Sucks

Next time be more persistent, they may just hand over the camera and run away. Wouldn't you be having a good day then? :D
 
But I gotta say, scorpius, if I'm carrying a camera and some stranger gives me a lead to talk about photography/leicas/film/whatever/etc., I'll more than likely stop to chat ... and my wife will more than likely roll her eyes, give both of us a dirty look and head for the next dress shop down the street...

Wait. Come to think of it, are ya sure that wasn't me and my wife you spoke to? There wasn't a Zorki on the old guy's other shoulder was there?

Yeah, show 'em some grace. Ya never know what's goin' on in someone else's world.
 
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Juan Valdenebro said:
It's happened to me too... A couple times when I said "nice camera" or "nice Leica" in the street, tourists got a bit worried... Then I learned it's a better idea to talk about the lens, camera model, film, etc... But most other times Leica users are not that paranoid... By the way, those two times, they were young people... And sometimes I've felt worried too when someone comes close to my cameras asking things: once I was robbed (a Nikon 20 years ago) and I was robbed by two guys after we had talked for 20 minutes about history while I was shooting sculptures in a park...

For sure it's not about color skin: depending on their pasts, peoples' fears can be so different...

Cheers,

Juan
Click to expand...

I'm visiting Barcelona in early December. Maybe you'll see me on the street with a Leica M. Or, better yet, go out shooting together.

Tom
 
tjh said:
I'm visiting Barcelona in early December. Maybe you'll see me on the street with a Leica M. Or, better yet, go out shooting together.

Tom
Click to expand...

Hi Tom,

Sure! If I'm in Barcelona in December, I'll be pleased to go out shooting around with you!

What I like the most about Barcelona (compared to Colombia, where I live too) is I know I can go out with any camera or cameras, and... I won't be robbed! It's not only about not losing cameras, but about shooting without worries all day long, anywhere...

Cheers,

Juan
 
I'm in Northern Virginia.

Some local college students made a movie in the 70s called "Salesman from Saturn" in whick aliens planned on taking over the Earth. They made a mistake asking the local teenage boys about their cars and were bored to death by the non-stop chatter that ensued.

Bear that in mind if you ask me about the camera that I am carrying.
 
...I'm pretty sick of talking about Leicas when people approach me on the street with the "nice camera...is that a Leica?" line...maybe I'll try their reaction next time to ward off unwanted conversations.
 
Dear Scorpius,
1. What makes you think if you were white (,yellow, red, pink or green) would have brought a different reaction?? Sad we live in a world where people automatically associate a bad look with their own skin color!
2. Maybe they just had a fight a minute before like "Johnny why did you have to buy yet another old junky camera, don't you have seventeen at home already?? -Mary don't stick your nose into my hobby, i told you haven't i?" and then you commented "nice camera" of course you got a bad look from her!
 
This reminds me that I was carrying my IIIf around my neck one day walking around the streets of Bologna not long ago. A well dressed older man who was approaching me poked his finger on my camera which was partially covered by my raincoat. My reflex was to grab my camera. I was embarrassed immediately for my response since the man had a smile and I'm sure only wanted to compliment the camera, whereas my response was perhaps hardwired by living in Rome too long. I wanted to go back and apologize but he disappeared in the crowded rainy street. I understand that I could have been the guy with the sour look on his face. Mi dispiace. Ciao.

David
 
It's a new day. I was griping because I got rejected. Oh well, I'm a big boy. Not the first nor the last time. But lesson learned from a few of you. I will just go about my own photo activities and not bother people. If someone wants to talk to me, cool.
I'll be out at lunch using that new to me Elmar. Hope everyone else has fun today.
 
Recently I was accosted by some guy from Belgium...
He, "Very nice, is that a Hassleblad?"
Me, "No, A** Hole, it's a Bronica. F'n foreigners...!"

Ok...actually it was quite a pleasant encounter.
 
Pherdinand said:
Dear Scorpius,
1. What makes you think if you were white (,yellow, red, pink or green) would have brought a different reaction?? Sad we live in a world where people automatically associate a bad look with their own skin color!
Click to expand...
Being an old white man it amazes me that today everyone assumes rude behavior is some sort of racial/age/sexes discrimination.

Me, I'm just an old grouch. I never understand why strangers want to discuss the weather with me or (for that matter) even talk to me. My response is usually a withering stare and no other response except to walk away. If they take that as discrimination that's there problem.

