Profile Images

1. 68

   Rudraposted 17 years ago

   Many have photos of themselves while many don’t. Just wondering why many don’t include their photos in their profile. Some have images of celebrities. I feel some are even pretending to be of the opposite gender. What are your views about this?

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   1. 82

      Patty Inglish, MSposted 17 years agoin reply to this

      Hi there. I don't have any photos of myself, but I am VERY aware of identity theft. Many folks living overseas have attempted to lift my identity in order to gain supporting papers for entrance into the USA for "karate tournaments."  Many folks in the US have tried to lift my identity in order to issue false belt rank certificates, etc. It's as big a business as fake college diplomas!

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   2. 65

      prettydarkhorseposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      how about you

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2. 76

   Lissieposted 17 years ago

   You have to laugh at the number of buxom "women" who appear to post here - usually on male dominated technical topics.  I think its pretty pathetic - especially if the hubber is over the age of 18! Like hello why would a hetero woman be attracted to your hub because of an obviously fake photo! The one that really intrigues me is that number of hubbers which have pictures with their significant other - that is kinda weird because to me your voice is yours not your partners and also there is the privacy issue - do they mind you pasting their photo over the internet?

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   1. 67

      relacheposted 17 years agoin reply to this

      Actually it's the "ladies" who make hundreds of hubs on female celebrities that crack me up.  It's very obvious the authors are male. 
      
      And when people post a pic of themselves and their partner, well, at least that other adult can have some say in the matter.  It's pics of kids being used as an adult avatar that I find a bit off, but then again, HubPages founder and CEO Paul Edmondson does that, so really, who can say?

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3. 68

   Mishaposted 17 years ago

   Whatever rolls your boat is fine with me.
   
   Rationale I see here is that pretty women or celebs pics help to build loyalty among young male visitors, and handsome guys and celebs - among female...
   
   I don't use this much on HP, but I use it extensively on my sites

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4. 0

   Marye Audetposted 17 years ago

   I don;t like to use my kids...and  the promo pic I used for my blogs is boring to me now...I use a picture of my horses because they are representative of what I normally write about..sustainable living/green/homesteading issues.  what I dislike is the naked/half naked/nearly naked pictures.

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5. 59

   Apaeposted 17 years ago

   I think its easier to trust a person in they have a photo of, what seems to be, themselves. But I really like the way you're not just talking about the pictures, but about the contents of one's hub. You're not judging a book by its cover. I've come to think that maybe some people think I'm male because of my CAD software hub. -shrug-

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   1. 68

      Mishaposted 17 years agoin reply to this

      Are you saying you are female?
      
      
      jk

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      1. 59

         Apaeposted 17 years agoin reply to this

         Haha you think?

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6. 88

   Marisa Wrightposted 17 years ago

   When posting photos, it's important to be aware of identity theft.  If someone has a good head and shoulders shot of you and your real name, it's a very short step to faking ID - especially if you give away your birthdate or where you live. 
   
   Several people have had their identities stolen on Facebook and MySpace exactly this way, so it does happen.

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7. 73

   Isabella Snowposted 17 years ago

   If some guy wants to use a pic of Britney Spears for his avatar, how does that really affect anyone else?

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8. 60

   carpesomediemposted 17 years ago

   I hate saying this, but when it comes to marketing, a pretty girl sells.  It's just the way the world works; I can see some profile pics taking advantage of that fact, and if that's how folks want to sell their hubs or garner attention to them, then so be it.

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   1. 76

      Lissieposted 17 years agoin reply to this

      
      But it only sells to hetero guys so the real question is what % of hetero guys are on the internet?

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      1. 73

         Isabella Snowposted 17 years agoin reply to this

         Actually, the real question is why y'all are so preoccupied with so many things other than just creating good hubs and making money - that's why you're here, isn't it?
         
         They arent breaking any rules, or hubpages wouldnt let them be here - so the daily complaints about this that and the other thing only wastes time you could have spent creating a good hub to earn money from.
         
