Most All of us here KNOW how much time it takes to be able to view and comment our "friend list"'s work, and still have time to see new work and random other artist's work...blah-blah. THEN...we have to either feel RUDE and NOT thank each individual commenter on OUR work...or spend more time trying to thank each and every comment.
Many of us CANNOT, whether a handicap, slow internet speeds, work and life schedules.
I am wondering if anyone knowlegable in "techie" stuff....{ CAEDES!}.....would maybe look into and implement a FEEDBACK system, in which we can look at our comments and maybe enter a thank you for your comment message at bottom of our individual picture/gallery post, and the comment{thank you} would go automatically to the commentator/s? I always feel miserably rude that it is impossible to say an individual thank you for each comment left, and YES....every comment TRULY matters and is appreciated. Of course if a change like this costs MONEY....perhaps those who WANT such a system would be willing to help cover costs with paying a bit more on their membership fees....{ I WOULD BE SO THERE AND FIRST IN LINE!}
Examples of Reply to comments/feedback rec'd systems can be seen on ebay...and some other art sites. And no....I am not willing to leave CAEDES site just for an improved comment feedback system....so hahaha for any retorts...:) He will have to drag me kicking and screaming off his site....:) THANKS!

maybe we could just wear t-shirts that say .. my other car is a THANK YOU

Hi Reg: babydoll, honeybunch,lovey-dove:) You know I love ya.....any guy with your talent...who can also cook gourmet meals for his wife rates high with me....:)
I am a bit of a computer techie too, though cannot boast your level of skill. Speaking for myself and a few others....there is one other key issue you don't see or mention: PAIN.
I am 250+ behind in viewing/commenting....and not a chance I can say thank you to all those wonderful people who comment my work PLUS see and comment theirs. I am NOT alone in PAIN and being disabled. Hate using that old handicapped excuse...but it is omnipresent evil for some of us on site with hand problems. YES...most people do not mind or hold a grudge if we do not say thank you. But I have actually gotten a pm that out-n-out implied I am vain and rude because I have always left thank you's on bottom of each of my individual art pages.....and the writer said snidely: "you don't really think anyone visits your work twice and will ever see your thank you, DO YOU"? My reply is: nope....HOWEVER...they will see I do it eventually....and if smart, get the general idea that many of us DO say {THANKS ALL FOR YOUR COMMENTS!} on our individual pages, whether to save time, avoid pain, whatever...
Again: main point: MANY sites have pages that one can leave feedback in a more effecient and user friendly manner. We don't need Bill Gates here to do that. SOME of us are willing to PAY more to help implement such a method.....{ FIRST IN LINE HERE}.
Sadly.....though I have the utmost respect for Geri.....it seems I have started another thread that will go nowhere and get no results. It was never WHINING.....it was a SUGGESTION for something that could benefit all of us.
I now will "bow out" of this f-g thread. Thanks MadMaven

Ever since Caedes established the "friends" thing I've felt bad. Don't get me wrong AT ALL..I have several people in my friends list and wouldn't change that for anything. However, since the "friends" thing started I haven't just browsed "new images". When I first joined on Caedes, everyday I'd go thru "new images" and leave random comments, it was fun. Now with tryin' to work 8 hrs a day / 5 days a week as well as continue my photography and fractal designs, posting and leaving thanks as well as view / comment on my friends postings as well as have a home life with my wifey and two kitty kats I've failed at checking out "new images". I vote daily, and try to pop in on a random few to leave a comment, but that's about it.

I know the "thank you's" are time consuming, however I still do it. I've seen several people who used to leave "thank you's" individually now leave a "thank you" on their own actual post, that works for me. I do think it's important to leave an individual "thank you" on someone who hasn't yet achieved a "massive" karma as that'll help build it up for them. Not that karma's a big deal, but I know I was excited when I hit "massive".

Thanks for bringing this up Terri, I've been too scared to as I didn't want to upset anyone in my friends list. AGAIN, I luv ALL my friends!!

There's an easy solution Randy.. wipe your friends list and go back to the way you used to do it.. friends lists aren't compulsory... sometimes the good ole way is the best way.. for some people...

I normally don’t get involved in discussions and even told Bob I probably wouldn’t comment. Can't please all the people all of the time can we. I also got the PM from Patty about this subject and was a bit non-committal because I felt that we all do what we can/want to and like has been said by Quiet, we put the pressure on ourselves for this. I’ve also read this complete discussion and the previous one referred to by Reg.

I try very hard to thank everyone that views my photos because I was raised to say thank you -- as you all were as well, and I sincerely appreciate their taking the time to view my gallery. Putting the thank you in the description is a nice idea and I've seen some this morning that are doing it. Thanking everyone ahead of time for viewing works for me.

However, the PM for ideas on how to better present, fix or change -- to me loses some of the purpose of why we are here (me anyway). If someone PM's me on how to fix a photo, I will learn from it but no one else will have the benefit of it, unless of course I share it. When someone teaches others how to do something by PM, then we all lose out because it’s by PM and we’ll never know or see it. In my case, I sure would like to read up on it and learn as well.

