Aw, now I've got retard all over my eyes.

People should have to take an IQ test before leaving a comment on a website. If you're going to subject a random sampling of the world's population to your opinion, there should be checks in place to ensure you're not wasting their time.

In case you're curious, this is what got me started. It's just a collection of landscape photos, gathered from across the web, I'd imagine. Haystacks and sunsets and oceans, oh my! The first one garnered a mental "wow", and I saved a couple for wallpaper. Then, I ruined a perfectly pleasant experience by continuing down to the comments.

*sigh* ... *sigh again*

Out of 28 comments, 16 include the words "photoshop" or "photoshopped". It's not a digital photography website, they're not discussing technique. It's mainly a bunch (or just a few, since Anonymous is the main contributor) of lame-o's implying that the pictures are inferior in some way, because they've been altered.

A voice of reason points out that photoshop is a tool for photographers, just like different lenses or even a tripod. Sure, let's open this up for intelligent discussion. I could be down for that. Let's see, the next comment is...

"Yep its photoshopped, I mean would you just look at them pixels"

I don't WANT to look at the pixels. They're not pictures of pixels. If they were, I would give it a big red Stumbleupon Thumbs Down, and move on.

Guy with a brain says, "The way it sounds now is that photoshopping means the result is no longer valid for some reason and that is nonsense. It is true that PS is a powerful tool, you can totally alter an image. But that can be done in many other ways as well. What counts is what the results do. What do they mean to you?" [Emphasis mine, as usual]

Jackass #1: "Yeah but photoshop has been used here though hasnt it theres no getting away from that is there. These are shopped. Full stop."
Jackass #2: "most shopped pics I've ever seen, i mean, come on... its obvious this is the work of photoshop, and i must add its a lazy work btw... just look at them damn pixels!! and the shadows are all wrong!! I give this shops a 2 out of 5."

Someone needs to get together with their art appreciation classmates to get the notes he missed.

It's not that I think these people are retards because I disagree with their assessment. For example, this guy:

"if it was viewed how nature intended it, most wouldnt even be pictures.. the shutters, lenses, and even peoples techniques make these pictures what they are.. the photoshopping only brings out a better feeling in the picture so that its more dramatic.."

Hey, I agree with you, sir (or ma'am)! Sure, you're only repeating what's been said further up the page, but yes. I concur. Yet another point for the brain-celled group... oh, wait. There's more to the comment...

"so shut up all you computer fags who think photoshopping ruins pictures.. you're ruining your life being hung up on that shit."

Never mind. I don't want you on my team anymore.



Tune in next week for "People should have to take IQ tests before they can have babies" and other flame-bait topics.