         That, and it turns people off to the forums, which were actually remarkably congenial until recently.

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      2. 60

         carpesomediemposted 17 years agoin reply to this

         I don't think it just sells to hetero guys.  Typically, even girls will notice a pretty girl even if they don't consciously realize the're doing it.

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      3. 61

         shyamchatposted 17 years agoin reply to this

         I cannot give a figure , but, I believe many more than we would like to believe or be comfortable with.
         Many social sites encourage them and yet others do not.But, a good density of such people exist in social networks.

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9. 59

   Apaeposted 17 years ago

   I disagree. You can't spend your whole life just churning out articles to make money. Most people have a desire to live and be social, therefore we flock to the forums to chat about menial discrepancies, such as profile photos. We wouldn't come here if we didn't want to talk about these things, or had no opinion on them. That's just my opinion on what forums are about. No one's going to read a hub on profile photos anyway.

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   1. 83

      embitcaposted 17 years agoin reply to this

      Being sociable and talking about petty stuff is one thing, but there is a preoccupation on this forum with bitching about what other hubbers are doing. It's like the hub police. You'd think people would have better things to do with their day than search out hubs to flag or make catty remarks about how they have more traffic than someone else.

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      1. 68

         Mishaposted 17 years agoin reply to this

         I guess every community have such members - and I don't think it's about OP - topic was absolutely neutral from the start.
         Those members - you all know whom we are talking about - are probably needed to perform some functions still mysterious to me, or they wouldn't pop up in every community with such an inevitability

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      2. 73

         Isabella Snowposted 17 years agoin reply to this

         Well said.

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      3. STAFF

         pauldeedsposted 17 years agoin reply to this

         I agree with your sentiment to some extent, but I just want to make it clear that we really appreciate the people that take the time to flag hubs (even if we don't always concur with their assessments).   In particular I'd like to thank Relache, Terri Paajanen, compu-smart, Hoodala, Marisa Wright, SunSeven, Earth Angel, stubbs, jimmythejock, and Lissie.  They have all helped considerably in the last month to keep HubPages as free from spam and crap as it is.

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         1. 61

            Bovine Currencyposted 15 years agoin reply to this

            Thanks to all above.
            
            I agree.
            
            Hubpages is a very big community and a growing source of traffic in and out.  To keep this free of spam is not easy and should be commended.

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   2. 73

      Isabella Snowposted 17 years agoin reply to this

      The forums below were created for chit chat. This forum is about hub improvement.

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10. 91

    Paragliderposted 17 years ago

    If a pretty girl sells, where does that leave a woodcarving of an old man, I wonder? I previously used an Albanian flag, but stopped because a number of people seemed to associate it with nazism. Pity. Albania needs all the help it can get, as Europe's lost country.

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    1. 61

       Mim.A.posted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Well the only association with the Nazi era is that Albania sheltered few thousand jews from being well you know what by Nazis

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       1. 91

          Paragliderposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          Are you Albanian, by any chance? Your face could easily be from there. (I'm not, but I have Albanian connections)

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11. 68

    Rudraposted 17 years ago

    Talking about petty stuff is also being social.

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12. 60

    J.T.posted 17 years ago

    Thats more than well said, thats bulls eye

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13. 59

    Apaeposted 17 years ago

    Ah, so we have a debate here, do we? No one's pointing the finger here, someone just raised a topic which is actually making people think and reply.

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    1. 88

       Marisa Wrightposted 17 years agoin reply to this

       Apae, I'm with you.  I'm sure I'm one of those people Isabella is "pointing the finger at" as a Hub policeman.  All I can say is, if you don't want people to point out things that could be improved, don't have a thread called Hub Improvement.
       
       The trouble with email is that it's very easily misinterpreted, because no one can hear your tone of voice.  I do keep forgetting that, and I also forget that creative people can be super-sensitive - they often take personally comments that are not directed at them at all.

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       1. 73

          Isabella Snowposted 17 years agoin reply to this

          Don't do that.
          