The thank you issue aside, I want to learn more about the right and wrong of photography and reading other posts is a way to learn.

Enough said…I’ll go back into my corner and view the world through 'your' eyes

My 2 cents: I've been following the thread, and I will say I do appreciate thank yous on my page, especially because I do leave comments w/constructive criticism, and sometimes it's REALLY nice to have someone come back and say "yes, I see what you mean, thank you for the advice" (which has happened a quite a few times).

I should be posting more… and I will… just as soon as they toss the month of Floopuary in the calendar. For my friends who I comment on their images regularly? Most of them are photographers and fractalists who post far more often than us digital artists. Stopping by once in a while to say "Thanks for all your comments lately!" and covering a batch that way is perfectly fine by me, as is thanking me on the image… I may not get back to see it, but I know that you've done it as I see that you do it that way. (Unless of course, you've found one of my comments/wisecracks particularly necessary of being responded to individually 8•P)

Randy: I go through the new images gallery 2-3 times a day B4 I get to my friends list… I may not comment on my friends list immediately, but I do get to it, and then I've been able to go and hit the images that have really called me one way or the other 1st.

Terri: That person who sent you that pm? Is a rude person w/out class, and I would have sent back a message saying "why don't you try asking me why I do it that way 1st?" Sorry they felt offended by your method, but that is NOT your problem when they address the issue in such a manner. If it's someone you care about, you might want to try and work it out… if it's not? Mentally flip em off and MOVE ON! 8•D

Really, the correct arena for threads such as this should be on the dev site where forums exist for suggestions for implementing new functions to the site.

RIGHT........Phil......Good place to move it....
nothing there since 2004

thats just the front page - if you look in the forums they are used regularly.

Topics such as this seem to draw in larger crowds and get noticed quicker here than on the "feature bloat" on the dev site. There's lotsa stuff on the dev site with subjects 'n' suggestions that have not one response. Many members, my guess, don't check the dev site at all.

well, maybe they should use it more then, thats what its there for....

:-)

Thanks Randy! But you have to admit...he had a great "out of sight, out of mind, idea...

** shrugs **

~pats Phil on the back~

Don't get me wrong buddy, I understand the object behind the dev site and it's a great idea. I was just commenting on the utilization of it by members and the lack of response comments seem to get. Plus, this overall topic is about "time" and not having enough hours in the day to post, comment, thank you, hit the discussion boards, etc. And now we gotta go to another site to see what's going on there too?

If each person could just set aside 10 minutes a day, then at the end of the year you'd have a couple days just to yourself. You know...to catch-up.

What we need to do is pass a world law that gives us 28 hours a day instead of 24; there...I've just solved our problem. *~D

~runs off to go call my State Representative~

I have no problems with Phil...normally....but this was not intended to be a whine thread...just a suggestion and offer to help finance this. So it is starting to chap my little cupcake a bit.....as sweeping it under the rug or failing to even consider something to improve the site is kind of ignorant.
Then it seems many just continue to misinterpret this as a lazy way to get out of thanking people...when it is not that way at all. MY primary interest is to HELP CAEDES SITE. Not make it impersonal or robo-automated at all. Just a bit time saver/pain-saver}.

Why on earth does everything seam to have to be turned into a big drama these days? I didn’t accuse anyone of whining or try to sweep an issue under the carpet – I merely pointed out that a forum already exists for members to suggest new improvements to the site. That’s it. No big conspiracy. No big cover up. No complaints. If members choose not to use that facility, that is entirely their own fault. Not mine and not Caedes either. Part of the duties of an aediles member is to help members with matters like this – if you don’t see my comment in that vein then again, that is your problem – not mine.

he has a point. :-)

The biggest hold up to any changes is *geri's schedule .. and it's not enough to have five minutes free, it has to be five minutes he wants to allocate to doing it .. when there are numerous things tugging at a young man's attention .. BEER, for example

It's very easy for us all to toss out 'ideas' all day long and then wonder why none of them come about .. my ideas, for example

I will have to back Phil up on this. The Dev Site was specifically created to test new features and to have a place where members could post ideas for needed changes. Although the Dev site might not have much activity from other members, Caedes does indeed pay attention to it... and to get changes implemented he's the guy you have to convince.

I'll see if I can find his initial request to post ideas for new features on the Dev site, so you guys can see that Phil wasn't sucking this out of his thumb nor trying to "get it out of sight, out of mind".

Here it is: Verbatim copy of the news post -
After much downtime I've restarted the dev server [dev.caedes.net]. This is the place to go if you want to see the latest cool site features, suggest a new feature, or to gripe about a bug. I know that none of the images are showing up right now. I didn't copy them over because of the diskspace needs. You're still welcome to upload any images to the site though. Thanks for the help in de-bugging the software.

