Charming people

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The problem is his--too bad he saw fit to try and drag you into the mire. And he (gotta be a "he") is a coward.
 
It seems we are heading into a period when there is a general competition to fantasize oneself as the World's-Most-Authentic-Victim at the same time there is a general disavowal of the extent to which well-meaning people participate in or contribute to vast inequalities and suffering in other people. Indeed there are *real* victims everyday, but in the case brought to our attention by Roger, we are talking about a person who really has an unrealized fantasy about being a "winner" or a perpetrator.

Tibetan Buddhism always teaches that encountering people and obstacles like this is a wonderful opportunity for which we must be grateful.
 
Hmm, as I don't wish to beleive this strange email is written by a fellow human being, let's assume it's the result of a rogue prank email software. We may try to convince ourselves Roger was randomly targeted. Poor little software, it must be lonely, cold and boring out there...
 
I hope that the character who wrote that vitriol in the letter gets his cummuppance. I have no idea who Roger Hicks is either but even if I did and even if I did not like him or his photography (and I am hesitating here but I am beginning to think the author of the letter does not) I would not write a letter like this. Why? Why Bother? If you dont agree with someone, ignore their posts. Job done!!!

But here is why I feel strongly. I used to be a member of the Leica Forum over at Photonet. About 2 years ago I left because trolls like this began to predominate there - a minority (but unfortunately a minority that was too large to ignore) began regularly making posts like the letter quoted - inflamatory, denigrating, harping, aggressive, ill informed, unpleasant, rude, bitchy, argumentative and vitriolic. All for no good reason. I could go on but you get the message. Unfortunately no one pulled them up. The moderators at the time were either too weak or disinterested to ban them and erase their posts.

And you know what -that forum is now almost moribund. Dead! Kaput! If it weren't nailed to the perch it would be pushing up daisies. That is an ex Parrot. But I diverge.

Today there are very few posts there any more. Well at least a tiny fraction of what there used to be. Almost every one left, just like me. I would hate to see that happen here.

I can only make one appeal to the Webmaster at this site - a zero tolerance policy for flaming. As soon as any posts of this sort are found erase them and black-list the authors. This is a site for sharing views on a shared love - rangefinders and photography. Not a place to share abuse. Trolls get their kicks from being trolls. From being able to flame people and then watch them splutter in incoherent, impotent anger. Do not let them.
 
Roger,

I seem to recall most of the photographers that are recognized "greats" didn't really care what someone thought of what they shot or how the photo looked.

I think most people here know the line:

"It looks good photographed"

Anyway, don't let it get to you. This is truly an amazing forum and place. How else could I find the name of someone I posted in a street shot taken almost 10 years ago in Canada, when I now live in Florida! To me that's absolutely amazing.

The value of this whole site is in the community, and I think everyone who lets people express themselves without a lot of negative rhetoric understands this.

Perhaps the volmue of negative rhetoric is inversely proportional to the amount of shooting.

Shoot, and shoot some more, after all...

"It looks good photographed"
 
Tsk tsk geez what an idiot

Hey Mr. "What the f*ck" you missed something.

http://www.rogerandfrances.com/photoschool/ps ignore gurus.html

:)

I actually find Roger and Frances articles and reviews very informative and since I know what they stand for I feel I can interprit and use the information.
I just bought the ZF 25mm Distagon based on the review by Frances and one test roll and I am very pleased with it. Regarding Photographic achievements, well even the great masters turned out junk form time to time, so what.
Best Regards
 
In life it is best not to reward others' anger with the reaction they crave.

-Ben Kenobi
 
The curious element in this, is the energy the guy has put into his angry rant. I guess he must have some serious problem. This is a forum for people who love photography and want to learn, so criticism is only admitted if it is specific and serves the cause of understanding and improving. As to professional photographers - I think most of them would be too busy to waste their time on this kind of nonsense, even if it only were to express their envy.
So all in all Roger, you should actually consider this as a sign that your photographic activity is a roaring success ;-).
 
dof said:
Tom Cruise IS gay! Everyone knows that!

Roger, I would be honoured to have so rabid a fan!
Click to expand...

Great, the news about Kelly McGillis, and now Maverick. That kind of kills Top Gun.

Roger, I imagine he does not get much spam with his return address, but probably a few offers for an American Express Card.

What is it they say about such stuff? It says more about the author than the subject?

I have sent you a few suggestions on projects I think would be great for you, but so far you seem to have resisted. ;-)

WTF, still think you should buy Neobrom Brno and start them back up, heck you can drive there in about 15 hours. ;-)

I have received anonymous evaluations each term for the last 24 years, and now the boss has them xeroxed, files away the originals, and about six months later I get the copies. It is always interesting to be criticized and complimented for the same styles of presentation, and yes, when the grades are higher, so are my "evaluations". I only really take issue with the disingenuous ones, but no one likes to take unfair shots. The stats are public domain, and I suppose I could change some things and pander to the evaluations, but I would also necessarily conflict very much with what is right.

