: Chris Campbell - Viewing Profile

Stephen ... I do appreciate your comments and your point of view ... But I have to honestly say that I would pay more attention if your profile showed who you were so I knew a real person was standing behind the opinions he held. TRUE ... You do not have to identify yourself ... But to anonymously pop in and then take pot shots at us is just about the same behaviour you are accusing us of.

News to me was that the images were stored somewhere which I now just found ... How do you toss them in the trash?

Can you imagine how incredibly boring this forum would be if no one ever showed any oomph or personality???

And yes, people do send personal messages to let others know they have been harsh ... and not always from moderators either. I have been on the receiving end myself on a post where I thought I was simply giving an honest answer, but when I read it again I could see how someone might have taken it wrong. When I speak in person you can see the smile so, I just have to use those emoticons even if I dislike the little yellow things.

There are limits to any forum, what it can and cannot do. We give good solid technical advice, how to tips, why it works, what to buy etc etc etc ... sometimes a great philosophical discussion or arts discussion. What we trip over most often is opinions. Whether it is the best kiln on the planet or the worst work we have ever seen ... opinions never come across well.
But potters have strong opinions ... put any six potters in a room and you have a least a hundred opinions ... not all of them gently presented either. There should be an emoticon for 'just my opinion' but what would it look like??? Something that conveyed "This is what I think but you don't have to take it to heart". IMHO does not work because I never believe the Humble part.

Also ... just being a geezer here with all this Internet discovery talk ... my first computer worked with cassettes ... yes, just like music used to be played. I feel like I was a participant in Richard Burkett's clayart forum in the eighties by Listserve??? Marcia was there too, weren't you??

Stephen ... I think this forum is incredibly respectful, but I could be wrong I guess.
Having been on one forum where people get royally flamed for asking any question that seems newbie-ish or challenging anyone's opinion and another where everyone was super nice but almost no one who knew what they were talking about ... I think we are pretty good. I especially like that we have the option to tell people who we are and post images of our work so we can get to feel like we know each other even if we will never meet in person.
Sure we get a full range of people from those who express themselves bluntly/honestly all the way to those with incredibly thin skin who cannot take the slightest degree of criticism but isn't that LIFE??? Isn't that your own family, school, neighborhood and workplace?? People come and go ... others have joined in after years in the bushes.

One notion that I hear and as a frequent poster do not understand is the notion that there is some kind of underground 'in group'. If there is one, I have not gotten an invitation to their meetings ... and if they are also sharing chocolate without telling me, they are in trouble!!

I really like your work ... I think it photographs very well. I also notice you live in an interesting place. A great combination for promotion!
You might do well with a combination of blog, online store ... I honestly don't know if Facebook helps with sales but it does let people know you are still there working away.
I've been told that with the Internet you have to choose one main vehicle and do it well ... it is too easy to get sucked into wasting a whole day online rather than in your studio.