Phil......I was not merely speaking of YOUR comment. I am saying...many comments lean toward thinking this was a whine/dead horse type thread.....when all I was trying to do was NOT call upon armies to comment..but SUGGEST a new system. Most people do not even know that site exists...and I DID know...and went there before deciding to launch thread here. You made a point of saying: Not mine or caedes either { fault}. Why even say that? I think that if Caedes cares, he can speak for himself...or do you just need him as a name dropper to make you feel empowered? I have tried to get along with you...but quite frankly I will spare you what many say and speak only for myself when I say you, as an aediles, many times....are more arrogant than helpful.
{ will wait for your great and powerful elephant gun}. Noah....I like you...but you are being a gnat.

Well, if all you were trying to do was "to suggest a new feature, and "NOT call upon armies to comment". Then you should have posted this on the Dev site like Phil pointed out. Attacking the character of another member because they are trying to correct you is hardly called for.

And the Aediles don't need to throw Caedes' name about to "feel empowered".

Attacking his character? not at all......making a statement { being honest}.
I can find a number of threads that also should have / could have been on the Dev site.
You can choose to feel offended but you also do not know of the incidents I may have had or witnessed, so to leap in is only a show of "brotherhood" bravo as an aediles member. Bravo....thanks. This whole thing was to HELP the site.....to SUGGEST an improvement.

'Most people do not even know that site exists' which would be why I included an active link in my post for members to see it, but I suppose that was being incredibly arrogant as well. silly me.

This has only become a p----g contest....and now it is aediles against ME....and that's fine.....again....my intention was to HELP and I did KNOW about the development site...in ghost town.....which seemed like a pretty under the rug place to me to put it.

"Show of brotherhood?" Hardly. It's just difficult to understand your reaction based on the fact that Phil pointed out the EXACT place to post your suggestion on how to help the site. That's what the Dev site is for (as can clearly be seen from Caedes' request I posted above).

Please point me in the right direction to these "incidents" you refer to. From my point of view Phil was hardly being arrogant. Also if calling another member a "gnat" isn't attacking their character I don't know what is. Last time I checked gnats weren't able to type... so that can definitely NOT be a fact!

AGAIN....you are taking offense in an area you do not even have a clue about....
NOAH....is practically adopted by me...and totally LOVED by me......and TEASING between US....is a friend thing....so YOU have it WRONG....why not ask NOAH?

Well I might have it wrong then, but it definitely doesn't look good from an outsiders perspective. I've said what I wanted to say. I truly can't see why you are making such a big deal about this...

However I would really like to see those suppossed "arrogant" moments from Phil or any other "incidents" you were talking about. If that is indeed true, it needs to be addressed.

Terri… woman you know I love you.

I take your suggestion in the manner in which it was intended. Personally I like the "openess" of this site. I think too many widgets and links and boxes etc will take some of that away.

I'm one of the people who has once or twice made a suggestion, or started a thread to see if there was any support for an idea. I frequently visit and post on the Dev site, having been directed there by Caedes when I first asked those types of questions. I've only ever asked a question here 1st to find out if there was any support for it, or if it was just me standing out there in left field w/my sunglasses on.

I do think this whole thread has gotten out of hand, and people who are trying to be helpful in whatever way are being read wrong. I don't think that Mimi was showing a beating of a dead horse when she posted the links to old threads. I think she was attempting to show the previous discussions, and let whatever continue from there. I don't think Phil was attempting to sweep anything under the rug. He was pointing towards the place where it would get the attention of the people who do the programming… and calling attention to the fact that it exists. Maybe if more people knew about it and were active over there, it would be used more.

and I have NEVER in the past 8 mths seen Crusader be anything but kind and helpful to another. I don't think it's in his nature to gang up on anyone.

Now… CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG? ty. I have a headache… and um… where's the midol?

Not a problem: I can always put my money where my mouth is....but upon this LINK....that shows my reason for being a bit sensitive where Phil is concerned...I will say that I am probably gonna just delete my gallery and be off after this. No hard feelings.
I clearly do not belong here. Thanks
arrogance
No hard feelings, Phil. You win.

P.S. The one time I truly felt Phil was out of line about something, I very publicly called him on the carpet for it and he owned up. He's a big boy… he admits when he was wrong.

Terri... that link doesn't seem to show arrogance to me. It does however border on Keifer humour and to some that might seem offensive. I'll chat with Phil and see if I can have him tone the sarcasm down a bit...

OMG: I can't believe you singled out Kiefer! He was KIND....!!!!!!!!!! That girl needed HELP.
Kiefer was one of the only ones who HELPED her!!!!!!!!!!!!

as I recall, with respect to that one post, I wrote you a PM apologising profusely for causing any offense and explaining the rationle for the flip response to an apparent troll like post.

