SHOW OFF YOUR PENS -new category?

[jttheclockman]

Hello Curt and Mal

Just wanted to make a comment on your comment. You are indeed entitled to your opinion. But may I ask you to read the entire thread before making the accusations you made??? As with most threads and suggestions things evolve. The statement about kitless only has changed by the OP. After a few members have brought to his attention that, and i will use the word WOW pens can be made with kits as well as kitless, he has agreed to this and encourage them to be included.

You use the word ELITE. What would you call those pens that are above and beyond what you see here everyday?? Attach that word to them. This idea of this thread is not to single out anyone especially as you call them ellitists. The idea of this thread is try to get a sub category in the forums and I am not sure where you would put it (but to me it makes sense in the show your pen). It is an attempt to preserve and archive those special pens that stand out because of technique, looks, odd materials used, shape or form or whatever quaifications that are agreed upon. How this happens will take some thought. Weather it is a member vote or a committee vote or a combination remains to be seen.

As far as making them and entering into the guild is not what this site is about. You want the members to stay here and share their work here. It benefits everyone. There is no down side to this. When you were growing up and went to school, did it not occur to you that the teacher was smarter than you??? Lets make these our teachers. Lead by example and that is what you want the better pen makers to do. Not everyone can be expected to make that special outstanding pen but it is not for lack of info here or ideas. It is up to each and every one of us to do the best we can and be thankful for it. Enjoy the ride man.

I mean you have these contests in so many catagories and so few people enter compared to the membership. But there is always a winner. Nothing holding anyone back from entering except you and you alone.

I do not want to put words in the OP mouth but these last 2 comments are bit on the bashing side.

 

[Ironwood]

I think if this is done properly, it will not divide or cause division in the forum. It should not be tailored to exclude any member.

I don't know what this new thing could called, but I hope it would give everyone inspiration when browsing through it. There is so much talent in this group I think it would be a shame not to highlight that and help to preserve it, just like the library is used to preserve, achive, and just plain make it easier to find stuff.

There is already a thread rating system in the SOYP forum, though it doesn't get much use. I was only made aware of it just recently when some kind person rated one of my pens with 5 stars. When I saw this I checked and there were a few other threads that someone had rated as well, it is not used as often as it should be though, a lot of worthy pens slip through unrated.
Maybe this system could be utilised better to help here, though I can see how this could be abused, it would still require moderation to keep it fair.

 

[BradG]

lol wow. if you can get that wound up over a suggestion on a wesbite you may want to wear underwear what isn't so tight :biggrin:

In management, bad ideas are welcomed. it's a starting block. someone has the balls to speak up with an idea. The brighter people who read the bad suggestion take inspiration from it to come up with a better idea. Through evolution the end result seldom resembles the original concept.

The personal attacks you made on me for how you interpreted the post to be frank is laughable. We're all friends here, just sharing ideas. They won't always be pearlers.

 

[magpens]

I like Katya's idea that we all have a FavoUrites folder (love the Canadian spelling !!) . That way we all can preserve what we personally really like. . Brilliant idea !!

I wonder if it would be difficult to adapt the site software to offer this feature.

And also the idea of nominating a FavoUrite of the Month !!

Forgive me for going off topic ... you have forgiven others, so forgive me too ! :biggrin::biggrin:

What if we combined a few of these ideas.. post all pen pics in a larger format- I agree, sometimes it takes a while to click on each pen.

And then create a "favourites" folder that we each have. That way we can each store our favourites online where we can access them easily.

And every month, we could nominate a favourite for "Members' Choice of the Month" or something...

 

[Smitty37]

A few questions and a statement

These questions are Rhetorical and don't require an answer, they're just asking you to think.

How many truly unique pens do we see in the course of a Year?

Of that number, how many are unique only because of the pen blank?

Of those unique because of the blank, how many are simply someone found a new item to cast around.

Of those unique because of the blank, how many are unique because someone found a new material to make into blanks whether it looks different than other materials or not.

How many 'kit-less' pens are unique meaning they don't look like a pen that might be a kit.

Now the statement of opinion. I have seen no good reason presented to make any change to SYOP or have a hall of fame or to have any kind of elite showings.

