Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/10/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Since a few months the Lug has changed beyond recognition. The Lug used to discuss topics related to the history, technique and use of Leica equipment. Now it is a forum for Leica users to discuss any topic that may catch the imagination of two or three persons. This is a fundamental shift of perspective: no longer is the Leica product the focus of attention, but the Leica user gets the attention. This shift explains the recent personalization of messages, the ever broadening of themes (from Iwo Jima to child murderers), the personal attacks and exchange of insults, and the sometimes exponential explosion of messages by the same person. Why is this happening? My own view is this: as a group we have some experience with and some knowledge about the Leica products. In the last couple of years we have exchanged all of this and now we are in the stage of repeating ourselves. There is a limit of what can be discussed about Leica in a substantial way , given that it is the same group of people who are talking. By now we know that the R-19 is a good lens, that the the 70-180 is OK and that the Canadians designed great lenses. So it is natural that the group shifts attention to new topics. Leica is out of the question as we have told everything we know and this is boring stuff. or so it seems. The learning capacity is also limited. See the greycard discussion. The lug community then will survive as a group of people that happen to own Leica equipment and prefers to discuss every topic that is interesting to a small segment of the group. I would prefer to refocus on the Leica product area, but that seems impossible in the current climate. As one contributor remarked:anyone daring to ask a real Leica related question will be overlooked. Still I am convinced that Leica as a fascinating product and a superb photographic tool merits a passionate attention and I am sure we all need to know much more of this product and the technique to exploit its potential and enjoy the use of it. I am afraid the Lug climate is contaminated. As a StarTrek fan I would say: let us recalibrate our sensors and do a new scan. We may be surprised to note what is out there. Erwin