On Sun, 6 May 2001, Len Paris wrote:
> If you really dislike a picture, or are offended by a picture,
> let someone else comment on it. They may love it. There's no
> accounting for taste.
I realize that you're speaking sarcastically, but I think you're setting
up a strawman argument to some extent. I don't agree with the above
statement. The comments/commentators link is random, and I've never said
that commentators shouldn't discuss images they don't like. If anything,
that might prove to be the most rewarding experience for them, as they'll
have to think about why they didn't like it and why others might.
> If nobody likes the picture (a rare event) nothing will be said
> to activate the bleeding heart defenders or the Sir Galahad
> knight emulators (all hoping to win a lady's favors).
>
> If you must criticize at all, then only suggest ways to improve
> the picture. Comments like, "You should have left the lens cap
> on" or "Next time, leave your camera at home" are not considered
> to be constructive criticism.
>
> This way, we only voice our approval and all will remain
> sweetness and light.
Okay, I see the problem. You think that negative criticism cannot be
phrased in any way that is not blunt and direct. Telling someone to leave
the lens cap on or the camera at home is not only rude but definitely not
constructive, though it may be an ego-booster for the commentator. Shel
never went that far, and was still constructive in his comments, however
direct they may have been. Why do you think that you can't tell someone
that their photo didn't do anything for you (or that you disliked it)
without having to be rude and unconstructive? PUG reviews on the PDML
aren't meant to be confrontational assaults, and if you have that
mentality then write to the photographer off-list. This doesn't mean that
you only have to say nice things or sniff rose petals while writing your
comments. :) It just means that you should try to look for the good as
well as the bad (not 'instead of'), and that you should write your
comments in a manner that you feel will help the photographer to improve
without crushing their spirit. If you want to totally demolish a photo,
then it's probably best to do it off-list or at a site that specializes in
critiques. Here, I hope we'll be constructive, and yes it's possible to
be constructive and still mention all the things you don't like about a
picture at the same time.
chris
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