          My problem with you is that you are utterly tactless in your approach and try to pass it off as honesty.
          
          That, and you go on and on and on and on and on.
          
          Take a break, get some hubbing done, and then you can come back and show us what a high quality hub looks like.

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       2. 83

          embitcaposted 17 years agoin reply to this

          There is a difference between offering suggestions for Hub Improvement and the kind of nanny-minding busybodying stuff that you do.  I thought the idea for Hub Improvement was for technical suggestions that the people who OWN Hubpages could make to help us all out -- not a forum for you and others to make digs about how other Hubbers go about creating their Hubs.
          
          Honestly, this forum is completely unpleasant as a result of this policeman attitude and I'm pretty much the last person who is super-sensitive about anything so don't even bother dismissing other people's concerns with that tack. Try worrying about yourself for a change.
          
          Tone and misinterpretation is just an excuse.  People have been adequately conveying tone since the dawn of the written word and before the invention of emoticons.

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          1. 73

             Isabella Snowposted 17 years agoin reply to this

             I agree, its almost to the point I don't want to use it anymore.
             
             If people feel a need to complain or make new suggestions, that's fine - but there is such a thing as couth, and there is such as thing as not dragging every complaint through every posting.

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       3. 68

          Mishaposted 17 years agoin reply to this

          Actually nobody was calling names or pointing fingers so far. You are the first to do this.
          
          I did enjoy this community until you started posting. I bet many people do share this view. I ask you to kindly stop doing what you are doing now, to cool down and to re-think your approach. If not, I would be the first to open the motion to ban you from those forums forever

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14. 73

    Isabella Snowposted 17 years ago

    This is a hub improvement forum, not a debate forum.

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    1. 91

       gamergirlposted 17 years agoin reply to this

       QFT (Quoted For Truth)

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15. 59

    Apaeposted 17 years ago

    I think we all need to cool down.
    
    And yes, I am one of those super-sensitive creative people and happen to feel extremely threatened by Isabella's comments right now.

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    1. 68

       Mishaposted 17 years agoin reply to this

       Ummm, are you sure? Cause I honestly don't see how anything posted by Isabella in this topic could possibly treatened you...

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16. 68

    darksideposted 17 years ago

    For the record I am male and that is a photoshopped image of me in my avatar.
    
    Only used the one filter.
    
    And I reckon it looks dead sexy if not a bit mysterious.

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17. 68

    Rudraposted 17 years ago

    Comeon Apae no need to feel threatened.

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18. 59

    Apaeposted 17 years ago

    Sorry, but I do feel threatened.

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19. 73

    Isabella Snowposted 17 years ago

    Me? LOL! This really made me giggle. Thank you, I'll be smiling all day.

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20. 59

    Apaeposted 17 years ago

    Yeah, I thought you'd quite enjoy that.

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21. 76

    jimmythejockposted 17 years ago

    hubpages have a very small team, and "policing" hubpages is not just their responsibility, they need help to weed out the crap and offensive hubs that is why we have flagging, thumbs up and thumbs down options on each and every hub, this is a community site where everyone has a little bit of a say in what is good or bad and we have the forums here to air our views, everyone is entitled to an opinion whether we agree with it or not.
    I have been guilty in the past and in the present and will be in the future of flagging hubs that i found to be offensive ,poor quality or blank. Those same hubs i have also given thumbs down, for the same reason.
    no matter which social website you visit you will always find avatars that are not the person they claim to be or are just random pictures, and if people want to protect their privacy then it should be respected, who cares what they look like in real life it wont make me any more or any less of a fan of their work here on hubpages or on any other site.
    lets just get on with it and have fun...........jimmy

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    1. 73

       Isabella Snowposted 17 years agoin reply to this

       Jimmy, I dont think anyone disagrees with what you've just said.
       
       These things arent really what we're talking about.

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22. 68

    Rudraposted 17 years ago

    I would rather trust a person who has nothing to hide.

