rhl-oregon
Cameras Guitars Wonders
I’ve not participated in this inquiry (which looks more and more like a forensic inquest) so far, but here is something to consider about the intellectual and critical health of the forum:
among the people who agreed to play host for one or another of the “Coffee with Mentors” threads, who have been the steadiest contributors? I count two in my time here: Bill, and Roger. You can differentiate them by their approaches to the role and by presentational style, but unlike some “mentors” each has contributed thoughtfully and reliably. (I am not by the way inviting detractors-in-waiting to pounce on any other RFF “mentor” for whatever ad hominem reason by this comparison.) What does RFF gain when critical complaints of a very few about the style or substance of one of these quite reliable writers and thinkers effectually shut down the resource they offer?
Maybe the “Coffee with Mentors” approach sets up most of its appointees with an impossible task to fulfill month after month; maybe it will not be part of the new RFF; but when we have photography writers as experienced and critically incisive as Roger and Bill, why not let each play the mentor role as each sees fit?
RFF has few photography writers as interesting, stylish, personable, varied as Roger at his best. It’s a less interesting forum without his engaged presence, whatever the terms of engagement may be.
among the people who agreed to play host for one or another of the “Coffee with Mentors” threads, who have been the steadiest contributors? I count two in my time here: Bill, and Roger. You can differentiate them by their approaches to the role and by presentational style, but unlike some “mentors” each has contributed thoughtfully and reliably. (I am not by the way inviting detractors-in-waiting to pounce on any other RFF “mentor” for whatever ad hominem reason by this comparison.) What does RFF gain when critical complaints of a very few about the style or substance of one of these quite reliable writers and thinkers effectually shut down the resource they offer?
Maybe the “Coffee with Mentors” approach sets up most of its appointees with an impossible task to fulfill month after month; maybe it will not be part of the new RFF; but when we have photography writers as experienced and critically incisive as Roger and Bill, why not let each play the mentor role as each sees fit?
RFF has few photography writers as interesting, stylish, personable, varied as Roger at his best. It’s a less interesting forum without his engaged presence, whatever the terms of engagement may be.
