alvarezmom, I am sending you a big (((((((((((((((((hug))))))))))))))))))))). I too have felt and seen the change in cakecentral from when I discovered it and my love of decorating two years ago.

I understand how you feel and hope that with some time your natural giving and helping spirit will prevail on CC. Actually, I wished that all the haters would leave. It is true that we encounter this pervasive attitude everywhere in life these days. It is a sign of how our society is deteriorating.

I loved your tutorial and bookmarked it to try one day when I have the means to try it. I have been unemployed for three years thanks to the economic downturn and I do not see the evidence of it reversing. I am hoping with the passing of the Food Cottage Law here in Texas I can make a few cakes on the side to practice my craft and improve my skills.

Thank you for posting your tutorial and for all the other CCers who have posted tutorials, recipes, given advice and shared knowledge. My bookcase is full of notebooks I have created with the information I have found on this site and my laptop is full of pictures I have saved for inspiration.

So, thank you alvarezmom and all the others.

Regina

Unfortunately there are those that have nothing better to do than create drama and negative energy.

I know it's hard to not take something to heart that you have worked so hard and are so proud of.

Guess they have "cake envy"!

So the negative comments were on your tutorial or on someone's cake picture who used your tutorial?

I'm lost here....


I think you'll notice more and more that the serious business owners will not post any photos, recipes or tutorials on here. They too have been burned in the past by people like you speak of.

That's why you won't see me post any. My true friends here who know me know where to see my work and that's how I like to keep it.

It's a shame it's come to that, but unfortunately that's how the internet is....good and bad apples on every forum. It's better to keep your identity superficial.

JMHO

Also, don't let some ignorant comment get you down, it's just not worth wasting your energy on. But, I do understand why you want to delete your photos, I don't blame you for that.

I think anyone who has the skills to post a tutorial and the guts to open it to everyone has the right to delete negative, non-constructive comments. No one is forcing anyone to do the tutorial. If you don't like it...no need to comment.

That being said I don't agree with a 'sugar and spice at all cost' attitude. Sure you take a risk when you post a picture, but if someone can comment on a way to make it BETTER, then what's wrong with that? You either use it or you ignore it.

I for one want to learn, so if a skilled decorator says my photos need to have less background, or my boards need to be cleaner, guess what? I'm going to heed that advice not take it as an insult. Not everything I do is wonderful and just because I worked like the devil to do something doesn't mean it all deserves praise (even if in my heart of hearts I think so!)

There's a difference between saying negative things to be constructive, and saying negative things just to be mean. We should all know the difference and accept it or ignore it. But don't take it all personally!

I was thinking not long ago, i don,t see a lot of mean post on this site like i use to. There were some MEAN post. I do think we have a lot of great decorators on this site, that give good info and try to help others. I,m not the greates, but i do like to share what i know in a good way. I did read what the op said about the rose cake. and it wasn,t nice. I think a lot that use to be on here are maybe on twitter or facebook or another cake site. It is good , not to read bad and firey threads. thats just my opinion though. Hope this site stays as nice as it has been for a while. people come and people go for different reasons. I hope to stay as long as c/c stands.

Some things I have learned the hard way.... don't let mean people rent space in your head......

Oh the memories.........
(I had kids make fun of me because I only had white socks and not colored ones.......the 80s....)


And you're welcome. =)

carmijok, I can't tell you how many times I marvel at how insightful, wise, kind, real and genuine you are in your comments. This site, just like the real world, is full of people who are cruel, thoughtless, crude or just plain dumb. They can hurt with just a few words. Fortunately, they are in the minority. The good and nice people can't just drop out because of a few fools. And the good and nice people have to believe in themselves ...if comments by the fools aren't justified, then screw 'em (as my sainted my ma would say) and if a few constructive elements can be found even among the inarticulate , then bless.

The tutorials and generosity of sharing are real gifts that have surely made better bakers/decorators of us all. And for that we thank you, alvarezmom and remember "Illegitimi non carborundum"

Cakestlyes, that's awful! And I agree...it is very sad that some people have no realization to how their words affect others. Or they know and don't care.

And alvarezmom, do see how many people love your work and are so grateful for your contributions?! You have so many wonderful comments! And you've been an inspiration to many!

Think of all the people who ridiculed Columbus and told him he'd fall off the earth. But he persevered and paved the way for so many others.

I'm so sorry for the insensitive people! But do look at the percentage of negatives vs the positives. Unfortunately, the negative ones are 5 times louder than the positive ones, but the positives far outweigh the negative.

