On 5/16/05, Kostas Kavoussanakis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Seeing as I dump PAWs and PESOs, seldom comment and have deservedly > very low photographic self-esteem (amd thus there is nothing in it for > me), can I ask why you care? Even if one's motives are shite, surely > if they have a point, one may want to listen.
Why do I care? Well, for one thing, it's what we're talking about in this thread. For another thing, when I post a PAW, one of the reasons is usually to see what the rest of the world (or at least this list) thinks of it. People can say whatever they want, or they can say nothing. Obviously, most say nothing, or we'd end up with 200 to 300 responses per PAW <g>. When people choose to speak, it's often a one or two word "Good one!" or "I like it", or something like that. That's fine, too. But, if one is going to take the time to go beyond that and actually say something meaningful about a photo, it's more meaningful to me if it appears that they've actually put some thought into it, and express themselves in a clear and cogent manner. Part of that clear communication is me thinking that they actually care about what they're saying, and that part of what they're doing is trying to help me work through something or give me advice. You are correct insofar as a comment may be valid and correct, even if the utterer says so with malicious or malevolent intent. It can therefore still be a useful and meaningful criticism to me. However, a comment made in the spirit of cameraderie and good will, will have much more of an impact and be more meaningful to me. In addition, since I try to comment on as many PAWs and PESOs as I can, and try to do so in with honesty and integrity, and where so moved, try to offer helpful advice or criticism, I expect (or at least hope) that the same will be offered back to me by those who have the time or inclination to comment on mine. And, usually it is. I mean, I don't want to make a big huge deal of this (I know, you're all thinking, "He already has; so shut up already." <g>). It's only PAWs and PESOs, it's not really a big deal. cheers, frank -- "Sharpness is a bourgeois concept." -Henri Cartier-Bresson
