Guidelines for member conduct in Zoom based meetings, and other forms of on-line interaction
The Covid-19 pandemic led to LPS moving its activities on-line. The entire 2020-21 season was operated in this mode. The results have been judged by our members to have been very positive, and there have been suggestions that online elements should remain as a valuable component of our activities when the pandemic has receded.
As in other areas of activity, an online forum can present challenges as well as advantages. Some of these challenges are to do with the ways in which we interact with each other. “Face-to-face” contact tends to set well established constraints on how blunt we might be in criticising the work of others or passing judgements on the quality of a contribution made by a guest. These constraints are sometimes reduced when we interact online.
While there is no reason to think that there have been any problems to date, the Committee feels that it is sensible to set out some simple guidelines for the future. These should be considered to apply to all situations where LPS meetings and business is being conducted in whole or in part via Zoom or an equivalent. LPS cannot be expected to be held responsible for the conduct of our members on other forums (e.g. Facebook) but we encourage members to believe themselves to be covered by the same general considerations whenever they may be associated with the Society.
In essence, all LPS members should regard themselves to be bound by the same considerations regarding respect for others in online sessions as they would in face-to-face settings. Criticism of others’ work is welcome (it is what most of us join for in a way) but it should be offered in a constructive and supportive manner. Members should avoid suggesting that not liking an image is the same as thinking that the same image has no quality.
All members, irrespective of age, level of photographic experience, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, religion (or the lack of it) and even the make and cost of their equipment! should expect to be treated equally and with respect.
Members should be always mindful that all participants in a Zoom meeting can hear and read what is said. This is obvious for spoken comments, but less so for the typed “chat” on Zoom. Unless a message is sent to one specified member (and even those may be seen by the convenor) all participants, including a speaker or judge, can see what you write. Once sent, messages should be assumed to be permanent; they cannot be recalled, deleted or edited. Typing “this judge is really good, I like her” might be OK; typing “I don’t, she doesn’t know what she’s talking about” probably isn’t. In other words, do not treat the chat function as the equivalent of a chin wag in the pub after a meeting, or whispering to the person next to you, consider it to be precisely the same as standing up in the meeting and speaking out loud.
Members with any concerns about the behaviour of other members in our face-to-face or online sessions should always feel able to present those concerns, in confidence, to any member of the committee.
Adopted: Lancaster Photographic Society Management Committee.
20/5/20121