Yesterday I became bothered enough about a trend in the photo community to sit down and write some thoughts about it. I know that by even getting two sentences into this article, I’ve already let the terrorists win, but like James Hetfield says: “Fight fire with fire.”
Twitter, Facebook, and the blogosphere have their own special breed of thugs and vandals. Personas that exist solely for the purpose of intimidating, ridiculing, and generally tearing down anybody who dares to step into the spotlight. I’m sure that, privately, these people fancy themselves as some sort of guerilla fighters, striking out from the underground to save the common people from an oppressive elite. They see the Jasmine Stars and Dane Sanders of the world as egomaniacal parasites that feed on the naive. These self-styled warriors of freedom and truth spend their time taking pot-shots from behind anonymous online personas, sparing no opportunity to ridicule and slander industry leaders.
Sure, at first, the pointed barbs and cynical jabs were funny, and maybe even on point. We all could use a bit of sarcasm to blow off steam now and again. Anyone that knows me well knows that I can rant and bitch about the world as well as anyone. But at a certain point it begins to represent the kind of negative worldview that makes you, literally, a loser. If all you see are problems, and all our heroes are your villains, it has a tendency to drag you down. Devoting an entire website or Twitter account to burning shit down isn’t just depressing, it’s dysfunctional. Time you spend wallowing in bitterness, anger, and self-pity is time that you’re NOT spending doing something productive.
To be more succinct – toddlers cry and hit things when they don’t like the way the world is working (trust me, I have one). Adults, by contrast, figure out how to fix it. They get up off their asses and work at making the world a better place. If all you do is bitch and moan, you’re basically a two-year-old.
Of course, no REAL people spend 100% of their time complaining, or they wouldn’t have any friends. The fact that people don’t want to hang out with adults that are emotional children is what keeps us from saying everything that pops into our heads. That filter is an important social construct. But online, with relative anonymity, that social pressure is removed. Most of us still behave like adults, but some of us let our inner toddler out, and start peeing in the pool and biting other people’s ears, knowing that there won’t be any consequences. It’s kinda cute the first time your kid throws a fit. After that, it’s grating and exhausting. For me, endless stream of cynicism is long past the point of being cute.
Furthermore, the real way to build a better world is not to concentrate all your energy on tearing it down. If you’re angry, channel that anger into something positive. If you don’t like the way the photo industry looks, take positive steps to make it better. Shine the spotlight on people who you think deserve it, instead of trying to break the damned spotlight. Tell us how things should be, instead of focusing on how they shouldn’t be. Champion things that work, instead of ridiculing the things that don’t. That’s how our leaders got to where they are. If you don’t like them, then be better at showing us how to do it. There’s no use talking about the problem unless you talk about the solution.
Yes, dialog needs to happen. When industry leaders step out of line, we DO have a responsibility to call them on it. When the emperor is naked, we should absolutely tell them so. Someone needs to be checking the kool-aid before we all drink it. But it’s a slippery slope to do so anonymously because it’s too easy to turn into a negative asshole. No one is there to give you a time-out when you take it too far. But if you have something to say, if you’re truly a champion of The Truth™, then you should be proud to own your words and thoughts. If you have to say it anonymously, then you probably know you shouldn’t be saying it. And if someone can’t be bothered to stand behind what they’re saying, I can’t imagine why anyone would give them any credibility.
So I’m officially calling out all the anonymous cynics on the interwebs, both in and out of the photo world. Stop behaving like children. If you have something important to say, then say it and stand behind it. Otherwise, STFU and GTFO. And by the way, your diaper could use a change.
Holly,
All due respect – I ignored it until it came to my front door. When other people listen to what anonymous ranters say, they get riled up and start taking action. It’s no different from the effect extremist talk radio personalities have. If no one took action based on the things they said, then no problem. But when you have people taking action based on crackpot theories, that’s where I draw the line.
Besides, at the end of the day, this article is aimed as the community that gives these people an audience. I understand full well that getting into a yelling match with people who hide behind keyboards is bound to be fruitless. But I am trying to point out the dangers of giving credibility to people who are trying to dodge the responsibility of their words. Sometimes they’re wrong. Sometimes they’re right. But let’s not follow people around who won’t bother telling us who they are.
