Uhmmm... How much longer until the Art Council is fixed? Seems like it's been out for a LONG time...

Long may it stay out. At least only good quality images are making it to the main gallery at the moment.

I am glad someone is promoting, but whenever I see a particularly good image I feel like I ought to click the button just in case.
Is there going to be an announcement when it's up again?

I don't know. That's why I'm asking. I love being able to suggest excellent pics when I see them. It's like a "Good job" to the people who are really outstanding in the field, and not just the "artsy" ones most people whouldn't care a fig for.

Sorry, I wasn't asking you, just who-ever-out-there might know. If anyone does ...

Hah hah! No problem. =-]

It may well be true that only good quality images are making it to the Main Galleries but out of approx 2800 images in the past 2 months a mere 14 promotions does not seem very many, and there have been none at all for 2 weeks.

Maybe it's a thing of the past and the button should be removed.

The AC is currently back in operation. Is there any explanation as to whether it functions exactly as it did in the past? I see that images are now nominatable, but where are they and what is happening with the ones that are nominated?

Uhmm... I dunno...

Does anybody know of anyone who has been asked to vote on whether an image should be admitted to the Main Gallery yet?

I know I have nominated a couple images to the AC, but no, thus far haven't received any notifications to vote any nominated images.

I've nominated a few, but haven't been able to vote on any...

No, I haven't been asked to vote on any nominations either. Let us know if you hear that someone has.

I kept a list of those photographs of mine that have been elevated. They haven't been elevated. What a creepy deal this whole thing is.

Jen..

It has been explained that in the initial period of the Art Council, that some nominations/promoted images were overruled by the Praetors.


Some of those images on your list (I am thinking all) ... happened to be moved from the Main Galleries (however, still viewable in your personal galleries) despite having been promoted by the Art Council.

Annnd.. despite you having received a notification (at some point in time) of them having been 'elevated'.


The topic of receiving notification (which seemed to be a point of contention, understandably) has been discussed at length in/on various discussion threads.

The process is still being refined.

How does the process stand, Les? As it was before? I have not received any request to promote an image or not after someone has nominated it and I don't know of anyone else who has.

Sorry, don't know.


Best guess?

Since it's reintroduction and part functioning (being able to nominate images, to be clear) ... *caedes may very well be attempting to tweak things some more (analyzing nominations made thus far, for example) to try to ensure that the images best represent the 'best' (unique, different, quality of imagery) that the site has to offer to the membership and visitors alike.


Yous will probably know when and what changes (if any) at the same time that those of us on the administrative side know.

Or.. perhaps, full functioning of the Art Council (nominations, voting and promotions) will be preceded by a news announcement on the front page.


Stay tuned?

I'm tuned.

Sigh... So much for democracy...

It seems to me that the original role of the Art Council was completely squashed.

"Sigh... So much for democracy..."

Democracy got yous in the U.S., eight years of Bush.

Worked well?

:oP


"It seems to me that the original role of the Art Council was completely squashed."

Care to elaborate on what you thought that role was, Jen? (Sincere question here, trying to understand your perspective.)

And were you satisfied with the process (results), after it had been introduced and was activated?

I think the AC did as reasonably well with the images compared to the ones that have been promoted in the time the AC has been down. Sometimes better.
Just like the US government, this is not a democracy.

I was very unhappy that the praetors chose to remove from the perms or not elevate those pictures which had excellent scores and were voted in by the Art Council. The Art Council was not to be a democracy pitting the council against the praetors.

Ok, thanks Jen.


Sidetracking.. just a bit here.

I guess where my confusion lies when these discussions come up, is that the team of image mods/Praetors is no different to any great degree or extent now ... or, what had been in place .. before the Art Council came into existence.


And under the 'old' system (image mods/Praetors - no Art Council) ... images were promoted to the Main Galleries (then, and once upon a time called the "Permanent Galleries") by same said individuals.


Now..

Under the 'new' system (image mods/Praetors + Art Council (when fully functioning)) ... there seems to be a number of complaints being leveled and laid at the feet of same said individuals?


Jen?

You've had images promoted/elevated in the past. And will, in all likelihood, still have images promoted in the future (image mods/Praetors with or without the Art Council ).


So, what's the exact nature of your complaint?

Where does the difference lie in your mind 'today', as opposed to 'yesterday'?

My subjective views are not welcome on this thread, so I will refrain from further comment.