 

[jttheclockman]

These questions are Rhetorical and don't require an answer, they're just asking you to think.

How many truly unique pens do we see in the course of a Year?

Of that number, how many are unique only because of the pen blank?

Of those unique because of the blank, how many are simply someone found a new item to cast around.

Of those unique because of the blank, how many are unique because someone found a new material to make into blanks whether it looks different than other materials or not.

How many 'kit-less' pens are unique meaning they don't look like a pen that might be a kit.

Now the statement of opinion. I have seen no good reason presented to make any change to SYOP or have a hall of fame or to have any kind of elite showings.

Those are all good questions to ask if this comes to surface.

Now let me ask you a question in regards to your opinion and by no means am I demeaning it. But food for thought.

How can this hurt??? (Please do not say feelings will be hurt I am tired of that one). It is another tool to use. A place to go to see archieved some of the very special pens that stands head and shoulders above many that are shown here. You know you have seen pens here that fit that bill. Man I can think of quite a few that I remember. To find them now I would have to do an extensive search. Not remembering who made them or what the thread was called or what the pen was called can be daunting.

Here is just one example
http://www.penturners.org/forum/f17...ow-never-blow-up-blank-while-drilling-131424/

But more-so it just create a small place on the site to go look for the special pens if you truely want to see eye candy.

Remember back when there were so many fights about vendors muddying up the threads with unsolicited adds??
Remember back when the Vendor forums were created??? Remember all the negativity??? Now look at them.

Just saying How can this hurt??? You will never please everyone and that is proven over and over here. I hope it at least gets tried. If it does not work out then pull it.

 

[Smitty37]

These questions are Rhetorical and don't require an answer, they're just asking you to think.

How many truly unique pens do we see in the course of a Year?

Of that number, how many are unique only because of the pen blank?

Of those unique because of the blank, how many are simply someone found a new item to cast around.

Of those unique because of the blank, how many are unique because someone found a new material to make into blanks whether it looks different than other materials or not.

How many 'kit-less' pens are unique meaning they don't look like a pen that might be a kit.

Now the statement of opinion. I have seen no good reason presented to make any change to SYOP or have a hall of fame or to have any kind of elite showings.

Those are all good questions to ask if this comes to surface.

Now let me ask you a question in regards to your opinion and by no means am I demeaning it. But food for thought.

How can this hurt??? (Please do not say feelings will be hurt I am tired of that one). It is another tool to use. A place to go to see archieved some of the very special pens that stands head and shoulders above many that are shown here. You know you have seen pens here that fit that bill. Man I can think of quite a few that I remember. To find them now I would have to do an extensive search. Not remembering who made them or what the thread was called or what the pen was called can be daunting.

Here is just one example
http://www.penturners.org/forum/f17...ow-never-blow-up-blank-while-drilling-131424/

But more-so it just create a small place on the site to go look for the special pens if you truely want to see eye candy.

Remember back when there were so many fights about vendors muddying up the threads with unsolicited adds??
Remember back when the Vendor forums were created??? Remember all the negativity??? Now look at them.

Just saying How can this hurt??? You will never please everyone and that is proven over and over here. I hope it at least gets tried. If it does not work out then pull it.

I didn't say it would hurt JT.

 

[Dale Lynch]

I'm with JT and others about having a special place for special pens.This discussion has happened before and will happen again.To all the objectors I ask why shouldn't these http://www.penturners.org/forum/f18/hall-fame-113146/index4.html#post1563624 pens be saved for posterity in a single place?Do you have any idea how hard and time consuming it was to go through all those threads to find these few truly unique pens.

 

[jttheclockman]

I'm with JT and others about having a special place for special pens.This discussion has happened before and will happen again.To all the objectors I ask why shouldn't these http://www.penturners.org/forum/f18/hall-fame-113146/index4.html#post1563624 pens be saved for posterity in a single place?Do you have any idea how hard and time consuming it was to go through all those threads to find these few truly unique pens.

