POLL: SCF Gallery- is bumping OK?

Jackson · 10 Nov 2008, 16:46

I've discussed this with a few fellow forum-dwelling friends, so I thought I'd put it to a poll. Over the past year a trend has become apparent within the SCF Gallery forum of authors posting in their own threads, not to reply to a question, but simply to post another image of the same model or a variation on the theme. By doing this they constantly maintain their thread's position in "the limelight" on the front page while other members' threads are rapidly pushed onto the second page as they are polite enough to let others decide whether their topic deserves to sit on the front page for months on end.

One person has posted over 500 images of similar models in the same thread, none of which are particularly informative. In other cases authors simply add an extra line of "information" or refer to an edit when they see that their thread is almost off the front page giving it another week or two of attention. More bizarrely a new member recently posted a thread which simply announced that this was where he would be posting his work in the future, a blatant example of "marking his territory" which quite rightly garnered polite, but unequivocal derision from several long-term contributing members. With a default of 25 threads per page I wonder how long it will be until the front page of the SCF Gallery is completely dominated by 25 (or less) members who continuously bump their own threads to keep them up top? If any relatively recent newcomers to SCF think that it is only the most talented SU artists whose posts hover on the front page of the SCF Gallery they are very much mistaken- this forum's member list is awash with outstandingly talented, skilled and helpful individuals some of whom only occasionally display their work here (and politely let it slip out of the limelight in due course) and some of whom never show it off, preferring to contribute help and advice rather than craving praise. I recently PMd someone to ask him to post a Gallery thread of an extremely impressive project I had seen an image of, but he politely explained that he was just too busy working to post at the moment LOL.

If an author is answering (or asking) questions, has made a breakthrough in a modelling process or discovered a workaround for a bug or problem discussed previously in the topic I'd say it was entirely OK to post in their own thread, even if it is a few weeks or months since the last post. A tiny minority of members, however, who repeatedly add to/bump their own thread rather than starting a new one seem to be displaying a rather selfish unwillingness to allow others a fair share of the publicity that the Gallery should allow.

Naturally, forum galleries are a place we all go to see and be seen, to view the best and show off our best, to hopefully receive a little praise (we all like a little praise after all), perhaps some questions or tips and more often than not, some constructive criticism LOL. Nevertheless, I can't think of any other CAD/rendering gallery in which the front page is continuously dominated by authors bumping their own threads. Rather than expecting members to post responsibly, perhaps the "latest post first" rule should not apply to the Gallery?

remus · 10 Nov 2008, 17:03

Personally i dont see it as a problem.

I dont think people do it out of selfishness, just through wanting to show their work without cluttering the gallery with new threads.

With refernce to brads car thread, ive personally found it quite interesting to see his progression, and also to get a glimpse in to how he models.

Not entirely relevant, but if you have a look at the maxwell gallery it is almost entirely dominated by a few very big threads.

Stinkie · 10 Nov 2008, 17:19

@remus said:

I dont think people do it out of selfishness, just through wanting to show their work without cluttering the gallery with new threads.

Well ... that's why I put my stuff mostly in one thread. I have actually wondered on occasion whether this is good nettiquette or not.

solo · 10 Nov 2008, 17:26

I really do not have an opinion on this one, I have never bumped a thread yet, I have added additional images and answered responses after a few had accumulated so as not to respond to each and every question in a new post. My Gallery threads have about a 14 hour lifespan then dissolve to obscurity.

tomsdesk · 10 Nov 2008, 18:00

I don't see a difference to the forum...if someone wanted to "hog the limelight" they could just as well post a new thread as "bumping" an old one: sameo-sameo.

I personally like seeing other's ideas somewhat contained...makes my searching time more productive. (And I'd much rather answer and see rendering suggestions with a new image in the same thread as the comments.)

Jackson · 10 Nov 2008, 18:04

Anyone know why the second option in my poll is displayed as bold? It looks like I did it deliberately (I didn't), but the code is identical... weird.

remus · 10 Nov 2008, 18:09

I think its based on which option you voted for.

