[Leica] Leica Sighting -- Continued

[gcr910 at msn.com (Gregory Rubenstein)]

Group:

Read the chat under the heading "Leica Sighting" and was a tad more than 
irked by a post from Austin Burbridge. Sent the following directly to him 
'cuz I don't like public flamings. Austin was kind enough to reply and 
strongly recommended posting my note on the LUG. Here it is, with my thanks 
to Austin for his reply and courtesy.

Greg
-----
Leica Sighting . . . Unsolicited, Off-List Response

Catching up on my LUG reading and, since I don't like criticizing folks 
publicly, I sent this note off-list. Apologies in advance for an 
unsolicited, ad hominem rant; your missive hit a nerve with me.

I found your note to be the most narrow-minded, wrong-headed, elitist 
posting I've read in my years of LUG participation. Having been a 
professional photographer most of my life I'm aware of the distractions 
folks stopping to talk can cause. But I am equally aware of, and have 
benefitted from, the different points of view, useful information and access 
to people, sites and sights they have given me. Even noticing how somebody 
watching me work looks at the same thing a bit differently has  improved 
some photos. Conversations have proved beneficial -- even when rushing to 
meet a deadline. Contacts and access are invaluable; you never know who 
those curious, talkative strangers are, who they know or what they do.

Many of these unsolicited conversations -- regardless of the gear I was 
using -- helped my work when I was a newsman and in the corporate photo 
world. They continue to do so. Out with a Leica a month or two back I 
spotted another Leica shooter. He didn't look like he wanted to be bothered, 
but spoke as I passed by. Turned out when we exchanged names that I 
recognized his as that of a Chicago street shooter who'd just had a highly 
acclaimed exhibition that  snowballed into a book. I congratulated him and 
learned from what became a pleasant conversation neither of us had planned 
on.

Yes, you close your note with a tip of the hat to tact and courtesy. Truth 
is I think you ought to open your mind and be more receptive to such 
encounters. No telling what you might learn, how your 
perspective/vision/photography might improve, or what access or information 
you might gain. And, if you find the attention THAT bothersome, maybe a more 
private pursuit with a lower profile is in order, a pursuit that does not 
include a Web site complete with a self portrait and contact points.

Okay. End of rant. Apologies for an unsolicited "eyeful" from a  stranger, 
but that nerve and my big mouth . . . Feel free to rant back or simply tell 
me to stuff it; I've tested your patience and courtesy -- you're more than 
entitled.

Be well

Greg Rubenstein

P.S. Never had a theft problem with gear around my neck -- again, regardless 
of brand. Have, however, noticed vultures circling when I've set up, set 
things down or moved slightly out of reach when working. But, like the 
Englishman who responded on list, I'm well over six-feet tall and have, with 
a smile, "looked off" would-be miscreants.