Hello folks, Hello Ken,
I have been following these matters discussed for some time now, and the whole thing makes me thinking, and partly I do understand this. I try to explain from my point of view, and perhaps this is same what some others think, regarding topics, which I will give numbers to.
1. Deletions and photo restrictions: The rule about 6 photos per ships was very generous, as well was it with the deletions. If the site does become bigger and bigger, and this will also take more space, I understand the decision, that not so many photos should be uploaded and of better quality. Let's be serious: Everyone is taking good and bad photos. Simply only upload your best ones here and you stay on the safe side. If you upload other, and they get deleted, that is risk. Happened to me as well and it is no problem. I regard this as the better solutation than letting everyone upload all stuff. So, no critic to any webmaster or moderator here!
2. Times changing, and such: I do not think, that "times changing". Perhaps computers and cameras change, perhaps possibilites. But we are still the same old people we used to be, and we did not change much, I hope. We just have to realize, that some things - see above - will have to be different, and that is o.k.
3. Admin team: I must admit, and I am very frank here, that Derek always had a certain way to deal with problems and matters, that was making me comfortable with, despite critic or disagreement. He is using a langauge, that is very easy to understand also for a foreigner like me. And THIS is something, what I do regard as very important! Some admins are using a language, that does not make me feel comfortable. It reminds me in school days, when Mr. old teacher told me off and let me feel like a complete idiot. It is neccessary, to speak from face to face, onees alike, and not one standing up and looking down on another. And this is something, where work can be done!
4. Attitude: I have came across the imagination, that sometimes it is not "solve the problem, despite difficulties" but like "don't rock the boat" and putting matters under the carpet. There was a certain problem, Capt. Ted raised because of the funnel category once. Nothing happened!! A good admin would think, and stand up for rights and solve the problem.
5. Friendliness: Alot can be done here. OK goes in same direction as "speaking from face to face". Sometimes this is missing, and the feeling is, that it is more unfriendly here.
6. Socializing: OK I am honest here: There were times, when admins encouraged us, to keep conversation with other members, when this website was also good for making contacts with all kinds of people from all places. It was also very common to write comments, or bring photos to ones attention. I posted less and less to shipspotting.com because you can literally upload 100 photos and no one recognizes you or writes a comment.
If everyone is just interested in uploading as many photos as possible, but forgetting about the socializing aspect, it is not really my website anymore. To be honest, just because of that, I more or less turned my back to this site and am more active on facebook. There, at least you get feedback ! Perhaps, admins should rather than stopping us wish harsh behaviour like not post comments under own photo, rather encourage us, to keep contact with other members. To sum up: WHERE is the community spirit gone ??
OK, so far my concerns in speaking frank and free. I really hope, the site will change to the one it was before, becauuse it felt very nice to be part of the community.
Greetings,
Cornelia