The Psychology of M8/M9 Ownership

[Jeff S]

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I am genuinely happy to see so many people still using and enjoying the M8 and M8.2 - but, be honest - it was, like the M3 and the subsequent M2 a work in progress rather than the finished article. I have tried to like the M8, honestly I have. I have fondled other peoples (ooer) and borrowed a couple, one for a weekend and another for over a week, but I have never had that warm fuzzy feeling you get when something just "fits". Ironically I now use my LTM, M and R glass on a GXR, so you can hardly say that I am anti-crop factor

 

The M8 just didn't suit you, is all. For others it suits just fine, and for them it isn't flawed or compromised.

 

After shooting 35mm, 8x10, 4x5, 6x6, 6x7, 6x4.5, and even more, the M8 framing is just another one of many ways to see for me and for a lot of others. And, many film users often or always used filters on their cameras, so that's no issue either for them.

 

The difference is that many of us don't have a mission to tell other people their cameras are flawed or compromised. I, for one, regularly extol the virtues of the M8.2...but for me and my style, not necessarily for anyone else.

 

To each their own, I say.

 

Jeff

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[lct]

With respect I think you're slightly missing the point here. Neither I nor Michali (in his post I referred to) are saying that everyone who complains must be a troll (see his post no. 62)...

Steve, as i said there was really nothing personal in my post. But the story of the same poster with two different names would need to be confirmed before anyone would think of insulting one of them on both. This is not the way i like the Leica Forum.

[stevelap]

Indeed, innocent until proven guilty.

 

(strong circumstantial evidence nonetheless;)).

[michali]

Steve, as i said there was really nothing personal in my post. But the story of the same poster with two different names would need to be confirmed before anyone would think of insulting one of them on both. This is not the way i like the Leica Forum.

 

I'm the author of post #17, please read my post carefully.....

I simply pointed out a similarity in the names of the posters and in the tone of the threads and asked the question "Could this just be a coincidence?"

 

No accusations or insults were made.

 

Thank you

[Paulus]

Has anyone else noticed the growing number of "I just bought an M8/M9 and I think it sucks" threads? Are there any psychologists on the forum that can shed some light on why someone would buy an expensive camera only to immediately denigrate it in public to the very group that supports it?

 

Is this buyer's remorse, or is there something else at work here?

 

Or are they just trolls who actually don't own the cameras they claim to?

 

 

 

People in this world tend to suffer. Everybody tries to cope with suffering in his own way.

One of the ( not so efficient ) methods trying to cope with suffering, is being addicted to something. People can be addicted to almost anything, big or small. Unhealthy addictions or minor ones ( for instance collecting something cheap like coins or stamps etc. ).

 

For some people unhealthy addictions can be to much - : drugs , money, sex, you name it ( buying new expensive camera gear in an impuls? ). The focus in this is to get rid of an unpleasant feeling. But being addicted to something implies also that the suffering comes back once the addicted has had " his kicks " .

 

IMO the complainer is suffering and he is trying to share his suffering in order to get what everybody wants to get in such a moment: recognition.

 

 

Only the problem for other forum members is, that it is difficult to see the complainer as a suffering being who only wants recognition, because in the process he is probably insulting the other forum member.

[Paulus]

Has anyone else noticed the growing number of "I just bought an M8/M9 and I think it sucks" threads? Are there any psychologists on the forum that can shed some light on why someone would buy an expensive camera only to immediately denigrate it in public to the very group that supports it?

 

Is this buyer's remorse, or is there something else at work here?

 

Or are they just trolls who actually don't own the cameras they claim to?

 

As for the so called trolls. I think we all can spot them quite easily. But maybe these people are also suffering and using this kind of behavior for an addiction.

[StephenPatterson]

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Returning to the OPs original question (and not that I am proficient in psychological behavoir) I think professionals refer to it as "online disinhibition effect" (Online disinhibition effect - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia).

 

Also found this article http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/20/health/psychology/20essa.html which quotes:

In a 2004 article in the journal CyberPsychology & Behavior, John Suler, a psychologist at Rider University in Lawrenceville, N.J., suggested that several psychological factors lead to online disinhibition: the anonymity of a Web pseudonym; invisibility to others; the time lag between sending an e-mail message and getting feedback; the exaggerated sense of self from being alone; and the lack of any online authority figure. Dr. Suler notes that disinhibition can be either benign — when a shy person feels free to open up online — or toxic, as in flaming.