I don't recall anyone ever suggesting the site was a democracy anyway.

AMEN!

Weren't specific people chosen to be members of the Art Council? Why would you choose those people, then not trust in their judgment?

People were not chosen manually, the system was automated. There was never any guarantee that it would remain in place permanently, naturally the decision would depend on the results. I do not know the reason Geri decided to make changes but personally I trust his judgement. Personally I thought the quality of some of the images chosen by the council were questionable but if he had chosen to keep it, I would have accepted that.

It would be nice to know whether anything is being done with the images we nominate.

Oookay. Cause when I got a thing that said "You've been chosen to be a member of the Art Council" I thought it meant i'd actually been chosen. hah hah! Silly me. ;-]

I understand. Just the wording of it all was a bit confusing, then to have it all changed and have the images we voted on removed was a bit sad and frustrating...

I agree with Akeraios. It would be nice to know that what we are doing is actually making a difference, and will not be UNDONE by the praetoria-whatsit as soon as our backs are turned...

So, if I understand you correctly Timothy..

Regardless of whether or not some ... some, that is ... images that are clearly not of the caliber currently found in the Main Galleries ... are promoted by the Art Council, leave them as is?

No interference, whatsoever, from the administrative side?


And you've been following all of the promotions via the Art Council all along since it's inception, correct?


Have a read for yourself what other members have said on this note:

"New Art Council"

And there are other discussion threads addressing the issue of 'quality' (subjective, I know), as well.

"It would be nice to know whether anything is being done with the images we nominate."


Answered (to an extent) in the above posts.

Have to wait for *caedes.

'We' don't know any more about what is transpiring than the membership does.

@ Samatar
"I don't recall anyone ever suggesting the site was a democracy anyway"

Damn right, it isn't!
It's a tiny third-world dictatorship. By comparison, Burkina Faso and Usbekistan are enormous.
Why anyone should actually pay to be a member of this hell-hole beggars belief.
Remember the Titanic! Get out now whilst you still have your sanity! Please!

kamvedbrat
Membership: 22/11/10 13:11 - 1/07/11 13:43

Lifeboats, full?

Ahh, got it ... you were being a gentleman and giving women and children first dibs.


With respect to your diatribe..

Seems a bit harsh, no?

... ...

Have to excuse me, I have to have a word with my travel agent. Seems I was mislead.

Suddenly, that 'quaint B & B nestled in the Kyzyl Kum' does not sound as appealing as it first did initially..

:oP

I really don't see any reason for sarcasm. Truly successful discussion can not occur if sarcasm exists. Thanks.

Hell hole? Seems a tad extreme... why would you hang around here if that is your opinion? Clearly the other people participating in this discussion do not share your opinion. I don't think anyone who had such a low opinion of the site would care how it was run.

As far as being a dictatorship goes... is that opposed to all the other websites where you are allowed to vote on how the site is organised and run?

Personally I don't know of a single website that operates this way. Every site I have ever used is run in the way that the owner chooses to operate it.

Jeenie: I agree that sarcasm is generally not productive but it seems an appropriate response to nonsense like that. Just my opinion. Anyway this discussion seems to have gone downhill somewhat and doesn't seem very productive to me any more so I won't be participating in it any longer.

Has anyone been asked to vote on nominated images?
If that had been answered before I wouldn't have asked it.
I wasn't a "voting member" before the AC went on vacation, so I wouldn't expect to be now, but it would be nice to know if anyone is. Anyone who doesn't know the answer is not being addressed.

I was when the AC was active and it was explained to me that those who had placed in recent contest were some of those members asked to be AC voters. There was another criteria for inclusion but it's been so long I don't remember what that other one was.

WoW people. Chill out! So much pent up angst and frustration floating around here. There is a new button (again) to click if you like an image. Nothing else. No other info has been given to any body at all. If it's that important to you just PM Caedes and ask him. Sheesh.

Nothing new to see here. Moving on....

Angst? What angst?

"Caedes Art Council"

In the above link, the 'how' (criteria used) behind the selection ... and then that of retention for Art Council members is set out. As it stood at that time.


(Look under "Navigation" > "Site Information" ... in the left-hand menus of any site page.)

My comment above not directed at anybody in particular. No offense intended either :)

None taken. Happy 4th.

Oh oh..

/\ This does not bode well, where my executive parking spot is concerned.