private wedding forum
 

What ever happened to the idea of having a members only wedding forum? 5 minutes after you've posted here it comes up on a google search and I'm not comfortable with that - there are things I'd like to say...

I think it would be very popular and provide a forum for the 'full timers' and still leave a public forum for everyone.

what say you?

Re: private wedding forum
 

You don't need a "private" forum but instead a forum that can't be read unless you are logged in. That is a configuration thing the admins can do.

Might be best to send Chris Hurd a PM regarding your concerns.

Re: private wedding forum
 

Hi Paul,

Not interested. I like the professionalism and civility of a public forum. Offering a private option would draw traffic away from that.

Re: private wedding forum
 

I disagree with Joel.

Does your company have meetings for the whole public to chime in?

Too many times I read some of the post on here that beat around the bush. Nobody can truly be honest.

I wish there was a bit more privacy.

Re: private wedding forum
 

I agree with Joel. When posted videos use to be in the main forum of the Wedding forum I'd always check out a few and comment. Now that the videos are put in the sub-forum gallery I rarely check them out. If there was a private forum of the wedding forum there would be less activity in the main forum. Happened on another forum I know. There is a desire to talk about more sensitive issues in the wedding market, especially frustrating clients. I'm not sure how beneficial that would be to the wedding market to talk about those things on a forum though. It maybe then again it may not. I do like the way the forum is now minus the sub-forum gallery.

Done (finally). If you're a registered member here, you can see and access the new private WE/V forum. It appears at the top of the WE/V forum index page, below the Sample Clips Gallery.

I'm good with that. The sensitive topics of the private forum should amount to less than 5% of the overall traffic in the public forum.

Why did I post with an ambiguous thread title?
 

I see that the owner has already decided what sensitive means by moving some old threads into his new section. As the originator of one I protest. I saw nothing sensitive in the original post and still don't.

More to the point, what's the value of a section devoted to the whims and idiosyncrasies of a few people who are so ashamed of what they've written they aren't prepared to have their name published openly? What are they ashamed of? If you want to say something that might damage your business, don't write it at all. If you're going to libel someone don't imagine a secret section will protect you.

I can already hear people telling me that I don't have to use that section if I don't want to but one of the great virtues of this forum is that it demands people use their real names. This secret, hidden section, which doesn't even become visible until you sign in, is a step away from that transparency.

Is there any other section on this forum that has members not prepared to be publicly accountable for their own views, opinions and statements? If they want to write something disparaging about weddings and events perhaps it is better for the reputation of the business is it wasn't written anyway.

If the owner wants to do something really useful it would be to rigidly enforce by removing, not moving, postings irrelevant to the topic, Wedding and Event TECHNIQUES.

Anyone wanting a recommendation for a microphone, camera or tripod should go to those sections not waste the time of people who want to discuss techniques by posting here. A tripod's a tripod, wherever you use it. Only if it relates to how you squeeze a tripod into a church pew or between reception tables is it relevant here.

re: Why did I post with an ambiguous thread title?
 

Hi Phil,

I guess I was the one who resurrected the idea but I do remember it being discussed before - not that I'm passing the buck - I like the private forum.

the eye of google sees everything, it's absurdly easy to 'google' someone and find out a huge amount about them - I'm not comfortable with that.

I'm not looking for a place to slag people off or have a bitch session (well maybe) - I've got questions and maybe a few answers that arn't for public consumption.

Any registered member can access the sub forum - you have to use you real name there as well. It's not the members I'm worried about - it's the casual reader who's not a member.

I'll happily elucidate on this in the private area :-)

Cheers

Paul

re: Why did I post with an ambiguous thread title?
 

Paul I know you added a smiley but that unless that infers "I don't mean what I've just written", I suggest you be man enough to explain yourself here. You don't have to give examples, just explain what subjects are so sensitive that you aren't prepared to share your views on them with your potential clients.

If it's simply that you don't want people to find out the "huge amount" about you I suggest you don't post to any forums, close your website and come off Facebook.

re: Why did I post with an ambiguous thread title?
 

Hi Philip

I guess that the idea of the forum privacy is that some topics might be seen by potential brides and they could be put off the poster or wedding videographers in general.

We can tell our tales of woe to each other but discussion on material that may offend a bride might warrant a private forum...sorta stuff that only wedding videographers talk about and don't want brides to find out about????

Just my thoughts on why a private forum might be necessary

Chris

re: Why did I post with an ambiguous thread title?
 

Chris, surely this is easy; if brides will be put off us by what we say then don't say it.

If brides will be put off buying a video by what we say then don't say it.

Tales of woe might even help a bride understand why she would be ill-advised to do/say certain things.

I find it laughable that Paul wants a secret section here but is quite prepared to have a website and - of all things - a Facebook page.

