What you say is astute, to a point. But. You knew there was
going to be a but, right? Some of the folks think that the only
thing that belongs in PDML is things like, "The 85/2 is soft
wide open", and "I agree".
Now while that is useful information, it is not very
interesting. Any discussion has to have two or more sides or it
is not a discussion. When people look at things from the
opposite sides, they often find themselves defending their
position more vigorously than they really feel about it, but
that makes for interesting reading and further discussion. Also
I usually find that the "new" things I learn on a list such as
come up buried inside these long threads.
Long threads are long threads because the people who are in the
thread find it interesting, if they didn't it would not be a
long thread. The only time I object to them is when they become
reduced to "Is", "Is not"...
Also, threads mutate that is the nature of any kind of list.
Complaining because it no longer addresses what you asked about
is kind of dumb.
Changing the name of the thread is also dumb. You just start a
new splinter that many people think is a separate thread, and
therefor generates extra posts because they think they have to
make their point in each of the threads.
Moderated lists are ones in which the group or the originator
has determined that off topic and mutated thread will not be
allowed and steps are taken to prevent it. The are censored but
you know that when you go in. This is not a moderated list.
And, I think the list maintainer, Doug Brewer, would not be
interested in the extra work involved to make it so. Doug, by
the way, is the guy who stepped forward and volunteered to
maintain the list when Pentax decided to drop it, so you can
thank him for there even being a list anymore.
I have always wondered why some people think their objection to
what others are talking about is more "right" than what the
others are talking about. No one is forcing them to read the
thread. If you are not interested don't read it. Don't tell the
people that are into an earnest dialog that they should shut up.
I don''t like self appointed censors myself. But, I have
noticed that they have no objection to running long threads
about how wrong those other people are. When I had a newserver
up and running I checked this out. I found ten times as many
posts complaining about people wasting bandwidth with off topic
posts, than I found off topic posts.
Of course all of this is just my opinion, but not my humble
opinion <grin>,
--Tom
> "Eduardo Carone Costa Jr." wrote:
>
> Last week, after the opening of this month's PUG gallery, I
> uploaded some of my photos and asked if the members of this
> very fine group of Pentax Users would mind taking a look at
> them and telling me what is right or wrong about them and how
> I could try to improve them.
> the feedback I got was most kind, specially from Tom, who
> broadened my knowledge and comprehension of photography and
> JeffW. (whose e-mail seems to be out of order).
> Much to my amusement, my initial thread developed into a
> string of commentaries about the merits of cropping an image
> and the use of zoom lenses.
> These two subjects seem to be perfect exempla of never ending
> no wining battles. Of course both sides are correct and also
> incorrect about cropping and/or zooming. There simply isn't an
> indisputable truth... There's no use in keeping posting the
> same arguments over and over again.
> My guess is that if someone ventured into compiling all that
> was said about these skills he would get to a very precise
> guide to the situations and circumstances that demand the use
> of any of them.
> IMHO, what really matters when we choose to capture a nick of
> time with our Pentaxes is that we should be having fun; no
> matter if it's just a hobby that we've decided to take
> seriously or we earn our living from our images. The first and
> most important person to please with our photos is the one
> that was right behind the camera!...
> Photography is generally a lonesome art. Even when you are
> surrounded by people, you're the one That's really "calling
> the shoots", since you're the only one getting the
> viewfinder's perspective. What we should really be grateful
> for is to have the possibility to talk and listen to each
> other and try to get even better photos.
> What about moving on to another issue?... I'm sure we ---
> specially those who, like myself, are still learning --- would
> benefit from reading more experienced PDMLers discussion about
> other topics...
> Anyway, that's my humble opinion.
-
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