INPUT REQ: Photo Viewing Restrictions - YouLookFab Forum

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INPUT REQ: Photo Viewing Restrictions

Greg

There was a lot of positive response on the forum regarding the new photo viewing restrictions, but I'm wondering whether there is anyone here who DOESN'T like the change and would prefer their photos to be viewable to everyone (including viewers that aren't logged in).

One scenario that occurs to me is when people are also posting their photos to a blog (a lookfab blog or another blog) so they don't mind them being public.

If you fall into that category or would prefer your photos to be public immediately for any other reason, please reply here or send me a private message. If there is sufficient demand for this I will make it an option that individual members can control for their own photos.

General

60 replies

Latest reply was from Fruitful

Thistle

Veteran

I greatly prefer the change.

Greg

Thanks Thistle. In case it wasn't clear, I want to reassure everyone who likes the change that my question isn't about undoing the change.

Rather, I was thinking that individual members might like to check a box that says: "Make my photos visible to everyone".

Is there anyone here who would like to have that option for their own photos?

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I've made my blog visible to the general public. I don't mind making my photos visible.
I'm concerned that the change makes this website more exclusionary & insular.
ETA privacy is a bit tricky on the web anyways.

Day Vies

Veteran

I guess I would be in the camp you're talking about. I have a blog that's visible to everyone provided they visit my blog they can see my pictures. Here are my thoughts:
I really like the change because it forces people to commit to the forum, become a part of the community and participate in the discussions rather than just hanging back and saying nothing. They are benefitting from those of us who are putting themselves out there. It was really nice and surprising to see so many people come out of the woodwork sign up and start commenting because they aren't able to see the photos being discussed so readily. I even like the change as applied to my own situation for 2 reasons: first the change gets more people to visit my blog through the lookfab site; second it seems encourage more people to feel safe about posting whether they look fabulous or trying something out. It adds to the richness of this forum when we are able to see different silhouettes on different body types.
I hope this helps Greg and I hope you had a wonderful birthday.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I think an option is good. Why not? If you want to remain more private, we now have that. I say, sure, add the option to make them public for those who might want it.

Carole

Veteran

I didn't get to comment on your other thread, but was really happy about the change. Posting pictures is a little scary sometimes and this will help us feel a little more safe, secure and private. Thank you!

Anonymous

I see Anna's point, however, I think it has been shown that this change has brought lurkers out to participate (even just for long enough to become active members).

Either way (having an option or just making photos restricted by default) is fine by me.

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

I like the idea of an individual option that allows us as the poster to control the publicity. Would be beneficial to us bloggers who don't mind the public viewing.

I do like the change and the fact that lurkers are now coming out of the woodwork and is allowing them the freedom to now post their thoughts.

Having both options would be a perfect solution!

Kim

Veteran

Lots of lurkers are coming out but what about the future? I wonder how many will sign up and then make 5 comments brforr they ever see a picture? If I was just surfing (how I found YLF originally) and came upon these requirements to simply see the pics I would probably just move on with out looking further.

I think people who are very concerned about their privacy would never post pics under any conditions anyways.

Just my 2 cents. Im already an active member so the changes don't affect me much.

Greg

Anna and Kim, we're very conscious of those trade offs. And it is true that there is no complete privacy on the web. But this approach (1) eliminates the chance of forum photos being sucked into a social app that scrapes the pages (e.g. flipboard or something like it) and (2) slows down someone with malicious intent, hopefully to the extent that they move on.

Anyone else who would like to have the option of making their photos public?

SharLa

I agree with KIm. Could there be a way for those who wish more privacy to enable it, while allowing others to show photos? Of course there is the wonderful main blog page which all can see- always well done!! ( this from a lurker who became active in order to see y'alls creativity!)

SharLa

Thank-you for all your excellent hard work! I do not mean to complain- only to think along with you all!

Aquamarine

Veteran

New member here but long-time reader. I think having the option is the best of both worlds. Like Kim, I found this place through surfing and quickly became hooked because of the richness and professionalism of Angie's blog posts AND the efforts of the everyday person, so to speak, attempting to interpret Angie's guidelines and evolve style-wise. In other words, I saw myself in these women. As helpful as Angie's posts are, seeing how women of all shapes, sizes, and budgets used her tips really sold the site for me. So if SOME photos are available, I think the site will hook more readers.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

To be honest, I'm not sure what the change accomplishes, myself. It's not like people can't create an account and then see the pics then. It seems like it makes YLF less welcoming to newbies. If anyone's really anxious about posting their pics online they shouldn't do it at all - anything that's online can be hacked, after all. (Not that I have any idea what nefarious things could be done with fully clothed outfit pictures of adults, anyway, especially since they can be sans face or face fuzzed out...)

In any case, it seems like an option for 'yes, everyone can see my pics' on a user-by-user basis would be a good one to have.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

As my blog photos are viewable to everyone, I feel that is enough. Non-registered members can simply switch to blog mode to view pictures. Perhaps if readers see that on a home page -- that there are no thumbnails in the regular forum but there are some viewable in the blogs, it would direct them there, and have the benefit of getting more people into the blogs.

Liz A.

Veteran

I've never understood blog mode... aren't the blogs just a compilation of people's posts in the forum? Am I missing something?

