This may be a slightly sticky subject around here, but here goes! Several people have asked me recently why there seem to be so many members here who cut and paste the phrase 'exceptional clarity, superb postwork' to every image they view. The phrase does vary slightly but you know what I mean. These questions was raised:

• Is the person actually even looking at the image properly?
• Do these words of encouragement lose their power when applied to every image?

I was wondering what other members think. I don't really know what I think about it. I guess some people may do it for the reason that they don't speak very good English, but still want to make a comment. I certainly don't have a problem with that.

We all occassionally post a boring photo taken with our phones or whatever. I do find it strange when I've done this and people still write 'Amazing postwork, superb capture' when it's so obvious that its a shot of a rubbish bin or whatever and has come straight out of a phone!

If you have the time, I would love to hear what other people's views are.

Regards

Andrew

It's hard to put into words sometimes but I use 'super, superb, beautiful and lovely' a 'great' deal (there goes another) and I am sure that other members have noticed.

I like to comment with encouragement but have sometimes put in a critisism when I've thought it might help. We need to retain members not drive them away.

Most of us think our images are good or we wouldn't put them up in the first place so it would be disheartening to have them knocked to pieces especially by those whose own images are not 'brilliant' (another word).

On the other hand people should not be asking for critical or non critical if they are going to get upset!

I also, rightly or wrongly, give everyone a 5 when that box is open.

I do not know much about photography nor renders but as i say-I do know what i like,

If someone post's a comment stating terrific capture if it is not then you are not helping anyone.

If i post a crap picture i want someone to be honest and say that it is crap.

No Person will get better if people make them feel good about a bum picture.

Yes be honest but try to help us ( the beginners ) by advising us on what is wrong without making out that we are total idiot's.

We are not professional's-I have been taking picture's for nearly four week's now and i enjoy it and generally i will give a five but i only do so because the picture appeal's to me as an individual.

As jayfar stated people would be disheartened if they get knocked-Of course they would-But simply by telling them how to improve on thing's at the same time would make the blow less hurtful...

He farther states that everyone think's there images are the best---Well they are not ( Mine are ).

Everybody like different thing's and see's things differently.

I hate when i cannot state on a render for example that the lighting is brilliant-I know nothing about them so how could i?

When i comment it is because i like or do not like olain and simple....

Some people once told me not so long ago that an image would be better off without a frame whilst another said that they liked it.

It did not bother me so i left the images without frames after that and decided that if people wanted a picture they could then frame it themselves...

You can't please everyone all of the time but you can listen to their comment's good or bad without taking offence-Unless of course they are constantly running you down.

Give me a bad comment any time that you want-But i will not hit back by giving you one-I will try to improve on what is said...

So comment away people good or bad.

If people cannot accept an honest opinion the they should turn the comment option off.

I can't half talk can't i ?

Cut and paste comments are very lazy, but I suppose at least they opened the image!

I'm guilty of only fielding a very narrow vocabulary: it gets narrower the older I get, but I do mean every  word  even if they are very few.

It's like saying

"What an exquisite cake you made"

without tasting it.

The internet is perfect for such behaviour, because you never have to show the expression on your face while making these compliments.

People may think that they are actually helping and encouraging others by doing so. Perhaps that is true in the first few months.

But can you imagine someone baking flat cakes with no salt or with too much sugar for years and nobody telling them?

In my logic that would be "No more cakes for me please, thank you" ;o)

Superb comments everybody, sensational participation. ;)

BRAVO BRAVO HUGS HUGS!

We are all different, and we do and see things differently too. I would say be greatful for anyone who bothers to comment at all, because many simply do not. Some have more time than others, some write very little, some write a lot. Mostly I say just a few words because my time is very limited. I'm retired but still running a publishing company, and still writing and much more. And I've just published my 60th book and only about 10 or so are photobooks. And I am operating a "free photography" studio for people who cannot afford professional photographers (I did a 300-photo shoot today for an aviation museum event). What I'm saying is that I AM busy. I cannot comment very much or I will miss pages of contributions. But I sometimes get fired up and blow out a lot, like on this.

