bnsfr
15th of December 2001 (Sat), 14:49
I'm still stewing over Professor Gandini's previous message. I began this message in a fury, and considered simply abandoning this site. Ironically, it is a week since I purchased the D30 (along with the the Canon 28-135 lens that I purchased based on advice from this forum). I decided to write this to you out of respect for your significant efforts in building and maintaining this site.
It saddens me to think that you're irritated by questions about lenses and the like. As someone who has posted two lens questions in the last month (after reading extensively about over a dozen lenses first by the way, something that I resent even stating), I can tell you that FAQs are one thing, people responding from similar experience about particular needs are another (something you did acknowledge in your reply to Professor Gandini). I have spent hours determining how to spend my 500 dollars on a lens, and I think I made the right choice with this forum's help.
But on a more deeper level, I had been touched and inspired by your commitment to both excellence and access at the same time. To me, digital photography is a continuation of computer technology's ability to break down walls and allow us to connect in ways previously unimaginable -- something photography itself has done since its invention. How else would I be sharing this experience with you? That is an extraordinary thing, and your site is unique. I had thought I understood its spirit. I think Professor Gandini's message smacks of an elitism and intolerance that is contrary to a forum for people who voluntarily commit their energies to a shared love.
If you intend the forum to have certain "standards" for entry, I suggest relabelling it for "professionals and experienced D30 users only" or some such claptrap. But otherwise, I hope Professor Gandini has the good sense to post an apology.
Pekka, I doubt I would have committed to the D30 without your forum, and your encouragement. I may never be a professional photographer -- hell, I may never be a good photographer -- but I share my hobby and growing knowledge freely with friends and family, and have found my photographs make people happy. I love that. I've taken photographs of community events for fundraisers, sent photographs over the web to grandparents who are too ill to visit, set up a shared site for my daughter's basketball team, taken professional photos for friends' web bios. Your site has been terrific. Even my eleven year old daughter and six year old son have become interested after we huddled around the computer and looked at your wonderful photographs. I am treasuring the opportunity to teach them a bit about art with your help.
But that's me, Pekka. I don't know a linear whatchamacallit from a lemon -- yet. I'm not here to disturb any plan that you or your colleagues may have for this site. I resent Mr. Gandini's message, though (as you can see, I'm really quite annoyed), and I was not particularly happy to find you agreeing with him (at all) in your reply. I give you the choice as Moderator -- if you welcome people like myself with more limited experience at this level participating, I'm in -- but only if I can ask any good faith question or make any good faith comment I please. If you want to informally limit it, say the word and I'm gone.
I invite anyone else to comment on this message as well, including Professor Gandini. If I don't reply immediately, it is only because I have work to do and children to take care of, limiting my ability to do so. I will eventually, though.
It saddens me to think that you're irritated by questions about lenses and the like. As someone who has posted two lens questions in the last month (after reading extensively about over a dozen lenses first by the way, something that I resent even stating), I can tell you that FAQs are one thing, people responding from similar experience about particular needs are another (something you did acknowledge in your reply to Professor Gandini). I have spent hours determining how to spend my 500 dollars on a lens, and I think I made the right choice with this forum's help.
But on a more deeper level, I had been touched and inspired by your commitment to both excellence and access at the same time. To me, digital photography is a continuation of computer technology's ability to break down walls and allow us to connect in ways previously unimaginable -- something photography itself has done since its invention. How else would I be sharing this experience with you? That is an extraordinary thing, and your site is unique. I had thought I understood its spirit. I think Professor Gandini's message smacks of an elitism and intolerance that is contrary to a forum for people who voluntarily commit their energies to a shared love.
If you intend the forum to have certain "standards" for entry, I suggest relabelling it for "professionals and experienced D30 users only" or some such claptrap. But otherwise, I hope Professor Gandini has the good sense to post an apology.
Pekka, I doubt I would have committed to the D30 without your forum, and your encouragement. I may never be a professional photographer -- hell, I may never be a good photographer -- but I share my hobby and growing knowledge freely with friends and family, and have found my photographs make people happy. I love that. I've taken photographs of community events for fundraisers, sent photographs over the web to grandparents who are too ill to visit, set up a shared site for my daughter's basketball team, taken professional photos for friends' web bios. Your site has been terrific. Even my eleven year old daughter and six year old son have become interested after we huddled around the computer and looked at your wonderful photographs. I am treasuring the opportunity to teach them a bit about art with your help.
But that's me, Pekka. I don't know a linear whatchamacallit from a lemon -- yet. I'm not here to disturb any plan that you or your colleagues may have for this site. I resent Mr. Gandini's message, though (as you can see, I'm really quite annoyed), and I was not particularly happy to find you agreeing with him (at all) in your reply. I give you the choice as Moderator -- if you welcome people like myself with more limited experience at this level participating, I'm in -- but only if I can ask any good faith question or make any good faith comment I please. If you want to informally limit it, say the word and I'm gone.
I invite anyone else to comment on this message as well, including Professor Gandini. If I don't reply immediately, it is only because I have work to do and children to take care of, limiting my ability to do so. I will eventually, though.