Oh yea, I remember that little experiment. Thanks for bringing that back. Yes those are more examples that just meet the criteria if you ask me. No one remembers them. They are not talked about. And yet they are pens that are above the norm you see here and no one can dispute that. Why shouldn't they be in the archives somewhere???

That little experiment just proved back then that with all the pages of SOYP pens not many stood out. We are not talking alot of pens in the course of a year.

Well I am done with this thread. I voiced my opinion enough and I wish Brad all the luck with his attempt at this. Mine have failed over the years and maybe he will have better success. Good luck to all. Happy Turning.

 

[PenPal]

Brad I am glad you raised the points you have the discussion has been as always an opportunity to voice thoughts its called loosely democracy.

Thank you for the stimulation your beaut creations have provided for me.

Peter.

 

[Smitty37]

I'm with JT and others about having a special place for special pens.This discussion has happened before and will happen again.To all the objectors I ask why shouldn't these http://www.penturners.org/forum/f18/hall-fame-113146/index4.html#post1563624 pens be saved for posterity in a single place?Do you have any idea how hard and time consuming it was to go through all those threads to find these few truly unique pens.

On the other hand, if a pen is really that good, it is worth a little time and effort to hunt up the picture. Is it not?

 

[mredburn]

I'm with JT and others about having a special place for special pens.This discussion has happened before and will happen again.To all the objectors I ask why shouldn't these http://www.penturners.org/forum/f18/hall-fame-113146/index4.html#post1563624 pens be saved for posterity in a single place?Do you have any idea how hard and time consuming it was to go through all those threads to find these few truly unique pens.

On the other hand, if a pen is really that good, it is worth a little time and effort to hunt up the picture. Is it not?

Newer Members wont even know they exist.
If you dont know they exist you dont know where to find them much less what to look for. For older members that have seen the pen and can vaguely remember who made it, yes they can probably find it. Or at the least ask in a thread if anyone else remembers the pen and pen maker.

 

[Dale Lynch]

Give it a shot smitty.It's not a little time needed,it's alot of time.Go through thread after thread,no computer wizardry shortcutting the process.See how long it takes you to probide the threads that they are in.Afterwards come back and tell me how many members do you think are going to go through with all that to find them.

 

[Smitty37]

I'm not advising Jeff not to do it. I don't see any good reason to do it but frankly, I don't really have a dog in the hunt either way.

In almost 6 years I've never felt the need to go looking back for a specific pen picture myself. Although I do admit to going back to the worlds top 10 most expensive pens.

If the feature is added I will be unlikely to use it if it is not added I won't feel like I've missed anything, so I'm really OK with any outcome of this debate.

 

[maxwell_smart007]

The question becomes 'what is feasible' - any change involves Jeff doing some coding - some of which can become extensive coding...so it has to be a feasible, warranted change, and it may only happen if and when Jeff has time to devote into making sure it works well...

That is, if it's a feasible, warranted change - so convince Jeff that you have an idea that will work!

 

[BradG]

Id have said a tiled gallery would be great. 4 or 5 thumbnails in rows across, multiple down. The picture enlarges when clicked. Perhaps a link to the original thread under the picture

Pretty sure there's precoded forum addons for that to save Jeff the work.

 

[magpens]

Smitty, where and how do you do that ....... ???

In almost 6 years I've never felt the need to go looking back for a specific pen picture myself. Although I do admit to going back to the worlds top 10 most expensive pens.

 

[GaryMGg]

LIL
I read this entire thread.

Raise your hand if you think these are WOW:

Just finished these three Slimline pens.

Snakewood with Corian bands.
Ivory inlays.
Hard to see the black Micarta inlays in the center one.
They dont stand out very well in the Snakewood.

Now, try to find them without using the URL.
Good luck.

 

[mark james]

LIL
I read this entire thread.

Raise your hand if you think these are WOW:

Now, try to find them without using the URL.
Good luck.

My hand is raised...

Took about 15 seconds... (You gave me a head start). I did a search for "Snakewood with corian pens"

http://www.penturners.org/forum/f56/three-new-slimline-pens-66208/

The issue as Mike said, is that newer members will have never seen these great pens.

