER. MUTUAL RESPECT AND TRUST IS NEEDED FOR ANY FORUM TO SURVIVE GRACEFULLY. Visit a forum where Egos are flying everywhere and you'll see members leaving in numbers. If the atmosphere is not conducive for learning, then there is no more reason to stay and share ideas. We're just simply killing the forum slowly if our goal is not to help each other but to only find out who's the best among us. I have been a member of 8 different forums and I have seen some of them crumble due to a select few whose only interest is to elevate their Egos and go careless about their words and actions when dealing with the public.
3. THE FORUM WILL GROW ON ITS OWN ACCORD BASED ON THE TENETS OF QUALITY CONTENT AND CAMARADERIE. All things grow naturally. Disturb the natural flow and you will create chaos. Accelerate the growth of a normal specie and you create a monster. My point is, we will eventually grow but not in the way that we need to gather members just for the sake of rapid growth in membership. WE INVITE MEMBERS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT THE EXPERIENCE WE FELT HERE AT F-STOP CAFE HAS ENOUGH MERIT TO SHARE THIS GOOD THING TO OTHERS.
Now, that you know why F-Stop came into existence and how it is evolving, I hope that we try to keep this atmosphere of common respect and good critique as our strength and foundation. Much the same way, as I have said before, try to keep good relationship with others as well. If you think that by you inviting some members from other organization would only hurt our existence then though they may be your friends, exercise good judgement and with good conscience act accordingly. I feel really sad that given the freedom to choose for ourselves, we are being hindered to act on this freedom because of human imposed ideas of what is right and what is wrong by others. I CHOSE TO JOIN THIS GROUP BECAUSE I KNOW I CAN GROW HERE MORE AS A PHOTOGRAPHER. I did not join simply because I am already friends with the people who started this group but because I came to know them as better photographers than me and I would like to learn more from them.
I hope that I got my message clear to all and even to future would be members as well. It is from the three stated belief that we have above where this forum is grounded. In good faith, we also do not wish others to take away from us the freedom to share this to others as well. I hope that you all grow as individuals and photographers here at F-Stop and become active because you want to share your talent and knowledge to those who are starting to learn photography and find their vision to come to fruition.
Many thanks to you all for joining F-Stop and participating.
THIS FORUM WAS WAS FOUNDED ON FRIENDSHIP FROM A HANDFUL OF INDIVIDUALS WHOSE DESIRE IS TO GROW MORE ON THEIR PHOTOGRAPHY WITHOUT ANY HINDRANCE TO DEVELOP THEIR VISION. It was not founded on negative feelings against individuals or organization. From my conversation and exchanges of ideas with the core members, THEY FELT THE NEED TO FORM A GROUP WHOSE MAIN OBJECTIVE IS TO GIVE HONEST CRITIQUE OF THEIR WORK BASED ON THE MERIT OF THE SHOT. No biases, no honey-filled words to simply cheer up the photographer, just an honest critique of what makes the shot work and why. It was this BELIEF that through this method of objective commenting, the original core members will grow more both as a photographer and as an individual. They even took the initiative to share information on how to help each other develop the skills to become a better critique to augment the values of the group and fulfill their objectives.
Along the way, as the days progressed, some of them opened up an idea that was accepted enthusiastically by the core members: TO SHARE THE CONCEPT OF THE GROUP TO OTHER PEOPLE OR TO THE PUBLIC SO THEY, TOO CAN BENEFIT FROM THE PRINCIPLE OF GIVING HONEST CRITIQUE TO A PHOTOGRAPH. It all happened too fast, due to the relaxed atmosphere and the friendship that these people have learned to appreciate from each other. Like all other forums, there has to be a definite CORE VALUES or MISSION STATEMENT that the forum has to follow or adhere to to guide itself as it grows. However, due to the complexity of the way each of us responds to day-to-day interaction with other people, you may find it hard to see where are your guide marks or guide lines to know where the forum is going. So, with the main statements stated and shared, I would like to offer my opinion as to how the forum would grow from this day forth.
1. THE FORUM WILL GROW BASED ON THE QUALITY OF ITS CONTENT AND NOT IN THE NUMBER OF MEMBERSHIP ALONE. The reason why people tend to stay more on one forum is because they find things inside that they need to help them learn stuff and build their knowledge. It's like a market, you don't shop around at the same place if you think the quality of the merchandise in that store doesn't go with your taste. WITHOUT QUALITY CONTENT people will go somewhere for the same basic needs they have.
2. THE FORUM WILL GROW IF THERE IS RESPECT AND CAMARADERIE SHOWN TO EACH OTHER. MUTUAL RESPECT AND TRUST IS NEEDED FOR ANY FORUM TO SURVIVE GRACEFULLY. Visit a forum where Egos are flying everywhere and you'll see members leaving in numbers. If the atmosphere is not conducive for learning, then there is no more reason to stay and share ideas. We're just simply killing the forum slowly if our goal is not to help each other but to only find out who's the best among us. I have been a member of 8 different forums and I have seen some of them crumble due to a select few whose only interest is to elevate their Egos and go careless about their words and actions when dealing with the public.
3. THE FORUM WILL GROW ON ITS OWN ACCORD BASED ON THE TENETS OF QUALITY CONTENT AND CAMARADERIE. All things grow naturally. Disturb the natural flow and you will create chaos. Accelerate the growth of a normal specie and you create a monster. My point is, we will eventually grow but not in the way that we need to gather members just for the sake of rapid growth in membership. WE INVITE MEMBERS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT THE EXPERIENCE WE FELT HERE AT F-STOP CAFE HAS ENOUGH MERIT TO SHARE THIS GOOD THING TO OTHERS.
Now, that you know why F-Stop came into existence and how it is evolving, I hope that we try to keep this atmosphere of common respect and good critique as our strength and foundation. Much the same way, as I have said before, try to keep good relationship with others as well. If you think that by you inviting some members from other organization would only hurt our existence then though they may be your friends, exercise good judgement and with good conscience act accordingly. I feel really sad that given the freedom to choose for ourselves, we are being hindered to act on this freedom because of human imposed ideas of what is right and what is wrong by others. I CHOSE TO JOIN THIS GROUP BECAUSE I KNOW I CAN GROW HERE MORE AS A PHOTOGRAPHER. I did not join simply because I am already friends with the people who started this group but because I came to know them as better photographers than me and I would like to learn more from them.
I hope that I got my message clear to all and even to future would be members as well. It is from the three stated belief that we have above where this forum is grounded. In good faith, we also do not wish others to take away from us the freedom to share this to others as well. I hope that you all grow as individuals and photographers here at F-Stop and become active because you want to share your talent and knowledge to those who are starting to learn photography and find their vision to come to fruition.
Many thanks to you all for joining F-Stop and participating.
but it sums it up for me) stuff that seems to exist on many forums, but I guess that's human life for you 
. I am just interested in photography.
