Improvements through humour..

[ornate_wrasse 0]

I am new visitor to this web site and after reading this blog I have come to conclusion this web site is not for begginers. I really do not feel welcomed.

 

A friend of mine is shopping for a new camera to replace the one that flooded on her first dive of a trip.

I suggested she visit Wetpixel and stressed that it offered a Beginner Forum. Her reply to me was that she felt intimitated when she visited Wetpixel.

 

I can see by the above post that my friend is not the only uw photographer that feels that way. Although nasarev later changed her mind and will be posting her images, I'm wondering how many other aspiring uw photographers are intimidated by the very experienced posters.

 

I'm wondering what could be done to make these folks feel more welcomed. At this point, I don't have any answers.

 

Ellen

[loftus 42]

A friend of mine is shopping for a new camera to replace the one that flooded on her first dive of a trip.

I suggested she visit Wetpixel and stressed that it offered a Beginner Forum. Her reply to me was that she felt intimitated when she visited Wetpixel.

 

I can see by the above post that my friend is not the only uw photographer that feels that way. Although nasarev later changed her mind and will be posting her images, I'm wondering how many other aspiring uw photographers are intimidated by the very experienced posters.

 

I'm wondering what could be done to make these folks feel more welcomed. At this point, I don't have any answers.

 

Ellen

I think this can be tough as a site like this obviously has to cater to everybody, beginners and advanced. Then of course the light hearted banter on a thread like this is a big reason that Wetpixel provides a great sense of 'community' for those who have hung around for a while.

Possibly some type of introduction to the site could be posted that folks could read that reviews the site in general, and hints of the diverse opinions and levels of expertise. Somewhere in there we might warn them of lurking cross-dressers and party animals. Clearly a thread like this one has wandered seriously off track, which is probably a reflection of how seriously the concept of an underwater photo license is taken by many of us.

Edited January 22, 2008 by loftus

[TheRealDrew 0]

A friend of mine is shopping for a new camera to replace the one that flooded on her first dive of a trip.

I suggested she visit Wetpixel and stressed that it offered a Beginner Forum. Her reply to me was that she felt intimitated when she visited Wetpixel.

 

I can see by the above post that my friend is not the only uw photographer that feels that way. Although nasarev later changed her mind and will be posting her images, I'm wondering how many other aspiring uw photographers are intimidated by the very experienced posters.

 

I'm wondering what could be done to make these folks feel more welcomed. At this point, I don't have any answers.

 

Ellen

 

As Loftus mentioned this thread has taken a bit of a turn, and actually seems to be an offshoot of some earlier threads that were discussing people's behavior underwater. It is just a bit of fun/silliness at this point, though coming to any board always has the potential for some intimidation. I think that is human nature either because usually the first visit may be to ask a question and sometimes people may feel silly asking a question or they

members who have been around the board for a bit who are either joking around or sometimes going off into subjects in detail that can seem intimidating.

 

FWIW there is a section for Beginners which may be the proper place to look intitially for some information and it may be a good place to start the search. A second FWIW, I would bet no one will act poorly to someone who is coming to the board asking for help and there are some very bright people here who have helped out many others.

 

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showforum=29

[bartusderidder 0]

I'm wondering what could be done to make these folks feel more welcomed.

-more pink?

-a cosy, plush cuddling lounge...?

 

 

A second FWIW, I would bet no one will act poorly to someone who is coming to the board asking for help and there are some very bright people here who have helped out many others.

Unless maybe....if you enter the room disguised as D. Schwartz

[TheRealDrew 0]

-more pink?

-a cosy, plush cuddling lounge...?

 

Unless maybe....if you enter the room disguised as D. Schwartz

 

 

I was thinking that and was going to say that, but held off

[bartusderidder 0]

I was thinking that and was going to say that, but held off

which of the 3 options or combinations of options?

 

-pink cuddling room?

-disguised as D Schwartz in Pink?

-cuddling with D Schwartz?

 

Edited January 22, 2008 by bartusderidder

[TheRealDrew 0]

which of the 3 options or combinations of options?

 

-pink cuddling room?

-disguised as D Schwartz in Pink?

-cuddling with D Schwartz?

 

 

 

LOL Got tears rolling down my eyes from that one.

[ornate_wrasse 0]

which of the 3 options or combinations of options?

 

-pink cuddling room?

-disguised as D Schwartz in Pink?

-cuddling with D Schwartz?