I, personally, think that those who are so directly insensitive should get warnings and then booted off the site. But that's me.

Keep your chin up and know so many of us are behind you.

People are on the net so much now days they live in a fantasy world. It is hard to remember at times that there are real live people at the other end of hurtful words and for those who do recognize....are cyber bullies plain and simple and they need to be dealt with like any other bully!

I'm sorry that some people were mean to you and you were just trying to be generous and share something with the rest of the community. I actually looked at your tutorial. It looked so beautiful and honestly I wanted to try to do it but it looked too difficult for me - someone who is just starting decorating. I really hope you do keep posting tutorials. Some of us beginners have no other way to learn new techniques and I'm sorry for people who post comments that are hurtful. I do worry that the helpful people on this website are slowly fading away.

Mean people suck!

Thanks! I really appreciate all of your kind words. You are all right! I know that. It just....SUCKS!!!

The good ones are here just lurking for a thread like this to give off good karma! Very much appreciated!!!!!

And if I offended anyone with the title of my post I apoligize. I should have put the names of the decorators that used to be here to chat it up but left or banned. LOL

Please dont wast your time and energy on someone who has to much time on their hands. And has nothing to do, ( They are not worth it ) Your cakes are beautiful, you have so much talent, you made a wonderfull tutorial, And look at all the friends you have right here standing behined you. (hug)

Hi I just started reading this post. After looking at the comments. It looks like on your tutorial there is only 1 person that commented negatively. I did however, see a ton of people comment on what a great tutorial it is and how many people cannot wait to try it. Why are you giving this one person so much power? I think your cakes are great and think that your ability to share your techniques and knowledge is awesome. Don't punish the people who liked your tutorial because of one person.

Please, before criticizing the OP, read the posts more carefully and you might find she has every right to be upset. There was one comment on the tutorial and then there were quite a few on a tutorial-inspired cake photo.

I, for one, can excuse a little over-reaction on the part of somebody who has been wronged (I'm like that, too, and would be just as upset!) but can't excuse the thoughtless, negative comments that were made. This is supposed to be an online community and comments made within the community can be expected to get around. Like our grandmothers (or whoever) always say, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.

Why don't we try to encourage and emphasize the positive rather than point out the negative? Face it, a good portion of us on here are not pro-level and doing our best to improve and, hopefully, help others to improve, as well, by sharing our knowledge. I'm thankful for every positive comment about my cakes but if people started writing about all my mistakes (and there are plenty!) or poor technique, I'd be frustrated and lose the desire to improve. As it is, I make a mental list of all the things I'd do differently after every cake - trust me, it's usually long - and am happy when those insights help me improve aspects of future cakes. My point is that I'm well aware of a cake's shortcomings and don't need anybody to point them out for me. I don't think anybody does. Those who do are not honest, just thoughtless and mean.

Lastly, just like in marketing where negative word of mouth carries much more weight than positive, seeing one one such negative comment really can do more harm than a bunch of positive ones can do good. Guess that's just human nature. One negative comment can ruin it for a person no matter how many positive ones surround it.

@Alvarezmom: keep caking with a smile and don't give up on the site yet! Maybe the few bad apples will manage to grow up.

Jenny

I am one of the few that is left also along with Indydebi,TexasSugar,TexasRose and a few more.LOL..I do agree that sometimes threads and such get out of hand with mean comments etc..I say nothing and don't get involoved...If you don't have anything nice to say..Don't say anything at all...BUT there has been a few times I have run trolls off too who have attacked members on this site and I will always continue to do so...I come here to talk with others who are passsionate about cake decorating like me...not to bash someones work....

@jason_kraft-You are a wealth of knowledge that I've taken advice from even if I dont comment, and usually I dont its becuse of some people being rude about how your wrong and their right. Id rather not say nothing in forums like that.


@Kiddiekakes-You and some othat you mentioned are a few that I was referring to. I feel like my grand mother who used to say "Things arent like what they used to be". IDK I just remember CC being a different place 3 years ago that's all. The fighting was less and there werent people leaving so many nasty comments. No one was running off and getting fed up.

I think the few that dont fully understand what I am talking about just go search for the following titles and you will see what I am talking about. Look for "Cake prcing", "How much should I charge", "Box vs Scratch", "Which is better". These are just a few topics that have been headliners here on CC that end up in arguements.

I know I am not the 1st CC'er (and I wont be the last) who has had some one say something rude/nasty about a picture or been bullied out of the forums because we see things differently. I just wish there was more of a band between us that was dominate, that's all.