[alt-photo] Re: DESICCATE! DESICCATE! DANCE TO THE MUSIC!

[ender100 at aol.com]

Hi Diana,


I won't venture to comment on the creativity of your marital relationship, but I would like to comment about posting on the list and what is "appropriate."


When I first came on the list I enjoyed lurking and gleefully read all the posts until one day the topic of Pyro came up and there were seemingly endless posts on the topic.  Since I did not use Pyro, it wasn't all that interesting and eventually I thought I would have to shoot myself if I read another post on the topic.  Later it was gum stain tests that tested my ability to maintain concentration.  However, since that time I've totally reversed my views on this issue.


I feel at this point that there is a real need for tolerance on topics and even the quantity of posts on topics.  I am not saying that pissing matches on topics are appropriate, unless they are truly entertaining and witty.  True, every list has a few compulsive responders, but that is the nature of the human condition.  


Through the benevolence of people like Kees, Gord before him, and others, we have an alt photo list.  Beyond that, the list, in a sense, belongs to "the people"  and members should be able to post and discuss whatever they feel is relevant, as long as it is reasonably on topic.  Though, I do find that little anecdotes that people share about their personal lives, such as Chris's pink thongs, makes them more "real" and helps to fill in the blanks regarding who the list members are.


I think posts about the art, the craft, and the science of alt photo should all be welcomed—I don't see that any one category should be considered less appropriate.  The recent molarity polarity discussions have been interesting to some and not so to others, but then what difference does that make.  Is there a topic that Everyone is passionate about and wants to discuss?  I doubt it.  


Perhaps I am a bit sensitive to the issue of the "science" of alt photo being considered a silly topic in light of the Sarah Palin/Tea Party movement "ignorance of science and facts" is to be applauded—but then that is venturing off-topic.  As they always say, you have a Delete Key if you don't want to read a thread on the list.  We use our personal "delete key" all the time (without thinking about it twice) when we read the news, choose a book, watch television, and surf the web.


I think that placing topics off bounds or silly does more to hurt the list than help the list.  It inhibits people.  The list had, I believe over 500 members, of which only perhaps 10% posted regularly.  Why don't the rest of the members post?  Do they fear they will be laughed at or made fun of or branded wackos for venturing to post a thought or question that someone who posts frequently might criticize?  


I say give peace a chance...ooops, wrong topic... I say give people a chance to express themselves freely on the list as long as they do it in a respectful fashion.  If they don't, the list owner can easily bounce them off, as Gord did in the past when "unnamed" persons pushed the rhetoric beyond the limits of respectful discourse.  Clearly a small percentage of people have an adolescent need either be the center of attention and will foment arguments just to remain there, or have past grudges that cause them to return to the list for revenge and to destroy the list—but they are easily deleted too by the list owners Big Delete Key in the Sky.  ;)


OK, back to my closet.  


Best Wishes,


Mark Nelson
www.PrecisionDigitalNegatives.com
www.MarkINelsonPhoto.com
PDNPrint Forum @ Yahoo Groups


















-----Original Message-----
From: Diana Bloomfield <dhbloomfield at bellsouth.net>
To: The alternative photographic processes mailing list <alt-photo-process-list at lists.altphotolist.org>
Sent: Wed, Jul 28, 2010 11:45 am
Subject: [alt-photo] Re: DESICCATE! DESICCATE! DANCE TO THE MUSIC!


Oh, and before anybody tells me that math and chemistry are creative, too-- I've been married for 24 years to a mathematician/statistician, so yeah--  I hear you. 
Just covering all my bases here. 
 
Diana 
 
On Jul 28, 2010, at 12:31 PM, Diana Bloomfield wrote: 
 
> Haha.  Yeah, forgetting that smiley face will get you every time, > Paul. 
> 
> I've been avoiding the more recent brouhaha, though I did write a > related too-long post that I never posted.  I was out of town at the > time, and my computer wouldn't send it, which was probably for the > best.  The short version, however, was that if anybody had ever > uttered the word "molarity" or talked about "moles" (and not the > kind my cat periodically finds in our basement)  in any beginning > photography or alt processes class I'd ever taken, I probably would > have bolted for the nearest exit and assumed alt processes required > too much chemistry and math, and searched for something more creative. 
> 
> And, yeah, I think it's probably global warming.  It's hotter than > Hades down here at the beach today. :) 
> 
> Diana 
> On Jul 28, 2010, at 10:21 AM, Paul Viapiano wrote: 
> 
>> Oh, forgot the smiley face... 
>> 
>> But two sentences vs 150 or so posts...lighten up and relax. It's >> only photography. 
>> 
>> Why is everyone so touchy here...global warming? 
>> 
> 
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