I wasn't refering to that thread in particular, but on the "Keifer humour" that springs up in most threads where you can see a smirking baby avatar. Sarcasm is one of Keifer's greatest and best implemented gifts.

yes...and I was appreciative and have had no problems since...with this exception of feeling { and yes...I could have it wrong} that you as well as a few others felt it a dead horse issue and why did i even bother. No hard feelings...

If this website loses Terri, it loses a great many things .. not the least of which is a great benefactor to the site .. then, when you factor in what she has done for the "little" people here, the newbies .. making them feel welcome and appreciated ... she is loved by many for that as well as her wacky ways

you would do well to ask her to stay ...

you can have the evidence of that deleted at a later date

*nods*

*hand over the chocolates*
*encourages Terri to take a day*

when I was mad over an issue, she was also one of the ones who encouraged me to stay… and I'd like to return the favor 8•)

Thanks Keith: You are a sweetheart and a true friend...but no reason to have anybody at fault or feeling at fault. I probably did take it too much to heart, but I do think it's time for me to go. I can save a whole lot of time and pain and even get some housework done.
Thanks.....

*calls up Merry Maids*

I'll take 3 of your best please!

Stop Terri ! Stop ! Please don't leave the site ! I'll chip in & go with Cat & get you a maid ! Please don't go ! :hug:sssssssssssssss

*nods* we'll get them to send over hunky male ones too… wearing the equivalent of a french maid costume 8•P

(maybe we can just get owd bob and keif and larry to dress up in the french maid costumes and break out the feather dusters)

And get Terri to post the pic..... now I'd pay for those prints !

Terri honey, we all love you & don't want to lose you. Please don't.

I'm the last person to want to see any member leave the site, especially a member that's actively contributing to the site. I truly hope Terri stays and keeps contributing to the site.

you went from hunky to chunky in less than twenty words

Yeah..something like this I'll even get one of those robot vacs also!

Puh-leeeeze don't leave! *hugs*

Well for once I have no wisecrack to make ... Think Keith covered what I wanted to chime in with, (he did it very well too I might add). I sent a PM to Teri asking her to reconsider but apparently her mind is made up. Unless there is a last minute change of heart, I'm afraid Caedes has lost one of it's most active and big hearted members. I for one think she leaves a big vacancy behind. This saddens me and frankly frustrates the hell out of me.

I go with Cat, Keifer and all the others..Pleeze dont leave Terri love....you are too precious to us!.....I will gladly 'dress' up in anything you want me to...if it will make her stay?

It's certainly been interesting, to say the least, to read all these comments. I've had to be gone a lot due to a family crisis, so I've gotten very behind in commenting on the postings for people on my "friends" list. I feel ever since that list began we have all done a bit less in checking under "New Images" so lately I've tried very hard to check on that more, but in turn have done less on the friends list, and also there isn't time for all the "thank yous" either...but I know everyone understands...so I, also, don't worry about it much at all. I do what I can as I am sure others do also. I mean, there are many important things in life such as what Hurrican Katrina caused, and the things that have to be done with these painful things, but there are also personal things that have to be taken care of, and I truly believe that all people can do is their best, however small that is. I remember a small example in the Bible that talks about the "widows mite" the woman who had so little to give, but she gave all that she had...and I think if we just try that, we will all be ok, and not to expect things in return. The best way to enjoy anything in life is just to "do it"...and for others to be more patient and understand when we can't always "do it."...I think it's great this thread came about, and a lot will be accomplished by it, just like all things have in caedes. That's one thing that makes this site a bit above the rest...they talk things out..mull them over, and eventually it always works out. Thanx to all of you, that's for sure, because you each have great input. I like hearing the comments about my postings, but I dont mind if I dont received "thank yous"...but i do like to learn, so please keep the comments coming...Yah, I know it sounds a bit "cheesy" but I love all of you!! Verena

Hi everybody,

Sorry I was late getting in on this.

The other day I found myself swamped with saying thank you to all of the people who commented on my gallery. I find it hard to find the time to thank each and everyone of them and then also comment on all of the beautiful images they present.

ResDesOK also messaged me with the wonderful idea she had for a few others here as well. Then PatAndre messaged me about this post so I decided to come over and take a look.

I for one expect no thanks back for my posting a comment on one of your pieces in your gallery. If you want to thank me then please comment on one of mine to help me to develop and grow.

Also I have seen PatAndre do something I thought was a wonderful idea. I have seen her post a comment in her own photos after a few comments have been made. To me this showed me how interested she was in seeing what we had to say and by far more meaningful to me thna a thank you in my comment box .

This is not to say I do not appreciate each and every comment for I look forward to the comments and love each and every one of them.

If I forget to say thank you to someone please accept my apology. The first thing I do before saying thanks to everyone is to go and have a look at thier newest releases and post a comment on the release.

