Is it worth it?

[Maggie.]

Carol -  I've only just spotted this thread, the reason being I'm a Restorer Who Walked Away for the reasons you touch upon.  In the past I have restored one or two pictures, and occasionally I have attempted to colour them.  If I have any ability at all it is because it has been learnt on RootsChat, and for this opportunity to practice such a wonderful hobby I'm eternally grateful.  The help I have received whilst learning has been generously given by yourself and others and, as mentioned earlier with Wiggy, I do remember Gadget patiently explaining to me also how to scan properly. 

I have recently been paying more attention to the photo board, looking for a tempting photo to entice me back in and have been somewhat alarmed by the whole feeling of the board these days, which now bears little resemblance to the friendly board I enthusiastically joined around 5 years ago.  It now seems a rather soul-less place and lacking in humour, where friendly conversations are discouraged resulting in truncated comments posted with the restorations and an abrupt minimal 'thanks' from the Poster, if any thanks at all.  I would speculate that some of this is to do with the introduction of the word 'Free' to describe the board as I suspect it sends the wrong message as to what we do and how long it takes.

Of course there are still plenty of kind posters who fully appreciate the work and time taken to make their pictures beautiful again.  They make such a difference and I used to feel such a lovely warm glow in feeling that I had gone some way to enrich a precious memory for that appreciative someone.  It really does make it so worthwhile to receive such thanks, but I have to say that these days such thanks is more often than not unforthcoming.

The board needs you Carol - please don't go.

Maggie 

[Finley 1]

Yes Maggie, we did have such fun times on the board
remember 'Rabbit b' bless her

xin

[Maggie.]

Rabbit used to keep us all in order didn't she?  She livened up the board no end with her comments.  So sad she is no longer with us.  She used to drag in unappreciative posters so they could thank us properly as well. 

[jennywren001]

Can I start by saying the only photo I couldn't scan for a restore is a picture of my father standing with his brother and his mother and father.  This is the only photo of my grandparents I have and the only one of my father as a boy. It was restored here on Rootschat from an iphone photo my brother sent from the other side of the Atlantic and it is totally precious to me. So, please don't go Carol - the work you do is truly appreciated. 
Jen

Oh, and must ask xin - is that ginger tom only eating the orange smarties?

[Maggie.]

How wonderful Jenny that such a precious photo was restored - this is what it is all about and in circumstances where all you've got is an iphone photo of a precious photo then it will be improved with pleasure on here.  The difficulty the restorers have is when it is assumed that a q

[Maggie.]

How wonderful Jenny that such a precious photo was restored - this is what it is all about and in circumstances where all you've got is an iphone photo of a precious photo then it will be improved with absolute pleasure on here.  Nothing is more rewarding to a restorer, doubly so when, as with you, the intensive work that goes into it is acknowledged and appreciated.

The difficulty the restorers have is when it is assumed that a quick out of focus snap of a photo in a frame taken when casually visiting Auntie Flo can micarulously be brought back to a pristine condition with just a click of a few buttons.

(Sorry - don't know what happened there ......... please ignore previous post). 

[groom]

I've just been pointed towards this thread and really feel for those restorers who give their time and expertise and receive little or no thanks from some people. You all do a fantastic job and I stand in awe of you. As someone said, it takes a couple of minutes to say thank you and those two words mean a lot.

I sometimes wonder reading the requests, whether newcomers to the forum realise that everyone here is a volunteer and they do it out of the kindness of their heart. Often requests appear to be more a demand and are quite blunt in the way they are asked.

As a watcher of this board I have noticed that a lot of the older (in experience not age!) people don't restore as much as they used to and this is a shame, but I can understand why.

We do appreciate your work, Carol and others, and I hope that you wont give up completely.   

[Greensleeves]

I'm sorry too, to hear that you are thinking of giving up Carol, but I can totally understand why.  I used to do a lot of work for this board but gave up some months back because I got fed up with lack of thanks or acknowledgement.  I don't mean everyone was like that because many people were very generous with both thanks and praise. 

However it does seem that people's attitudes to the restorers have changed and I think Jan is right when she says that many newer RC members don't appreciate that the restorers are RC members just like everyone else and are not paid staff.  They give freely of their time and skills and it is in all senses a thankless task when hours are spent restoring something and no acknowledgement is received. 

I also resent the way some people demand - rather than ask - for restores.  I always used to check for the 'please' and 'thank'you' on the initial request before I decided whether or not to undertake a restore.

I remember when I first submitted a restore (I had been gazing in admiration at the work of others on here for months) I was delighted with the fact that experienced restorers PMd me giving me tips and encouragement; it was lovely that they so freely shared their advice and skills and helped me to improve my work.   I still look at the Restores board and see what the restorers are doing and occasionally I submit something - and the last time I did I was delighted to receive not only thanks but a 'welcome back' from fellow restorers.  So there clearly is still a huge fund of goodwill on the board, if only we could harness it and make it a positive experience for everyone.

[Trishanne]

The only reason I am not active on here at the moment is because my computer is sick  (I am on a borrowed one now, which has no programme for restorations).
I, too get disheartened sometimes when I have spent several hours restoring or colouring a photo to get either no acknowledgement or just a communal 'thanks'.
I am a complete amateur at restoration, which I took up after my husband died, to keep my brain and fingers active in my old age. I enjoy the feeling of satisfaction when restoring a really poor, creased image into a reasonable photo again. When you get a warm, appreciative thank you it really helps, makes it all worth while, even when I know there are some far better restorations, than mine.
What I find disheartening is when you have spent hours  trying to restore a very poor image and all you get is a reply on the lines of, 'I thought this might be a problem' - no  thanks for trying, it's certainly an improvement etc.
I will continue, when I can, because I love doing these restorations. I find the work therapeutic, because I am unable to walk very far and it gives me something to do when confined to my chair.
Pat