I have seen a severe shift in respect, in that any opinion is somehow equal to any other, and an entitlement belief system that we all have to be pandered to, regardless of merit.

Rewards for bureaucrats and administrators more and more involve the ability to "handle" people rather than engage them in meaningful dialogue. Style over content.

Regards, and good health. John
 
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Thanks, everyone. I was just so p'd off that someone could not only attack me -- this is not entirely unknown -- but drag RFF into the mire as well. I've stayed on RFF for longer than any other forum because the majority of people are really nice, and civilized, and friendly. Even the ones who don't like me usually remain polite (or ignore me, which I much prefer).

I know I'm not the greatest photographer in the world, but I'm not the worst either, and I do know quite a bit about history, equipment and (mostly obsolescent) techniques. It would be sad if I didn't, given that it has furnished my livelihood for some decades.

Like any half-decent teacher, if I can teach anyone anything, I want them to end up better than I am at whatever I have taught. Some have been kind enough to say that they have learned a little from me.

Tashi delek,

Roger
 
Hi fellow monocle wearing late 50s Francophile photoBrit.

"Roger Hicks is a well known photographic writer, author of The Rangefinder Book, over three dozen other photographic books, and a frequent contributor to Shutterbug and Amateur Photographer. Unusually in today's photographic world, most of his camera reviews are film cameras, especially rangefinders. See www.rogerandfrances.com for further background (Frances is his wife Frances Schultz, acknowledged darkroom addict and fellow Shutterbug contributor) ."

Where does it say anything about your PHOTOGRAPHY anyway?

Just another one of those cybersaddos that this medium seems to attract............bring back cyberflogging for them I say...........

Will pass your door on Sunday 24th heading south [Rosslare>Roscoff>Antibes] shall I bring a bottle of Bushmills to cheer you [both] up?

Best

Clive
 
anglophone1 said:
Hi fellow monocle wearing late 50s Francophile photoBrit.

"Roger Hicks is a well known photographic writer, author of The Rangefinder Book, over three dozen other photographic books, and a frequent contributor to Shutterbug and Amateur Photographer. Unusually in today's photographic world, most of his camera reviews are film cameras, especially rangefinders. See www.rogerandfrances.com for further background (Frances is his wife Frances Schultz, acknowledged darkroom addict and fellow Shutterbug contributor) ."

Where does it say anything about your PHOTOGRAPHY anyway?

Just another one of those cybersaddos that this medium seems to attract............bring back cyberflogging for them I say...........

Will pass your door on Sunday 24th heading south [Rosslare>Roscoff>Antibes] shall I bring a bottle of Bushmills to cheer you [both] up?

Best

Clive
Click to expand...

Dear Clive,

Alas! We will almost certainly be away then, barring mishap, or we'd love to have seen you again -- and apologies for not replying to PMs on your travel plans.

I do like the idea of bringing back cyberflogging, though.

Cheers,

R.
 
Will pass by again [heading North] approx three weeks later.
Otherwise will see you [I hope] at Rencontres in Arles...............
Best
Clive
 
[QUOTE

I actually find Roger and Frances articles and reviews very informative and since I know what they stand for I feel I can interprit and use the information.
I just bought the ZF 25mm Distagon based on the review by Frances and one test roll and I am very pleased with it. Regarding Photographic achievements, well even the great masters turned out junk form time to time, so what.
Best Regards[/QUOTE]

Sometimes Rogers article on the back page of AP is the only thing in it worth reading!!:cool:
 
What an animated email from a someone with a chip on his shoulder so heavy that he probably requires snow shoes to walk on concrete.

'and here in the blue corner we have Mr X, whose identity and facial features have been hidden in case he should suffer defeat....'
 
They're not all locked up are they Roger?

I know this isn't the first time someone has taken a dislike to you Roger, but put it behind you and perhaps he'll fade away for good. No forum, should have any member that is is so downright abusive and offensve in this manner. Okay, by all means voice your opinions in an expessive manner but do not resort to verbal abuse just because you don't like someone or their photography.

I know that both Roger and Frances are both accomplished photographers and very knowledgable about photographic techniques, processing, history and equipment and that their input into this forum is valuable and welcomed by many of us.
 
Am I the only one who thinks that Mr Angry seems like a character from a David Mamet play - Glengarry Glen Ross, for example. It's so extreme that he becomes a paradigm of the protective veiling that the internet provides. Was it in green text?

I suggest a Pinteresque silence may be the best response, though (and I'm aware of Roger's tastes here) dear old J-P Satre's play Huis Clos may be appropriate too. (The play is also known as "In Camera" in English)
 
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