For what it's worth, I support a forum photo album that has brilliant pens to view... But as the above discussion indicates, there are issues...

 

[Smitty37]

Smitty, where and how do you do that ....... ???

In almost 6 years I've never felt the need to go looking back for a specific pen picture myself. Although I do admit to going back to the worlds top 10 most expensive pens.

I usually just google "worlds most expensive pens" or something similar. There are at least two lists that show up.

 

[magpens]

The direction this thread is now going is quite different from how it started in the OP.

I have reread this whole thread more than twice. I like what Spanx and Mike Redburn have said above.

I really liked looking at the group of excellent pens that Spanx previously found and posted in an earlier thread of a similar theme.

I have been enlightened to the point where I have decided that I would really like to have a gallery of such pen pictures readily available. It would be really fun and inspiring to occasionally browse those pictures AND find out who made them and how.
I am sure that newbies would love to look at such a gallery and view what they could aspire to.

I have come to see that this is not an elitist pursuit. I apologize for using the word previously - (noting that I was not the first poster to do so in this thread) - before I was aware that the thread was taking a different direction from the OP.

I do not like the term "Hall of Fame" because it draws the focus to the maker rather than the pen, although I admit that there is really nothing wrong with acknowledging an especially gifted/skilled/equipped maker - we all do that, e.g. Russ Fairfield.

The term "Gallery of Excellence" might be more appropriate but an even better term may emerge.

An important point to me is that it is not left up to the maker of the pen to choose to post his creation in such a Gallery from the beginning.

I don't know how the selection process/criteria should be formulated but we can discuss that and consider some suggestions that have been made in this thread.

I agree with others, including Skiprat on the first page, that creating a forum for kitless ONLY may not be the thing to do at this stage. Many of us aspire to doing kitless but right now I can think of only a dozen or less who post kitless pens regularly.

So there it is, folks - I, along with this thread, have changed my direction !

I support the idea of starting a Gallery of Excellence within the compass of the IAP.

 

[Smitty37]

LIL
I read this entire thread.

Raise your hand if you think these are WOW:

Now, try to find them without using the URL.
Good luck.

My hand is raised...

Took about 15 seconds... (You gave me a head start). I did a search for "Snakewood with corian pens"

http://www.penturners.org/forum/f56/three-new-slimline-pens-66208/

The issue as Mike said, is that newer members will have never seen these great pens.

For what it's worth, I support a forum photo album that has brilliant pens to view... But as the above discussion indicates, there are issues...

Which one would make the "hall of fame". Why would they make it? And how would they be chosen?

 

[GaryMGg]

How about this: probably one of the first of its kind:

http://www.penturners.org/forum/f13/one-kind-23933/
?!?

 

[Smitty37]

How about this: probably one of the first of its kind:

http://www.penturners.org/forum/f13/one-kind-23933/
?!?

First let me say this...I am in no way faulting the pens or the workmanship or the design - all are great and they are lovely pens.

Having said that First of it's kind in what way? Slimline without a center band? Mixing man made and natural materials? Segmenting? Making use of inlays? I think all of those techniques were probably used earlier.

Selection for a Gallery of Excellence or anything similar, whatever it's called, becomes highly subjective. And what does not get included can cause as much grief and what does get included causes joy.

 

[GaryMGg]

Selection for a Gallery of Excellence or anything similar, whatever it's called, becomes highly subjective. And what does not get included can cause as much grief ...

True.
Should we stop having contests?--not everyone can win.
Best of breed is subjective in an art/craft activity.
It's still valuable to see what subjective opinions deem something best, wonderful, spectacular, innovative OR whatever name is given.
I think people feel hurt too easy and often.

 

[Dale Lynch]

Smitty,if feelings are hurt for not having a pen selected for the gallery they can rest easy.Any pen in the gallery is still not in the same league as the big boys.Top 10 Most Expensive Pens in The World 2015

I would hope still that pens selected would be an inspiration to other artists.Maybe one day an artist would rise up to compete with the bog boys.

 

[Smitty37]

Selection for a Gallery of Excellence or anything similar, whatever it's called, becomes highly subjective. And what does not get included can cause as much grief ...