 

 

In my very best D. Schwartz imitation:

 

"I did see the film "The Pink Panther". I personally know the Director of the movie as well as all of the actors and actresses in it, too. In fact, I even went to high school with one of the actors in the movie. We did a skit where we were dressed in pink. The principal of the school even wrote a pink book. I read each and every single word of the book, and I'd be happy to paraphrase it for you. My girlfriend bought me a copy of it, too. All of this goes to show you that I'm darn good at taking pink underwater photographs with my Medium Pink Format camera."

 

I don't care that Eric banished me from this pink forum. I'm back!

 

Dan Schwartz

 

 

Hope y'all enjoyed that

[MikeVeitch 0]

bahahaa

 

laughing over here Ellen

 

ON a more serious note..

 

Ellen, did your friend make a mention of exactly why she felt intimidated?

 

Is it from lack of friendliness of folks on the forum? Didn't feel her photos were good enough to post on this forum?

The sense of camraderie and occasional sarcastic answer from folks?

 

Would be interesting to hear the reasons behind it so we can do something to make folks less intimidated

[pakman 0]

Some attributes

It's not a Glock, but hey....

 

 

 

LOL... I'll take the pink handcuffs... will come in handy to cuff someone to a table coral...

[MikeVeitch 0]

haha, i just turned on images on my browser... damn i look good in a kilt! i actually have one somewhere back home..

[ce4jesus 1]

Maybe Schwartz's alter ego is named ellen...that's a crack up.

 

Seriously when I first came here ignorance was truly bliss. Here's my top 10 things I didn't know before coming to Wetpixel

 

10. Eric Cheng...who is Eric Cheng.

9. Dr Mustard - is that a piece out of the new Clue Game from Milton Bradley?

8. Stephen Frink - Some dude from the keys who came up to our LDS and taught a class on digital photography.

7. My photos look like crap - My mom kept telling me how great they looked. (So she's 70 and blind in one eye...who knew?)

6. How much money I would spend trying to make those photos look better.

5. How fast a medium format thread could put me to sleep.

4. How much I fear Irish Dart players in skirts

3. How much I didn't need to see said dart player holding up a man in drag.

2. how adhering to advice given on here won me a free dive trip!

1. how quickly I was going to get addicted to the site.

Edited January 23, 2008 by ce4jesus

[ce4jesus 1]

bahahaa

 

laughing over here Ellen

 

ON a more serious note..

 

Ellen, did your friend make a mention of exactly why she felt intimidated?

 

Is it from lack of friendliness of folks on the forum? Didn't feel her photos were good enough to post on this forum?

The sense of camraderie and occasional sarcastic answer from folks?

 

Would be interesting to hear the reasons behind it so we can do something to make folks less intimidated

 

 

Like someone mentioned earlier. Can you imagine getting golf tips from Tiger Woods? I can imagine while exciting, it would a bit intimidating. Most people are afraid they'll say something stupid or waste someone's time, I've never had that problem but I can imagine others would. The way I see it these chaps put their britches on one leg at a time just like I do....well most of 'em anyways.

[TheRealDrew 0]

10. Eric Cheng...who is Eric Cheng.

9. Dr Mustard - is that a piece out of the new Clue Game from Milton Bradley?

8. Stephen Frink - Some dude from the keys who came up to our LDS and taught a class on digital photography.

7. My photos look like crap - My mom kept telling me how great they looked. (So she's 70 and blind in one eye...who knew?)

6. How much money I would spend trying to make those photos look better.

5. How fast a medium format thread could put me to sleep.

4. How much I fear Irish Dart players in skirts

3. How much I didn't need to see said dart player holding up a man in drag.

2. how adhering to advice given on here won me a free dive trip!

1. how quickly I was going to get addicted to the site.

 

Great list, I like 7, 5, 4 & 3 the best I think. I had a flashback from you mentioning 5.

 

By the way to overcome your fear in 4 - . But please remember not to step in front of the darts at that point.

[MikeVeitch 0]

Scottish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ornate_wrasse 0]

Ellen, did your friend make a mention of exactly why she felt intimidated?

 

Is it from lack of friendliness of folks on the forum? Didn't feel her photos were good enough to post on this forum?

The sense of camraderie and occasional sarcastic answer from folks?

 

Would be interesting to hear the reasons behind it so we can do something to make folks less intimidated

 

Mike,

 

I'm really glad you've asked those questions. Her answers will perhaps give some insight as to why some folks are intimidated when first coming to Wetpixel. At the very least, hearing what she has to say should prove helpful. I will email her and see what she has to say, how's that?

 

She will be coming on the trip this fall to Bali, Wakatobi and Lembeh, so if you'll be in Bali at the same time, you'll have a chance to meet her and can discuss the reasons why she was intimidated in person with her.