Recently I was riding my motorcycle to a BMW rally 600 miles away. I developed a mechanical problem that required repair so I found a hotel room in Virginia next to a very large, well know BMW repair shop. I got there about 30 minutes before they opened. As the owner and other workers arrived they walked around me, ignored my good mornings, unlocked the door and locked the door behind them. This is not typical BMW service. I never even though that they might be discriminating against me because I was an old white male (the group was composed of young white/black/Hispanic males and females).

Since they wouldn't repair my bike (too busy) maybe I should file an age discrimination suit against with the state of VA?
 
For the people who have been robbed: was it at gunpoint? I am just curious. I've been in a situation a few times where I thought someone was going to try to pull a knife on me, but I've always thought that if I were in that situation I could escape while they recovered from being hit in the face with a Leica.
 
Ok, a liitle story on race tollarence..
I live in Russia not in the capital city and 99,99% of people you meet around have white skin. You can meet somewone black say.. in the university, but very seldom in other parts of the city.
So, a friend of mine (a Bulgarian) who's name is Plamen had a room neibour Steve who was a student from Kongo.
Steve was really black I'd ruther say blue, he also was very tall and sportive.
So once they where srolling in the city and saw their bus at the stop. The bus was about to leave so they both ran to catch it.
After some running Plamen realized that Steve ran much faster and he couldn't catch up with him. He saw Steve running towards the bus seeing and hearing nothing as if it were the last bus ever. He cried him to stop but Steve payed no attention. Then just laughting he cried into the air: "People, somebody, get the ****** (black guy)"
He coudn't believe his eyes but suddenly 4 or 5 young men not even being familiar with each other hit the running Steve down to the ground, twisted his arms and jumped onto him.
When Plamen came close he was so confused he didn't know wat to say..
- We got him man! - said one of the catchers. - What are we to do with him now?

That's the whole story. Plamen told them that Steve was his friend and they instantly let him go saying excuses and removing dust from his clothes but both friends were shocked.
 
dazedgonebye said:
Recently I was accosted by some guy from Belgium...
He, "Very nice, is that a Hassleblad?"
Me, "No, A** Hole, it's a Bronica. F'n foreigners...!"

Ok...actually it was quite a pleasant encounter.
Click to expand...

Actually, and I'm sure you know this, but in Arizona we wouldn't know they were from Belgium. We'd say, "F'n Frenchies...!"
 
Beemermark said:
Being an old white man it amazes me that today everyone assumes rude behavior is some sort of racial/age/sexes discrimination.

Me, I'm just an old grouch. I never understand why strangers want to discuss the weather with me or (for that matter) even talk to me. My response is usually a withering stare and no other response except to walk away. If they take that as discrimination that's there problem.

Recently I was riding my motorcycle to a BMW rally 600 miles away. I developed a mechanical problem that required repair so I found a hotel room in Virginia next to a very large, well know BMW repair shop. I got there about 30 minutes before they opened. As the owner and other workers arrived they walked around me, ignored my good mornings, unlocked the door and locked the door behind them. This is not typical BMW service. I never even though that they might be discriminating against me because I was an old white male (the group was composed of young white/black/Hispanic males and females).

Since they wouldn't repair my bike (too busy) maybe I should file an age discrimination suit against with the state of VA?
Click to expand...

You could be right. Maybe it wasn't racism and I got my panties all in a bunch. But that look she gave, wow! I'm sure it keeps her gentelman in line. Doesn't matter now anyway. Today is a new day. I learned not to bother older people about things that don't concern me (his camera). All I can say is hope your day is going as well as mine. Now go make some photographs! :D
 
anu L ogy said:
For the people who have been robbed: was it at gunpoint? I am just curious. I've been in a situation a few times where I thought someone was going to try to pull a knife on me, but I've always thought that if I were in that situation I could escape while they recovered from being hit in the face with a Leica.
Click to expand...

Great question! I have been robbed at gunpoint with a Tec-9 (that is sort of an Uzi knockoff). I did not have a camera with me, but would have hated to use my M3 to deflect bullets. The guy got my wallet, but I am happy to say I trailed him and eventually got it back, minus $15. (He pulled the cash out and ditched it.)

On another occasion a kid on a bike accosted me and my daughter after I met her at the school bus. He said he had a gun. We were at an intersection, I handed her my cell phone, told her to run cross the street and call 911, and I turned on the kid. (I really didn't believe he was armed.) He took off and the cops got him a block away. That's a first! No camera that time either.

Both those incidents were some years ago, my neighborhood has been pretty well-behaved recently.

Randy
 
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