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23. 83

    embitcaposted 17 years ago

    Rudra, when it comes to the internet everyone should be cautious about what they reveal. It is simple common sense and safety.  Otherwise it becomes far too easy for dangerous people to profile their victims.
    
    Jimmy, I have no problem with helping Hubpages. If I see something particularly egregious I'll flag it. But some people give the impression of spending most of their time looking for stuff to flag and complain about.
    
    My real issue is with the forums though. Some of the attitude displayed here comes off as very clique-y. Like Hubpages is some sort of closed shop environment. This is particularly on display when people ask for criticism of their hubs and people basically tell them they look like a spammer. It's not helpful. Honey is more attractive than vinegar.

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    1. 73

       Isabella Snowposted 17 years agoin reply to this

       Precisely. And when they "just have to be honest" they also just have to be rude. It's uncalled for, at best.
       
       Also, a lot of people seem to post just to see themselves write. It's particularly amusing when done by people who've been here a handful of days and don't even know what's actually being discussed - yet they feel a need to instigate from a state of total ignorance.
       
       If you want to be social, be social, but don't be catty or snarky whilst doing so.
       
       This isn't MySpace, people!

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24. 88

    Marisa Wrightposted 17 years ago

    Wow, I have posted on many forums and never encountered such a vicious reaction to what I thought was constructive criticism.
    
    Clearly, my only option is to apologise if I have offended anyone, and retire from these forums.  I guess I will also have to rethink my participation in the Hub community, since I'm clearly not welcome.

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    1. 73

       Isabella Snowposted 17 years agoin reply to this

       There's no need to be so dramatic.
       
       Your criticism comes off as snark because you give it out when it's not being asked for. And you do it in threads where someone's just expressing a moment of happiness. If you can't see the issue some of us take with that, I dunno what to tell you, other than you're not being perceived the way you intended to be.
       
       As for your comments and complaints about crappy hubbing - it wouldn't be an issue if you'd say it once or twice and let it go when it's made clear that your suggestions are not going to bring about change, or if you're simply given a no answer.
       
       Paul tells me no all the time - but I don't then drag it through every other thread and force everyone to read my complaint over and over again.
       
       No one has asked you to leave, but that's your choice whether you do or not. We only ask that you change your commenting style. But don't blame the community for not appreciating something most of us perceive as snark and tattling on people who aren't even breaking any rules.
       
       Relax, make nice - and make money!

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       1. 88

          Marisa Wrightposted 17 years agoin reply to this

          Lissie
          Thanks for your kind words.
          
          The problem is that I made a comment in one thread which questioned the validity of a couple of Hubs made by a prolific Hubber.  That was misunderstood, and I apologised for it, and I would have been happy to go back and delete my posts if that was possible in these forums - but it isn't.   
          
          Besides that, I've started one thread about flagging (which was a question to the Hub team and only has three posts) and one about spamming in the forums (where most people who posted agreed with me, that we should have a special thread to share and promote our work). 
          
          In this thread, I'm not the one who is criticising people with avatars - in fact I defended people who want to maintain their privacy.  And while I have questioned the value of Hubs consisting of only one photo, I've never questioned anyone's choice of topic.  Yet judging by the response, you'd think every negative post on this thread - and everywhere else - was my fault.
          
          If I was really a Hub policeman, I'd be flagging and thumbing all over the place, instead of coming on these forums to discuss what merits such actions.  I do flag - I thought it was part of being a Hub citizen - but only empty or near-empty Hubs, and flagrant spammers.

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25. 76

    Lissieposted 17 years ago

    Isabella  I can't understand what the hell you're on about - I even searched back to see what Marissa had posted on in the forums and for the life of me I can't see what has offended you so much?  Marissa you have a lot of fans so its obviously the vocal minority you've offended  - I woldn't worry about it too much!

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    1. 73

       Isabella Snowposted 17 years agoin reply to this

       I'm not sure you really need to.

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26. 73

    Isabella Snowposted 17 years ago

    It's interesting that you love to give out criticism but are incapable of accepting any in return.

