Future of the DU Gallery

[GregW]

As the current "Keeper of the DU Gallery" ... I find myself in a quandary. I now believe that DU is so heavily infiltrated with trolls and moles and disruptors, that I have not published the facts that we even have a gallery, or made updates for nearly six months.

It was easy in the old days ... check a user's post count, check a couple of their postings, then send them the secret link. Now, it's nothing for a troll to have 1000+ posts and even then I might not be able to separate the gold from the guano.

So what do we do? In the past I've toyed with the idea of a committee to help vet members asking for the location, but that fizzled (thanks to all of you who volunteered!) One solution is an 'open' gallery ... but many would not participate and then we would open ourselves up to scorn and ridicule by the Freeper hoards. Some don't care ... some take it personally.

I'm looking for ideas here folks .... there are 100's of pictures of friends past and present, including the antique MATCOM collection.

Thoughts?

[southerngirlwriter]

1. My thought is that you should change the URL.

It was rather easy to figure out. Sorry. :-(

[trumad]

2. I think we give the freeps way to much credit....

who cares if they see us in all our beauty....

[Guaranteed]

41. I think so, too.

I don't think there are nearly as many around as some seem to believe.

[curse10]

3. we need a coalition

kind of like homeland security but instead of doing background checks for terrorists we do background checks for freepers :-)

[supernova]

4. I gave up asking for access

because I never got it in the first place. :-(

I think jumping through a lot of hoops isn't necessary.

[BlueJazz]

52. Same here....I asked for access about 6 months ago

then about 4 times after that and never got a reply....I mean, nobody
could possibly think I'm a freeper or any disrupter. :(
..or at least, I hope not!

[ScreamingMeemie]

5. As one who applied for it long ago...and never got the link, I don't

really know what to say. I think it would be up to you. I freely post myself and my family here, so it's entirely up to you! :hi:

[southerngirlwriter]

10. check your PMs

:-)

[Fridays Child]

6. Sell the MATCOM antiques on eBay. They could bring a lot of money.

Then DU would be rich. :o

[freetobegay]

7. I'm offended!

I know nothing of this galley. I would like to contribute!

[LDS Jock]

42. I haven't heard of it either

I'm interested in learning more though. I ain't skeered.

[Blue-Jay]

8. I wouldn't mind you opening it.

But you should really be asking the ones whose pictures are there now, instead of the regular Lounge Lunatics. Hell, I don't mind people seeing my picture. If some idiot DU mole wants to beat off to it, that's their business.

Oh, and by the way.... I *did* sneak a peek from another DUer's computer a few weeks ago. It was very cool to be able to associate some names with faces that I hadn't seen before. Was that "breakin' the law"? :)

Spelling edit. Whoops!

[ForrestGump]

9. SOteric has set up an open-access gallery

for those who don't mind being seen by all and sundry. Part of a solution, anyway, especially for people who've already posted pictures on DU, where anyone can see and download 'em.

If it's a problem, DUers could just follow my lead and send direct requests to other DUers for nude photos...I've already got one of matcom, though he's a lot more spherical and yellow than even I anticipated and just walks up and down these stairs...

[supernova]

11. SNARF

LOL!

Forrest, you just talked me into having another glass of wine tonight! :D

[ForrestGump]

26. Am I smooth, or what...

[supernova]

30. Heh.

One of my favorites.

[GregW]

12. Did someone say nude pictures of MATCOM?

[Zomby Woof]

15. Silver is SO my color!

And I am horny, come to think of it! :D

[supernova]

17. You had to be reminded

to be horny?!

I swear, what's this world coming to when the men of M.A.T.C.O.M. don't get laid properly?

[Zomby Woof]

20. oh, I do! I do.... hehehe

It's just with my advancing years and all, I forget what it was I forgot! Or something. :P

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

31. Wow. Is that him and the fake cop in Bawstan at top?

and BTW, greg... are you new to Geocaching?

[GregW]

32. Been caching for 4 months

Have nearly 30 finds, own 4 caches, have one TB on the loose

[SOteric]

14. Thank you, Forrest. The Gallery I've started is, in theory

a "Lounge" Gallery. I don't vet, participation is entirely voluntary, the links are public and we already know that some of the folks on "The Sight Which Shall Not be Named" have found them. Very little fuss was made and we all moved on.

The Lounge Gallery is at http://www.vickvelour.com

Those wishing to participate can send photos in .gif or jpg format to
[e-mail]

[Blue-Jay]

16. Hey, SOteric!

That "vickvelour.com" address has always cracked me up for some reason. Is there a story behind it?

[SOteric]

18. It's a Lounge Gallery

:-) 'Vick Velour' struck me as a great name for a cheesey Lounge singer. Maybe one who socialises with yaks.

[supernova]

19. I imagine someone like this

when I read "vick velour"

[Blue-Jay]

21. Yak!

OK, it's really a Scottish Highland Heifer at the Indy Zoo, but it's very yak-like.

'Nother spelling edit. Oh, me grampy would be verra upset aboot that one.

[NMDemDist2]

39. done-- pets to follow hehe n/t

[ulysses]

13. I'd say make it open.

You can't guarantee a secure gallery. I'd nuke the current edition and start fresh, with *repeated* warnings about its openness.

