italiano

vorrei sapere da un moderatore, perchè le foto con le macchie inferiori a un terzo della intera immagine , non sono state rimosse.
Grazie Donatella

translate english

I would like to hear from a moderator, because the photos with spots of less than one third of the entire image, were not removed.
thanks Donatella

lincemiope wrote:italiano

vorrei sapere da un moderatore, perchè le foto con le macchie inferiori a un terzo della intera immagine , non sono state rimosse.
Grazie Donatella

translate english

I would like to hear from a moderator, because the photos with spots of less than one third of the entire image, were not removed.
thanks Donatella

Alright, I have already answered you VIA PM...

I cannot talk for the Mod of that contest, but I am willing to say that as per routine, we NEVER say on record who modded what contest to prevent personal attacks, it has happened in the past and we would like to prevent that in the future.

If the Mod of that specific contest decides to PM you to answer your question than so be it, but do NOT come in open forum and demand answers, it may not happen, sorry to be blunt, but sometimes we need to protect our anonymity as well as that of the members. The mods do not come into open forum and accuse members of cheating, bad edits and bad decisions...it's a courtesy thing...we expect the same courtesy in return. Sometimes it's a judgement call on the Mod what to allow and what not to, although we do our best, sometimes our decisions do not meet with the approval of a member or two, but our goal is to interpret the goal and spirit of the contest and to remove/ allow images based on experience and judgement to the best of our abilities. We do consider all red-flags although, if you red-flag an image, it does not necessarily mean it will be automatically removed...we make hard decisions everyday with due consideration and knowing that it does suck personally to have an entry removed, it's happened to us too.

It's not that much different than a Judge in a Court of Law...they interpret the Laws (goals, site rules) and then Judge an entry based on that...some defendants (members) are happy with the decision, some are not...no system is perfect, but for now, as long as a human element is involved, it's the best we have. We do not take our "jobs" lightly and look to give the benefit of the doubt whenever possible...

If you are on the receiving end of a liberal decision, I suppose you would be very pleased...if you are on the receiving end of a warning, then I imagine you are not happy. Point is, we cannot please everyone all the time, to try and do so would be sheer madness as it is not possible.

In other posts we are accused of interpreting the contest goals too harsh or literally, now accused of interpreting too loosely??? If you have a suggestion as to find a middle ground that EVERY member would be happy and content with, I'd personally LOVE to hear it.

ti ho premesso via pm che non volevo essere polemica.

solo che le linee guida devono essere uguali per tutti.
se il moderatore è giudice,.per primo deve applicare le linee guida.
vedere che le macchie sono meno di un terzo della immagine è evidente, non si tratta di interpretazione .
avevo anche già scritto prima della chiusura del concorso, nei commenti del contest, senza alcuna risposta.
sono qui nel forum, perchè tu mi hai risposto che non sapevi la questione , ed il mod è anonimo.
non desidero una risposta privata dal moderatore, ma credo che tutti vogliano la conferma che le guide linea sono inviolabili.
grazie Donatella

translate enghish
Having said that I am away I did not want to be controversial. only that the guidelines should be the same for everyone. If the moderator is judge. must first apply the guidelines. see that the spots are less than a third of the image is clear, it is not interpretation. I had also already written before the close of the contest, the contest in the comments, with no response. I'm here in the forum, because you did not know that I have answered the question, and the mod is anonymous. I do not want a private reply by the moderator, but I think everyone wants confirmation that the line guides are inviolable. thank Donatella

I understand your concern, but in this post: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=4550&start=40 mainly this part "Well, then you moderators better make sure that each and every photo entered in that contest better have white balance set at AUTO AND NOTHING ELSE! PFT, yeah right, that won't happen. I believe the contest description is taken way too far."

We can't win at all...do you see the dilemma? We are in a NO WIN situation...we do what we can, but NO MATTER what our decision, SOMEONE is going to be unhappy...too literal/harsh...not literal/harsh enough...

Many times when we decide to issue a 'warning', the member warned goes back through ALL of the other entries and Red-Flags many, many other entries that they now believe to be off-topic, causing us serious amount of personal time and energy to "Re-Mod"...it's just a lot of sour grapes...just take the warning and the advantage to re-shoot something that fits the guidelines...

