Getting the most out of the forum experience

It has been my experience over the last 5 years of spending way too much time in these forums that misunderstandings and personality clashes can occur between members that can sometimes get in the way of productive discourse. This is unfortunate, but it is just the nature of human interaction.

We are an international collection of people with at least one thing in common, our connection to this place. It would be unrealistic to expect that everyone will be friends with everyone else, or even like everyone else. However, despite that I think overall we do amazingly well in the face of cultural and language barriers.

I have had the pleasure of meeting many a iStocker in person, and it is always like meeting a best friend for the first time. I've seen this unfold at every iStock event I've attended ... people just walking around with huge grins as they meet these strangers they've known for years.

Fair to say there are still human dramas that unfold at these events as well. Perhaps as a collection of creatives we also share a flair for the dramatic as well.

So, why I am I telling you all of this?

Well, one of the roles I've evolved into over the years is helping people manage and work through the communication missteps and fumbles that occur in the course of forum life. I usually find that 99% of all miscommunication problems can be sorted out once the emotional component is put aside, and a third party can act as a translator.

Person to person communication is hard enough. Being left to written word and smilies leaves a lot to be desired.

So, the reason I am starting this thread is to let you all know that if you find yourself being misunderstood, or in the middle of a muddle, please shoot me a sitemail and give me a chance to help sort it out. No job to small.

Thank for your comments and offer Rob. I think many people may not venture out of their comfort zone/"forum of choice" and not realize that there are some awesome mediators among us, you being one of those. I had no idea who you were for the longest time so it's been really nice to see your name in the vector forum more often recently.

I find the Smilies a very Helpful 'Icon' to understand what Mood the Poster is in, if they're Smiling or Winking then it's all in good fun, lots of Banter, BUT, if it's an "UNHAPPY' Smiley, then it's best to tread carefully.

It can be very difficult to distinguish between Banter, Unhappiness and Angriness sometimes, so please guys, use the Smilies =0)

Thanks for the Thread Rob, should get some interesting replies =0P

Thanks, Rob. Your efforts are appreciated. Your presence in a thread has an amazing calming effect and can immediately extinguish virtually every flame without ever appearing to take sides. I've contacted you several times to help, and other times didn't but wished I had. I think I once called on the power of your "otherworldly diplomacy skills".

Anyway, just wanted to second Diane's comments... it's nice to see you around.

I think we all Appreciate Robs Calming aura in the Forums, he has the Power to Extinguish even the Most Raging Fires =0)

What a kind post.  I love forums and while I havent had any trouble myself - I have seen many heated debates on various forums so I know where you are coming from. It is great to know that there is someone to contact if things get on the heated side

That's nice to know, it's so easy to get lost in translation and not only between different languages, i mean even reading between the lines of moods sometimes is hard to guess. I abort about 90% of my posts because of doubts

sylvanworks in the hooouuuse. Oh Yeah.


We also have GAZ to help keep everybody in check. Good thing too it's a passionate group.

What I have found to be an interesting experiment, is to go back in time and reread my own posts. It is sometimes surprising to hear the tone of your own words and think to yourself...that it not how I intended for that to 'sound'.

I to thank you Rob. ° _°

^^  When I go back and re-read my posts I am reminded what a total goob I am.  I try to be funny, you see, but I fall sadly short.  I should just stick to what I'm good at.  Now if I can only figure out what that is!

the future of human interaction will be 100% symbols


we will deevolve 


  (.) (.) ;? 666


or sum junk

I'm with you! I abort probably 50% and then I wonder about using "!!!" and  etc. because I don't really speak in !!! and winks so it always feels over the top for me -- but I think they can lighten posts.


But well said, Rob. Written communication is fraught with minefields -- I"m glad to hear know that your shingle is hung out.


Now Gaz, you end each post with your tongue sticking out -- or at least that's what I think =0P means. What are we to think of that???!!! and

I'm pretty sure Gaz is a puppy. That tongue hanging out just means he's panting and happy.

So are smiley's like saying "No offense?" Like as long as you say "No offense" before anything you're ok?
Like: "No offense, but your a retard!" The "no offense" Cancels out any negativity.


Smiley's work in the same way.
So going like this: " You're drawings suck! ;-P" That makes everything ok.

(Edited on 2007-11-15 21:00:27 by TiffanyHinnen)

Just Lighthearted Raspberries Dee-Jay, (as well as Panting Ronnie, because the 'Flames' increase the Temperature in here sometimes) =0)

Sarcasm is fine in my Book, and ive been on the receiving end of alots of Turts and Freelanceblokes Sarkiness, as long as people know it's just Banter then that's ok, but sometimes it's hard to tell in the Forums, i just find the smilies helpful in that way. =0)

its not sarcasm

That's more like it Kevin =0)

Didn't you see my ?? Hmmm, maybe it was cancelled by the !!!! and ???


S'all right Gaz, I like the raspberries! See -->


Though I have no idea what a Panting Ronnie is. Sounds like a sexual harrassment case.

I have to say that I have felt more at home in this forum than probably anywhere on the net. I feel that there is a definite maturity about everyone here, and that makes me want to engage more than in other sites where teen drama runs rampant and irrational flamers are everywhere. I haven't been here long but I'm already feeling like a part of the community. So I wanna say thanks to all the members and especially the moderators for keeping this forum nearly drama free.