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27. 88

    Marisa Wrightposted 17 years ago

    Isabella,
    
    As I said, I know that I made a small criticism of a couple of Hubs from one person.  I'm not aware that I've criticised anyone else on these forums, ever.   
    
    No one likes to be criticised, but at least if it's justified, we can't really complain.  I'm just saying that apart from that one instance, I don't know what I've done to justify your obviously vehement dislike

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28. 68

    darksideposted 17 years ago

    This thread needs a Poet, stat!

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29. 73

    Isabella Snowposted 17 years ago

    Marisa,
    
    I think the "why" of it has already been stated in great detail, and I'm pretty sure you realize it's not what you do, but how you do it - and how often. It seems pointless to continue this discussion if you're going to keep replying with the same argument. You may enjoy repeating yourself, but I don't feel like going round and round on the subject.
    
    I'd rather be hubbing.

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30. 59

    Apaeposted 17 years ago

    Marissa, you're in the same boat with me. Row away!

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31. 91

    Paragliderposted 17 years ago

    This thread needs a poet? OK -
    
    
    Let no-one hurt peaceloving folk
    or turn their hearts to warring ways
    while sunlight plays on Istrian oak
    
    silvered and blued with spiral stroke,
    bright in Venetian midday haze.
    Let no-one hurt peaceloving folk
    
    who meet to share a drink, a joke
    with neighbours in the cobbled maze
    while sunlight plays on Istrian oak
    
    and bustling market stalls revoke
    the cruel Decumanus days.
    Let no-one hurt peaceloving folk
    
    or fuel their prejudice to poke
    the wolf asleep with sheep that graze
    while sunlight plays on Istrian oak
    
    fingering wisps of woodland smoke
    where neither cross nor crescent blaze.
    Let no-one hurt peaceloving folk
    while sunlight plays on Istrian oak.

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32. 74

    Kenny Wordsmithposted 17 years ago

    Oh, wow, Paraglider!

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33. 91

    Paragliderposted 17 years ago

    Thanks Kenny -
    
    For the record, Istrian oak is used for the (usually striped painted) mooring poles so prominent in Venice's canals. It has the unusual property of being slightly luminescent underwater. Anyway, I was agreeing that this thread needed a peace piece!

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34. 91

    Paragliderposted 17 years ago

    Yes, that's my name. Did you think I was really called Paraglider?
    
    - Dave

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    1. 91

       Paragliderposted 17 years agoin reply to this

       Oh well - It's too late for me to delete the above response to your deleted post.
       I wish people wouldn't do that. It leaves the response high & dry
       
       In case anyone else was wondering - I never post anything I haven't written myself.

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       1. 68

          Mishaposted 17 years agoin reply to this

          Wow, I did not see such a behavior from adults for quite a while. For those not following - Rudra indirectly accused Paraglider in plagiarizm and deleted her post after he proved his authorship...
          
          Rudra,
          What you did is not in the list of forums good practices if you did not know. While it makes you look better in the eyes of a newcomer, those who follow discussion take a note...

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          1. 73

             Isabella Snowposted 17 years agoin reply to this

             I saw it, Misha.
             
             Pretty sad, the way the forums just keep deteriorating.

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          2. 61

             Bovine Currencyposted 15 years agoin reply to this

             That is some shonky business

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             1. 91

                Paragliderposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                It was, but it was 3 years ago? Not sure why this thread has resurfaced, apart from the guy with the Albanian comment.

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35. 68

    Rudraposted 17 years ago

    Good poem. What an artist.

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36. 88

    Marisa Wrightposted 17 years ago

    Paraglider, your poem was truly amazing.  I wish people could have let the thread finish on that wonderful note.

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    1. 68

       Mishaposted 17 years agoin reply to this

       I found myself in agreement with Marisa this time
       
       Let's let this thread die...

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37. 76

    Lissieposted 17 years ago

    Your welcome Paul.  It just pisses me off when  I see hubs coming up the top of topics  I write on that have nothing to do with the topic!  I don't care what people hub about but tag it correctly!