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

And, no disrespect to you Anna, but I have a different opinion on what makes a forum exclusionary or not. I feel the tone of forum participation has the most to do with whether I feel comfortable signing up and joining in the conversation. If I feel I might receive a snarky comment as a newbie, I don't sign up. If I feel safe, I will.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Liz, if you go to my latest thread
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....o-formulas

and look underneath my avatar, there is a paragraph that reads "this is also viewable in my blog" or something to that effect. In that paragraph there is a link to the blog, so you can easily switch to blog mode. Also, on the home forum page there are thumbnails that say "recently on lookfab blogs." There might be other ways to get into the blogs, maybe others/Greg can comment.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Another thought (are you getting sick of me?)
Since pictures are not viewable to non-members, maybe there could be a step-by-step guide like the three stickies at the top of the forum. Or maybe just re-name one of them so it says "If you're new to YLF start here."

Greg

Laura, regarding what the change accomplishes, it is these two things I mentioned above:

eliminates the chance of forum photos being sucked into a social app that scrapes the pages (e.g. flipboard or something like it).
slows down someone with malicious intent, hopefully to the extent that they move on.

Liz, the lookfab blog is an extremely simple way to create your own blog for people who don't want to go to the trouble of using tumblr, blogger etc. When you create a forum post you can check a box that also puts that post on your lookfab blog. You also have your own blog address (like mine, http://ylfoto.lookfab.com) for those posts.

Here is the post where we introduced lookfab blogs: http://youlookfab.com/backstag.....-own-blog/

Greg

CocoLion, yes, we do need something like that.

jayne

Veteran

I am for the 'show my pictures to everyone' option. I say that because being able to see others participating before joining (ie, giving my email and all that) can help get people involved. I joined and lurked for 6 months reading and feeling safe before I ever posted a picture myself. The pictures I could see already and knew they were there. I do not know how the site looks without the pictures available but it might be less tempting to read since the picture helped alot to get me interested to begin with. I understand that you are making a change designed to help protect us. Very considerate of you. But I did think it was fine before and it is still me making the choice to put a picture out there and I would not 'blame' YLF if one got misused somehow. (a view from the other side)

Day Vies

Veteran

I think fear that the forum is less welcoming sans access to pictures is unfounded. I have visited YLF without being logged in and saw thumbnails of outfits when I viewed the threads in "pinterest" mode. The titles of the threads are compelling but it does (at least for me) stir more mystery and intrigue to read what people liked about an outfit without actually being able to see it. As a result I think more people will sign up because they want to see what all the "killer" outfits look like. The general respect and warmth in communication still comes through loud and clear -- people can still read everything written; there just isn't the instant gratification of seeing the thread's accompanying pictures. I think it's a step up from signing up and not being able to post an original thread for 10 days. I do not think this will tamp down the popularity of this community or prevent people from feeling welcomed.

Joyce B

Veteran

I think having an option to go private or public is a good idea.
I agree with Kim, if I had not seen the forum with pictures before, I would not have signed up. I would have thought that this was an exclusive club and would not have bothered to read the posts and much less to sign-up.
I am still waiting for the pictures to go active for me. 9 more days, I suppose.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Ah, I was a little sad because of my blog (which a couple people read, but not a whole lot), but now I see that blog photos are viewable to the general public? That setup is alright with me.

It does make me wonder, though, how newbies will get excited and hooked on the forum without being able to view pictures.

Gracie

Veteran

I think the option for private/public viewing of photos is a great idea, and would keep more people coming to the forum.

I admit I felt somehow "rejected" when, after over two years of almost-daily reading, learning and making purchases inspired by members and Angie's recommendations, I got "cut off" with no warning. So now we have ten days of no photos – it will be hard to catch up with my favorite people, but I sure will try.

I thought hard before joining. My "on the other hand" thinking was, perhaps it's a wake-up call/a great opportunity to reduce my time online – it would happen naturally if I didn't join, as I would only click to read the posts without photos, which is what I'm doing nowadays.

All I could think of is that something really bad happened that necessitated the immediate change. And probably very justified – I admire the courage of all members who post photos and open themselves up to the community.

Thank you Greg and Angie for the creation of this fab community – I fully support whatever decisions you make – you know best! We do have to remember we are receiving all these privileges For Free.

PamelaK

I also support having the option to show or not show your own photos.

As far as the effect on newbies, it would have made a difference to me had I not been able to see any photos. I read Angie's blog for several months before I really became interested in the forum. But once I understood what I forum was about and saw the WIWs, I read everything. Other people's posts sometimes mirrored my own struggles, sometimes were inspiring and sometimes prompted me to act like a lemming. A happy spot in a very challenging time in my life.

The new rules have encouraged me to overcome my shyness but I was already hooked.

Greg

Thank you for all the great input (and please keep it coming).

Before deciding the make this change we realized that new people might be put off, but what we didn't realize that there would be so many "quiet" people on the forum who were observing but not participating. This is wonderful to find out, but also must be factored into the design.

Almost every new feature or change teaches us something new about what's happening here on YLF. We'll continue to think about how we can do a better job of accomplishing the different goals that people have.

Thanks again.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I think the benefits of having an option out-weigh the possibility that it may put some people off & agree with DV the overall feeling of the forum is still there even without all the photos being visible. From the sound of it there are enough fabbers who will go public to make people realise what they are missing

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