True.
Should we stop having contests?--not everyone can win.
Best of breed is subjective in an art/craft activity.
It's still valuable to see what subjective opinions deem something best, wonderful, spectacular, innovative OR whatever name is given.
I think people feel hurt too easy and often.

So do I but that's the world we live in.

 

[Smitty37]

Smitty,if feelings are hurt for not having a pen selected for the gallery they can rest easy.Any pen in the gallery is still not in the same league as the big boys.Top 10 Most Expensive Pens in The World 2015

I would hope still that pens selected would be an inspiration to other artists.Maybe one day an artist would rise up to compete with the bog boys.

See my post #94 and also post #100 - I know about that site.

 

[Ironwood]

There are some great pens archived in these threads, http://www.penturners.org/forum/f55/

I doubt there were any objections when they were singled out and included here.

There are a couple of beauties by Jay Pickens in there, he doesn't seem to have left a very big footprint on the forum, does anyone remember him ?

 

[Ironwood]

Here are a couple more worthy to be added to any list.....

http://www.penturners.org/forum/f13/aluminum-acrylic-homemade-clip-80171/

http://www.penturners.org/forum/f13/titanium-twist-fountain-pen-12693/

I think Bruces pen could rival a few in that top 10 list just quietly.
I know it is not a pen that most could not even dream of making, but hey, look at the collective talent that this forum has.

 

[Dale Lynch]

Yes those are great pens and worthy of cosideration.When it comes to past members no longer visiting,if they made similar designs,multiple times I would recomend selecting the best one.

 

[jttheclockman]

OK I just got home this morning and see that Smitty is still playing Devils Advocate which he is always good at. I say this Smitty as you said yourself you will find no interest in this,than maybe step away from this conversation. As far as pointing to the most expensive pens. What is the point there??? This is not about how many diamonds are used or gold cast on a pen. That is what those pens are and there are plenty more examples of them. I can show you sites that have tons of expensive pens. We are talking strickly this site. The pen makers of the past present and future should have a forum where they can go to and look at some of the extreme pens displayed HERE. Has nothing at all to do with cost of pen or money spent making it.

I see people are digging out old pens that they remember which is great and hope if this come to light that we have the opportunity to include them. Some of those bring back memories especially when you start showing some of Eagles creations. I think that will be somewhat of a challenge to go back and relive some of these pens. It will be easier from this point on. But who knows maybe someone ten years from now may look back at a pen and ask the question why such and such pen did not make it??? So this can be an ever evolving forum..

I am getting a sense that it may be time to start another thread and start getting some ground rules established and or ideas as to how this can take place. We also may like to choose a Title for this. One thing I agree with Brad on is we need to let the photo be the center point. Weather it is full size or thumbnail photos is something maybe Jeff would have to decide. But somewhere under the photo a link to the thread should be included in case someone wants to check that pen out further. Now of course certain people here are going to have multiple pens displayed but that is to be expected because they may work with many mediums and designs. It should be the pen honored and not the crafter. I highly think if we as adults leave the dirty politics out of this that this can be a great idea. Yes I have fought for this idea before and will any time someone brings it to light. I think it has some momentum so lets keep it going.

 

[Smitty37]

OK I just got home this morning and see that Smitty is still playing Devils Advocate which he is always good at. I say this Smitty as you said yourself you will find no interest in this,than maybe step away from this conversation. As far as pointing to the most expensive pens. What is the point there??? This is not about how many diamonds are used or gold cast on a pen. That is what those pens are and there are plenty more examples of them. I can show you sites that have tons of expensive pens. We are talking strickly this site. The pen makers of the past present and future should have a forum where they can go to and look at some of the extreme pens displayed HERE. Has nothing at all to do with cost of pen or money spent making it.

I see people are digging out old pens that they remember which is great and hope if this come to light that we have the opportunity to include them. Some of those bring back memories especially when you start showing some of Eagles creations. I think that will be somewhat of a challenge to go back and relive some of these pens. It will be easier from this point on. But who knows maybe someone ten years from now may look back at a pen and ask the question why such and such pen did not make it??? So this can be an ever evolving forum..

