Re: Fred and Free Speech

[jbuf@ix.netcom.com (John Irvin Buford)]

You wrote: 
>
>Well, I happen to disagree about as strongly as I can disagree with 
Fred --
>his remarks were aggressive, hostile, snobbish, and, frankly, rather 
stupid.
>He has the right to say them but, alas!, they'/re simply wrong.  His 
posting
>was bad enough on its first reading;  on re-reading, its much worse.
>
>I own a load of Leica gear.  I do an occasional professional shoot but 
its
>hardly my bread and butter.   I do not have to justify my possession 
or use
>of Leica or Hassie or Rollie to Fred or to this group or to anyone.  
Nor do
>I have to justify my photographs.  I hang 'em and, if folks don't like 
'em,
>they can go elsewhere.
>
>There's no reason to be hateful about all this.  The querent wished to 
know
>the distinctions between the two versions of the 1.4/35 Aspherical
>Summiluxes.  What's the beef?  It was an innocent query and Fred's 
response
>was totally out of line.  
>
>I can't afford either version and I feel no shame for saying so.  When 
I
>luck into one, I'll buy it.  In the interim, I envy those who can buy 
it,
>and feel sad for those whose sour grapes are so deep that they must 
condemn
>the folks who ask about it.
>
>Of course, Fred should stay with the group -- normally, his postings 
are
>gentle and insightful.  That's what makes this one so harsh and
>uncharacteristic.
>
>Marc
>msmall@roanoke.infi.net  FAX:  +540/343-7315
>Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir!
>
>
I also found Fred's remarks personally denegrating and demeaning.  Stay 
in this forum, say and think what you want.  But there is no reason to 
attack anyone when they disagree with your thought on whatever subject.
And the next time you decide to post such  a self-centered, 
self-serving, and self-impressed message, be man enough to stand by 
your views and not want to run and hide at the first rebuttal.

John N3BVH