We’re ultimately all asking for the same thing – that people are credible, responsible, and transparent with the things they say. Anon ranters chastise rockstars for not backing up their claims. All I’m asking for is the same standards applied to those that are running the witch hunt. If people on Twitter aren’t going to allow us to vet them, then they’re no better than the rockstars they take aim at.
And again, this may come off to you as a childish rant because I had my feelings hurt. It’s not the “being picked on” that stirred me into action. Rather it’s the fact that a tidal wave of unreasonably upset people ended up on my website because some asshole blew an article way out of proportion. A nice, well meaning article was painted with the same brush as the true con artists. It’s become a witch hunt, and it’s crossed the line from annoying/cute into actually dangerous. When it forces me to take time out of my day to deal with it, it’s no longer something I can ignore. It’s because REAL, otherwise reasonable people gave this anonymous person rent in their heads, and took action.
Besides which – I’m not expected to be professional… well, you might expect that, but I give myself license to be whatever I want on my personal blog. I’m just expected to be Doug. The difference is that I’ll make my choices and deal with my consequences. You guys can judge what I say as Doug, and I’ll stand up for it. And that’s the standard I think we should hold everyone to. Not everyone thinks the anon posters are childish. Some obviously view them as the voice of truth and reason. It’s those people I’m trying to address. Because when people listen to and act upon irresponsible words and thoughts, it has real consequences for those of us that don’t hide behind pseudonyms.
Some of the best advice that has come through this thread:
“Photographers listen up – you cannot be sued for libel and/or slander for stating your opinion. By definition opinion does not equal defamation, so long as it is clearly stated as an opinion. Do not let another photographer or some anonymous commenter convince you otherwise. People with integrity and honest, helpful opinions need to stop cowering in a corner and know your rights. Opinion and discourse are a GOOD thing.
However, if you state a comment as if you are stating facts, and those facts could be detrimental to someone’s business, you better be 100% sure you got your facts right, or you are crossing the line into actionable defamation and you better lawyer up.”
That is why when I post anything that could be construed as a personal attack I am careful to begin the statement with “In my opinion ….” Do that and you will be pretty much immune to legal action.
As an industry veteran I am known, hopefully, for trying to support our profession and occasionally being outspoken for what I see as the problems we all face. Some call me “negative” and if I had a dollar for every knife in my back I could stop shooting and retire.
I have always stated my thoughts by signing my name to them. I don’t like anonymous posters but I understand why they feel the need to do that.
I dunno, Rick. I don’t think “In my opinion, you beat your wife” is made any less slanderous because of the preface. The same applies to “with all due respect” and “I’m just sayin’”
In my opinion (see, I’m learning!), you can be sued for almost anything. The plaintiff may not WIN, but they can still piss you off and take you to court. Welcome to America.
The good news: how many photographers do you know who can afford to hire an attorney? ;)
And Scott Williams: what the heck are you going on about?
Apparently people still don’t get it.
Doug never said that the haters didn’t have a point. THEY DO.
I’m REALLY glad that consumer awareness has been raised. And if a bit of shock-factor from haters was required to raise consumer awareness, then I’m fine with that.
But it still sounds like a two year old having a temper tantrum, and it’s getting pretty old. The personal, vulgar attacks especially. I stopped paying attention months ago…
The point now is, we’re still at the very bottom of the ladder to a better industry. Why hasn’t anybody put much energy into a website for workshop reviews? I’d get behind that in an instant. Gary Fong tried, but it didn’t really catch on as far as I know. People were too busy spewing personal insults to think about how to actually improve the industry.
In my honest opinion, I think the low-end of the industry is already screwed. The entire ocean of consumers and aspiring pros has now been properly educated on how to do take great photos and how to do business. (I believe it was Rick Rosen who found the number of NEW aspiring professionals in 2009, it was 100,000. Not sure though.) And yes, I said “properly educated”. Contrary to what the haters say, most of the information and education in circulation is GOOD advice. Not counting a FEW lemon workshops here and there, which really is nothing new. Buyer beware. Never pay money just because someone is your hero.
People like Jasmine, Dane, Becker, etc. NEVER said you should just throw together a crappy portfolio and then focus on branding and self-promotion. The haters inferred that notion from the very beginning.