Ruby

Oh lol...I'm being a gnat. She ment that in a kind (friendish) sort of way...not the other sort of way (like i'm being a gnat =P ) How do i know?...well i dont, but I'm pretty sure that being a friend meant it the friendish sort of way. ;-) (Friendish sort of way sounds wierd.) No harm done...on my side at least. *buzzing sounds*

Terri, Please don't leave us, if you go, there will be an empty feeling all over this site, like a family loss. So put back up your aviater, smile and take a few days off.... Gregg

What!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I go to bed and this whole thread has turned into another argument....
TERRI... DON'T YOU DARE LEAVE... remember what you told me the other day when I was the one who was going??? You my girl bring this site laughter, which is a relief for quite a few miserable people...

I agree with Keifer (thats scary... lol) quote"If this website loses Terri, it loses a great many things .. not the least of which is a great benefactor to the site .. then, when you factor in what she has done for the "little" people here, the newbies .. making them feel welcome and appreciated ... she is loved by many for that as well as her wacky ways " ....
Terri does a lot of things for Caedes members that most of you dont know about, she loves the people and the site, and it will be a BIG loss if she goes... I know she has upset a few people with her suggestion, and that is understandable it happens all the time..

Terri hon.. I don't think this is a good enough reason to throw the towel in... your resignation is offically REJECTED *rips up resignation into tiny little pieces*.... Now get back to work on those images, and get these teenagers pulled in line... woman... hehehe.. DON'T LEAVE

just wondering....i tried opening all of teri's entries in my 'friends' selections ( from jobs)..and all the images have the same "not found" message....anyone else having this problem? did she pack up and leave? delete her work?...anybody...?

Don't panic people...we've been here, done that before. Everything will be just fine. Plez step back behind the yellow line...

I love you T!! Smooches!!

Rob ... she hasnt wiped all her gallery..

Aw geez...I take a day and a half away to get caught up on some work, and yes some much needed housework too, and this is what I find when I get back...Terri, if you look in here, please please reconsider...and to heck with the individual thank you's...some people never say thank you and never even found it necessary to apologize or start a thread like this...I commend you for trying to offer a helpful solution to a problem many of us have with responses...if you need to cut back on your time spent here then do so but please don't leave altogether...your humor, kind-heartedness, and art will be missed more than you realize...I will miss my 'partner' sooo much....do I have to get my cousin down in Florida to pay you a visit and deliver a wedgie...you may think you're immune but not from your partner you ain't, lol...please don't let this thank you issue drive you away...AND TO EVERYONE ELSE, I don't have Terri's email so if anyone would PM me with it (I don't think she'd mind or ask first if that's best)it would be most appreciated...in case she doesn't read my comments here I'd like to email my sentiments to her...thanks.

Teri has apparently deleted all but 4 images from her gallery ... also has removed her avatar from her profile and any personal info. I'd say she meant it ... Can't speak for anyone else, but this has been the first day since becoming a member of Caedes that hasn't been enjoyable. Not blaming anyone ... just shaking my head over losing a valuable family member.

It's sad that this has now become an argument between people. Maybe things like that should be discussed in PM's. But I think this thread is a needed one, a good one. Some may come on a big strong, but so what, we all have sides to us someone somewhere might just like, big deal. There's much more in life to worry about than getting along with everyone here or anywhere else. ( I guess I should think of my own 'adive' a bit more)...I'm sure we all have our "reasons" for how we feel...and we each have to live with our own stuff...good or bad..but I am glad this post began...and is still going, except I dont see the need to argue or for anyone to have to have a 'third party' help with their own discomforts. We are all growonups arent we?! lol...we oughtta be able to give and take a bit. There have been times since I joined caedes almost 2 yrs ago that arguments have begun..but they do come and go anytime there is a group of people who show an interest in each other, what is sad that people leave over such stuff, and methinx they maybe dont think about the newbies and that they might enjoy their words and work...at one point I got pretty shook about some stuff, and I had a couple good friends on here ask me not to leave, at that time a LOT of people were leaving to Renderocity...and my friends told me "why not stay a while and see what happens? give it a chance!..so I did, and I have never regretted staying. Maybe Terri will think on that...maybe we all should.....V

i'm bummed out myself, and i'm a newbie. terri has done some really nice things for people, and has had some very thoughtful, thought-provoking ( whether you agreed or not) and outright funny things to say...i'm on the 'dont leave/ come back' bandwagon

Unfortunately, I think a large part of her problem is that Terri was trying to make a suggestion of a way to ease the "Thank You" flood, and instead of this thread being a discussion of whether it was a workable discussion, it became a thread of whether thank yous were necessary. It wasn't her intention, and I'd feel disheartened too if I felt my lovely idea had been jumped up and down, stomped on and outright ignored for other purposes.

Honestly Terri me love… I think you raised a good issue, and made a good suggestion, it just got lost in the flood of too much other info… and people reacted to the parts they picked out instead of the suggestion you wanted them too.

