Re: [Leica] that LUG photo competition

[Bmceowen@aol.com]

In a message dated 5/24/00 3:12:53 PM, tedgrant@home.com writes:

>There isn't any worship nor economic thing that comes to mind, it's like
>one carpenter prefers a 00000 hammer and another prefers the 00 hammer.
>neither give a damn as long as the hammer pounds nails straight!>>

As much as I hate to cross Ted in the mood he's been in lately I'll risk it 
and disagree just slightly on a couple of points . . . First, I have never 
known any tradesmen that didn't occasionally talk about their gear and that 
includes carpenters and their hammers. In fact, you want to see someone talk 
about hammers go hang around some blacksmiths . . . Besides to suggest that 
people in the LUG don't routinely present the attitude that using anything 
other than Leica is like a mortal sin is simply wrong. That sort of attitude 
is spewed out around here all the time . . . 

 > And
>it's no different to me and taking pictures, do I see anything different
>because I use a Leica?   NOT ON YOUR SWEET ASS!   I see what I see by my
>one God given eye and I'd shoot the same pictures Leica or pinhole, it's
>just that I prefer what the leica camera and lens does for what I see
>and that's all that matters!>>

Well, isn't that a fine kettle of fish? I bought my Leica rangefinders 
precisely because I thought using a rangefinder WOULD encourage me to see 
differently and think differently. Personally I think it has somewhat. In any 
case these past few months have been a lot of fun in the photographic arena 
and I attribute that at least in part to the Leica. Of course, I don't think 
that would apply if we were comparing SLRs to SLRs . . . 


>Quite frankly the whole crock about economic position in relation to who
>can, should or should not buy Leica cameras has been a crock of bull
>shit that absolutely has nothing to do with photography nor taking
>pictures with a Leica.  Or any other camera for that fact. . . .  Like I 
said, it has been nothing more than a pile of cow manure!    And
>we always say to each other.   "what you said on the screen, would you
>say face to face to the poster?" 

I've got to say I don't quite understand the reaction to the recent threads. 
I've read a bunch of stupid threads in the LUG. This one does not stand out 
as being any more aggregious than some of the others. Yes, the guy had sort 
of an offensive manner about him but I've seen others just as bad. What I 
don't recall though is such a strong reaction from the "pillars" of the group 
. . . Maybe I missed something but the reaction seemed excessive to me . . .

Bob (one jerk about the same as the next) McEowen