> What was once a vibrant, elitist group of imaging professionals has become a > humdrum talking shop where perhaps 50 people talk and 1500 listen. Those > 1500 contribute nothing to the list so why are they on it?
Why am I on this list because I contribute nothing? I've been a lurker for about a year. I've been a full-time professional photographer for 30 years. Recently, I abandoned the comfortable world of film, colour labs and chinagraph pencils for the uncharted waters of going fully digital. Whilst it's possible to teach new tricks to old dogs, it has been a steep learning curve for me and, I suspect, for many other photographers whose professional life has hitherto revolved around film. Prodig - and those terrific people who kindly and generously share their knowledge - has helped me enormously in this transition. I'd assumed this was what happened on Prodig if you were a digital duffer - you joined and slowly absorbed information. You studied the posts, searched the archives, read the FM and googled 24/7. You practiced and refined your digital skills. And then, maybe (oh happy day!) you might eventually have a tiny nugget of something useful to offer back to the list to say thanks for all your help guys. But, until then, best to shut-up and listen. In other words, I'd imagined that lurkers like me were an honourable band of brothers and sisters, welcomed and helped by the list because we (or some of us at least) represented a long-term investment in Prodig's future. But obviously not. Steve Climpson's words paint a chillier picture. Post or piss off seems to be the message, even if you've got nothing useful to say. If this is the general feeling amongst Prodig's regular posters, please just say and I'll unsubscribe. I've stood my round all my life (at least until I've fallen over) and don't intend to be a freeloader now. Jim Byrne http://www.qaphotos.co.uk =============================================================== GO TO http://www.prodig.org for ~ GUIDELINES ~ un/SUBSCRIBING ~ ITEMS for SALE
