Why Is Crediting Yourself So Despised?

[ukrkoz]

Originally Posted by Des-Lab

"Original photo credit goes to myself".


No other phrase draws more ire, hate, or disdain.


Why?


I post online in several photography groups and post vintage, unable-to-be-replicated pictures that I took 20-30 years ago. And always credit myself. I never get any likes or recognition. I also always watermark my pictures.


It should be interesting to note that I once posted two copies of the same picture in the same group. One with watermark. One without. The one without identifying information got three times as many likes.


And then someone else reposted it....basically stole my picture. And got TWENTY times as many likes. So obviously it's not a low quality picture. Only that I credited myself as the original author.


Why is this? What is it about people crediting themselves and protecting their pictures that is met with such passive-aggressive hostility?

Credit yourself. You've done something well - credit. Be proud of yourself. I tell my patients - I know what I am doing - all the time. Then, I prove it. I am not ashamed of being a good professional and have no problem admitting it.
MOF, if I interview someone for a job - I straight ask them - Do you know what you are doing.

I don't care. Finding a good professional is a rare gem, be proud of this.

[bpollen]

Originally Posted by PA2UK

Because it's completely unnecessary - if you've watermarked it and/or put your copyright on it, it's blatantly obvious you took the picture yourself. People are probably thinking "yeah, no kidding, I'm not stupid, I can tell it you took the photo from your watermark/copyright."



Then you're doing it wrong. There's a fine line between showing confidence in yourself and shamelessly bragging in an obnoxious or condescending way.



Yeah there is, it's called a copyright. Particularly when you're in a photography group, it's generally understood that the intent is to share your own photos. If you're sharing someone else's work, that should be stated, and also you should have permission to share someone else's work - technically, it's a copyright violation to publish someone else's work without their permission. And if you post someone else's work and don't at least give them credit, it's arguably plagiarism. So if there's no credit to someone else, it's assumed it's your own work.

No, I don't think I was doing it wrong. My personality isn't one of bragging, egocentric, or anything of the sort. Which is why someone people have told me to toot my own horn.

I'm over 60. I come from the world when it was unseemly for women to say they're good at this or that, headed up projects successfully, and the like. These were the days when managers boldly told you upfront that you would be paid less than the male predecessor, and of course it was perfectly legal and widespread not to hire women for any jobs that weren't typically female jobs. I still apologize all the time, even when it's someone else's misunderstanding.

So no...the man may say "toot your own horn," because he is being helpful and magnanimous. But he doesn't really want to hear anything other than, "Well, I showed up at work on time regularly, and I got along with everyone." And then smile sweetly.

People post their pics all the time in some FB groups I participate in. Sometimes they identify the photos as theirs, sometimes another source. It's common to do that. Otherwise, I assume the photo was taken by the person doing the posting. The photos aren't copyrighted.

[PA2UK]

Originally Posted by bpollen

No, I don't think I was doing it wrong. My personality isn't one of bragging, egocentric, or anything of the sort. Which is why someone people have told me to toot my own horn.

I'm over 60. I come from the world when it was unseemly for women to say they're good at this or that, headed up projects successfully, and the like. These were the days when managers boldly told you upfront that you would be paid less than the male predecessor, and of course it was perfectly legal and widespread not to hire women for any jobs that weren't typically female jobs. I still apologize all the time, even when it's someone else's misunderstanding.

That's a completely separate issue then, and nothing to do with this topic.

People post their pics all the time in some FB groups I participate in. Sometimes they identify the photos as theirs, sometimes another source. It's common to do that. Otherwise, I assume the photo was taken by the person doing the posting. The photos aren't copyrighted.

Unless a photo is specifically released into the public domain, it's copyrighted. Just because it doesn't have a copyright symbol or notice on it doesn't mean it's not copyrighted.