Can't tell you how many times I've run across webmasters at shows and get-togethers that have told me they are too intimidated to post at Oprano. Not sure why. Maybe because it seems like an "old boys and girls club". Well, it's good to be part of the club.

Just thought this was interesting and worth sharing.

Why are these people intimidated?

Do you think it's fear of being ridiculed by someone? Or do you think Oprano has developed a reputation for being the "deep end" of the adult webmaster swimming pool?

Colin....i hear the same thing a lot also.....it seems the " deep end" theory applies here....but they should know...once you jump in....the water is fine!

Tags under avatars like "About to say something moronic" does tend to put people on their guard ya know. ;)

There's probably only two people I actually know who post on this board, but most of you I've heard of.

My perspective.
GFY is the monster but it's use at this point is only for marketing, and entertainment which in most cases is combined.

I post there, I even post a lot of nonsense. Why? Because that's what draws those people there and it works.

There are some intelligent people on that board 2 people I have always been afraid to debate...LOL are you Colin and Labret...but in general there are a lot more idiots so I kind of look at it like big fish in a little pond syndrom.

There are those who will continue to float around that little pond gobbling up the little fish because they are afraid to venture out into deeper waters where the sharks are waiting. :)

I don't post here as much but I do read a lot and one thing it's kind of hard for someone to come in here and act like they are hot shit making $200K a year when someone can quickly put them in their place because they were making that in a few days.

Anyway that's my take on things.

I've heard similar things too. Mainly I get the "Oh, I don't dare post over there" kinda thing.

Personally, I think Oprano is intimidated by ME. :lol:

Yeah, VIVA LA OPRANO!!!!!!

but it could use a little loosening around the collar....

but then again I see the point of not wanting a bunch of useless junk clouding up an already busy day of work too.....

But all work and NO play makes jack a DULL boy....

plus being told you are a stupid fuck, by another stupid fuck, does not quite scare a person or intimidate them, as does being called a stupid fuck, my somone smarter than you....LOL

ego, jelousy, and greed will always rule it is a fact of human nature...

and drama will sell, look at any section of popular culture to find the evidence of that...

there could be a perfect balance if there were true centrist, to further that cause (funny just like politics too eh?)

but it seems we like to group everyone into the haves and have nots, and nobody wants to be referred to as a has not.....

Since Oprano was launched people have told me they are intimidated to post. I find it pretty interesting, to me G FY seems to be a more intimidating place to post - no matter what you post there, SOMEONE will flame you. ( of course its probably some 16 yeard old kid in him mom's basement)

I do not think Opranuts are tough on new posters. It is only when threads are started about "would you hit this?" ( lets face it a majority of people at most boards would be happy to hit anything) and other bullshit posts that people should fear posting.

Even then, there is really nothing to be intimidated about - so someone flames another person a little, get over it. Serge's style with newbs has always been to be tough on them, those who over come and get past Serge normally end up donig pretty well in the industry.

Reminds me of a professor I had in law school my first semester. He would purposely grill students and try to intimidate them. His point was if you were intimidated by a professor and could not handle yourself, you would never be able to handle a tough judge. This professor was actually responsible for a few students every semester dropping out.

After the first semester, once you made it past his class - he was the coolest, nicest guy you would want to meet.

Bottom line is, as the song goes, if you Can make it Oprano, you can make it anywhere!

:D

This is interesting because I have thought the same thing. You could write "the sky is blue" at GFY and someone will argue against it.

This is interesting because I have thought the same thing. You could write "the sky is blue" at GFY and someone will argue against it.[/b][/quote]
Oh yeah, you could post that Santa Claus is good, and you would have a dozen people slamming you for being a stupid American oppressor who does not understand the world.

There is a lot of anti-American people who hang on GFY. Most are Euro-trash, or smug Canadians - a few are homegrown.

The ironic thing is these guys do not realize without the evil, ignorant US they would all be shoveling snow for $5 an hour.

This is interesting because I have thought the same thing. You could write "the sky is blue" at GFY and someone will argue against it.[/b][/quote]
It's a different kind of intimidation I think.

But once people realize that as Mike AI stated they are being flamed by some teen in his mama's basement you get over that really quick.

Yeah but there 90% of the time when you're flamed at GFY it's simply a "you're an idiot" type of flame or an obscenity bomb type of flame rather than the thoughtful skewering you can experience here.

It's a different kind of intimidation I think.

But once people realize that as Mike AI stated they are being flamed by some teen in his mama's basement you get over that really quick.[/b][/quote]


That is a point, but the same can be said about Serge.

Once you meet him in person, you realize he is just a cuddly teddy bear. I remember the first show in Orlando, a lot of people were anxious about Serge.

Serge before the show called me a stupid bitch who would never make a dime in this business. ( Of course Serge thought my name was Mel and I had big tits! haha)

"thoughtful skewering"... what a lovely turn of phrase Colin!