It is true however that you can NOT survive in business anymore just by making great pictures. If you don’t like that fact, get a job at Samy’s and shut up. Success and survival in this industry now requires an immaculate brand, personal connection and client experience, etc. etc. IN ADDITION to stunning photographs.
Nobody ever said “instead of” stunning photographs.
Respectfully,
=Matthew Saville=
Doug, it seems like the message you’re trying to get across here (both from the original post and more specifically in your follow-up comments) is that:
“If it’s anonymous, it doesn’t count.”
Or to word it different, the message is irrelevant if there is no direct accountability back to an author.
I’m sorry, but I think that’s just flat wrong. (Not only that, but there are also a lot of great postcard sayings that would disagree with you, but that’s beside the point… ;-) )
I do agree that much of the vitriol found online is irrelevant. That would be true regardless of the byline attached to it.
On the other hand, a truth is a truth regardless of attribution.
Your basic point — that some people feel empowered by anonymity (or even the implied “shield” of the Internet) and therefore engage in behavior they would never consider “in real life” — is spot on. It is much easier to be harsh or dismissive of an opinion you don’t agree with when you can furiously type a few lines, fire it off with a press of “enter” and then go play some Halo without the worry that someone will come punch you in the nose.
Where that notion falls apart is carrying it to next level (which you’ve done) by saying that no comments are valid if not accountable to a “real name.”
What is a “real name” anyway? I interact with many, many people online who claim to pass off their real name. I still don’t know who they are, where they live, or even if that picture in their avatar is them or something they found on Google.
I’m not saying that most of these people are lying about who they are. It’s just that when it comes to Internet personae, they are as real (or not real) to me as anyone else I only know online. It doesn’t matter how many views their web site gets a second, or how quickly their blog comments fill. Short of making a specific effort to know them, they will always be “just those online people.”
And when it comes to matters like what inspired this post, that’s as far as it needs to go.
The accountability you’re talking about is only necessary, in my opinion, for serious matters. If someone is making threats, stealing content, or otherwise engaging in behavior that requires specific, directed intervention, then it absolutely becomes necessary to know who they are (or at the very, very least, delete their comments).
You mentioned that it’s infantile to only bitch and moan. Agreed. It’s equally immature to say “you won’t tell me your name so I don’t have to listen to you, nya nya nya!”
I submit to you that a comment can be 100% valid and can contribute to a discussion without having a “real” name attached to it.
Doug, having the utmost of respect for you I have to say: You bring education and resources, you bring your talents to the table and you & Chenin are undoubtedly two shining stars in an industry which is admittedly filled with people who have taken the “image is everything” credo a little too seriously. I don’t know the nature of what brought this on but you are bigger than this, you’re cooler than this.
While this is an interesting discussion, the best part of this debate is in the comments. I think that when you begin to tear down the humor side, the “sarcastic” as you said, you cross a dangerous line as many have already touched upon. You can’t have your cake & eat it too.
Let’s highlight:
• no press is bad press, it’s the grace and courage that you have when you are attacked that shows what you are made of
and
• this right to have an anonymous opinion is just that – a right. If someone is cowardly enough to hide behind an anonymous whatever-the-hell (Twitter in this case I assume) more power to them. This is still a free society last I checked and while the NY Times declared the First Amendment dead I disagree. We have free speech and it’s combined with free choice. You don’t like what someone (anonymous or otherwise) has to say…then change the channel/change the web page/change your world view.
The very thing you stated above that the anonymous trolls sound like toddlers, is the very thing that I feel your post exhibits. If what has been said is untrue then move on. If it is too close to what you see in the mirror, own it, deal with it or not and then move on. The total fact is that each of us have growing up to do no matter what our chronological age.
There’s nothing worse than someone in the limelight whiny baby crying that they’re being picked on. The very nature of being in the limelight means you get criticized as well as getting the adulation. Without darkness you can’t have light. Without criticism you cannot have adulation. If you can’t handle the heat get out of the damn kitchen.
While I never particularly understood the Jasmine Star phenomenon I respect her because I’ve never seen her retaliate, I’ve never seen her crack. She’s always flawless and she’s always kept her cool (if I’m wrong than I’ve never been witness). That’s respectable – that’s what a true rockstar exhibits. The “if they don’t get it, oh freaking well” attitude. Kudos to Jasmine for exhibiting that. While I never got the phenomenon surrounding her I have to say that on this basis alone I respect her immensely for her grace at dealing with the naysayers – she pays them no mind. BRILLIANT.
