That's a very good question. How long have you got? We all unintentionally use other people's captions. Some captioneers intentionally do this as well. You see the same tired old jokes cropping up time and time again: Jehovah's Witnesses, Gulliver's Travels and if any cat appears somebody will have to use the 'pussy' double entendre etc etc. I don't really think this is good for the site. However, I appreciate that it's pleasing to see your name high up the league table at the end of the week, so it's tempting to use old jokes to get a few votes. Personally, I would withdraw a caption if it was pointed out to me that it was a carbon copy of someone else's work (particularly a high scorer). Whether the copying was intentional or unintentional is irrelevant.
Not everyone on the site may share your views Dave. I saw a comment by the top captioneer on caption.me regarding their month winning caption. They had seen it used elsewhere by different captioneers.
I see your point Dave, but I think it's fine to recycle previously used captions such as this. We have a limited number of words and phrases at our disposal when thinking up a caption and I think if something is really apt it would be a shame not to use it. A lot of us are relatively new to Caption.me and are probably unaware that certain captions have been used before.
That's also a fair point, Karyn. Captioneers come and go on a regular basis. Having said that, I've only been on the site ten months and I must have seen ''Hello, I'm from The Jehovah's Witnesses'' at least a dozen times. ''We have a limited number of words and phrases at our disposal'': Thinking about that astute observation, most of us probably have a time limit on the site, after which we start to become stale and repeat our captions.
Hi Dave, As advised by Chris in his forum post: https://www.caption.me/forum/discussion/2130/re-using-old-captions#latest I can't comment on that forum post for obvious reasons. I'm happy to give you a nod if you wish, even though I'm sure you appreciate I came up with the idea for the reason I said in my private message. It is also a well recognized phrase that is widely used on the internet.
Well I probably haven't got long to go then having used the Jehovah's Witness one twice. Even if my days as a captioneer are numbered I can still appreciate and vote for other people's captions, which is just as enjoyable.
I try to post captions that are relevant and different and try not to rehash old ones. If it is a particularly irksome point don't vote for it but the site is just a bit of fun - if a caption fits perfectly then post it regardless of whether it's a new idea or not then let the voting public decide if they like it. Welsh rarebit posted one a couple of years ago 'toed in the hole' which yes had been used but it was the perfect caption for the photo. It still made me chuckle despite having seen it before. And I am a firm believer that repetition can be funny if used properly. Blatant rip offs though should be frowned upon
email us
I was tempted to post this again but thought better of it. (14/06/18 11:00:17)
8:51am
I'd not seen it. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to think of it too.
9:03am
Dave, did you post your comment because you believe captions should not be repeated on caption.me?
9:12am
A lot of us weren't even here five months ago.
9:16am
That's a very good question. How long have you got?
We all unintentionally use other people's captions. Some captioneers intentionally do this as well. You see the same tired old jokes cropping up time and time again: Jehovah's Witnesses, Gulliver's Travels and if any cat appears somebody will have to use the 'pussy' double entendre etc etc.
I don't really think this is good for the site. However, I appreciate that it's pleasing to see your name high up the league table at the end of the week, so it's tempting to use old jokes to get a few votes.
Personally, I would withdraw a caption if it was pointed out to me that it was a carbon copy of someone else's work (particularly a high scorer). Whether the copying was intentional or unintentional is irrelevant.
9:36am
Dave, I'll send you a private message to explain how I thought of the caption.
9:39am
I've asked Chris Beach to post a comment regarding the official stance on caption.me regarding the re-use of old captions.
10:00am
Not everyone on the site may share your views Dave. I saw a comment by the top captioneer on caption.me regarding their month winning caption. They had seen it used elsewhere by different captioneers.
10:17am
Well, once we discuss it as a topic in the forum, it will be much less ephemeral than comments on a caption for a particular photo.
10:34am
Molly, please feel free to start the discussion. I of course can't get involved in it for 3 days.
11:03am
I see your point Dave, but I think it's fine to recycle previously used captions such as this. We have a limited number of words and phrases at our disposal when thinking up a caption and I think if something is really apt it would be a shame not to use it. A lot of us are relatively new to Caption.me and are probably unaware that certain captions have been used before.
11:04am
That's also a fair point, Karyn. Captioneers come and go on a regular basis. Having said that, I've only been on the site ten months and I must have seen ''Hello, I'm from The Jehovah's Witnesses'' at least a dozen times.
''We have a limited number of words and phrases at our disposal'':
Thinking about that astute observation, most of us probably have a time limit on the site, after which we start to become stale and repeat our captions.
11:36am
Hi Dave,
As advised by Chris in his forum post:
https://www.caption.me/forum/discussion/2130/re-using-old-captions#latest
I can't comment on that forum post for obvious reasons.
I'm happy to give you a nod if you wish, even though I'm sure you appreciate I came up with the idea for the reason I said in my private message. It is also a well recognized phrase that is widely used on the internet.
12:08pm
Nod to https://www.caption.me/439600
12:16pm
Well I probably haven't got long to go then having used the Jehovah's Witness one twice. Even if my days as a captioneer are numbered I can still appreciate and vote for other people's captions, which is just as enjoyable.
5:03pm
I try to post captions that are relevant and different and try not to rehash old ones. If it is a particularly irksome point don't vote for it but the site is just a bit of fun - if a caption fits perfectly then post it regardless of whether it's a new idea or not then let the voting public decide if they like it. Welsh rarebit posted one a couple of years ago 'toed in the hole' which yes had been used but it was the perfect caption for the photo. It still made me chuckle despite having seen it before. And I am a firm believer that repetition can be funny if used properly. Blatant rip offs though should be frowned upon
And I actually miss Gulliver 🤷ðŸ»"♂ï¸
5:05pm
Repetition IS funny. I never get sick of seeing Basil Fawlty giving his car a damn good thrashing!
5:28pm