Thanks for sharing your opinions everyone.

Andrew

Lucily i do not copy and paste but do type every comment when I am commenting on everyones pictures. I can say I am with everyones comments posted thus far on this topic. God Bless.

often comments such as this come from members who do not speak english..they learn a few phrases...

Interesting statement this -Above from pushinfaders

If i for example made a post and someone who did not speak english wished to post a comment to it i believe that they should do so in their own language,If i tick the box allowing comment's then i am stating that i will happily accept comments in any language.

If someone take's time to actually post an honest comment i would and do copy and paste their comment or translate the whole page to an online translator wherebye i would know what the comment say's within second's.

To copy and paste the same comment to every post help's no one whatsoever as many including myself are looking for honest opinion's so that we can either be proud of what we have done or find out what we are doing wrong so that we can improve upon our mistakes..

I personally make what could be regarded as stupid comment's but i comment on how i feel about a thing and not just something i believe would please the poster.and yes i do use certain words more often than i probably should.But i never lie - I just often find it hard to find the correct word's or someone has already posted the description that i believe i would have used.

At the end of the day you will notice how many comments have been made here which are none english-none

people either do not want to or do not know how to translate their own language so others can understand their comment/s,

So in that case it would be fair to say that english speaking people should not comment on post's made by none english speaking people or vice versa.

I would disagree,There in no reason for language to be a barrier on the www for anyone,

you do not need to learn to speak another language to communicate-you do what you are doing-you copy and paste into a translator or vice versa and then post.

This site can simply install Google translator - which is free to overcome language barriers wherby it would change everything to the desired language to suit the individual

I'm just sharing what I've learned over the years...right or wrong..it is what it is..I've been a member here for a decade..and was on staff for like 7 years..This has come up time and time again...I'm not defending this type of comment..I wouldn't loose sleep over it..

Sorry if i offended you my friend but i was simply making a statement as to how easy it is to make comment's-Perhap's i should have stated that many of the repeated comment's Are posted by english speaking people and not just those who cannot speak english-It is in fact an easy problem to solve-If it in actual fact a problem ?

But people are simply wanting an honest comment about their image and simply stating a repeated comment help's no-one whatsoever.

If required to post a comment in french-hebrew or spanish for example i would do so with the greatest of ease although i do not have a second language.

If people want to continue with copy and paste then they should do so-At least they are commenting which many people choose not to do.Albeit of no use whatsoever to the initial poster

The simple fact is that if people want to comment and leave a true opinion then they should act and say what they want in their own language and leave it to the poster to translate or even go to the trouble as many do to translate and post both alongside their post.

Neither i nor other's have any right to dictate what other say or how they say it.

The initial beginning of this discussion was simply to find out peoples opinion's on copy and paste and like yourself i give my opinion, but no disrespect is directed toward's yourelf or other's

Ah!!!, a very good subject which has been on my mind for a while now.

I suppose its a very fine line between encouraging people to carry on and develope their skills & what  I call "fishing" for return comments.

I agree with BIPOLARTWO, none English speaking members should post in thier own language (adds a touch of international flair).

I for one miss constructive criticism (tips ´n´tricks) that will help me develope my skills & cut ´n´paste tributes dont help me in the slightest.

Patting each other on the back is not the way forward!!!!!!!!

Sorry for the rant, but I had to get this of my chest!

Steve

Thanks Steve. Yes I have just had an interesting experience. One of the 'mods' of Rendo left a message on one of my photos saying they liked the photo etc. I thought that was lovely, until I noticed 'they' had also left the same word for word cut and paste comment on a heap of different photos in the gallery. Even though it was intentially styled to appear like it was referring to my photo, it wasn't personal at all. It also had a note saying how much I would like a particular competition that Rendo is running. And yes, everyone else got this same 'heads up'. So really it was just SPAM and meaningless.

This isn't the first time this has happened either, and that's sad because I now can't be bothered reading any future messages.

Andrew