Now… where's our pics of Owd Bob, Keifer and Larry in the french maid costumes? and um… sorry… the liquor I was sending over w/the chocolates appears not to have left… how's about I bring it over and we can share? 8•D

Yep, me too - This site would be pretty barren without your sense of humor and comments, gifts and dedications, help and encouragement to the newbies, welcome mats, dares and crazy challenges (I'll never forget those men's room shots!), and above all, your smile! Please don't leave! (Believe me, even I have almost left the site several times but came back home) I also would be fine if you spent less time on here...but please don't leave completely - we all love ya here!

This is absolutely incredible! This thread was going places! It made a lot of sense. We all have busy lives and I think the suggestion about not feeling guilty about not having the time to write individual thank-you's to everyone for each comment made was a great one! Why is it that every time a good discussion is started here - tempers have to flare to the point that people end up quitting Caedes?? Unbelievable! Vicky

One other thing...whether Terri was right or wrong in making her suggestions here or on the dev site is quite irrelevent IMO...this should NOT have gotten so out of control the way it did...doesn't everyone make a mistake now and then and at least her intentions were good ...not so 'mesmerized' today.

OK... I'm proud to say that I read the entire thread up to this point. It is a shame that the original discussion quickly degenerated into less fruitfull matters. The issue of too much thanking is certainly worth discussing.

In the end I don't think that a global solution to the 'thank you' burden is advisable or even possible. This is mainly because the problem is entirely created by the people who have it. If everyone just stopped sending thank you notes then there would be no problem because no one would expect the notes. In fact it looks like most people already don't expect to be thanked for every comment they leave on an image.

Maybe a good rule of thumb would be to only give thank you notes for those comments which really showed an effort in providing help and value to the discussion of your images (for instance the "top 20%" of comments that you get). This would have the added benefit of encouraging the kind of thoughtful and helpful comments that we all like to get.

WOW... now I know why I'm a loner and just like to post my stuff for others to enjoy... Never have been one for getting involved in these threads. As for commenting...If someone has constructive comments to make ..do so on the image page until a better and less time consuming alternative comes along.. And please...Can't we all just get along?? If ya go Terri You'll be missed... I'll be here for ya though...Mr. Bill

i strongly agree...and i'll ask you in open forum..as owner of the site, will you or have you contacted terri and asked her to return? i'm guessing, just from this thread alone that the number of people who'd agree with me would be a laundry list...

I agree Caedes rule of thumb... most of the people that most of us thank are friends anyway.. and send emails or pm's to each other, so if you want to thank them cant that be done when your chatting? and only thank the new people who comment and give constructive criticism.. i'm sure that would cut down on time..

I think you're right Jacqueline - Caedes made a good point - we can't thank everyone! Save the thank you's for the very beneficial and helpful comments (as he said the top 20%). Most people don't have time to go back and read the thank you notes anyway! As for Terri - Rob, of course none of us want her to go - she is a very well loved member of Caedes - but she wasn't asked to leave! She knows how much everyone loves her here. The decision to stay is hers. WE ALL HOPE SHE DOES! Vicky

...Oh deer!...look at the chaos brewing. I have a better idea:

1) We all forget what happened on this thread
2) Terry comes back...if she ever left...highly doubt it...unlikely
3) We all then go to Word Game V 3.0.1 and play

Sounds like a winner to me!! Vicky

A excellent topic....so sorry to see it disintegrate as it did. Terri, I hope you sleep on it and continue to frequent this site...you bring a great deal of positive energy to Caedes.net!

I've often thought that I wished there were a better way of "chatting" with those who leave comments on images. Clearly it's become common practice to leave a thank you on the commenter's User Page letting them know that their comments were appreciated. This leads to pages and pages and pages of thank yous that wind up in "overflow mode" taking up space, not likely to be looked at again. I do agree that I'd like to see a different way of accomplishing the same end. I've taken to thanking people on the image pages on which they leave comments but, of course, those who leave comments there rarely go back to see of their comments were responded to. So, it would be nice if a link were sent to commenters something like "subscription" notices, taking them to the image page on which an artist responded to their comments on an image. That would allow for "exchanges" between members with respect to particular images and reduce redundancy and/or superfluous pages of comments. Just one more angle on the topic. Wen

Well this thread certainly exploded. Terri/Patty I agree with you that there is too much "Thank you" traffic. I, for one am going to do so less often now thta it has been brought to my attention. Not that I did it a whole lot to start with, but it has gotten out of hand. Oh, and the person who sent such a rude PM to you is not welcome at MY New Year's party, I'll tell you that.

Caedes is right about something that has gotten lost in the flood of "Thank You's" over the past year and 1/2 : The purpose of the comment area of images is to offer critiques of images. I will always be appreciative of honest thoughtful critiques of my work, and I wish I received more suggestions about how I could improve my images.

Damn! finally got to the end of this one! As a very newbie, I was going to post a topic on the discussion forum about just this stuff. What is protocol. I am seeing folks commenting on my images( I like that) And I'm seeing that thanking folks for comments seems to be the norm.And then I'm seeing folks thanking me for thanking them for commenting on my images!Then we get into me going thru all the new images and making comments and then I have thank yous for commenting that I'm apparently supposed to thank them for!Good god folks! We are killing each other with politeness! I have only 6 images up and it is overwhelming me. Not sure I want to put anymore up, as much as I love the compliments, The "duty" to thank could become overwelming quickly.
I like this place but things shoud change.....

