Justification Frustration or How I Learned To Stop Justifying And Just Shoot :)

dcsang

dcsang

Canadian & Not A Dentist
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For the lack of a better category to place this subject in, I place it here. Mods, feel free to move it to wherever you see fit. No offense or harm is meant or aimed at either Nick DeMarco or Brian Sweeney in this post :)

Nick DeMarco's recent post about his new Leica M8 caught my eye and, before I read Nick's short review I noted Brian Sweeney's comment regarding the review Nick posted.

It gave me to pause; it seems, at least to me, that we oft times believe we have to justify, in one way or another, why we've purchased "X" camera - this happens more often than not with Leica versus any other brands and it seems it usually occurs when the camera is deemed "expensive" (yes, I'm aware, "expensive" is a relative term depending on one's resources ). A Leica MP A La Carte, the M8, the M9, even perhaps the X1. I don't know if I've ever come across any other brand where the owners/purchasers seem to have to justify their reasoning behind the purchase more so than with Leica. Maybe I just haven't been in other circles (Autophiles, Audiophiles, Pen collectors etc.) but does this type of behaviour occur anywhere else?

In the end, it really is a personal decision and, to be honest, who cares if you chose an M9 because of "insert reasoning here" or if you decided that the MP with the retro rewind knob and advance lever with M3 framelines was the way to go.

It is, I think, as Brian put it: "Choice was made. Let's see the results."

Is it just me or have others witnessed this type of behaviour as well?

Cheers,
Dave
 
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Sure it happens in other circles. I used to be heavily into downhill mountain biking. You should have heard me justifying my $3K bike purchase to my friends who only rode casually!
On the other hand, I drive around in a 25+ year old VW Westfalia. Some people think I sink too much money into refining and maintaining such an old vehicle. That's where I get them to try and justify their car purchases: "You mean you spent $30K on a car that doesn't sleep four and can't cook you breakfast in the morning?" :eek:
 
photogdave said:
Sure it happens in other circles. I used to be heavily into downhill mountain biking. You should have heard me justifying my $3K bike purchase to my friends who only rode casually!
On the other hand, I drive around in a 25+ year old VW Westfalia. Some people think I sink too much money into refining and maintaining such an old vehicle. That's where I get them to try and justify their car purchases: "You mean you spent $30K on a car that doesn't sleep four and can't cook you breakfast in the morning?" :eek:
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Exactly. Or "...on a car you're only going to keep for two or three years?" My father keeps asking me why I don't get a new motorcycle (I've had the R100RS for almost 30 years). My reply is always the same: "I like the one I've got."

In all fairness, part of my livelihood comes from writing columns that make people think, so inevitably an element of questioning why people buy things (for good or ill) appears sometimes.

Still more interesting are those who, rather than justifying their own purchases, attack others' choices: "That's a waste of money!" Normally, the best reply is "Maybe, but it's my money." Sometimes the temptation is to add, "and besides, you're a waste of space."

Cheers,

R.
 
I've noticed that too Dave.

Photodave: I'd love to have a VW camper but with a more powerful Porshe engine. :)
 
This phenomenon is referred to as 'Cognitive Dissonance" and certainly isn't restricted to expensive camera gear.

From wikipedia:

Experience can clash with expectations, as, for example, with buyer's remorse following the purchase of an expensive item. In a state of dissonance, people may feel surprise,[2] dread, guilt, anger, or embarrassment. People are biased to think of their choices as correct, despite any contrary evidence. This bias gives dissonance theory its predictive power, shedding light on otherwise puzzling irrational and destructive behavior.
 
It's much easier (and for some more enjoyable) to sit at a computer and justify a camera purchase than to go outside and take pictures. I can't blame folks for taking the easy route or doing what they enjoy.
 
Threads on gear justification always confuse me, so I pretty much ignore them. With all due respect, other folks' reasons for buying gear are their own affair, so why would that interest me?

As Dave points out, sometimes we want to manage how we're perceived by others when acquiring expensive things. "Well yeah, I've got this high-end [fill in item], but I'm not extravagant/foolish/self-absorbed/lavish/invidious or anything. I'm just a regular guy with really fine taste in [fill in item]."

Kind of silly. Either return the thing, man up, or change the crowd you hang with. Life's too short and too exquisite to waste time explaining passion and fun to the grey-faced critics. Drive that bus, Dave. Ride that bike, Roger. Me too.
 
you can see the same process with rifle sport hunters. guys generally get the best they can afford whether rifle abc and scope def can actually help them be more successful or not when, really, it is about the hunt, not the kill.
 
dcsang said:
.....
It gave me to pause; it seems, at least to me, that we oft times believe we have to justify, in one way or another, why we've purchased "X" camera - this happens more often than not with Leica versus any other brands and it seems it usually occurs when the camera is deemed "expensive"
.....
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In my experience, this not only goes for cameras. People are rarely capable of understanding why you would spend a months earnings or more on a camera, wrist watch or whatever. And they are quickly making remarks about it, when they realize that you are not making the same priorities in life they are making.

In my case I have had some really bad experiences with both family, friends and colleagues in this regard, but most have learnt by now not to try to argue that I should spend my money the same way they do - it is very hard for a guy with two cars and road tax and gas bills up to his neck to convince me that I should not be owning a bicycle worth a months salary that I expect to last at least four decades, and that I can maintain and repair myself.......;)
 
zerobuttons said:
In my experience, this not only goes for cameras. People are rarely capable of understanding why you would spend a months earnings or more on a camera, wrist watch or whatever. And they are quickly making remarks about it, when they realize that you are not making the same priorities in life they are making.

In my case I have had some really bad experiences with both family, friends and colleagues in this regard, but most have learnt by now not to try to argue that I should spend my money the same way they do - it is very hard for a guy with two cars and road tax and gas bills up to his neck to convince me that I should not be owning a bicycle worth a months salary that I expect to last at least four decades, and that I can maintain and repair myself.......;)
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Beautifully put.

Cheers,

R.
 
I submit respectfully that folks who judge others' avocation priorities harshly should be avoided, like bad air, poor light, and other vexations of the mind and body.
 
Carlos M said:
I was a victim to the contrary.

In a provocative thread I was forced to justify my use of a Holga.
The provocateur simply refused my explanation that it was "fun".

The thread was closed, and a member banned. It's a touchy subject.
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Somebody forced you to do something on an internet forum? How exactly? With an e-gun? An e-blackmail envelope? ;)

In a more serious vein, I find that many people who lack self-awareness start conversations with: "you're a fool if you don't like this!" and then are perplexed or combative when people want them to explain their ad-hominems and insults.

(That is a comment on these sorts of exchanges in general, not limited to any specific ones.)
 
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If you can afford the things you want (need lol) then why not.......its good for capitalism. Life's too short to sweat the slings and arrows of the envious.
 
As my wise old 87-year old aunt says - "You can't please everybody, so you might as well please yourself. Then at least you've made one person happy. "
 
I got involved in a thread recently where I attempted the opposite-- to quell a member (and maybe even a mod?) who vigorously defends a specific camera in almost every thread. I tried to quiet his/her pushing and ended up getting over-involved to the point where I laughed at myself... sometimes I forget that this is, afterall, an internet forum where there are all kinds of people.
Cognitive dissonance is indeed what it is.
 
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