If we allow certain entries that may be 'border-line' other members red-flag them or the suggester of the contest red-flags them saying, "This is not what I had in mind when I suggested this." (often with very, very vague contest description to begin with, leaving MUCH room for interpretation!)

Like I said before, we do our best to make it fair, to judge accordingly and to apply the contest goals fairly to everyone that enters that contest...we again...DO NOT KNOW the author of the entry BEFORE making the decision to remove/warn the entry no more than you do, we do not have that power...so we judge each contest as fairly as we can.

I guess the members need to get in agreement then, do they want us Mods to take the guidelines and adhere to the STRICT letter of the goal, allow for 'creativity', or what?!? You guys tell us, we have gone from 'removing' off-topic entries in the past (with the consequence of the members "LOSING" an entry) to giving "warnings" wherein the members can re-do the entry without losing one and still have 3 entries...and STILL people complain...if someone has a better solution, I would say again..."I'd LOVE to hear it".

If the members and people who suggest the contests want the strictest interpretation of the goals upheld, then, fine...I'm certain we can comply, but then...we should certainty not see any more forum posts about taking 'creative license' entries out of the contests...but, we all know, that will never happen. "You can please some of the people some of the time, but, you cannot please all of the people all of the time"

I understand you did not want to be controversial, and I appreciate that, but you must also appreciate our (the Mods) position...I wish I could give you a firm and straight answer, but, unfortunately, I can't at the present moment...we do our best to keep a level playing field and that's the best we can do at the moment. I have been Modding here for nearly 2 years now, I love my 'Job' and I love PXL...but I can personally say that Modding is one of the toughest volunteer duties I have ever done, trying to balance the art of the shot with the rules and goals of the contests.

I think I've understood well what you say, you're a really great person.
not up to you to explain the reason to act than others. with this I thank the work of the moderators, especially those who answer questions, and for me the 'Topic is closed.
thank you Donatella

It was decided by the moderation that as long as the stain was still the main focus and it was substantial enough, it would be allowed. It is always difficult to moderate when a given amount of the image is mentioned in the goal, as members complain when it is near enough.

solkee wrote:It was decided by the moderation that as long as the stain was still the main focus and it was substantial enough, it would be allowed. It is always difficult to moderate when a given amount of the image is mentioned in the goal, as members complain when it is near enough.

would have been courteous to inform everyone, changing the guidelines, or respond to my comment on the contest!
pictures with small spots were presented at the beginning of the contest.

"par conditio" should be a basic principle in every community

ciao, Donatella

Again it is based on the interpretation of the goal. The image that you make an example of (the small spots) is questionable as to whether it covers one third of the image. It can be argued both ways that it does and it doesn't. The stained area in my opinion does cover more than one third of the image, the actual stain dots don't. So the question remains as to whether members would prefer to see images removed by moderators or allowed to stay in (when they are borderline) and let the voters decide its fate. As you can see by the results, the voters decided where it should finish and the image author was able to keep their entry. Unless it is blatantly off theme or it gets many red flags, moderators prefer to leave entries in contests.

solkee wrote:Again it is based on the interpretation of the goal. The image that you make an example of (the small spots) is questionable as to whether it covers one third of the image. It can be argued both ways that it does and it doesn't. The stained area in my opinion does cover more than one third of the image, the actual stain dots don't. So the question remains as to whether members would prefer to see images removed by moderators or allowed to stay in (when they are borderline) and let the voters decide its fate. As you can see by the results, the voters decided where it should finish and the image author was able to keep their entry. Unless it is blatantly off theme or it gets many red flags, moderators prefer to leave entries in contests.

you also have reason, I understand.
prevented from doing so but you have other jobs, meet the guide line.
I state that I have not been deleted photos, I do not speak for me.
But I went in a body shop and asked to take a picture, and now I feel a bit 'stupid.

However for me the debate is over, it is useless to continue a controversy.
I just hope it does not happen again

Thanks, Donatella