XPost: rec.photo.digital 
 From: alan.browne@FreeLunchVideotron.ca 
  
 ECM wrote: 
  
 >>There are consumer, prosumer and professional models of DSLRs. 
 >>Rangefinders are used by photographers with a wide degree of different 
 > 
 > I disagree that the type of equipment one owns is a measure of 
 > photographic ability - it's more a measure of enthusiasm and excess 
 > wealth. 
  
 Like anything, if somebody is of limited abilty or initiative, 
 then having equipment beyond that level is of no use;  if one has 
 the ability and the initiative then the equipment is neccesary to 
 achieve results.  Are there people who have more camera gear than 
 their ability?  Sure. 
  
 In the rpe35mm group, for example, there is a fair range of 
 ability and a fair range of equipment types represented.  That 
 the ability and the eqt. types do not correlate 100% is just 
 human nature at work... 
  
 > 
 > My experience with newbie groups has been generally positive - a few 
 > experienced users lurking around, who actually WANT to be helpful, 
 > rather than a bunch of old hats who just want to talk to each other. 
 > It makes a big difference to the tone of the discussion. 
  
 rpe35mm has always been both.  A place where people come to 
 learn, share and help.  rpd has much of that, but given the high 
 volume of traffic, it is difficult to follow, never mind even 
 read all of the headers. 
  
 > It would be nice if that learning/teaching would occur. However, often 
 > the welcome for newbies is overtly hostile, "take your kiddie stuff 
 > elsewhere". 
  
 There is none of that in rpe35mm, in rpd I'm sure it is minimal 
 if at all present. 
  
 > I still think that different names should be considered (not that I'm 
 > doing any better picking names....), something that a newbie or tyro 
 > could recognize and say "oh yeah, I belong THERE". There's going to be 
 > a lot of confused cross-posting and off-topic stuff if people don't 
 > understand the names of the groups. Or, they'll just ignore the new 
 > groups and continue to post to the parent group. 
  
 Simplicity is always best.  IAC I have little concern that the 
 proposed groups won't settle down into their roles, appropriately. 
  
 -- 
 -- rec.photo.equipment.35mm user resource: 
 -- http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm 
 -- e-meil: there's no such thing as a FreeLunch.-- 
  
 --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05 
  * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)