Flickr: Discussing Some new developments and rules in Art photography in BW -IsYourArtUniversal?

Flickr: Discussing Some new developments and rules in Art photography in BW -IsYourArtUniversal?

Dear members,
As remarked by many photographers whom I admire and respect, we have become one of the best if not the best group on flickr in terms of quality that we provide vs quantity.

As of recently, one of the Art jurors is abusing the rights given to them by Flickr as moderators and is removing more pictures than is necessary from the group (could be subjective ...) but is also deleting all the topics started in discussion threads. Moreover, she/he is setting the limit to posting to 1/month while by rules it should be 1/week.

Obviously someone wants this group to fail after more than 2 years of success.

1. I have decided to start demoting Art jurors in batches in reverse chronological order until I notice that the group behaviour is back to normal.

2. The condition for making it to an Art juror will be to have your picture survive in the group for more 10 days

Happy posting to all

Your first Admin, Merkur, :)
Originally posted at 9:33AM, 25 October 2009 EET ( permalink | edit | close | delete topic )
Merkur* edited this topic 31 hours ago.


knudsburg says:

Second post! First was deleted!

Must not be easy for you to decide to do this step!
As sad as these decision is as it is the right decision. The other way, and it is certainly NOT a way, is to live in fear and stick our heads into the sand.
Please let me know if I could help.

Respectful regards

Knudsburg
Posted 4 days ago. ( permalink | edit | delete )


Matthew Ahern ~ mutable causes, moda arte says:

This is a great group! Are you sure it's not an admin? Seems like someone isn't too happy. Maybe they thought the group was too bloated? We are now only 1002 strong. Anyway, I'm a big fan of the UNIVERSAL Art in B&W blog. Brilliant concept and images!! Thanks Merkur.

What happened to the 'who's active admin / moderator' post?
Originally posted 4 days ago. ( permalink | edit | delete )
Matthew Ahern ~ mutable causes, moda arte edited this topic 4 days ago.


Merkur* says:

Wonderful, someone has simply removed 2,500 members from the list.
It is more than obvious that someone is sabotaging the group.

It took more than 2 years of dedication to this hobby to bring some 3,500 people together and you wiped out that in half an hour.
THANK YOU !!!!
Happy posting to all that remain,
and please do invite all you contacts to join the group as a matter of defending values of art ...
check www.flickr.com/groups_invite.gne?id=462865@N21

respectfully
Merkur
Posted 3 days ago. ( permalink | edit | delete )


Sally 1708 says:

I posted a reply yesterday which appears to have been deleted!!!

To re-iterate : I found this group yesterday and I'm really impressed with your idea of quality not quantity and how you are running it. It is so sad that someone feels the need to sabotage what you have achieved. Flickr is supposed to be about mutual support not malicious jealousy.

Could Yahoo help you get to the bottom of this?
Posted 3 days ago. ( permalink | edit | delete )


Matthew Ahern ~ mutable causes, moda arte says:

All my posts were deleted too and any topics started. It's a real shame really. I agree with removing art jurors until this stops. Flickr should allow for inviting images by moderators without having admin-like abilities in the process!! This group is too good to fail Merkur.

I invited at least 15-20 of my contacts today.
Originally posted 3 days ago. ( permalink | edit | delete )
Matthew Ahern ~ mutable causes, moda arte edited this topic 3 days ago.


blinked says:

I'm so sorry to see this happen. What a sad personality who cannot stand to see several thousands of people from different cultures and walks of life get along peacefully, have fun at it, and produce a great collection of images in the process - as evident by the supporting blog that thankfully cannot be sabotaged. ...Obviously someone who compensates photographic quality with the viciousness of their anonymous actions.
“Hatred is the coward's revenge for being intimidated.” (Shaw)

Merkur, knudsburg, et al - i support whatever you must do to remedy this.
Posted 3 days ago. ( permalink | edit | delete )


knudsburg says:

@blinked
@Matthew
@Sally
@everybody who cares

Thank you very much for moral support!
The only thing we could do in the moment is invite as much photos as possible to keep the group running.

I am a little bit sad and disappointed about the fact that only a few from the over 30 Admins and also a few of the 400 Art Jurors care about this violation against one of the most famous B/W groups!

I have expected a few posts and maybe a little more support about the question how we should react on this but it seems that most of them dont care?

Thanks again! Lets keep this group running and alive!
Posted 2 days ago. ( permalink | edit | delete )


~ Meredith ~ (Mojo-less & grumpy) says:

I've been holding off posting because every time I've responded recently our phantom deleter has deleted it. I'd commented on how our members had dropped by about 500 only to have that comment deleted. I nearly fell over when I saw that a further 2000 had gone. If the person is still active no doubt this will disappear too.

Maybe you should take the radical step of demoting all the current jurors so that we can start afresh? I'm sure that those who really enjoy the group won't mind. I certainly wouldn't take offence & it'll be a challenge to get promoted again :-)
Posted 19 hours ago. ( permalink | edit | delete )


XLBE says:

isn't there any way flickr could help (by providing a log-file, etc.)?
Posted 19 hours ago. ( permalink | edit | delete )


pixability says:

Meredith, that is unsettling with members disappearing (being removed?). I believe you are right that all jurors should be demoted, or as I argued in a lond since deleted post/thread, a whole new group be formed with only one or two admins and a more formalized selection process for jurors. Failing that I suspect this group will continue to be plagued my such infantile acts from either an existing juror or admin that has nothing better to do.
Posted 17 hours ago. ( permalink | edit | delete )


Merkur* says:

For the time being situation looks like normal SNAFU , after I've demoted a number of jurors. It seems like I have goten the culprit - though I am not able to identify him/her,
Posted 15 hours ago. ( permalink | edit | delete )


Matthew Ahern ~ mutable causes, moda arte says:

It would be interesting to know how many active admins and jurors there are? I'm surprised by the lack of activity with so many jurors and admins in this group. When will some of us get our juror status back?
Originally posted 13 hours ago. ( permalink | edit | delete )
Matthew Ahern ~ mutable causes, moda arte edited this topic 13 hours ago.


JMC - PHOTO says:

It's the main problem of such groups, too many admins and moderators and only one idiot amongst them can destroy the group.
Posted 4 hours ago. ( permalink | edit | delete )


Matthew Ahern ~ mutable causes, moda arte says:

The master admin should be able to demote other admins. Also, when a group goes private, it should be able to be undone as well. I'm surprised Flickr limits these aspects of group administration really.
Posted 2 hours ago. ( permalink | edit | delete )


JMC - PHOTO says:

Yes, the founder should have "the final cut".
Posted 2 hours ago. ( permalink | edit | delete )


Merkur* says:

@Mathew: Me too, I am surprized by the lack of vision of the busines analysts in Yahoo/Flickr
@JMC: Isn't that just like in real life (re: idiots ...), :), and one of the points of this group is to reflect reality in all its cruelty. As I mentioned before in discussions that got deleted, this group is the anti "I think this is art" group that has flattering in the core. This is about, "excuse me, I think this is not art ... " , sorry ;), do some more homework, :)
Now some extreme artist wanted to bring this further and in action, with the idea, art does not need discussions ... , well, who am I to judge ,....
@ Mathew: Sorry for having demoted you, as soon as one of your pics is over 10 days in the pool, you will become eligible for promotion ...
Posted 2 hours ago. ( permalink | edit | delete )


Matthew Ahern ~ mutable causes, moda arte says:

That's what I thought. And I agree most wholeheartedly that it's not at all about flattery.