Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/10/17

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Subject: [Leica] Re: FOMing at the mouth
From: "Roger Beamon" <roger@beamon.org>
Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2000 07:11:19 -0700

On 17 Oct 2000, Dave Fisher wrote, at least in part:

> Roger, you say that *if* it is compared to FOM, all the better. I
> say it will inevitably be compared or contrasted to the original.
> Perhaps I am being a wet blanket here, but as I noted to another
> LUGger privately, if I was to start buying up old Japanese
> rangefinder cameras at flea markets and touched them up and
> without permission started passing them off to the public as Leica
> M8s, there would be subscribers here who would go ballistic. Can
> you honestly tell me I'm wrong? Should I tell them to hitch up
> their skirts and accept it?
> 
> The concept is inspired.
> The execution may well be brilliant.
> But the title, yeeecccchhh!

Er...yes, you are being a wet blanket, Dave.  ;-)

That said, let's assume that comparison is inevitable. I don't see 
the problem. If we do well in the comparison, fine. If we do 
poorly in the comparison, then we check our hemline and go on, 
having learned something for our efforts. 

I can't see trying to avoid the comparison by using a title that 
would not raise the antenna of the comparison crowd. If I were 
reviewing a book that had a given title and recognized it for 
what it was, I'd say right off something like, "This book is 
obviously an extension or update of the legendary ..."  
Voila! Comparison!

Your camera analogy is full of holes and doesn't fit the issue. 
We don't need no steeenkin' permission and we're not 
attempting to obscure anything. This would be a forthright & 
honest attempt to enlarge on and update a great work.  Let's 
admit it upfront and get on with it!

The content will determine our success or failure. The title is 
only a pointer to the potential viewers and readers.

- --
Roger, List-Owner
The LEG (Leica Enthusiasts Mailing List)
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