Fascinating encounter

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
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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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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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 🙂
 
Elaine Zimbel said:
... My husband does not look anything like Garry Winogrand, not now or ever, ...
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A little maybe ...

zimbelwinogrand.jpg
 
Nh3 said:
why did you delete the post? 😕
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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.
 
emraphoto said:
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!
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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 😉
 
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.
 
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@ 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).
 
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.
 
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