Hi.....I just had a PM from another member who was feeling bad because no one commented on the cake that she posted. She said that the cake must stink if no one commented on it. How terrible that a member has to feel that way!! I know I've seen cakes posted on here, and there have been no comments given. I know I had a cake that not one person commented on, and I know I felt kind of bad about it.

I am not asking people to be insincere or phony about what they think of a cake, but we have to remember that people post their cake pics on here for encouragement. Not every cake is going to look like it walked out of Martha Stewart's magazine. Many people here are just starting out and need a boost of confidence, even if the cake is crooked or the icing lopsided.

This is not a criticism of anyone; I'm just asking people not to forget about us beginners and our cakes. You don't need to lie, but maybe a little "way to go" or "nice effort; keep at it" would be enough recognition to encourage someone to continue on with their skills. You can't comment on everyone and eveyr single photo, but now and again, just letting someone know they've been recognized means so much!!!

I can say this because I've encountered so many positive people on this site and have felt very encouraged here. It would be sad if someone felt discouraged here.

Anyway, that's my two cents for all it's worth!
Happy posting!!
Ellen

I wonder if some of the cake pictures just get lost in the shuffle. I know it sometimes takes so long for my computer to load the pics that i don't look that often. Unless something catches my eye right on the home page. So what i'm trying to get at is that it may have just gotten pushed off the home page before many had a chance to see it.

I think a lot of people don't know about the recently uploaded photos feature. If you happen to post a pic at the same time others are, your pic will get bumped off the front page pretty quickly. That doesn't give people much time to see it. I always try to click the recent uploads to see what I've missed. I know it bums me out when I don't get any comments too. Thanks for bringing this up.

Ellen, you are so right. Many of us are new here and we need to hear the way to go, good try, or even you should have done this or that to the cake. For me, I would like to know what I have done good and wrong on my cakes so that I can improve each and every cake I have done.

I have tried to always put my 5 cents to encourage one way or another cause I know what it feels like not to have anyone say a word. I think most of us, when no one says anything, it had to be that bad of a cake.

I think it only takes a minute to say something. Think about it, you take the time to click the cake to see it, so why not say, nice job or a little something.

Everyone in this site is so encouraging and that's what makes us all such a big family and in my opinion that is why I kept going in cake decorating.

Sylvie

There have been times I have looked at a cake and not commented, not due to thinking it was a bad cake, but simply because I'm not sure what to say (I'd rather not come off cliched or sound like I'm all like "Nice try champ" - which, when you're looking for comments may come off as condescending or a little painful - at least for me), or I just don't have time because I'm checking out the site in between doing things with my kids.

Those are VERY good points! I usually just browse throught the galleries for ideas and inspiration; I didn't realize the recognition was so dependant on the home page.

I agree. I know I like to get comments on my cakes.

I try to at least go to the gallery and look at the 'last uploads' but sometimes I go back later and see ones that I somehow missed the first time around. Please let your friend know that we are not trying to be rude or that we do not care. I think everyone here likes to support all members at all levels.

Cindy

oh, in no way do i think anyone has been rude for not commenting! It's impossible to comment on every single one. I just am asking people to, if they have a second, say something encouraging or constructive. Most people do this anyway, but try extra hard to remember the beginners!

Ellepal, you said something about last updates, for some reason I can't find it.... where to I look for this last update button.

thanks sylvie

I am guilty of looking at cakes and not commenting. It's not that I think they are bad or good, but because (and I'll be honest here) sometimes I just can't think of anything to say. Sorry to anyone who feels slighted by not being commented on.

Debbi

I'm finding that between work and dial up - I can't keep up with all of the pictures being added to the site. I'd like nothing more than to be able to comment on each and every one but I can't. The site is growing quickly which is a great thing - lots of fresh ideas and suggestions however it makes it difficult to keep up sometimes. Don't take it to heart when you don't hear anything. Everything i've seen looks great! I'm no pro by any means and i've had a great response to some of my cakes - but i've had others that I haven't heard anything on too.

Keep up the good work!
Debbie

Go to the Galleries tab, right under Photo Galleries in pink you will see this..
Album list :: My profile :: Upload picture :: Logout
Last uploads :: Last comments :: Most viewed :: Top rated :: My Saved Photos
Click on last uploads. If you sign off and sign back on you can go to this everytime and it will show you all the photos that were loaded after you signed off..

I agree Ellen...I always try to comment on cakes, especially the ones that haven't received comments yet. Each cake is beautiful and unique.and everyone should be recognized for their hard effort. I'm a beginner myself and it does feel good to receive comments and I would hate to think someone gave up because they felt bad about something they created. I dont want anyone to quit or to feel sad.
  
~Denise

Thanks Brainsbaker. I must be loosing it. Brain is in cake mode not computer mode.

Again thanks

I've never used the last uploads feature. I may or may not look at the cakes on the homepage when I log in. I just look at the pics for ideas or to see how other newbies are faring.

I think the idea of a newbie gallery is a good one. I have a baby (she's chewing on my chair right now) and simply don't have enough uninterrupted time to finish cakes. I will bake a great cake, but might not have time to properly frost it. It would be great to post pictures of my level cake or my kickazzz crumbcoat. I did post a pic of my first fondant flower cause I was so proud and was very happy to see that someone else posted her playdough flower.

okay i see the point being made. i hardly ever comment on the pictures but i will now thanks for bringing this to our attention. some times i just dont think and that unfortunately is a problem, although i dont know why...

Thanks for the tip on viewing the last uploads! I knew there had to be a way to do it - I just never found it! Cake comments definately make you feel good - I shall try to do it more

oh, a newbie gallery!!! GREAT IDEA!!!