The protocol is personal preferance...i'm chaning mine

Yep, I guess it depends on the person. I don't care if I get thank-yous or not, but they are certainly appreciated. I've been uploading at the rate of about one image per month since the weather is far too hot to get out and take pictures, so I haven't had trouble sending thank-yous to everyone. I'm not sure if I can continue sending individual thank-yous when vacation ends in a few days and the weather cools down, but I'll try. If I really can't, then I'll probably send a thank-you note every few times or as Geri suggested, only for the best comments. But if a new person comments, then I'll most likely post a thank-you on their profile page.

I have to agree that sometimes there are too many thank-yous all over the site, and people don't really look at the old ones, including me. A separate page for thank-yous sounds like a good idea also. Or if a person not on the Friends list comments, we could visit that person's gallery and post a comment on an image or two. We could then post a thank-you every 5 or so times for people on our Friends list. I've seen quite a few members doing that already.

I know I've mentioned this before, but I do soooo hope Terri changes her mind and returns!

Nobody can go without caedes for 5 days....they will die of caedoxia.

Never rebuke while you’re still indignant about a fault committed—wait until the next day, or even longer. Then calmly, and with a purer intention, make your reprimand. You’ll gain more by a friendly word than by a three-hour quarrel. -Josemaria Escriva

Thanks for calling me an adult...see, were back into the thaking business. =)

I feel Terri will made a good decision. She has "heard it all" at this point. I think she will "rise above it" and make the right choice. A lot was said here that could have been done in PMs, but I see no reason why this had to get into a major debate, or argument. Its too bad this happens, but when there are a lot of people, they will give their opinions, that's the way life is. Some try to be funny, some will be rude, others crude...and some will be good friends and be honest. So, well, she will figure it out and decide. I wrote her a PM and I feel she should not give anyone the satisfaction of knowing they made her feel bad...there are a lot of more important things to deal with in life...its been interesting reading here..but enough is enough eh?!

If I read Terri's original entry correctly, she was not bringing up the subject of "to thank or not to thank" for debate. Rather, she was asking site administrators to consider: ..

"a FEEDBACK system, in which we can look at our comments and maybe enter a thank you for your comment message at bottom of our individual picture/gallery post, and the comment{thank you} would go automatically to the commentator/s."

The idea (if I understood it correctly) was to try to eliminate the need to go to the User Pages of individual commentators in order to let them know that their comments were read and appreciated, instead allowing artists to respond to comments directly on image pages and have those responses forwarded to commenters somehow. I don't know if such is feasible, but, again, I think Terri's actual point has gotten lost here in debate about whether thank yous are necessary. Wen

Heres how i do it. If someone asks me something or says something that i want to respond to then i will go thank them and provide an answer. Other than that you are very unlikly to get a response out of me. Not that i don't appreciate the comments, but i don't have that kind of time, like others have said. I also feel the same way when i leave a comment. I don't expect anyone to respond to it unless i asked them a question or something like that. I almost feel like i don't want to bother going to my user page when a subscription pops up because most of the time it is just a reminder that i left a comment the day before.

I started uploading images less than a month ago, and shortly thereafter, I became inundated with comments and overwhelmed time-wise by feeling a responsibility to respond to them. In addition, I hurriedly and maybe unwisely selected many of these commentators as my friends. I don't know anyone who is unreceptive to compliments. They certainly make my day: but in the interest of freeing up my time, I have added the following comment to the upload description: "Comments not necessary".
When I leave comments, I add : "No response necessary". I don't have any idea if this is going to free up any of my time, but I thought it was worth a try..........Neil

I enjoy reading all comments, whether those include "thank you's" or not. When I joined Caedes a few months back, I noticed most people were posting "thank you's" so I thought that was protocol and tried to keep up. It actually is very time consuming and though appreciated, I think we all inherently know the artists appreciate each other if you take time to leave comment.

Right now I'm on vacation until Aug. 21, so if you don't see many comments from me, that's why. Upon my regular return, I will comment on what I can and welcome all of you to comment on my images as you like.

NO EXPECTATIONS.

Actually I never felt guilty if I couldn't respond to a post, and fortunately I haven't had anyone tell me they were offended by that.

PS - Terri please come back! :) You're well loved and I need a crazy partner to collaborate with! XOXO

Actually, when I joined this site over a year ago and began posting images I did my best to reply to each and ever person's comments personally. Shortly after the friend's list was implemented it just became too time consuming, what with working 40+ hrs, a week, besides having a family, to comment on everyone's images and still thank everybody individually. That's when I made the decision to start thanking everyone in my image discussions as a way to save myself some time. I hope this doesn't bother anyone, but if it does I'm sorry. It's not that I don't care about other people's feelings, I still care deeply about my friends. Peace! Larry

It is a matter of protocol.