Bathed in the sharp bite of irony and topped with freshly ground wit right at your table... Oprano serves up fresh discourse daily...

:okthumb:

Getting your first flames from someone well known can be very devasating. (So, most of the time GFY don't count)

I remember my first two. One with Ian and the first with Serge. After you get through that - nothing bothers ya much. But, that first is something you don't look forward to and try to avoid...... thus you have to have confidence to post a lot. Sometimes lurkers are intimadated because they don't realize that things are taken 'with a grain of salt on boards, that people don't particulatily believe everything they read, and many are different in real life than their board personna.

Really lurkers, it is not the end of the world to be flamed...... it is a part of maturing sometimes. If you have nothing to hide, then don't worry about it. Often good things come from it......

Actually I think Serge may have granted me franchise on "Ya snooze - ya lose" :awinky:

I can't believe I have made 442 posts on this board....... and I don't remember getting flamed here yet................(or maybe my skin is just thicker & I have already forgotten)

But, I am sure Serge will rise to that challenge...... Please spare me.... please...(tear falling)

Won't flame ya; but will ask ya if you've learned how to spell YMCA with your arms yet... hehehe...

I love Oprano. Always have, always will. I admit, I was just posting here so I could get with Serge's woman!

"thoughtful skewering"... what a lovely turn of phrase Colin!

Bathed in the sharp bite of irony and topped with freshly ground wit right at your table... Oprano serves up fresh discourse daily...

:okthumb:[/b][/quote]
Hey.. how about giving credit where credit is due!! <_<

Hey.. how about giving credit where credit is due!! <_<[/b][/quote]
That was a good one. :okthumb:

I feel welcome with open arms everytime I post here.

Must be my good looks.

That was a good one. :okthumb:[/b][/quote]
Thank you sir!! :agrin:

the intimidation factor can be summed up rather easily......S E R G E

most people in this biz have always been intimidated by serge on the boards.....

But we know better! (just don't let his secret out!)

Most of the "regulars" here are veterans of the boards, many of us starting at Jonathan's and then migrating to YNOT. We've seen the flame/piss wars, been called every name imaginable FOR YEARS and just built up a very tough skin against it! :P

Thanks Mike, you have a great community here, I am glad, and thankful that it is here.

Oh yeah, you could post that Santa Claus is good, and you would have a dozen people slamming you for being a stupid American oppressor who does not understand the world.

There is a lot of anti-American people who hang on GFY. Most are Euro-trash, or smug Canadians - a few are homegrown.

The ironic thing is these guys do not realize without the evil, ignorant US they would all be shoveling snow for $5 an hour.[/b][/quote]
I was going to say 'excellent post', then ya follow it up with a typical Mike 'America is the reason the world exists' post :rolleyes:

Good to hear from some lurkers ... especially intelligent ones with productive comments.

The thing I find funny about the people who are intimidated to post here is that its usually because they aren't confident in their own ability to present and perhaps defend or explain the products they offer.

A few weeks ago a dude posted a resource url here and I visited and got a auto downloading toolbar from one of the listings. I jumped on him and he was nervous that I did so on the board instead of via icq. I told him it would be 100% more beneficial for him to post publicly with me if he intended to do the right thing ... he removed the site, did a clean up on others and we've been chatting on icq for a few weeks. I posted his actions on the board and flaming turned to discussion instead ....

Often we appear like a lynch mob because we each understand each others views so well and don't like to repeat ourselves ... that makes it hard to jump in when you are new to this board.

As mike said, I'm personally more nervous I guess when I post on GFY ... there are so many morons there and any time you post something you have to get past the rubbish to talk legit business.

I want more opinions from Lurkers!!!! ;-)

for some reason i ended up bumpin heads with Serge over on gfy. next thing i know we are throwing comments back and forth there so i figured id come over here to save him some time.

now, ofcourse ive done alot of growing since this happened, and hell i even like Serges broken english now.

intimidation maybe because of oprano's small tolerance for bullshit stupid posts...

i like how this community is smaller, i try to spend as little time on the boards as possible.

see sig



:ph34r:

Hey.. how about giving credit where credit is due!! <_<[/b][/quote]
AAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkKK!

:wnw: :wnw: :wnw: ...So very sorry TheEnforcer ... :wnw: :wnw: :wnw:

This is an excellent thread.
Thanks Colin!

AAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkKK!

:wnw: :wnw: :wnw: ...So very sorry TheEnforcer ... :wnw: :wnw: :wnw:[/b][/quote]
Hahahah!! Thank you my friend!! :agrin:

A thread about webmasters being too intimidated to post at Oprano and my name doesn't come up once.

Disgraceful.

We were talking about intimidation, not arrogance. ;-) ;-) ;-)

Hi!

As someone who is relatively new in the business and not being an american I probably might be one of the persons you are talking about.