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38. 68

    Rudraposted 17 years ago

    Good job Liss. Paul I will put in some effort as well.

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39. 73

    Isabella Snowposted 17 years ago

    Paul, no one cares if they flag hubs - we just dont want to have to listen to them snark, whinge or tattle relentlessly in these forums.

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40. STAFF

    pauldeedsposted 17 years ago

    Isabella -- you're starting to sound a little snarky yourself .

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    1. 73

       Isabella Snowposted 17 years agoin reply to this

       I think I'm being more or less succinct, really. And I'm just clarifying that what you're praising them for is not related to what was offending people. Let them flag.

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41. 68

    Rudraposted 17 years ago

    At least I know who's fan club not to join.

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42. 59

    Apaeposted 17 years ago

    Why do these threads get off topic so quickly? Its turned into a catfight. I really do agree with Marissa, and lets end this thing on a good note. Isabella, you said these threads weren't for debates but since you've said that, its grown to be even more so.

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43. 73

    Isabella Snowposted 17 years ago

    Apae, please stop addressing me.

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44. 59

    Apaeposted 17 years ago

    With pleasure, Madam.

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    1. 76

       Lissieposted 17 years agoin reply to this

       
       ROTFL Apae - you go girl!

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       1. 73

          Isabella Snowposted 17 years agoin reply to this

          Welcome to MySpace.

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45. 62

    SunSevenposted 17 years ago

    Paul, I guess that all of us got carried away and spoilt this forum. Any outsider can view all of this (family affair). I beg you to delete the whole thread for the good of all HP community. It is no hub improvement. To be frank, I am with Isa on this issue. If this thread continues, I will be on the side of Isa(quite vehemently)
    
    Thanks and Regards

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46. 60

    J.T.posted 17 years ago

    And so will i isabella, i´m right by your side in this
    yours
    J.T

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47. 65

    C.M. Vanderlindenposted 17 years ago

    I've stayed out of all of  this up until this point, but for what it's  worth, I'm  with SunSeven and Isabella on this one too. I've been with Hubpages since early May--not as long as some, but a lot longer than others, and in that entire time I've never seen the boards degrade into the mess they've been lately. If everyone would just come to the  boards with  a respectful attitude,  we'd  be much better off. Just in the last couple of weeks, I've been totally amazed  at the lack of respect some people on this board have shown  for others. Between seeing what happened when Ralph Deeds shared his awesome milestone with us, to seeing Paraglider backhandedly accused of plagiarism, I'm just disgusted.
    
    Some good guidelines:
    
    1. If you can't say something positive/constructive, don't bother.
    2. When someone shares a milestone, or has some good news to share, there are two options: share in the joy by congratulating them, or stay out of it. There is no third option.
    
    Preparing to get flamed.....
    
    --Colleen

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48. 59

    Apaeposted 17 years ago

    Snaps for Apae.
    
    I'm off.

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49. 68

    Mishaposted 17 years ago

    Can somebody ban the idiot and delete the post please?
    
    PS After giving it some thought I think the whole thread should be deleted, or there will be no shortage of idiots joining hubpages just to take part in catfight...
    
    PPS LOL that was fast

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50. 65

    sminut13posted 17 years ago

    uhhh okkk the topic here really went way out of hand as i can now see the latest posts. initially i jus read the oldest posts and wanted to comment on my view but i see the newest ones and i'm like wow. okk how did it come to this.
    anyway to the point, i think it's up to the profilers themselves wat pics they want to post of themselves; be it nothing, kids, hubby or anything. it's their profile; their wish. although personally, like some said, it would be nice seein a pic of themselves as it would let us or rather make me feel like they're really real if you get my meaning.
    but of course, there's also the case of identity theft of which i'm quite terrified you can say, as i'm new to all these and i wouldn't even know if my computer got hacked. hope nothing happens. my profile has a pic of me and my son and some don like kids but for me, well, my kids are my inspiration. and it shows how much i treasure them. but to each his/her own. i hope everyone will be good friends again. grins

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