Suggestions group posting on GLOBOsapiens

Diplomacy in Globo

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st.vincent Joined: Mar 06 Points: 2322 Posts: 23 Posted: 2006-03-19 22:51:00    As a recent newcomer to GLOBO I thought I’d provide my perspective on this topic. What I soon realised was that this is a serious travel site with serious travellers rather than tourists, which is the category in which I would probably put myself. My writing style tends to be quite chatty and personal and one of the things I have realised is that this site is more about information than personal reflections. I won’t be abandoning all my principles but I see the change of style as a challenge that may well help develop my travel writing in the future. The other noticeable thing is that there are obviously some good technical photographers on here who will look at members photos with an expert eye and comment accordingly. This has not put me off posting my “point and press” photos but it has made me think carefully about which photos I upload, which I guess is a good thing. When I joined I got some nice guestbook postings from some of the “oldies” that made me feel welcome and some useful advice about composition and content when I posted my first report. I don’t think I will get too worried about ratings and would welcome criticism provided it is both polite and meant to be helpful. Best wishes to all Clive Reply    Reply with quote    Contact st.vincent   davidx Premium account Joined: Dec 04 Points: 34719 Posts: 440 Posted: 2006-03-20 16:18:00    Bang on Frank That's what all criticism should be - but perhaps we have to be a bit over-cautious at times. Twice I have caused offence when I certainly intended none. If I think some people are over-sensitive, as I do, it's not a reason to go ahead and upset them but rather to tone down comments - even to the point where they may be a bit trite. I reserve fierce criticism for occasions when I think somebody is deliberately misusing the site. Isaac - well done for starting this interesting discussion. David --- Grieve not for that which you cannot do but rejoice in that which you can. Reply    Reply with quote    Contact davidx   mortimer Premium account Joined: Jun 04 Points: 15075 Posts: 528 Posted: 2006-03-20 17:08:00    David People being over sensitive, yes! I fully agree. I think that a lot of our members are over ambitious too and think that a rating of two or three stars is below their expectations. Am I allowed to remind you all, of the agreed on, rating scheme: * poor (uninteresting, not travel related, personal pictures) ** below average (mediocre, out of focus, somewhat boring) *** good (interesting, nice subject, in focus, good composition) **** very good (great, high quality, clear, interesting, I wish I had taken it) ***** excellent (amongst the best, amazing, I could stare at this all day) once again *** is good! **** High quality I wish I had taken it ***** I COULD STARE AT THIS ALL DAY (I would like to print out the picture that I rate, in a very big size and hang it on my living room wall) People being over sensitive can also be caused by only basic command of the english language, either by the writer or the reader. Or caused by the shortness of comments. If I would always write: I like this picture beacuse of that and that and thank you for sharing, may I suggest that... I loose characters to give the valuable feedback on how to improve the next picture. And there's the difference in cultures that are further complicating matters. I think that David, being an elderly english gentlemen, may find nicer wording for the same statement than a young dynamic german, where everything is handled straight forward and down to earth. In Asia however people tend to be very cautious with dissenting opinions. It's always depending on everybody's society and cultural background. Let's be honest, I really don't think that anybody here wants to offend others. So whenever you read something here on GLOBO have this fact in mind. The statements are never meant personally. I repeat: IT'S NOBODY'S AIM TO HURT YOUR FEELINGS OR OFFEND YOU! I would rather have honest objective facts and opinions than flattering nonsense that doesn't help me improve. Just my personal opinion! Have a great day Martin<p> [ This Message was edited by: mortimer on 2006-03-20 20:47 ] --- Today is the first day of the rest of your life, enjoy it! Reply    Reply with quote    Contact mortimer   st.vincent Joined: Mar 06 Points: 2322 Posts: 23 Posted: 2006-03-20 17:47:00    Martin, I think that is a good point you make about cultural differences affecting both communication styles and peoples interpretation of the comments that others post. Being a bit of an old English gentleman myself I used to be fairly intolerant of incorrect use of the English language, but since joining the international community on the Internet I have certainly changed my outlook. I now look much more to the message that is being conveyed and worry less about the actual words. I now save my pedantic nature for my work colleagues who having successfully come through the English education system really should know better!! Regards Clive Reply    Reply with quote    Contact st.vincent   eirekay Premium account Joined: Aug 03 Points: 19539 Posts: 214 Posted: 2006-03-20 21:51:00    Thank you Isaac for opening this discussion. For Clive, I too tend to be chatty and personal in my reports. For me, atmosphere and feeling are as important as the sights. I appreciate that constructive critcism was given when I started. David, as an example, left a message in my guest book that was encouraging and constructive at the same time. I agree with Isaac that some of what has been posted in picture comments could be disouraging and isn't necessarily constructive. I think there is