The name game

[Ron Lindeboom]

[seamus] “I think you can still be a positive contribution to a forum without being identified. I’m still not convinced otherwise…”

We have never said anything to the contrary. But that is not the issue. The issue is that some people use anonymity as an excuse to do things that they would be far less likely to do if their own name is attached to the statement.

As this site has grown, the problem has exacerbated due to hundreds of thousands of people taking part in the site — with well over a hundred thousand actively posting in the course of a year. Lately, we have seen more and more discourtesy across the forums and we have been trying to close the door on it. But when people can sign up as zkm557 and then, when they are shown the door, they come right back and sign up as zkm558 — it is tough to maintain a sense of community here. So the decision was made to require real names.

Many sites have done this across the net and it is not a great solution but in our research, it seems to work and does indeed filter off much of the traffic from those who want to be trolls and such.

We have no doubt that people can and do contribute using names such as yours, Seamus. Again, I wish that were the point, but it simply isn’t. The point is do we either preserve the sense of community that the COW has had for years, or do we watch it dissipate until one day the site becomes something that none of us wants to take part in?

We do not believe this is a perfect solution. But it is the best solution that we have under the circumstances.

We are not trying to make this an onerous thing for people but the COW’s incredible sense of community must be preserved and so we are taking this step. We hope that you and others will take it with us. If you decide otherwise, we understand that and wish you well, please know that we have appreciated your participation in the meantime.

Thank you,

Best regards,

Ron Lindeboom
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronlindeboom
Publisher, Creative COW Magazine
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[Tim Wilson]

But this is now like a huge world city. It is so universal throughout the video community worldwide that the person next to you in the other edit/graphic work station is quite possibly logging on to the same discussion.

Which is exactly why the heavy hitters I mentioned above are happy to identify themselves in the Cow. Everybody needs help. Nobody’s above that.

For the most part thats fine. Just not all the time. Particularly as once something is on the net, it never leaves.

Again, this is where I’m not getting it. If you ask for help and say thank you when you receive it, what’s the problem?

To me this continues to assume that somebody is looking for you and folks who don’t want to post are afraid of either a) being perceived as somebody who’s still learning in a rapidly evolving field; or b) will make fun of you, refuse to do business with you or something along those lines.

Any possibilities I’m missing, besides “well I just don’t want to?” I’m not making fun of that position, btw. I’m just trying to summarize.

<1>I feel this could be the case particularly with people just starting out and learning the ropes and having your name up there could be intimidating and therefore would be reluctant to contribute.

This to me is the slam dunk, “Nellie bar the door” point — in favor of our position.

We’re getting scores, sometimes well into the hundreds, of new accounts every single business day.

And not one single peep from any of them. None. Our rates of registration are rising at exactly the same curve since we’ve instituted this, as have the number of overall posts.

Also, most new members post within minutes of joining, suggesting to me that the reason they join is to make that particular post.

You’re the second person to raise this concern to us, so we assume that you represent more. One hundred people each? One thousand? If you represent 10,000 people each, it’s still a minute fraction of our audience.

We can live minute fractions…especially because we don’t believe that your position stands in for 10,000 people.

Oh, and that other person to raise the objection – a member of the Cow even longer than you’ve been.

In other words, this simply isn’t an issue for newbies of any age. It’s not an issue for Emmy winners, high-ranking crew for Oscar-winning features, lifetime achievement award winners for cinematography, and tens of thousands of others.

That’s not to say that there aren’t valid reasons. Have I heard one and missed it?

Still talking, 🙂

Tim

[Hamish Boyd]

Oh well.
Obviously by the sheer volume of people falling in behind me and voicing their concern on this thread that I’m on a winner here! 😉

If its what you gotta do then its what you gotta do. I’ll remain disappointed at the changes, but will always support the cow. Its obvious your intentions are good, but there are always two sides to anything. I hope I may have given some food for thought though on these changes though.

May your pastures always be green fellow bovines. 🙂

[David Roth weiss]

[Tim Kolb] “I think Sweetpea was a Jeep…”

Don’t think so… The Jeep was an alien or some mytical beastie I think. But Sweetpea was an infant, of somewhat dubious sexuality, that was conceived, albeit immaculately, by Popeye and Olive.

David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles

POST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™

A forum host of Creative COW’s Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.

[David Roth weiss]

Seamus,

As you grow older, wiser, and perhaps more cynical, you suddenly realize that the world is not looking at you. If you want to be stared at, go find a mirror.

If you’re lucky in this lifetime you will be remembered for your contributions and for helping others, the rest all turns to dust, and no one gets out alive.

David

David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles

POST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™

A forum host of Creative COW’s Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.