I am getting a sense that it may be time to start another thread and start getting some ground rules established and or ideas as to how this can take place. We also may like to choose a Title for this. One thing I agree with Brad on is we need to let the photo be the center point. Weather it is full size or thumbnail photos is something maybe Jeff would have to decide. But somewhere under the photo a link to the thread should be included in case someone wants to check that pen out further. Now of course certain people here are going to have multiple pens displayed but that is to be expected because they may work with many mediums and designs. It should be the pen honored and not the crafter. I highly think if we as adults leave the dirty politics out of this that this can be a great idea. Yes I have fought for this idea before and will any time someone brings it to light. I think it has some momentum so lets keep it going.

JT why do you feel the need to get personal?

My casual mention of the most expensive pen list was obviously in passing - a member who didn't seem to know it existed asked how I found and I told him. Someone else posted a link to it, and I referred him back to the first couple of posts so it would not become a subject of this thread.

Check my posts and you'll find that my position has always been neutral. Not once have I said don't do it. I said that I had seen no good reason offered to do it as it was originally presented, which is not the same as saying "don't do it."

Once the thread had moved to where most of the posts were talking about implementing it and someone posted a picture they felt represented the kind of pens they thought should be included. I asked why they thought they should be included. After I clearly stated I thought they were beautiful pens and the workmanship of the maker was great.

When the answer to my question came back - I asked a couple of more questions pertaining to the reason given as to why they should be included.

Actually they are the kind of questions that will have to be answered about every pen you include in such a gallery. Unless entry is made so easy that it will be meaningless, there will have to be a reason why each pen chosen.

If asking hard questions intended to make people think a little is playing the devil's advocate then I am guilty.

 

[Carl Fisher]

I've been on the forum for quite a few years now and there are still a ton of WOW pens that I know I've never had the pleasure of seeing. Either because I can't keep up with the forum every day or because they were posted before I really got started.

A gallery that can be browsed would be wonderful. If you find a particular person who made a pen that made you go WOW, odds are they have made others and I'd love to be able to click on their album and see the pens they've made.

There is a "gallery" associated with each user already, but that requires people actually using it and knowing who to search out, especially if they are not an actively posting member anymore.

SOYP is a great place, but it definitely doesn't lend to visually browsing historical entries.

 

[jeff]

Id have said a tiled gallery would be great. 4 or 5 thumbnails in rows across, multiple down. The picture enlarges when clicked. Perhaps a link to the original thread under the picture

Pretty sure there's precoded forum addons for that to save Jeff the work.

Every album category has a gallery view.

Such as this for the featured pens album.

Edit: I intended to say that I can create an album into which anyone can upload.

 

[southernclay]

Carl you just hit on something I've been thinking. The historic aspect more so than the right now thinning down of the heap so to speak.

I liked the OP's point. The kitless category doesn't quite cover it but how do you narrow down the field? The quantity of likes that Brad mentioned is the simplest way to do it going forward. That may turn into some politics and strategic bumps but nothings perfect. So how many likes sends this pen into WOWdom? I would think 30, 40 or 50? I don't know that I have ever received that many likes on a post, I've made some decent pens but none that I would feel need to be pushed into a special section so that's why I think start around 30-40. 50 happens on a rare occasion it seems.

The downside with the "like" election is the past pens that occasionally pop up and are fantastic. Again nothing's perfect but it would be a cool thing to have a special gallery.

 

[Ed McDonnell]

I wonder how hard it would be to implement the ability to search the SOYP forum based on a specified number of likes. For example, if you could search SOYP for posts with more than 50 likes it would show you a pretty good selection of popular pens. Want to see more, search for 25+ likes. Want to see fewer search for 100+ likes. Want to see every pen, just go thread by thread like many do now.

I have no idea how hard a "like" search criteria would be to implement, but it would eliminate many of the concerns expressed in this thread. No pens would be singled out as more or less awesome than another, other than the expression of "likes" that already takes place. Those interested could find the more popular pens whenever they want. Nobody needs to make a decision on what to add to a gallery or what to exclude from a gallery. And there would be no separate gallery for anybody to maintain. It's all in the SOYP and people can choose to view it however they want.