a line between the two and although it may be in different places for different people, I would prefer to error on the side of being too polite as opposed to miss something. My Tikal report includes a photo with my son in it. My Puerto Vallarta report has another son & I being kissed by dolphins. My children Greek folk dance. I have posted several pictures of them performing in costume in Greece in 2003. The costumes are authentic, as are the dances. They compete in the US and I have a library of dance photos, including other dance groups, that I have not posted. because they were not taken in Greece. I don't think family and friends should be off limits ~ the photos just need to be appropriate to their use. My two cents, Eire --- Life is not measured by the breaths you take but by the moments that take your breath away. Profile Pic: Tikal, Guatemala Reply    Reply with quote    Contact eirekay   mortimer Premium account Joined: Jun 04 Points: 15075 Posts: 528 Posted: 2006-03-20 22:25:00    Hi Eire Your pictures in the reports are perfect examples on where to place those family or friend pics. Another great place could be the travel log. The fact that you omitted that it were your children that you displayed in those greek costumes helped them gather higher ratings :-) Had the text said something my son wating for his entrance... the ratings would at least be one star lower ;-) So you hid this fact well. And when I look at those pics now and read the text, am I right to assume that it was you who was stichting this nice costume... But it seams that it was not your ambition to show off your stiching skills nor gather praise for your children. This reminds me of a statement I made somewhere: We have to believe what the poster claims his picture is about. Anyway, I was not a great fan of those florina dress pictures, as I tend to think that most of those cultural shows are only made up for tourists and show images that no longer exist. I don't see anybody dressed up in a national costume in Europe in everyday life anymore unless they make a show for tourists (or they have an ancient festivity or tradition to celebrate). So it's fake and not the real life. In Ireland the people I met in Pubs wore jeans the same in china I saw more people wearing jeans, suits and ties than mao shirts... in most parts of the world where I have travelled it was like that. Only those people looking to gather easy tourist money disguise their ambitions behind the traditional dress. On the Great Wall in China for instance there were those mongolian warriors trying to get paid for a pose in their makeshift warrior dress... And I don't mean that your dress was ridiculous or something. It looks nice and you spent hours an hours on it, well done, bravo! I wish I was so skilled and patient to do such a filigree handiwork. Again these are only some personal reflections Have a great day Martin [ This Message was edited by: mortimer on 2006-03-21 07:42 ] --- Today is the first day of the rest of your life, enjoy it! Reply    Reply with quote    Contact mortimer   marianne Premium account Joined: Sep 03 Points: 20248 Posts: 349 Posted: 2006-03-21 08:53:00    Martin, I go along with you that many national costumes are only worn to please the tourist. There is an exception: India where most women still wear saris. (some pictures in my Colva report show this). Marianne --- “I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” Robert Louis Stevenson Reply    Reply with quote    Contact marianne   davidx Premium account Joined: Dec 04 Points: 34719 Posts: 440 Posted: 2006-03-21 14:40:00    Martin I'm sure you are right about the great majority of crits when you say that 'nobody wants to hurt anybody's feelings' and that you didn't have any idea of the offence it could cause me if some English people were to describe me as 'an elderly English gentleman.' As I know you didn't mean offence, people will realise that I am only mentioning it to illustrate your point. If an English person said it, other than as a joke, I should leap at the word 'gentleman.' [I bet you thought it would be 'elderly.'] This is where it gets complicated. Some people would feel complimented, some would regard it [as I’m sure you meant it] as a mere statement of fact. To me it has connotations of political views and probable voting behaviour about as likely in fact as a polar bear making a meal of a zebra in its native environment! Englishman would be must the same, English man would be much better and English speaker would give no offence at all! All of which shows how right you are. David --- Grieve not for that which you cannot do but rejoice in that which you can. Reply    Reply with quote    Contact davidx   mortimer Premium account Joined: Jun 04 Points: 15075 Posts: 528 Posted: 2006-03-21 16:34:00    David :-) I am smiling with a blushed face... If I look up gentleman in my dictionary I find following entry: - A chivalrous, courteous, or honorable man - A well-mannered and considerate man with high standards of proper behavior there are some other meanings, but this is what i meant and the fact that this man is wise by age (elderly) and seasoned with people. A perfect example on how difficult it is to explain ones views in a foreign language. :-) Martin [ This Message was edited by: mortimer on 2006-03-21 16:35 ] --- Today is the first day of the rest of your life, enjoy it! Reply    Reply with quote    Contact mortimer   ravinderkumarsi Premium account Joined: Aug 04 Points: 14003 Posts: 451 Posted: 2006-03-22 06:05:00    well as far Indian is concern ,Martin is right in his views for men only ,but women in india usually prefer to wear sari (specially if they are married) as pointed by Mari --- at bangalore /back 2 globo after a long Reply    Reply with quote    Contact ravinderkumarsi   Page: 1 2 3