Jackson · 10 Nov 2008, 18:18

Ah, you're right, thanks Remus.

Alan Fraser · 10 Nov 2008, 20:24

On the whole, I think things are fine as they are. Yes, it can be a tad annoying seeing some people add yet more of the same to an already overburdoned thread, but at least you know which ones you can ignore if you've already had enough of that subject. Substituting a marathon thread with a plethora of new ones is probably not going to be an improvement.

cheffey · 10 Nov 2008, 20:26

@alan fraser said:

On the whole, I think things are fine as they are. Yes, it can be a tad annoying seeing some people add yet more of the same to an already overburdoned thread, but at least you know which ones you can ignore if you've already had enough of that subject. Substituting a marathon thread with a plethora of new ones is probably not going to be an improvement.

BUMP

solo · 10 Nov 2008, 20:31

I agree with Alan, I guess I do have an opinion now.

Stu · 10 Nov 2008, 21:19

Jackson, I agree with you. We all know which absurdly long, mediocre and self indulgent thread you are refering to. I occasionally have a look at it to confirm my disbelief that its still going....like Ground Dog Day.
At the very best it's poor forum etiquette and I wish somebody would start cracking heads but I suspect that's not 'democratic'.
Its this sort of of rubbish, along with the trend to use the forum as a cross between a rambling diary and a place for 'hey look at me!!...I mightnt have any talent... and I dont really have much to contribute...but I have lots of spare time...and I dont pay for the bandwith, hehe' threads that is making the Ruby forum my most often visited and interesting page these days.

Stinkie · 10 Nov 2008, 22:04

Right. This is turning pretty sour pretty fast. As this thread seems to be born out of general concern for the overall quality of the Gallery, I suggest y'all just grab some cool stuff and put it in there.

Stinkie out.

johnsenior1973 · 10 Nov 2008, 22:27

I haven't noticed people bumping their own threads.

The way I use Sketchucation is that I have the New Posts bookmarked and I have a look through there to see if there are any topics of interest to me. I don't know whether I'm missing this bumping because of that, but I really don't know who this thread is referring to.

The guy posting that he'd soon be posting his pictures was just bizarre. Has he even posted some images yet?

johnsenior1973 · 10 Nov 2008, 22:29

@stu said:

Jackson, I agree with you. We all know which absurdly long, mediocre and self indulgent thread you are refering to.

I don't, Which is it, please?

remus · 10 Nov 2008, 22:34

Im guessing theyre referring to this thread: http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/scf/viewtopic.php?f=81&t=2650

As i said before, i enjoy watching the development thats occurred over the course of the thread. If you dont, i cant really see the problem with just not reading it. Its not that hard, really.

bellwells · 10 Nov 2008, 22:38

I haven't noticed any bumping abuse so I say it's OK. I have bumped only once and it wasn't my thread.

Stu · 10 Nov 2008, 22:42

@bellwells said:

I haven't noticed any bumping abuse so I say it's OK. I have bumped only once and it wasn't my thread.

OK Ron, once is all right

johnsenior1973 · 10 Nov 2008, 22:45

@remus said:

Im guessing theyre referring to this thread: http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/scf/viewtopic.php?f=81&t=2650

If it is that thread then TBH I'm completely against Jackson's original post. Green Toaster is doing a lot of different models, if you don't want to look at his output then you don't don't bother clicking on his thread. Much better that he is keeping all his work in one thread rather than making multiple threads and taking up more forum space.

Stinkie · 10 Nov 2008, 22:48

@johnsenior1973 said:

@remus said:

Im guessing theyre referring to this thread: http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/scf/viewtopic.php?f=81&t=2650

If it is that thread then TBH I'm completely against Jackson's original post. Green Toaster is doing a lot of different models, if you don't want to look at his output then you don't don't bother clicking on his thread. Much better that he is keeping all his work in one thread rather than making multiple threads and taking up more forum space.

Couldn't agree more.

@bellwells said:

I haven't noticed any bumping abuse so I say it's OK. I have bumped only once and it wasn't my thread.

You bad, bad man! Tsk!