 

As for myself, I felt very intimidated when I first came here, which wasn't too terribly long ago. Everyone was talking about concepts, gear and destinations that were so far removed from my comfort zone that I felt I'd be laughed at with my questions.

 

I will get back here as soon as I hear from my friend and will post what she has to say.

 

Ellen

[pakman 0]

By the way to overcome your fear in 4 - . But please remember not to step in front of the darts at that point.

 

 

 

But be careful of how many pints you drink... Else you might find your vision and judgement impaired and taking that kilt-wearing dart player home...

[TheRealDrew 0]

But be careful of how many pints you drink... Else you might find your vision and judgement impaired and taking that kilt-wearing dart player home...

 

 

Well if I am that impaired hopefully I step out in front of the dart myself beforehand, though of course if worse comes to worse the kilt looks kind of .. well sexy in a dart playing I drank too much sort of way

 

Hmmm, now that I think about it, Bartender, please pass me a Coca-Cola I gave up drinking per the suggestion of pakman. Yeah, it is a long and sad story, but to make it short we were discussing whether licesning is needed to take photos underwater then somehow ... ahhh nevermind. Just pass me the d#$n Coca-Cola, willya'?.

[ce4jesus 1]

"Well if I am that impaired hopefully I step out in front of the dart myself beforehand, though of course if worse comes to worse the kilt looks kind of .. well sexy in a dart playing I drank too much sort of way"

 

Remind me never to drink around you blokes.

 

Mike,

 

I'm really glad you've asked those questions. Her answers will perhaps give some insight as to why some folks are intimidated when first coming to Wetpixel. At the very least, hearing what she has to say should prove helpful. I will email her and see what she has to say, how's that?

 

She will be coming on the trip this fall to Bali, Wakatobi and Lembeh, so if you'll be in Bali at the same time, you'll have a chance to meet her and can discuss the reasons why she was intimidated in person with her.

 

As for myself, I felt very intimidated when I first came here, which wasn't too terribly long ago. Everyone was talking about concepts, gear and destinations that were so far removed from my comfort zone that I felt I'd be laughed at with my questions.

 

I will get back here as soon as I hear from my friend and will post what she has to say.

 

Ellen

 

You know, I think we've inadvertantly stumbled on a great thread in the making whilst not so politely hijacking this one. Maybe someone should start a thread "How did you feel the first time you came to Wetpixel"

 

 

Scottish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Now now...you know all you skirt wearin' dudes look the same to us uncultured mericans

[Scuba_SI 39]

Most people are afraid they'll say something stupid or waste someone's time,

 

I agree on this one, sometimes it must be really annoying to ask a new question as a newbie then be semi-flamed and referred to a thread from 2003. I think linking an old thread is fine, but the discussion on a new members thread should not halt there. I was talking to the skirt wearing Canadian/Scottish darts player on about this over a beer (wearing my own clothes that time) a few weeks ago. I reckon wetpixel needs some new mods who are not experienced photographers, people who shoot little olympus etc and are still enthusiastic about learning photography rather than just doing it.

 

Back onto the off topic:

 

Didi someone mention SCUBA police? How super!

 

[MikeVeitch 0]

should that one be in the Photoshop area?

 

Ok, i will see if i can take some of these posts and split it into a new thread... can't say alll the linked photos will make it though..

 

 

My connection is slow and i am not very good at splitting threads so started a new one or two instead.. haha

 

Serious discussion of how to improve WP and how you felt about WP when you decided to join

 

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=22626

[John Bantin 101]

I cannot believe anyone would say anything stupid on WP!

[Guest segal3]

Scuba SI has made a good point. Sometimes we like to poke fun at each other with nothing but respectful intentions. When I made my 1,000 th post I posted a comment to the community that I hope my posts have been helpful and informative. I got someone who will remain nameless but his name is Matt Segal post a few of my most sarcastic remarks and saying something like, "yea, these have been really helpful." He couldn't resist and although some may have thought he was being an A-hole, he was merely having some fun with me and I thought his response was hilarious as well.

Really subtle, Joe . Joe's 1,000th post was sadly overlooked by many .

[Cerianthus 55]

I once congratulated a member with his 666th post with a little devil remark. Can't remember who exactly. Since he didnt post any reaction, I suppose he wasnt amused. Maybe my signature would need this disclaimer:

 

DISCLAIMER

 

This message represents the official view of the little voices in my head.

[loftus 42]

She will be coming on the trip this fall to Bali, Wakatobi and Lembeh, so if you'll be in Bali at the same time, you'll have a chance to meet her and can discuss the reasons why she was intimidated in person with her.

 

Ellen

Are you sure you want to put her through this?