I Have A Question (Or An Obersvation - Not Sure)
Decorating By Stefy Updated 21 Dec 2006 , 7:51pm by ntertayneme
Why do people post pictures in the forums soliciting compliments? I thought that was what the picture gallery is for. I thought the only time you were supposed to post an attachment to a forum was to provide instruction or something along that nature. In my opinion, it's a bit ostentatious. Again, only my opinion.
I don't know if there are rules about it, but if you can't ask for honest opinions here among cake decorating peers, who can you get honest opinions from? If that opinion happens to be a compliment, then so be it. I've seen plenty of "constructive criticisms" and advice given, too. It's much more than just an ego stroke.
I've never done this myself, but should I need an objective opinion from people who know what they're talking about, I'd go to the forums for help. Pictures can get lost in the large volumes posted in the galleries.
rsaun
Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 3:47 am Post subject:
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I don't know if there are rules about it, but if you can't ask for honest opinions here among cake decorating peers, who can you get honest opinions from? If that opinion happens to be a compliment, then so be it. I've seen plenty of "constructive criticisms" and advice given, too. It's much more than just an ego stroke.
I've never done this myself, but should I need an objective opinion from people who know what they're talking about, I'd go to the forums for help. Pictures can get lost in the large volumes posted in the galleries
ditto! 
and i have a hunch that this will be another controversial topic.. 
Welll sometimes people post thier pic in the forum because they have asked for help throughout the whole process of making the cake and just wanted to show it to them. I have also notice that people also post thier pic in the forum to get constructive critism-- which is something you really don't get in the gallery.
I don't see anything wrong in saying "Hey I've just finished this PAID cake and I'm wondering if you can give me some opinions on how it looks is it good is it bad do I need to add something remove something etc. The cake is the 2nd in my photos" or whatever... but the "rules" do state not to attach photos to forum posts AS WELL AS upload to the gallery because it's being uploaded twice and stored twice and takes up too much bandwidth and space.
Now going and saying please compliment me on this cake.... that in my opinion is begging for compliments lol but saying you've finished a cake you've asked for help on or whatever then it's ok.
I recently did a cake for my daughters school dance and asked so much advice on it and tips and such and when I was finished I did post that it was finished and uploaded to my photos if anyone would like to look at what I came up with. I think I may have gotten 1 or 2 comments on that picture.... I love getting photo comments but I don't ask for them I ask for advice on how to make it better 
I'm not talking about the ones that are asking for help or asking "what did I do wrong" or "what can I do better." I'm talking about the posts that are purely - "hey, look what I've done." In that respect, I thought that was what the galleries were for.
Also, I thought I read on here somewhere that they didn't want people uploading a bunch of pictures to the forums because of the space required - again, that's what the galleries are for.
I'm not looking to be controversial, just wondering
I see nothing wrong with it. Sometimes you are just so proud of a job you did on a cake that you want others to see it. The galleries change so fast that it's hard to keep up with them.
Other times - people want advice or help... either for that cake or the next one.
Either way - what is wrong with posting it? I love to see people's cakes and to find out the 'story' behind the cake. The galleries don't allow for a very long description. But I have read posts where people had a devil of a time with a cake and they post the pic and the story. It's great to see.
Sharing is what this site is all about. People can just ignore it if they don't want to comment or look at it.
i know what you are saying. i've seen a few posts with 3 or 4 pics of cakes in one thread not looking for constructive criticism but just to show that they are finished. but, often times, i think these members have been working with other members and getting help from them on these particular cakes.
but, maybe a better approach would be for these members to just say, "its in my photos". its only one click away for them. you just hit the 'photos' button at the bottom of their post.
BUT there are so many members who do just say "its in my photos". it may be a few people who don't visit cc often that don't realize the etiquette.
anyway, don't get yourself in a tizzy over it. you can always choose not to open the post. 
I just thought of something else... It could be that they have just recently found CC and are used to the "other" forum places (Wiltons) where you have no gallery or photo album and have to upload to each thread you make.... When I first came here from Wilton's forums I didn't know there was a place to put my photos... Could be they just need someone to tell them in a PM that they are supposed to upload photos to their album and refer back to the album with a link to the pic and not the actual pic
I say let's just assume the best of people. I think most people who post photos in the forums have good intentions. Some may be struggling as decorators and really need encouragement--who knows?
If you think someone is really just vain and fishing for compliments, ignore them!
What's the big deal? Sometimes people want feedback, sometimes they are proud. Some people don't have a comment section for their cakes. Either way, it's not a big deal to me. Maybe just posting the link to their cake in their gallery might be a better idea to save space, but either way, I'm not really sure why it would bother anyone.
Angie
I say let's just assume the best of people. I think most people who post photos in the forums have good intentions. Some may be struggling as decorators and really need encouragement--who knows?
If you think someone is really just vain and fishing for compliments, ignore them!
well said!
i can definitely see where some might see those who post pictures in the forum section as "cutting in line", so to speak. i do believe i've read on this site somewhere that all pictures were to be posted in the gallery? then again, there are many "rules" that are not followed, such as doing "bumps" and such.
Obviously a link to your gallery photo and/or a reference to your gallery would save a lot of space on the website and would give the readers an option to look at them or not.
IMHO it is also a little on the controversial side to make an example of posting a PAID cake, does it being PAID make it better than others? Janice
Welll sometimes people post thier pic in the forum because they have asked for help throughout the whole process of making the cake and just wanted to show it to them. I have also notice that people also post thier pic in the forum to get constructive critism-- which is something you really don't get in the gallery.
I agree with JustMe!
I, personally, LOVE seeing the end product after someone has been in the forum asking questions regarding a certain cake they are attempting to start/create/finish. It is great to see how the OP translated the construtive advice. Don't stop....I wanna see it from start to finish!
I'm not looking to be controversial, just wondering
I suppose if you were just wondering, and you didn't want to be controversial, you could have left out the fact that you think doing this is ostentatious.
Good point.
I don't mind pictures in threads at all sometimes it is what draws me to the thread to see that little paperclip. If I have nothing to say I don't. I understands about the whole space in the forum thing but maybe that should be addressed by a moderator. I wouldn't go stepping on anyones toes because I think they are fishing for compliments. Sometimes people need a little boost & there is nothing wrong with that.
With that said, I will go ahead and lock this thread as I feel everything that needs to be said has been ... I don't want it to turn negative and someone to get their feelings hurt.
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