Finally the term: “seminar industrial complex” has officially taken hold in my lexicon. LOVE it. To the commenter who wrote it: SPOT ON MY BROTHER, go on with your bad self.
Marmalade, you said this:
“If someone is cowardly enough to hide behind an anonymous whatever-the-hell (Twitter in this case I assume) more power to them.”
Ok, *THIS* bugs me.
Why does someone have to be “cowardly” to not give their real name?
The fact is, however real or fabricated a persona may be (be it online, on the radio, in seminars, on television, or whatever), it will forever influence the opinions others have of that person’s comments.
In other words, the comment will not be judged on the merits of what is said, but on the merits of who says it. People who are respected can often get away with spewing really asinine stuff as long as people already generally agree with them. On the other side of that, a person that people generally dislike will almost certainly be dismissed even if they make a great point.
Sometimes, anonymity is the only way to strip away those preconceptions. (Example: when the average person donates a lot of money, they are generous and kind… when a celebrity does it, they just want the press.)
I agree that being anonymous can be abused as a means to attack, but it can also be a great equalizer.
A.Nonymous: read the whole argument. Take it in context. If it’s cowardly that’s just an opinion. Do I believe it’s cowardly…I don’t know that I even care one way or the other. That isn’t the point. The point is that I respect the stance that it is an inalienable right to post via anonymous or not means, whether it is a cowardly stance or not (which is just simply a matter of opinion). Apologies if it wasn’t clear(er).
That is more clear, Marmalade.
One final point I want to make to Doug:
This is an open system. I mean specifically this and the TRA blog that sparked this.
So far as I can tell, there is no vetting process for comments, other than after the fact. I was not required to register to post my thoughts. Nothing checked my name. So far as I know, not even my “required” e-mail address was checked for validity.
In other words, this system is engineered to allow for anonymous comments.
Sure, that privilege can (and apparently has) been abused, but then that’s the price for allowing such an open system.
Complaining about people hiding behind anonymity in a system that specifically allows it is a bit like setting the barn on fire and then complaining when it burns down. You might as well have written a “can’t we all just get along” post.
This being your blog, you certainly have the right to delete any post or comment you want. You have the right to open it up or close it down as you see fit. Although bitching about people acting in a way that your system allows them to just seems a bit silly to me.
(And yes, I know this is an issue that extends well beyond here and TRA, but it was the pricing post incident that obviously inspired your comments.)
This is what is mind-boggling to me… Are we in this industry to try to be the most popular photographer… rather than respecting everyone else, not as photographers on pedestals, but as peers? OR… are we in this industry because AT ONE TIME… with our heart and soul we LOVED doing this! We LOVED capturing moments… PASSIONATE about creating art etc etc…
When did it turn into… “We have to be the most popular or we just aren’t considered GOOD!?”
I think anonymous AND non-anonymous critiques have been both helpful and hurtful… Either way- most of the time it is IN our face and it is something we NEED to hear… a little accountability maybe?
I think anonymity has taken place due to the fact that these people don’t agree that certain people should be where they are in the industry and they want to voice their opinions regarding that… But we have to remember- those people are not the ones who said, “I am AWESOME- follow my blog!” In fact… many of them have said… “I’m not the best photographer- but I deliver a great experience… and that is why I get business!”
Of course the bashing needs to stop- but it’s not going to. We can just mind our “business” …literally… improve it, grow it… challenge ourselves… and let whoever else wants to sink their OWN ship- sink it… but they are not going to sink mine.
Well guys, it’s been a fun 24 hours, but I’m quite frankly a little drained by this whole thing at this point, and I’m going to cut off discussion. Thank you to the 100+ people who chimed in. I think there were some useful thoughts that came out of it. I’m not sure anyone can say they’re better for having been involved, but that’s a lesson in itself. I’m sure there’s more to be said, but it’ll have to happen in another venue.
So I’m declaring this horse dead, and suggesting that everyone take Chenin’s advice and move on to making beautiful pictures and enjoying the good things in life. Thanks for playing!