Well now! I found this thread very interesting, especially in the light of my experience. I found a site which is called aboutus.org and there is a whole discussion on ukexpert. This is just my bit. You can read it all at aboutus.org/UkExpert.co.uk
Why Anonymous
I did go and take a look and found that the administrator was just as dicourteous as described.
In fact despite claiming to probably be the longest established community of its kind, as well as demanding full sized images etc.... they are far from welcoming.
I submitted a picture of a chap dressed as Santa Claus, leaping in the fountains of Somerset House during May 2005. I thought it might be included under the section titled Christmas. As a newcomer to the site I would have thought a little polite help might have been forthcoming. No, not even a message. When I asked the reason why my picture wasn't accepted I got a very curt reply with no suggestion as to where it should be placed. I had also mistakenly not turned the picture around, I thought I had - but my mistake. Thinking I might try again I submitted another photo of a different subject - I never had it accepted, and when I asked again, I found I was no longer a recognised member of the site.
I was also told my pictures were too small and incorrectly labelled. I have owned a digital camera since 1990 and was an early adopter of such things. I bought an Olympus which took super photographs, but the images were only 1.9 Megapixels. It cost nearly £900 when new and took very clear pictures (the camera has had many rave reviews). To be told that this was no better than a current mobile phone was somewhat insulting. What about the image or composition?
I took a good look around their galleries, and indeed there are a few very nice pictures, but most are not so wonderful. There were several that had been submitted by the owner of the site that were well below 1.9 Megapixels.
I may in terms of net ettiquette have committed some minor misdemeanors, but I do not believe I was ever rude or offensive. May be in the busy world of moderators there is no time for courtesy. I am writing this with no feeling of sour grapes, just as a plain honest report of my experience. I certainly made no personal attacks. The final remark made to me ended with a phrase suggesting I might like to "just wander off somewhere else".
So no thanks, I doubt that you will see me over there again, and just one last question, why was the post anonymous? Are they afraid of being banned
Now given my polite, pleasant and welcoming experience here, I now have even less reason to take another look. Enough said I think.
