Private messages from the forums...

I'm pretty active on most of the forums and groups, as you may know. DP Review, Luminous Landscapes, PhotoNet, the Adobe support forums, a couple of LinkedIn groups. For the most part, it generally resembles a fairly tame, and respectful discussion. Sometimes, it's more of a bar-room brawl.

This link was my first real post on DP Review, discussing DNG files. ...kind of lost interest after that. I posted link to a discussion about the IPA previously... and Luminous Landscape is always interesting, especially when Jeff Schewe goes off on someone (so far, not me).

I'd generally say that I get as much out of these as I put into them, and I always try to make some kind of constructive contribution. It does, however, get ugly sometimes, understandably. My sense of humor has always bit me in the butt occasionally, and I call things as I see them. Sometimes that doesn't go well. Imagine walking into Grand Central Station and walking up to a perfect stranger and making a joke about his tie. Ah well...

Anyway, as a caution to those out there joining in the fray, here's a sample of some of the private messages I've received. Fun stuff.


You just won't give up will you. It has now become personal and all bets are off.

I am like a pit bull and will come after you at any cost should you cross that line and believe me, you have only seen my nice side.

I have the ability and resources to stop you if need be, so keep this in mind. This is not a threat it is a promise.

Just remember I will be watching what you say and my Yale Law attorney who you seem to think has no clue about you and what you are up to, has no problem working you over if need be.

Remove the posting on * * * .com and confirm you will refrain from any other slanderous and untrue postings on the internet and I will drop it.

I can tell you my attorney has been sent all the information this morning. His name is * * * in New York and you can see his resume if you like at http://www.* * *

If you truly want to find peace in your life and stop this once and for all, call me or I can call you and lets see if we can come to a simple understanding.

I just came upon what I and my attorney consider slanderous comments you made on the http://www.* * * web site.

You have really stepped over the line with your rants and outrageous comments.


You gotta love it when it gets personal, too:

You are truly a troubled guy that has wasted my time and yours with this relentless banter.

Is that what you do now that you don't have a real job? (ed note: shhh... don't tell my boss, please.)

Are you so frustrated with the money you earn on the three books you published that I noticed no one on any site has reviewed? (ed note: a-HEM) Or is it the frustration that comes from your part time gig as a teacher in college? (ed note: ...it's called "Adjunct Professor")

You look a bit disheveled in your FB photo so I see that life must be dealing you a hard blow.

(awww, come on now, it's a picture of a sock monkey on FB... don't pick on the sock monkey.)




THIS one was actually my favorite- posted by someone who was a "friend", over my removing a controversial quote, his quote, from my website:

Look.. at this point, as far as I'm concerned...it's a simple proposition.. I simply asked you to provide the screenshot of the original version of your website that I need, and can no longer access.. because you have removed it.

I just figured that would be simpler.. and easier (and much less expensive) than my only other alternative; which is to subpoena both you and your publisher for a deposition. Make no mistake about it.. I will do that, if I have to.



Interestingly, and kind of like a big, disfunctional family, often through persistance and patience, and humor (from everybody involved), you emerge from a thread with a clear understanding, and respect, for "opponents" in a discussion, as here... a post on Lightstalkers about B/W conversion I saw at the outset of my research for B/W Pipeline. My biggest lesson learned from that one? Don't post when you're in a foul mood with no patience. Heh.

Probably the best advice I can give is to sit on the sidelines, read the posts, learn the audience and understand the forum culture before diving in... That, and of course, read Clay Shirky's book. At least watch his video, to understand the sociology of the internets. I think I've probably sold more of his books that my own.

Anyway, there's the ugly. There's plenty good and bad, but it's not for the timid. (...and it helps you sleep at night to have a badass lawyer for a personal friend... well, that, and a sock monkey.)