[supernova]

22. I agree,

there's no way you can make it 100% F!@@%@$! proof.

[ForrestGump]

23. I'm going to have this thread locked by invoking the image of Igor

It seems to provoke some kind of Pavlovian reflex in the moderators.. :D

[Blue-Jay]

24. That's Eye-Gore.

[ForrestGump]

25. That's Franken-STEEN

[GregW]

27. That's Abbie Normal

[TXlib]

28. Let the lounge gallery be public

Who cares if the freepers and their ilk make fun of our pics? It's not like we're blameless in that category.

Let it be public, and warn people not to include their pics if they mind being talked about in a catty way.

Sure there are trolls here. So what? Don't worry about it. I don't.

[Pithlet]

29. I can't even get to the gallery any more

The last time I asked for the new URL, I was denied access, and my picture was even in the Gallery! I don't know why; I had over a thousand posts and had even been a mod a few times. I don't know if it still is, it's been a long time since I've been there.

[SarahB]

33. I never even asked

I heard it was too exclusive.

[Pithlet]

34. If you still have my picture in there, you can use it in the open

gallery, if you choose to do that.

Can you PM me a link, too?

[LWolf]

35. My pic never showed up.

I sent it to you a few weeks before the site moved; I got the new URL, but my pic never made it. Forever a mystery!

[Piperay]

40. Your wolf is beautiful..

just gorgeous, I love :loveya: it. :thumbsup:

[Coyul]

36. You can post our pictures

Purji and I dont care if our pictures are posted.We plan to post pictures of the DC march when we get back.

[Coyul]

37. BTW could you send the link? n/t

n/t

[Lisa0825]

38. I have been active in online comunities and internet dating for years...

My picture has probably been used in ghastly ways a thousand times already, so I couldn't care less what any freeper might do to it.

[matcom]

43. just do your best Greg

that's all you CAN do. if you need help, let me know.

and THANK YOU for keeping it going! :hi:

[Skinner]

44. I think, perhaps, it is time for an official DU gallery that is public.

I really appreciate the work that you have done, GregW, to run the gallery, and I appreciate the work of all the other people who have helped run the gallery. But I think times have changed on DU, and I think that it makes sense to change the way the gallery is run. While I understand and appreciate the herculean efforts which many of you have made to keep the gallery free of outsiders, I believe that too many good DU members are being excluded in this process, and it is causing some hurt feelings and frustration.

I propose that we create a new gallery, a totally public gallery, in which *any* member is free to post their picture, and *any* member is free to look at the pictures.

Anyone who chooses to include their picture in this new gallery would have to understand that their picture would be publicly available on the Internet, and understand that they assume all of the risks associated with having a picture publicly available. The potential risks are serious. The visitors to an internet message board are anonymous, and even someone whom you think you know may not be who they say they are.

If anyone wishes to continue running an unofficial and exclusive gallery, they are free to do so. But I think it is time to start an official public gallery. Throw open the doors, show our faces. We're not ashamed of being DUers.

[WillyBrandt]

45. Why not have a gallery that is exclusive to starred members?

It minimizes the freeper element, and seems to solve the problem.

[Skinner]

46. That's a possibility.

And we might consider it. But there are some members who can't donate or choose not to donate, and I don't think they should necessarily be kept out.

I would not want to send the message that the gallery can be kept hidden. Because there is no guarantee that it can.

[sniffa]

47. just so you know

if you don't aLready... the Location isn't that secret; i come across it often whiLe visiting fr, and cu.

[proud patriot]

50. I think that is a wonderful idea Skinner

I respect that some want their pictures to be private ,
but I'm of the opinion a public Gallery would be okay
with me . We could re-submit if we are okay with it.

[LynneSin]

48. I have to agree with Skinner

First, it's not fair to anyone who has sent their pics to the private gallery to suddenly be outed. Anyhow, some of those folks aren't even at DU anymore.

Second - I've seen what freepers look like and I know I'm a hell of alot better looking then they are. Sure I could stand to lose about 20 more lbs, but damnit - I'm a gorgeous natural blonde and I'm a liberal to boot



Love me please

:loveya:

[Parrcrow]

51. Great Idea Skinner

It makes this whole process more personal.

The main concern regarding freepers that I can see is paralleled by their tendency to trash pictures of Chelsea Clinton whereas we, by and large, consider it inappropriate to do the same to the Bush twins.

They will sneer but who cares. Natalie Portman and Tom Cruise could post here and they'd insult their looks. They don't have opinions, they moo with the rest of the herd.

[geniph]

54. Right on, Skinner!

Emphatic agreement. Screw the lurking freeper moles. Who gives a rat's ass what they think? I'm not ashamed of being a DU regular.

[THUNDER HANDS]

49. why not just give access to people who have photos already in the gallary

or those who will submit their photo to you beforehand?

:shrug:

just a thought

[Pithlet]

55. I wish that would work for me.

I still haven't received the link. I've asked for it multiple times.

Is my picture still there? Can anyone send me the link? Pretty please?

[Champ]

53. I never seen it

I'd like to see it though. I'm no freeper, I can put that on anything.