I'd be more sympathetic if someone would give me some idea of what topics (concerning Wedding and event video techniques) we wouldn't want our clients to read about. I particularly dislike the fact that the mods can decide whether a thread is to be a secret or not.

It sounds to me like people want a licence to libel - and although I'm no lawyer, my gut feeling is a secret section won't help them if they do libel someone.

In summary, I think this is ill-conceived and fraught with potential problems.

re: Why did I post with an ambiguous thread title?
 

For what it's worth.
I stumbled across this forum, as I'm sure many others have, when googleing for an answer to a technical problem. I was struck by the wealth of experience and generosity of the contributors, and being a 'real names' forum felt that the answers and comments had a large degree of authenticity and trustworthiness, something not always the case with some other 'made-up-names' forums where all sorts of non-attributable, often nonsensical, solutions are proffered.
After lurking around for a while I felt confident to become a participant rather than a passive viewer, I've now been a contributing member for over a year. I have a feeling that if some of the 'professional discussion' had been behind closed doors to me (until I signed up) I may not have bothered joining as I feel it would just be one other forum. I know there is a much greater depth in the other areas of DVinfo but for some reason the Wedding/Events forum is the one I always visit first and where I find the most useful information and most lively discussions.

During my time here I have made some gaffs, which I've asked to be removed, jumped to instant reaction and posted opinions I've subsequently regretted or modified and been drawn into hot debates I'd have been wise not to enter. But I've certainly drawn some invaluable information and I hope made some useful contribution. I've both sent and received personal apologise where discussions points have become aimed too personally, this I think is a strength of using real traceable names as you feel some responsibility if your words hurt or insult a person who's name you know, even, or especially, when it is unintentional.

In this cyberworld (do people still use that term) we are loosing our shield of personal protection which can only be a good thing if it restrains the amount of misinformation and dare I say it bull excrement that flies around the internet. Hiding behind closed doors will only encourage more exaggerated claims, and unprofessional comment. I too believe if you don't want your thoughts and comments held up to scrutiny then keep them to yourself and don't post them on the internet.

re: Why did I post with an ambiguous thread title?
 

.

I simply meant that 'I'll explain it in the private area' no hidden meaning

Since there is no mention of my facebook membership on this site or on my website - I assume you must have located it by ... searching.. that's what bothers me.

I'd happily minimise my exposure on the web but it's a great marketing tool - a necessary evil.

in the private section Chris has given his reasons for starting the forum and it's there, done and dusted. rather than debate it's validity why don't we just ensure it's used wisely - as Chris intended.

re: Why did I post with an ambiguous thread title?
 

Paul evidently we don't share an understanding of our common language, the only thing Chris Hurd has said it that the secret section is for topics of a "sensitive" nature, nothing done or dusted there.

And that's what it is, a secret - it's not visible (but restricted or available to professionals only), it is simply invisible. Of course, once you do log in - and there's nothing to stop brides and grooms logging in just as easily as you or I - it's open for everyone to see. Where's the benefit then? If those who want to have these undefined "sensitive" discussions require a forum, why not start one. Don't publicise it - don't let Google find it - just tell your like-minded friends.

As I said before, if you don't like people finding out about you then don't use the internet. It's a no-brainer.

As I wrote, if anyone can suggest the sort of topics that are too "sensitive" I will be as fair in my response as I can be and if I am swayed by the argument, I'd be happy to reconsider my attitude to the secret section. If they can't then the sooner the section is dropped as a "bad idea on second thoughts" the better. Right now it does none of us nor our industry any good at all.

Re: private wedding forum
 

I like that its private and wish the rest of the forum didn't come up on internet searches.

I don't like the fact that when people search my name on google it brings them to posts in this forum. Makes me never want to make a post asking a stupid question or looking for advice on something I screwed up on.

re: Why did I post with an ambiguous thread title?
 

Actually this was only the first time a thread I originated has been moved - and I'm probably the bane of the mods lives because I seem to find too many mis-postings to bring to their attention. However, in this case it seems that Chris Hurd (I use his surname also to distinguish him from my pal Chris Harding) needed some threads to start the secret section off. I didn't expect him to ask my approval - it's his prerogative as the owners of a forum many of us value greatly, but what I didn't understand was what was sensitive in my thread.

Only the title (which is a joke one realises as soon as you read the thread) was remotely sensitive but nothing else and nothing to warrant its move.

re: Why did I post with an ambiguous thread title?
 

Hi Philip

I'm glad I still have the classification of "pal" !!! You know very well that I wouldn't post anything that would harm my business or reputation and neither would you. BUT obviously there seems to be a need to have posts that only registered members can see for some reason.

I was brought up with the belief "If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say it!!" I'm not entirely sure what posts will qualify for the private bin or whether Chris himself will move posts considered worthy of the private forum or will people just post in there when they don't want the public to read something.

