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Lonely in the Outback.


Tom Mann

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Chris - :)
Paul - from moderrator friends on enthusiast and pro photography forums, I've heard that there has been a slow but steady decline in activity over the past few years. Like you, I especially noticed it here over the week or so.

:sad:

tom
 
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I have observed the same. That's why I'm always trying to be very active.
I try to inspire members with attractive small contests, composites and manipulations.

In many cases, the interest is moderate to good.


The problem is that young people do not realize that you have to work hard to learn Photography or Photoshop.
They just want to get everything at once without commitment and personal achievement.


The most frequently asked questions in the forum are: How can I make this image effect.


Photoshop is not a filter program, and there is no magic button to achieve what is called your own look.
Most young people are happy to copy only, they do not have their own ideas.
Very sad. But can we change these problems positively, and how?
 
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Tom Mann

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I couldn't agree more with everything you said, Chris!

With respect to your statement, "...Photoshop is not a filter program, and there is no magic button to achieve what is called your own look....", I get the distinct feeling that when we tell newcomers this, many of them simply don't believe us and probably think to themselves that these old guys just don't keep up with modern software. It's very sad.

That being said, I see a very analogous phenomena among the students I teach at the University. It's beyond the comprehension of many of them that one almost always is better served by thinking about the problem a bit, or doing some preliminary estimates, or doing an old fashioned analytical solution instead of immediately rushing to a computer to let it "solve it for them". They are further hindered because when the computer puts out "the answer", they don't have a clue or the common sense to tell them whether or not the computer's "answer" is reasonable.

Arghhh. I better shut up before I start ranting too much about such issues.

- Tom
 

dv8_fx

Retired Administrator
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@Paul @chrisdesign @Tom Mann

Call the police... call Batman.... Car 54 where are you?...........

:eek:

:rofl:... it's not the first time this has happened....

WOWlol.jpg

The site has experienced connection problems and was off line several times in the past 6 months alone . It just happened you were the first who managed to get in..

Can't find all the screenshots I've saved of those moments. :cheesygrin: But it happens......
 

dv8_fx

Retired Administrator
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The problem is that young people do not realize that you have to work hard to learn Photography or Photoshop.
They just want to get everything at once without commitment and personal achievement.


The most frequently asked questions in the forum are: How can I make this image effect.


Photoshop is not a filter program, and there is no magic button to achieve what is called your own look.
Most young people are happy to copy only, they do not have their own ideas.
Very sad. But can we change these problems positively, and how?


I remember a time when PS was a specialist's application. People who came here were serious artists and career professionals eager and genuinely interested to learn more about this new technology.

Nowadays, just about anyone with access to the internet can download a pirated copy of PS or any graphic application for that matter. I don't know whether CC is available free somewhere but I won't be surprised if it was.

And thus the phenomena is born... the "instant" graphic designer. Or one who grabbed a copy just for personal home projects.

And most of the time, these are the individuals who will pop into PS discussion forums in hope to find the do it all magic button not caring there's more than meets the eye in knowing and using Photoshop. This is a phenomena that happens in almost all graphic forums I've been - PS or otherwise.

We also have those who pop in with "the good question". These may be from real graphic designers or those who really want to give time and effort to learn the workings of PS be it for fun or profit.

But because of the ease by which one can avail the program, we have to accept the reality that non-serious users will come in order to learn a thing or 2 - maybe with the intent to impress friends, jazz up their smart phone photos or create an impressive wallpaper or gaming avatar.....


Tom Mann.... we're in the era of the smart phone technology and all the image applications that go with it free or for $5.99 in the apps store. Real Photography centers around a small specialized group armed with the most sophisticated cameras money can buy or around hard-core photography aficionados.

Even specialists in Darkroom technology is a dying breed.
 
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Paul Tom dv8_fx

Thank you all for your comments.
But my question is not answered so far. I'm certain you moderators think a lot how you can guide young people in the right direction.
The future of an attractive PSG forum is in a critical stage.
 

IamSam

Administrator
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Thank you all for your comments.
But my question is not answered so far. I'm certain you moderators think a lot how you can guide young people in the right direction.
The future of an attractive PSG forum is in a critical stage.

This is always foremost in our thoughts and in discussions. We are certainly open to any suggestions from our core members such as yourself.