I do post on some other boards, mainly on THE other board because it helps me doing my business. Some might consider it as spam, but when I post some of my models and offer them for shoots, nearly evertime I get a new customer. Real discussions on that board are impossible, too much idiots hanging around. But on boards where you are not allowed to "advertise" in the main forum, it is very often the problem that the business/advertising forums are verly low frequented. And for me it is a big difference whether 10, 100 or 500 people look at my posting (as long as I try to make business out of it).

And the next big problem about being present at several boards is simply a time problem. Because we are still struggling to be successful, I cannot spend too much time for posting/reading. I need to get some work done. :D

So I try to focus my efforts to become famous and successful in the business. :groucho:

Best regards,

Stefan
(eurotrash :nyanya: )



Last edited by MaDalton at Jun 21 2004, 04:42 AM

Yout make some good points.

Oprano will let spam slide when it comes from those who particpate in the fourms. If you want to take from Oprano, you should give. It is a simple concept.

Time is definately a factor as well. Being an effective board whore takes time. :D

I guess people are affraid of being looked with a microscope,
Oprano is a VERY bullshit intollerant board,
and with the amount of bullshit flying high in this industry,
I wouldn't blame anybody who feels intimidated
;-))))

I was gonna post in this thread earlier, but I was a little scared...

:( :unsure: :huh:

Ive said it before on the flat board, Oprano is a country club full of snobs and people in love with themselves. That keeps most people out.

Still, they are smarter than the average bear (myself excluded) so it makes for interesting reading.

Seriously though.

I discovered VERY early on in my posting lifetime here (I had lurked for ages before, but I lurked everywhere for ages before) that you will get tested VERY quickly.

I would imagine that many when asked to put up, shut up. And then vote with their feet and make up little stories about how "stuck up" and "cliquey" Oprano is.

I ask myself everyday why I just didn't just shut up, especially when I see from a post reply from CJ in one of my threads !!!

He eh eh. J/k Carla

:rolleyes:

I agree with Serge - there is not a culture here for tolerating bullshit, and even moreso, you are QUESTIONED and then at LENGTH. There are a couple of other good boards who just ignore stuff... that does NOT happen here.

With the amount of crap and crap people in this biz (many of who I unfortunately know personally!!) is it any wonder people don't want to be put to the test and generally shown up for what they are?

Oprano is my favorite board - smart AND savvy people, plenty to say, always willing to question, poke and prod, but also always willing to find a fair argument and put their hands up if they were off the mark.

In my mind, it is almost a badge of honor to be a regular poster here (read for that poster of THREADS) because you are constantly open to the scrutiny of the crowd on this board. And boy-o-boy, anyone who has read some of the threads I have been in here in the past 2-3 months would KNOW that the scrutiny is VERY pointed and VERY specific.

That is way cool.

I HATE bullshit, and DESPISE liars (there's that hate diet of mine again Serge!!) - That's why it is a pleasure to spend my time here.

:okthumb:



Last edited by CuriousToyBoy at Jun 22 2004, 01:48 AM

Speaking as an outsider here.....

Oprano has always been on my "read-only" list for a long time, because I have very little in common with most of you.

So why am I posting here now? :unsure: Maybe it's because I ain't worried about the microscope anymore.

So you didn't post for a long time because you had very little in common with "most of us" or because you were worried about being put under the microscope? ;-) <-- note wink.

Probably because I have very little in common with most of you.

But let's get all my skeletons out of the closet in one post then....

1) I'm British.
2) I don't make a huge amount of money.
3) I suffer with paranoid schizophrenia.

Any other poor British psychos in here??? I think not. :awinky:



Last edited by urb at Jun 21 2004, 04:53 PM

Trev ;-)



Last edited by Colin at Jun 21 2004, 12:05 PM

Probably because I have very little in common with most of you.

But let's get all my skeletons out of the closet in one post then....

1) I'm British.
2) I don't make a huge amount of money.
3) I suffer with paranoid schizophrenia.

Any other poor British psychos in here??? I think not. :awinky:[/b][/quote]
None of those 3 are outlawed at Oprano!

:)

I cannot speak for anyone else, but I have never found Oprano intimidating in the least.

and, I am American of British descent, do not make a whole lot of money in this industry and all of my personalities are paranoid schizophrenic.

I am not sure, but I think my first post was on the flat board jumping in on a Torone conversation and calling him on bullshit. I might have made a happy birthday Oprano post back before that.

That was back when Serge would occasionally pop his head in over at VNWR and give us DFN's a little Serge advice, so some of us would occasionally pop in over here, especially on specail occasions and give Serge a wave or two.

None of those 3 are outlawed at Oprano!

:)[/b][/quote]
Well the British part is frowned upon, other than that, it sounds just like one of the crowd.... :yowsa:

Just invoke the name of Churchill. Many of us are big fans.

and what about german photographers? :unsure:

I have no problem to be put under a microscope - we are doing honest work and I will answer any question. They just have to be asked. :)



or maybe I can bribe you with pictures of naked women??? :D

ass like a ten year old boy.