Spider67
Well-known
Thanks for the link! Yes that's definitely a great opportunity to hear some stories!
peterm1
Veteran
hlockwood said:It is two words. In German, and maybe in Yiddish also, they are alter Knacker, meaning old fogy. But alter Kacker is very different: old ****ter.
I'm definitely an alter Knacker. I won't admit to more than that.
Harry
In Yiddish alter cocker simply means "Old F*rt" Its definitely a bit derogatory but still meant I think in a humerous manner. I presume its a direct take from the German equivalent.
jplomley
Established
As requested, I have been asked to post this reply from Elaine Zimbal....
elainezimbel.com
rangefinder.com/smarten up!
May 5th, 2008 by elaine
My husband is a friendly guy. He talks to people on the street - even in foreign countries where he doesn’t speak the language. Sometimes people speak to him first, that’s when he wears a Leica around his neck, which is often but not always. My husband is George Zimbel - da-tada - the famous photographer.
This is what my husband isn’t: an old guy with a Polish/Jewish accent and an old fashioned bicycle. Neither he nor his parents (now deceased) have ever been to Poland. The accent he (and they before him) can rightfully claim is Boston - pahk the cah in the gahradge. (Cute, but I did not marry him for that. I had a boyfriend when I was a teenager in Milwaukee who talked like that and I got over it.)
If anyone wants to know what I’m so huffy about, here’s the link to the story:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=677073#post677073
It happened last Fall in Montreal, someone tipped George off and we had a big laugh, except for one thing…that thing about his bicycle. His bicycle is a 10-speed Peugot. George thought that was funny too. I did not!
So ya got that, rangefinder.com? My husband does not look anything like Garry Winogrand, not now or ever, not even if Garry had lived to a ripe old age. And, I repeat, a 10-speed Peugot bicycle is not an old fashioned bicycle, unless, of course, I am just terribly old fashioned myself.
Could be!
©Elaine Zimbel 2008
Posted in Uncategorized
elainezimbel.com
rangefinder.com/smarten up!
May 5th, 2008 by elaine
My husband is a friendly guy. He talks to people on the street - even in foreign countries where he doesn’t speak the language. Sometimes people speak to him first, that’s when he wears a Leica around his neck, which is often but not always. My husband is George Zimbel - da-tada - the famous photographer.
This is what my husband isn’t: an old guy with a Polish/Jewish accent and an old fashioned bicycle. Neither he nor his parents (now deceased) have ever been to Poland. The accent he (and they before him) can rightfully claim is Boston - pahk the cah in the gahradge. (Cute, but I did not marry him for that. I had a boyfriend when I was a teenager in Milwaukee who talked like that and I got over it.)
If anyone wants to know what I’m so huffy about, here’s the link to the story:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=677073#post677073
It happened last Fall in Montreal, someone tipped George off and we had a big laugh, except for one thing…that thing about his bicycle. His bicycle is a 10-speed Peugot. George thought that was funny too. I did not!
So ya got that, rangefinder.com? My husband does not look anything like Garry Winogrand, not now or ever, not even if Garry had lived to a ripe old age. And, I repeat, a 10-speed Peugot bicycle is not an old fashioned bicycle, unless, of course, I am just terribly old fashioned myself.
Could be!
©Elaine Zimbel 2008
Posted in Uncategorized
MickH
Well-known
An interesting riposte to what was obviously taken as a patronising original post, bless her!
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
Did you manage to photograph George Ned?
Ororaro
Well-known
Ah! Sorry. Next time I won't write personal thoughts and romantic ideas.
George was a cool dude I met on the street and next time I see him, I'll make sure to stay silent.
George was a cool dude I met on the street and next time I see him, I'll make sure to stay silent.
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Ororaro
Well-known
Patronizing? Me?
I'd like to meet Mr. Zimbel in person. It would be a great honor.
Of course, my post was done in respect. And yeah, he reminded me of some Older Montrealers I personally knew, especially from the jewish comunity. Is this wrong? lol!
No need to take it all personal and I apologize to anyone offended by the "jew" or "old" remark.