What if any ideas do you have that would help to change these problems you've identified and how?
 

dv8_fx

Retired Administrator
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@chrisdesign....

IMHO...... Sometimes it can't be helped that the forum goes through a slump in activity. Even at this stage, it's hard to determine the true cause for the decline in activity.

When it comes to rendering assistance, we have both moderators and regular members on-hand and willing to give excellent advice. Except for a few minor instances, the regularly present members have welcomed warmly and treated new users well. Take other forums.... a lot of times, there's no reply sometimes an incomplete, unconcise reply....

In terms of challenges and competitions, it's usually the old time regulars who take part. Even if all the mods (myself included) would join in, the activity would only center among us.

With the exception of the adobe forums, PSG fairs better compared to the activity at other PS forums. But I must say, the activity that used to take place here was unparalleled.....



But chris, you are right....... We need to get the new users involved. But the question is - is today's generation of new users serious with their involvement with Photoshop or are they just passing through? Sometimes it's also a matter of how much a person is willing to spend time, effort and money as well as have the interest just to be involved in internet PS forum activities. Nowadays, people prefer You Tube, Facebook, WhatsApp or other forms of social media.


But like IanSam said, we are open to suggestions and value the input from all long-time core members like you. Sometimes it's people like you who sees things differently that we in the mod staff don't see.......
 
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@IamSam @dv8_fx
I think in a first stage we should test the OP's interest first. Does he have PS. Does he have experience. Is he willing to learn how to do a job himself.
I know, all you moderators ask these questions everyday. And you do everything to help them. I guess sometimes you make it too easy for them.
Most of the OP's just ask away, don't even bother to google first. They "KNOW" here at PSG they get help immediately.
I did a test here:
https://www.photoshopgurus.com/forum/photoshop-newbies/53357-replicating-texture.html
No answer yet. But I have done my homework in advance.
I do my best to understand the young generation, but sometimes I'm frustrated...getting too old maybe.
 

hawkeye

Guru
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People don't buy things unless they see value in them. Unless, for instance, someone appreciates the value of a photo taken with a DSLR versus a cell phone camera, they will not spend the money to buy one or invest the time necessary to learn to use it properly. Not everyone would spend the time and money to build their own kitchen cabinets. I did, not because it was cheaper, but because of the value I saw in the end product.The same is true for Photoshop which is merely a tool, or a means to an end of which I see value.

How does one define value? Obviously there is monetary value, but there is also value in self-accomplishment. For the former my opinion regarding free work is well known, as for the latter not everyone will see it. In fact not everyone can see either, and I find this especially true with younger people who have grown up in a world focused on instant gratification and having things handed to them for free.

My only thought is to try as best we can to show people the true value in both areas.
 

Paul

Former Member
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I go days alone sometimes, so not that worried really just making an observation based on the fact that i was all alone here with bots and nothing else.
I see more in the outback while driving:rofl:
 

ugur

Active Member
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I am a new comer to forum and i'm a high school maths teacher in Turkey. What you say about the generetion is exactly the same here. "Generation Y" and the next generation are different from "Generation X" . They are bored very quickly, they have all they want in their hands etc. It is a deep subject of sociology. But there are still dedicted ones to some subjects and they are quite successfull in very early ages. It is not uncommon to see a five year old doing extreme things.
Thats all i can say with my limited english :)
 

SPWA

Power User
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Just on the subject of technology influencing on how the young think. There was a program recently on TV here in SA, and an interview with a teenager, she was asked how important is knowledge. The reply was "It's a bit obsolete these days, we have the internet if we want to know anything."

I for one was shocked.
 

hawkeye

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I am a new comer to forum and i'm a high school maths teacher in Turkey. What you say about the generetion is exactly the same here. "Generation Y" and the next generation are different from "Generation X" . They are bored very quickly, they have all they want in their hands etc. It is a deep subject of sociology. But there are still dedicted ones to some subjects and they are quite successfull in very early ages. It is not uncommon to see a five year old doing extreme things.
Thats all i can say with my limited english :)
Your English is very good. Turkey is a beautiful country, I visited there in 2006.
 

ugur

Active Member
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Thank you hawkeye, world is a beautiful place if we dont make it ugly.
 

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