Photographer
RBDesign
Posts: 2728
North East, Maryland, US
Who actually takes business and legal advice from MM posts?
Photographer
Tog
Posts: 55204
Birmingham, Alabama, US
Photographer
IllusionDigital
Posts: 578
San Francisco, California, US
what the....I would going to base my life on MM forums....don't ruin my day. I mean life.
Photographer
Merlinpix
Posts: 7118
Farmingdale, New York, US
I did OK. I got a nice bridge in brooklyn for a good price, thanks to advice given here!
Photographer
Vector 38
Posts: 8296
Austin, Texas, US
RBDesign wrote:
Who actually takes business and legal advice from MM posts? from scanning over some of the threads, you'd think people here are taking advice for personal & other potentially life-changing matters too ...
*sigh*
Model
Wynd Mulysa
Posts: 8619
Berkeley, California, US
I do.. Wait, no I don't. Well, what do you suggest?
Photographer
RED Photographic
Posts: 1458
I think you can spot the ones who know what they're talking about.
The Model Realease and Copyright questions always bring out the armchair lawyers, and there are some scaringly wrong replies. But one or two people always post the same (and correct) information, even if it means that others abuse them and attempt to prove them wrong. Another guy will routinely ask posters to state their sources or back up their claims, which they clearly can't.
If you can manage to get through all the misinformation, then the good stuff is there.
Photographer
Vector 38
Posts: 8296
Austin, Texas, US
better than a Magic Eight Ball ...
Photographer
AndrewG
Posts: 5850
Mesa, Arizona, US
FML-Photography wrote:
better than a Magic Eight Ball ... Darn it.. I live by the answers my magic Eight Ball gives me...
you mean it isnt giving me good answers???
Photographer
lightsandshadow
Posts: 2200
New York, New York, US
RBDesign wrote:
Who actually takes business and legal advice from MM posts? Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? Heck, I'm just here looking for models!
Photographer
BlackWatch
Posts: 3825
Cleveland, Ohio, US
You can learn something from everyone...you may learn another perspective on an issue...you may learn something good...you may realize exactly how many "wack jobs" there are in the world you didn't know about. But you learn none the less.
Learning is good food!
Photographer
GDS Photos
Posts: 3399
London, England, United Kingdom
You shouldn't take advice. Roll a dice like the "dice man". read Luke Reinhart
Photographer
Vector 38
Posts: 8296
Austin, Texas, US
AndrewG wrote:
Darn it.. I live by the answers my magic Eight Ball gives me...
you mean it isnt giving me good answers??? awwwwwwwwww man! i traded [mine] for a Slinky & some Silly Putty ...
... and was just about to post a thread to ask the Maymers about my wedding, where to live, etc. (*sigh*)
F
Model
Miya
Posts: 3241
San Diego, California, US
W.G. Rowland wrote:
That would be unwise. so if it's unwise to take MM advise, and I refuse to accept this particular piece of advice, does that now mean it IS wise to take my legal advise from MM forums? oh wait. now I'm really confused...
Photographer
SLE Photography
Posts: 68937
Orlando, Florida, US
Merlinpix wrote:
I did OK. I got a nice bridge in brooklyn for a good price, thanks to advice given here! I can beat that with a nice set of swampland here in Florida, ripe for high end condo development.
Model
Chi-pie
Posts: 320
New York, New York, US
I think you can get advice that will at least start you in the right direction to really figure out the answer for the question you asked.
Photographer
Emeritus
Posts: 22000
Las Vegas, Nevada, US
RBDesign wrote:
Who actually takes business and legal advice from MM posts? The apparent intent of the question is to disparage the notion of people "taking legal advice" from here. Certainly many of the responses have done just that.
Of course, the right thing to do is to hire a lawyer - the right kind of lawyer, one who specializes in the subject matter you are concerned about - when you have a question that involves legal issues.
Unfortunately, that is also an expensive answer - prohibitively expensive given the range of issues that a photographer or model faces. So people necessarily try to find other solutions that will allow them to remain in the business while staying on the right side of the law.
There are other good alternatives: books and articles by lawyers on relevant areas of the law, for instance. That helps a lot, but still isn't a perfect answer. Some people have questions they can't find the answer for in a book or law article (try finding an authoritative discussion of the law regarding putting a person's picture on your website to promote your photography, for instance). And quite frankly, the books and articles that are comprehensive and accurate tend also to be tough reading. Many people get lost in the verbiage, and cannot discern what to make of it all.
It can be even worse, as we have seen too often: people find something in those books, articles or the law itself and read into it what they want to find, without understanding what the real significance and context is.
There is a third very instructive way to learn about legal issues. Sue or be sued, and go through all the issues that affect the case. Not a course that we ought to recommend, and often not cheap, but certainly a way to get good information.
Those solutions, although all good, are obviously not good, or not sufficiently accessible to everyone who needs the knowledge. So what to do?
Another possibility is to ask the question on an interactive forum where there are people with real experience in the area (including some lawyers, who sometimes will even answer with substance). It's cheap, focuses the issue directly on what you are concerned about, and takes advantage of all that experience.
The obvious problem with that answer, of course, is that there are lots of people on the same forum who do not have the knowledge or insight to give a correct answer, but think they do, or just want to weigh in with their own personal self-serving bias. And to follow their advice could be a recipe for disaster. The burden becomes on the reader to sort through who seems to know what they are talking about (taking care, one hopes, not to bias that too heavily towards those who are saying what he wants to hear), and take at least preliminary guidance from them.
