Re: Leica M Edition 60 - Your opinion

[jaapv]

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May I remind (some) members of the following.

There have been several posts and posters sailing very close to the wind, even crossing the line.

Please restrain yourself.

What the Leica Forum is for

 

This is the Leica Forum. Leica is its primary theme.

 

Subjects include Leica products, Leica photos, the Leica Camera company. It’s for everyone with an interest in Leica.

 

Anyone who is interested in Leica can inform themselves here and interact with others.

 

This is a meeting place for people from all over the world who enjoy and take an interest in Leica. Purely factual information is important but so is passion and contact with other enthusiasts. A balance has to be struck so that everyone can feel at ease.

 

Everyone is welcome, as long as they show respect for other members, their opinions and the forum rules.

 

Mutual respect is the most important requirement, so that people from different backgrounds, religion and ideology can interact.

 

The rules of the forum exist to facilitate interaction by laying down how we should behave towards each other as well as the technical and legal rules. If you don’t respect the rules of the game, you can’t play.

 

Criticism is explicitly welcomed, as long as it remains objective and does not become an end in itself.

 

There is probably nowhere on the planet where so much and such harsh criticism of Leica is expressed. There is nothing wrong with that.

 

There are, however, limits. Unsubstantiated or defamatory criticism has no place here any more than do the same points repeated over and over again like a mantra.

 

The same goes when it comes to criticising photos. It takes a certain courage to put forward one’s pictures for open discussion.

 

If you don’t like a photo, there’s nothing wrong with offering constructive criticism. What we won’t put up with are derogatory, insulting and disparaging comments.

 

When you post your contribution, please bear in mind that the person you are addressing doesn’t know you or your tone of voice, your gestures or the expression on your face, and may not share your sense of humour. Misunderstandings cannot be 100% avoided but we must all try not to offend the other person. Saying “no offence meant” or that it was just a joke doesn’t help if the other person has taken it the wrong way.

 

What the forum is not for

 

This isn’t the place for those who think that Leica, Leica products and Leica customers are inadequate, deceitful or stupid.

 

Some members, apparently, use the forum exclusively to express the same criticisms again and again, spoiling for others the enjoyment of their hobby.

 

This isn’t a forum for sycophants and fanboys but neither is it a Leica-bashing community. No-one in the Leica forum should ever have to justify their purchase of a Leica product or their enjoyment of it.

 

This isn’t the place for proselytising

 

No matter whether it’s political, religious or ideological, or concerns a specific brand (though with Leica we are more tolerant), anyone who seeks to impose their “truth” on others, should please do so elsewhere. They are excluded so that our forum can operate as a mixture of different people with a variety of religious, ideological and political convictions.

 

No more political, ideological or religious discussion

 

Café Leitz was set up at the end of 2011 as a place for off-topic discussions. Lately it has become, unfortunately, a place for regulars to air subjects which have nothing to do with Leica or photography (OK, off-topic) but do have maximum potential for stirring up trouble. And that is not OK.

 

The conflicts and animosities in Café Leitz are spreading to other parts of the forum. That is why, with immediate effect, we are going to close and remove discussions of that kind in Café Leitz and elsewhere. Our decision will appear subjective but it is based on our experience as a moderator and on what is best for the forum.

 

Unpleasant facts (not really)

In conclusion, some information about my role as administrator of the forum.

 

This forum is a commercial undertaking.

 

With 15,000 visitors daily, this forum cannot be managed as a hobby. After a long period of muddling through I have made this forum my main job and I make my living from it.

 

It takes a lot of work and it costs money, so I don’t feel guilty about making money from it.

 

The good news is that I enjoy doing it and, as the Leica forum now generates a large proportion of my income, I have a fundamental interest in keeping the shop going. You can rely, therefore, on its continuing.

 

This forum is not a democracy.

 

That sounds bad but it needs saying once in a while. As administrator I bear, more or less on my own, the technical, legal and financial responsibility for the forum. I am happy to accept that but I can only do so if I am free to make decisions.

 

Now for the good news. I value my customers and will do my best to help you feel good about being here. To that end I will always consult you but, ultimately, I alone will make the decisions, to ensure that due regard is had to every aspect of the matter (e.g. technical, legal and financial).

 

Andreas Jürgensen

Admin & Owner