If anyone would want a personal apology, done by email or phone, please PM me
I'd like to meet Mr. Zimbel in person. It would be a great honor.
Of course, my post was done in respect. And yeah, he reminded me of some Older Montrealers I personally knew, especially from the jewish comunity. Is this wrong? lol!
No need to take it all personal and I apologize to anyone offended by the "jew" or "old" remark.
If anyone would want a personal apology, done by email or phone, please PM me
Chris101
summicronia
A little maybe ...Elaine Zimbel said:... My husband does not look anything like Garry Winogrand, not now or ever, ...

xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
A little maybe ...
![]()
young Garry looks a bit like Al Franken.
Nh3
Well-known
nothing to see here.
wth?
why did you delete the post?
This dude loves drama...
jwhitley
Established
why did you delete the post?![]()
Agreed; that was a hurtful deletion. Just looking a the positive reactions this thread has generated should have made that clear. Fortunately I was online at the time of the event and had the presence of mind to copy the original post out of my browser's cache. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be archived in the Wayback Machine.
NB23: If you change your mind, I can PM you the original text.
I don't understand Fred's post, and don't understand what is offensive about referring to an old Jew as an old Jew. 
Ororaro
Well-known
i wouldn't sweat an apology too much ned, anyone offended by the words "old jew" haven't stopped for bagels at st viateur, or done their shopping on parc, found themselves out on cote st luc ouest etc etc.
interesting thread none the less... now, back to framing that print!
It was nice meting you, John! I hope the print meets your expectations. If not, please let me know.
About apologizing, I don't find it hard to apologize to anyone in life if it makes people feel better. It's only life, it's only people. And in this case, it's only the internet.
Nothing frikkin worth dying over
Ororaro
Well-known
Almost fell off my chair when I read the comment about the business card.
Watch that Ole Backbone!
Ororaro
Well-known
As far as I know, Jewish categorize themselves. You ask me what I am and I'll tell you I'm a Serb. But ask a Serb Jew what he is and he'll tell you he's a Jew. Find the error.
Now I'm Anti-Semitic? Pff, make me laugh.
Now I'm Anti-Semitic? Pff, make me laugh.
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Ororaro
Well-known
Fred, you guys take yourselves waayy too seriously for me to take you seriously, if you know what I mean.
tomasis
Well-known
it turns out to be funniest thread here I have ever seen in RFF in the whole life 
jan normandale
Film is the other way
@ Ned, I just walked into this thread. Interesting read and comments, but I'm still trying to decode your opening comment in this thread.... perhaps a little figurative light might help late entrants to this thread (like me).
crawdiddy
qu'est-ce que c'est?
Fred, thanks for your interesting take on this subject.
Ned, I read your original post when you submitted it. I do not think it was anti-semitic. And I don't necessarily think Mrs. Zimbel thought it was either, from what I read. But people don't want to be "categorized" based on a stereotype. Even if, or maybe especially if, they belong to that group.
This is why comments about race or ethnicity are a trap, generally avoided by skillful politicians. Say the wrong thing and it's offensive. There may be no offense intended, but a clumsy phrase easily becomes a slam. Elaine Zimbel may not have been offended, but she did want to point out stereotypes attributed to her husband were false. Like a Polish accent.
Ned, I'm not sure you should have deleted your post. Perhaps it would be better to restore it, but add comments at the end, clarifying your intentions.
Ned, I read your original post when you submitted it. I do not think it was anti-semitic. And I don't necessarily think Mrs. Zimbel thought it was either, from what I read. But people don't want to be "categorized" based on a stereotype. Even if, or maybe especially if, they belong to that group.
This is why comments about race or ethnicity are a trap, generally avoided by skillful politicians. Say the wrong thing and it's offensive. There may be no offense intended, but a clumsy phrase easily becomes a slam. Elaine Zimbel may not have been offended, but she did want to point out stereotypes attributed to her husband were false. Like a Polish accent.
Ned, I'm not sure you should have deleted your post. Perhaps it would be better to restore it, but add comments at the end, clarifying your intentions.
Pablito
coco frío
deleted for obvious reasons
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