None of these are perfect solutions, and some, obviously, have more problems than others (albeit different kinds of problems). But it seems to me if someone can keep their critical faculties working while reading responses, it is often a good idea to ask questions about legal issues on the forums, if only as a guidepost to where there be dragons.
Photographer
RBDesign
Posts: 2728
North East, Maryland, US
FML-Photography wrote:
better than a Magic Eight Ball ... LMAO, I actually think it's exactly like a magic eight ball. Maybe MM should have a formum called Magic Eight Ball just for business and legal questions/guesswork.
RB
Photographer
studio36uk
Posts: 22898
Tavai, Sigave, Wallis and Futuna
=CY MAGIC= wrote:
I think you can get advice that will at least start you in the right direction to really figure out the answer for the question you asked. In a way you are right. But perhaps more to the point is the ability to see different views, here, [some correct; some not; and some completely whacked out] so that the reader can form the right questions to ask of their off-line adviser. If you aren't asking the right question(s) you may not get the right answer(s) even from your own lawyer or business adviser.
The question, as it might be properly framed, or not, is often the fundamental key to the answer you need or the answer you will get.
Studio36
Photographer
Tog
Posts: 55204
Birmingham, Alabama, US
Miya wrote:
so if it's unwise to take MM advise, and I refuse to accept this particular piece of advice, does that now mean it IS wise to take my legal advise from MM forums? oh wait. now I'm really confused... Then my job is done.. 
Photographer
Christopher Hartman
Posts: 54196
Buena Park, California, US
RBDesign wrote:
Who actually takes business and legal advice from MM posts? I do.
Photographer
Christopher Hartman
Posts: 54196
Buena Park, California, US
W.G. Rowland wrote:
That would be unwise. Damn it!
Model
DOne
Posts: 6305
Seattle, Washington, US
I have a serious answer......sure as hell not I Meela
Photographer
Bluefire
Posts: 10908
East Tawas, Michigan, US
The reading is better than most of the TV sitcoms. LOL
Photographer
none of the above
Posts: 3528
Marina del Rey, California, US
part of the value in asking a particular question should not necessarily be for seeking the proper legal advice as a replacement of doing that, but opening up the discussion that allows for asking the right questions upon seeking legal help.
having some foundation can be a great help in reducing valuable time sitting across the desk from counsel. an important part of getting the right answer is knowing what questions to ask. posing questions on the forums helps provide that.
--face reality
Model
DOne
Posts: 6305
Seattle, Washington, US
SLE Photography wrote:
I can beat that with a nice set of swampland here in Florida, ripe for high end condo development. Oh yeah thats sounds like something I might be interested in. Do gators come with it? I like to eat gator tail 
Meela
Model
Miya
Posts: 3241
San Diego, California, US
W.G. Rowland wrote:
Then my job is done.. excuse me...are you taking advantage of my natural disabilities of thinking-power: 1) i'm a girl and 2) i'm blonde. sheesh. you're evil, Mr. Rowland :-D
Photographer
Brian Diaz
Posts: 65617
Danbury, Connecticut, US
I do, just very selectively.
Photographer
Doug Jantz
Posts: 4025
Tulsa, Oklahoma, US
RBDesign wrote:
Who actually takes business and legal advice from MM posts? Are you offering some?
Photographer
RBDesign
Posts: 2728
North East, Maryland, US
Doug Jantz wrote:
Are you offering some? Sure, I've got this great bridge and some really hot real estate.
;-)
RB
Photographer
Doug Jantz
Posts: 4025
Tulsa, Oklahoma, US
RBDesign wrote:
Sure, I've got this great bridge and some really hot real estate.
;-)
RB You have PayPal? LOL
Model
Jessalyn
Posts: 21433
Denver, Colorado, US
I not only get my business advice from MM but also my dating advice. Thanks MM!
[/end joke]
Photographer
RBDesign
Posts: 2728
North East, Maryland, US
Doug Jantz wrote:
You have PayPal? LOL No you'll have to give me all of your personal information, credit card numbers, etc.
RB
Ps. I guess my sarcastic implied advice was don't get your business/legal advice off of message boards, I was making fun of the other "got a serious question thread"
Photographer
Doug Jantz
Posts: 4025
Tulsa, Oklahoma, US
RBDesign wrote:
No you'll have to give me all of your personal information, credit card numbers, etc.
RB
Ps. I guess my sarcastic implied advice was don't get your business/legal advice off of message boards, I was making fun of the other "got a serious question thread" LOL. And... a serious question is better than a "quick" question. I always wondered what a quick question was.
Photographer
Art Schotz
Posts: 2879
Lima, Ohio, US
I always believe everything I read here and look where it got me!
Lost in Podunk again!
Photographer
BCPrints
Posts: 340
Brookfield, Illinois, US
I am not a lawyer but my x-wife slept with one..anyone need advice??
Photographer
Dudley Watson
Posts: 1737
Roseburg, Oregon, US
Miya wrote:
so if it's unwise to take MM advise, and I refuse to accept this particular piece of advice, does that now mean it IS wise to take my legal advise from MM forums? oh wait. now I'm really confused... Oh-oh! I tried to follow your logic, and got lost! Help!!
(quickly fires 3 arrows in the air, hoping someone will hear)
Photographer
far away
Posts: 4326
Jackson, Alabama, US
When I first started browsing the forums, I thought maybe. But I quickly learned...uh, no. Lol...
Photographer
RBDesign
Posts: 2728
North East, Maryland, US
Doug Jantz wrote:
LOL. And... a serious question is better than a "quick" question. I always wondered what a quick question was. I guess a quick question must be
r u on crk?
RB
|