 

Thanks for the info. I have taken this to heart and retired "Seafurydriver" in favor of...me.

[bill]

Nice to "meet" you Stephen. I know that there are people who don't use their real names on here for "professional" reasons and I understand and respect that but I think that otherwise it is important to "be yourself".

 

I have always used my real name here and see no reason not to do so. Equally, for the most part I'm not egocentric enough to expect people to be particularly interested in what I do for a living, what my family are like, where I live, how I was brought up, etc. unless it is directly relevant to the topic being discussed. For my part I really don't care to know about your life unless you feel it is germane for me to do so. Generally this works and boundaries are respected; there are a few who abuse it to try to score points but that is fortunately rare.

 

I don't post a photo, btw because I like you all too much to inflict that upon you

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[Paulus]

Thanks for the info. I have taken this to heart and retired "Seafurydriver" in favor of...me.

 

I'm sorry for that, I really liked the name: Seafurydriver, Stephen. My name just stays Paulus, because it is.

[StephenPatterson]

I'm sorry for that, I really liked the name: Seafurydriver, Stephen. My name just stays Paulus, because it is.

 

Seafurydriver was a name I used on a lot of aviation forums when I was flying warbirds and racing, but that was many years ago and is much different from my life today in China. I do miss flying fighters (my wife does not share this feeling), especially the Sea Fury, but I have lots of great memories. Unfortunately I have also lost several friends and colleagues, including one only this week.

 

Using my real name here allows me to focus on my love for all things Leica, as that is what we all have in common. Well, most of us...

 

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[Double Negative]

I envy you, Stephen. I'd kill to fly one of those bad boys. My favorite was always the Corsair.

[StephenPatterson]

I envy you, Stephen. I'd kill to fly one of those bad boys. My favorite was always the Corsair.

 

Corsairs are for girls...

[Double Negative]

Corsairs are for girls...

 

LOL! Hey, watching "Baa Baa Black Sheep" as a kid, I just liked how they looked.

[ddp]

From other forums and some people I know personally - I think there are some who are seeking that silver bullet camera / lens / system which will elevate their photography to a new level. I'm sure we've all thought at one time or another "If only I had that lens for this shot", but there are some that simply must have the newest, the most expensive or the most exotic to satisfy that urge & curiosity. When things don't align as they expected, it's a setup for epic disappointment. As noted previously in this thread, it's common on the car forums as well.

 

I just want the camera I use to be dependable and capable for the work I am doing.

[jdlaing]

LOL! Hey, watching "Baa Baa Black Sheep" as a kid, I just liked how they looked.

 

As a kid?

 

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

 

Okay.

Those were Corsairs.

[Double Negative]

As a kid?

 

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

 

Okay.

Those were Corsairs.

 

Does that make me... Old? Or a young'un?

 

I still fondly remember such classics as Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, Three's Company... Ahh, those 70s and 80s I tell ya.

[biglouis]

Stephen

 

Fantastic picture. I had to Wiki the Sea Fury. With that eliptical wing I'd assumed it was a variant of the Spitfire but Wiki put me right. Amazing aircraft. Maybe you should keep the name and add a signature with your real name?

 

LouisB

[jdlaing]

Does that make me... Old? Or a young'un?

 

I still fondly remember such classics as Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, Three's Company... Ahh, those 70s and 80s I tell ya.

 

Old. Like the rest of us "Old men from the time before computers"

 

Some of us before calculators even.........

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[Paulus]

Seafurydriver was a name I used on a lot of aviation forums when I was flying warbirds and racing, but that was many years ago and is much different from my life today in China. I do miss flying fighters (my wife does not share this feeling), especially the Sea Fury, but I have lots of great memories. Unfortunately I have also lost several friends and colleagues, including one only this week.

 

Using my real name here allows me to focus on my love for all things Leica, as that is what we all have in common. Well, most of us...

 

[ATTACH]310153[/ATTACH]

 

I had a feeling it was something fantastic! But I understand your choice now.

[Double Negative]

Old. Like the rest of us "Old men from the time before computers"

 

Some of us before calculators even.........

 

I was afraid you'd say that.

 

Indeed, my childhood didn't have microwaves, cassettes, VCRs or digital anything let alone remote controls. "Playing" meant going outside in the dirt or riding my bike. Heh. Wouldn't trade it for the world.