It seems that protocol has deemed that "thank you's" go back to the posters User Information Page. This is seen as time consuming, accurately. It also disconnects the comment to the response.

I think we just need to change the protocol.

Larry (::razorjack51)'s solution is valid. If parties comment on your posting, reply with your gratitude, answers-to-questions, comments-in-reply on your posting. For those who want to be thanked, or have answers-to-questions or are interested in comments-in-reply .. subscribe to the posting until such time as your needs are met OR you choose to unsubscribe. If you don't think it important to be thanked for your comments, don't subscribe.

Simple really.

I have expanded my signature line to read as follows
__________________________________________________

"You're invited to tour my gallery ••• Please note, I am grateful for your comments on my postings, though none are expected. I commit to respond to any questions asked by PM or in the posting itself. Please feel free to subscribe to the posting for notifications as you wish. I remain grateful, Rob. º¹º¹ºº¹¹º¹¹º¹ºººº¹¹º¹ºººº¹¹º¹ººº "
___________________________________________________

Trusting this does not offend.

Cheers.


Rob

I must agree with Phil...there is just too much drama. We have had dramas here before and they are usually a lot of 'hot air' and they don't usually accomplish a heck of a lot. But if things are looked at logically and reasoned on, with good intentions and with great idea, well, that's something we can all take part in. And there is a pretty good FAQ page here too, which helps a lot, plus we can always feel pretty darn comfy in knowing we can throw a question to our "favorite"(lol) mod here...in other words, we all have comfort zones, so there is always someone that would fit the bill. I think caedes has improved greatly in the almost two years I've been here. There are always some glitches, some complaints and complainers and some who just love attention..lol....but that's ok, it makes us all have a bit of fun and maybe something is even a bit thought provoking. I do really believe that the people who are the mods try very hard to hear issues and deal with them...I for one, like it here...not that that's such great news..but I DO appreciate everyone here, in one way or another. I wish we could all chat in a chatroom tho, I know we have one, but usually no one is there. I wonder if anyone from caedes ever goes to Yahoo chat...ah well, I'm not about to open that one up......Verena

TO PHILcUK: &Crusader:
My most sincere and humble apologies.
This thread snowballed out of control due to my inability to verbally say what I really wanted to project. WENPEDER expressed what I meant way better than I did.
It was in poor taste and out of frustration that I displaced my anger toward you, Phil. Though you and I have resolved this between us...I think it only fair to publicly announce to everyone that I was a jerk for taking it out on you....and let all know that you ARE a good guy....and have helped me on several occasions. Crusader/ you are valiant for jumping into the flames...and I am sorry it all came to that. I hate keeping threads like this going, and hopefully it can be put to rest : but I felt it important to defend Phil against my rude behavior. Terri/MadMaven

To admit that we were wrong is so much harder than to make it seem as we were right...

well ... phil still has his dodgy moments .. ;o) .. (*ducks*)

And then there's Keifer...

I have far more stodgy moments than dodgy ones but I put that down to poor diet and lack of exercise :-)

Now that we've established the differance betwenn stodgy and dodgy, we can get on with our lives...

Welcome back Terri. I have no hard feelings. Things did get a bit out of hand, but I'm glad it's all resolved now.

OK, everybody ready for the elephant gun?

aim...

bang!

It's too bad "too much" was said in the "comeback terri" thread. I appreciate you all here at caedes, and have made some very good friends.I have thought of leaving also, but I won't let anyone push me out due to their own issues. I feel it is important to be here for people who truly enjoy photography and art of all kinds, and the new ones who need help and friendships also. I'm real glad I am part of this group and due to that I will stay on. I've seen things like this happen here before and many people left due to that. But when we take PMs (which are meant to be private) into public, well, that's a bit much. Thank you all for your kindness in the many notes I've received from friends here who are very supportive each to the other. I have a long mental list of the great help I've received here....Verena

I usually put a comment on my pages thanking everyone because it's easier to do it that way then pm everyone individually. I generally only pm people if they ask something specific. I certainly don't expect to be thanked for commenting on someone's work, I just do it out of politeness.

A system that we can reply to reviews would be great. I haven't written fanfiction in a while, but I do still read it occassionally. Fanfiction.net has a system like that, so you guys may want to check it out. An author can reply to a review and the reviewer gets an e-mail saying the author has replied, and then they can view the pm. Also all the authors get e-mailed automatically whenever anyone comments. I think that would be great here. Would remind people to come back occassionally.

I think Terri had a good idea, but it oft seems that such suggestions aren't welcome, if only because of the c-index, and its shortcomings; I don't see why these kind of suggestions aren't treated as such, and Terri, I understand your frustration, if only to a lesser degree.

Anyways, I like the system now. Its so easy, a caveman could use it. (Not a Geico ad.)

Still, there are shortcomings of any system, no matter how good.