I guess it's best if we sit back and see what sort of topic is posted there and comment afterwards!!!

Maybe Chris is attempting to keep the argumentative posts private (like the video vs DSLR one that got somewhat heated!!!) so the public side of the forum stays "G" rated

Chris

Re: private wedding forum
 

Although I do understand having private wedding forum but at the same time, I do feel it's not necessary. Granted we all have to vent, etc etc but as professionals, I do feel we can always express our discontent in such a way that even if someone notices it, it doesn't come that harsh.

Frankly this forum is not very much traffic oriented compared to others, doing so, it will become slow. Once it becomes private, I think it will become way too nasty and as people we will loose control. That's my opinion


Jawad

re: Why did I post with an ambiguous thread title?
 

Adam Wilt once told me that no good deed goes unpunished, and I'm shown yet again how right he was.

Actually that thread was indeed a *prime candidate* for the private forum. It had absolutely nothing to do with wedding video techniques, it involved an assumption about a real person with whom no one here has any direct experience, and it included a bit of vulgarity that I prefer not to have here (no, the asterisks don't make it okay).

Why in the world you think it's "devoted to the whims and idiosyncrasies of a few people who are so ashamed of what they've written they aren't prepared to have their name published openly?" That's a perfect example of the classic straw man argument, and your crass accusation that I would allow any form of libel on this site clearly demonstrates that even after all this time you still don't seem to get what DV Info Net is all about. I said specifically in no uncertain terms that the private forum would never be used that way, and I am truly bewildered that you would assume otherwise.

First -- it's no "secret" at all, not by a long shot. I even plugged it at the top of the site in our Site Announcements board. Second, it would be rude of me to dangle a locked forum in front of unregistered guests, and I really don't want any registrations resulting from just wanting to have a look inside, so of course the board isn't visible to lurkers.

Again with the straw man. No, there are no other sections on *this* forum, but all of our primary competitors in the wedding videography forum space are operating behind closed doors (including one on FaceBook, and it is not the only other real-names wedding videography community). All of them are private. I'm very proud to host the largest online community in this particular market, and even more proud to boast that the majority of discussions here are public. The private area is simply an annex, and hopefully it is an enticement for some of our existing members to use this site more often than they might be using our competitors.

No, I would never completely remove an off-topic thread especially if there is a more appropriate forum to which it can be re-directed. You are welcome however to start your own forum and run it the way you see fit. Meanwhile I find it far more useful to repair ambiguous one-word thread titles, such as this one, replacing "Why?" with "Why did I post with an ambiguous thread title?"

The proposal for a private annex was made here more than two years ago, and a number of our members voiced their support for it wholeheartedly. You even participated in the exact same discussion but you said nothing at that time to indicate any concern. I'm not sure why you're opposed to it now when you weren't opposed to it then, but all I have done here is to follow through -- finally -- on something I said I was going to do, at the request of our members.

Refer to http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/wedding-...ing-board.html

It's more than just a little embarrassing that it took a couple of years to make this happen!

Thread "Why did I post with an ambiguous thread title?" merged with "Private Wedding Forum," which is where it belonged in the first place.

Re: Why did I post with an ambiguous thread title?
 

Hey Philip
If I was going to post with the attitude you have in this thread, I'd be doing it in a secret forum that my potential clients couldn't read.

Re: private wedding forum
 

I think everyone needs a place to vent about a job, a client or the business in general. Brides use the various wedding sites and other vendors have their place but I can tell you that from my experience those sites aren't as open or public as DVi.
While I know there are times to vent to others in my industry and would have liked to do it here, because of the openess and ability for the public to view I haven't. Does it mean I'm going to spend all of my time there? I certainly hope not but it is nice to know that IF I so CHOOSE I can commisserate with others about a particular situation or client without fear of being outed on Google.
Use the sub-forum or not, it's your choice. All of life is a choice. If you don't want to use that sub-forum please feel free to not use it.

Re: private wedding forum
 

Chris,
Thank you for the private section!!!
One of the other hats I wear is that of a local elected official. In that role you learn very quick what needs to be said in front of an audience and what needs to remain confidential.

While I don't believe I will be coming to this section to vent about a customer, I may end up here to find out if someone else in this experienced community has a good idea on how to deal with a problem client. I would not want my discussion on that topic to be used against me at a later point in time, ie, slander/libel suit, which by the way does not have to be based on any merit to be filed against you and cost you huge sums of money to defend against.

I have just expressed an opinion that I am grateful for the fact that I could express in private.

Again - THANK YOU CHRIS!! Keep up the good work.

Re: private wedding forum
 

Jim, you are aware you just expressed your views in the public forum : )

Re: private wedding forum
 

Maybe I need to move this thread... hmmm.