Ed

 

[jeff]

I wonder how hard it would be to implement the ability to search the SOYP forum based on a specified number of likes. For example, if you could search SOYP for posts with more than 50 likes it would show you a pretty good selection of popular pens. Want to see more, search for 25+ likes. Want to see fewer search for 100+ likes. Want to see every pen, just go thread by thread like many do now.

I have no idea how hard a "like" search criteria would be to implement, but it would eliminate many of the concerns expressed in this thread. No pens would be singled out as more or less awesome than another, other than the expression of "likes" that already takes place. Those interested could find the more popular pens whenever they want. Nobody needs to make a decision on what to add to a gallery or what to exclude from a gallery. And there would be no separate gallery for anybody to maintain. It's all in the SOYP and people can choose to view it however they want.


Ed

That would require custom code and isn't something I believe should be done at this point. The forum is so heavily customized now that the looming upgrade will be a nightmare. I don't want to make it any worse.

Thread rating is already turned on in that forum, and that's a sortable field.

 

[BradG]

Every album category has a gallery view.

Such as this for the featured pens album.

Edit: I intended to say that I can create an album into which anyone can upload.

Would there be a way of hiding all of the file information? just it kinda looks like a file browser more than one of those swish photo galleries.

I wonder how hard it would be to implement the ability to search the SOYP forum based on a specified number of likes. For example, if you could search SOYP for posts with more than 50 likes it would show you a pretty good selection of popular pens. Want to see more, search for 25+ likes. Want to see fewer search for 100+ likes. Want to see every pen, just go thread by thread like many do now.

I have no idea how hard a "like" search criteria would be to implement, but it would eliminate many of the concerns expressed in this thread. No pens would be singled out as more or less awesome than another, other than the expression of "likes" that already takes place. Those interested could find the more popular pens whenever they want. Nobody needs to make a decision on what to add to a gallery or what to exclude from a gallery. And there would be no separate gallery for anybody to maintain. It's all in the SOYP and people can choose to view it however they want.


Ed

Would be good if attributes were possible when posting a pen such as stating material type, so for arguments sake I could search for metal pens. I appreciate that would be alot of coding, and can understands Jeff's concerns about trying to integrate more with an update looming.

Jeff, just a thought... but rather than touching the forum, would hosting a photography gallery on the web server be possible? it could be integrated into the site just by links being placed on the forum which direct to it or opens it in a sub frame, if that's the correct wording.

Granted this one is a hosted online service, but serves as an example as to how they might be displayed.

Pixieset - Example

I quite like the design of the gallery on my website too, which is hosted by Wix. Not sure where we would find such a gallery as server side software though

 

[jttheclockman]

Smitty I am not going to turn this into a battle of words with you because from the past I know where it goes and it is not pretty.

One thing has to be remembered when bringing up photos of the past that there was no "like" system in place. That was something that came across within a few years ago and Jeff could tell you when exactly.

I am thinking this project would require 2 parts. The first part would be a place to store the photos which I vote for in the Photos forums under its own heading. The second part where you can post a photo of a pen to be considered in the first part. There it can be voted on or discussed. My thoughts would be to have such pens posted and the like system can be implemented. Each pen starting from zero. A time limit of say 1 year and have a target number of likes it must reach to be accepted. 60 or higher seems logical. If it is truely a WOW pen that should not be a problem. Gives plenty of time for members to view as long as you can only vote once. At the end of the year those that make the grade are transfered and then the post is removed from the request thread.

Now here comes the technical stuff though. Is it possible to to do this automatically with software or would it have to be done manually with a person(or persons) chosen to oversee the entries and remove them. Each pen needs to be seen for that designated time such as 1 year.

Now in all fairness the "Request thread" would probably be too busy unless we limit it somehow for a short period of time. You do not want to overwhelm people right away and discourage them from looking and voting. It will eventually slow down and become more managable as time passes. Not many pens get that WOW look of approval during the year.

OK That is some of my thoughts. This will be an ongoing discussion and I see this as a changable event also. As time goes by things may change and criteria may have to change.