Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/08/25
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Humourously put and oh so true. On the rare occassion someone asks why I shoot an M6 or play a Gibson L4 (two of my fetishes), I always promptly answer, "because I can afford to." As in, "that's all there need be to it." There are other areas in my life where I gladly skimp or am downright cheap. Probably true for most, or at least many, of the Rolex wearing Mercedes (or Harley, for that matter) driving, etc. folks out there. Scott Peter Klein wrote: > Whenever a something has the cachet of "best," somebody wants to tear > it down. Ditto when something is very expensive, or is a marker of > social standing. It's human nature. People love to knock statues off > pedestals. > > Factor in the snobbery (real or perceived) that devotees of said items > sometimes display, and you've got a natural target. "Bentley, > shmently. . . my Chevy gets me there just as well, and we don't need > no steenkin' Grey Poupon, neither." Witness the near-universal > delight when Oprah was not granted the customary VIP privilege of late > entry to an Hermes boutique. No matter which side you were on, the > other was ripe for riposte. > > Announce that you own a Leica or Hasselblad, a Rolex, a Mercedes or a > BMW, are a member of Mensa, raise orchids, or genuinely prefer > classical music to Country/Western, and there is a pseudo-populist on > the next corner just waiting to bring you down. Which is probably > why I black-tape my M bodies and soft-pedal my Leica ownership. I > don't want to deal with people who think the the Leica in my hand > means I think I'm better than they are. "No, I'm not rich, I bought > it used, I just like the lenses and can focus better with a rangefinder." > > Such dynamics operate even within our little cult. We all have our > sacred cows and blind spots, and others will happily point them out. > When kept in the spirit of good fun among friends, it can be > enjoyable. Too bad it sometimes degenerates into vitriol. > > --Peter > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information