Would the newbie gallery be "newbie" to cake decorating or "newbie" to CC?

Debbie

I don't want this to come off the wrong way but this is just how I feel.

I think it is impossible to comment on every cake.

I feel you should comment on the cakes you want to comment on. When something catches your eye, and you REALLY like it. I understand the part about there are a lot of NEWBIES and they need encouragement, but I would rather someone be HONEST with me than for you to just say good job, very cute, etc and not mean it. Then you will have someone who says good job, what does that mean? I think it was great. If you are on the site everyday like (myself) (so what I dont have a life) you will see the kind of community that exist here. Its not that your cake was horrible, but someone might not know what to say and not hurt your feelings.

We are here to also learn from each other, and if we keep being nice I feel it can hold someone back because they feel that they are doing things the right way. I want to know o.k. you need to use a bigger tip or try practicing on a board, or use a different color, or you have too many roses on that cake.


Just my 2 cents. (Well it was more like 5 cents.)

twindees - well put. That's what I was trying to get at in a round about way. Also, with the newbie gallery - newbie to CC might not be a newbie decorator. If there is a gallery added it would probably make more sense to add the Wilton course gallery and/or 1st cake gallery or something more like that.

another 2 cents

Debbie

thecakemaker I think that's a better idea. I have 8 cakes posted, been on the site for a while now, but I still consider myself a NEWBIE as far as cake dec. is concerned. When are you not a NEWBIE. I rather First cake or wilton course idea better.

I don't agree with you, twindees.

First of all, I did say twice that you can't possibly comment on all of the cakes.

Secondly, I did say that you shouldn't have to lie, but be encouraging. If you feel you could give contstructive criticism, then give it. It's the recognition that counts.

If you don't feel it in your heart to do want to encourage someone else, then by all means, don't do it.
I am glad I don't feel that way when it comes to my teaching career. I don't lie to my students about their progress, but I try to find a way to encourage them to continue so they don't give up entirely. Sometimes I am blatantly honest, but at least they know I care enough to try to help them.

We are all teaching and learning here: same principle.

Hear, hear! I didn't post my pics for the longest time because I felt they just weren't up to scratch, but after getting to know you guys, and the genuine help, concern and love you all show, I plucked up the courage. I didn't feel I needed to be patted on the back, but just some encouragement and constructive criticism helped. Not all cakes are going to be perfect, but we all know how much time and effort is put into our cakes and cookies, if we can give some encouragement that's fine. I'm not suggesting that we comment on each and every cake either, but the new additions/uploads tip is great. Thank you all for listening.
Barbara

See I know I should not have went there. Maybe my comment was too REAL.


ellepal - What do you mean by "If you don't feel it in your heart to do want to encourage someone else, then by all means, don't do it" you are trying to make me out to be totally mean person. That is not what I was trying to say.

Sometimes if you look at the comments that are left ( I feel ) that we are just "being nice". Which is fine, but I personally would rather some one be honest. I am here to LEARN.

This has nothing to do with your teaching career. We are not babies or children.

Here is my 50 cents:

I would much rather have someone be honest and help me out. I did get great constructive criticism on one of my cakes and I was SO glad to get it!

I think if you can politely tell someone how to improve without being nasty then by all means you should! Not everyone has a thick enough skin to handle criticism...constructive or not. I went ot art school and am used to having my creativity ripped to shreds so I can handle a less than sweet response.

I know there are people that can't constructively criticize without being hurtful. My aunt would be one of those people that is just brutally honest. I'd hate to see people get in an uproar because of people being too honest. People can get pretty defensive. I guess you just have to ask yourself if you can be helpful without being hurtful.

I don't know...it might be best to keep the golden rule going here on this site. "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." There are cakes that I wouldn't even begin to know where to start in helping unless the person expressly asks for help!

I meant newbie as
-new to cake decorating
-begginner
-not selling cakes
-lots to learn
-still need lots of practice

I know if my shell border isn't quite right or some of my flowers are blobby looking. It wouldn't hurt my feelings if someone commented on those things b/c they are true. I would just expect a helpful tip or an encouraging comment along with the critique. We should be able to handle constructive criticism and remember not to post pics on hormonal days. If someone should just get mean and nasty, we should not let some anonymous person in cyberspace ruin our day.

Twindees, I apologize to you if my last comment came across as a personal attack. It wasn't meant to. My only personal comment to you was that I did not agree with you.

My comments were directed to the general audience, so when I was saying "you", I was meaning "you" in general, not you, twindees. My fault.

However, I felt the comment about my teaching career was pretty low, and that was a personal attack. Not cool.

Very interesting topic!!! Well here goes my two cents! I agree with most of the comments here...If there's nothing nice to say, then say nothing. I myself have posted cakes here where people at reception site raved on how creative/beautiful they were and I got no comments here at all. That does not in any way, makes me feel negative/upset. We have to accept that everything in life is a learning/improvement process. I cannot be hipocrite and try to say something I do not feel, cake decoration is supposed to be a skillful art. We are fans of this skill and each one of us is at a different level - NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT!. Let's face it, not everyone should like our new outfit and samething goes for cakes decoration. Bottom line....when one of our cakes gets no comments we will try harder and plan better next time.

Very well put awela.


ellepal I also apologize to you.


I just feel that what I was trying to say did not come across the right way. There are many times I offer words of encouragement. We are need it, but I would also like to know what I can do different or better. If you (not meaning you personally but in general) don't feel comfortable posting it for all to see then PM me. I want to learn more than anything.


Once again ellepal I am sorry.