Re: Picking on Dr. T

[P3D <PTWW@xxxxxxx>]

Grant Campos writes:

>I suppose if Dr. T were to say one day that he loved his mom
>and the next day said he loved his father, Paul would probably say,
>"Well, what is it?? Do you love your father or your mother!! Huh??"

This is an exciting day!  Thanks, Grant, for giving me the opportunity
to join the good Dr. in the exclusive circle of contributing members
who have had cause to post a "personality clarification" memo! ;)

As Gabriel quickly pointed out, Grant's well-intentioned analogy may be
a little off the mark.  I would restate it as follows:  If Dr. T had
spent the past three years proclaiming that Mother's Day is the only
holiday all year that is worth celebrating, then informed us around
June 1 this year that he had sold all his stereo photo equipment and
his mother's most precious jewelry to throw the world's biggest party
for his Dad on Father's Day, I would almost surely neDDDle him about
his remarkable change of heart.

I have enjoyed and appreciated the plethora of valuable postings that
the esteemed Dr. George Themelis has contributed to this forum, as most
of us have; I have also conveyed these feelings to him off-list.  George
has many valuable insights, an extraordinary depth (pun not intended) of
knowledge, and an astonishing ability to make them available to the
group.  (My posts the past several days seem to have almost completely
consumed my 20 waking hours per day--OK, I do exaggerate somewhat; I did
squeeze in a few other activities--, yet I have come nowhere close to
the good Dr's quantity of contributions.)

It is my impression from reading the digests, however, that Dr. T is
a strongly opionionated individual, at least with regard to stereo
photography.  (I don't think George will need to issue a rebuttal to
that statement.)  I am quite the opposite (which probably can be
determined from an extremely careful reading of my posts, but could
understandably be missed).  If I used the fingers of both hands to count
the perfs on Dr T's surgically altered Realist, I would still have
enough available to count off the number of issues I have encountered
in my life that arouse passionate idealogical feelings in me.  And I
would probably have to reserve one of those counters for this: there are
very good explanations behind many arguments on each side of almost every
issue; otherwise, it wouldn't be an issue!  Therefore, it concerns me
when opinions are expressed in a "tone" or manner that implies all
alternative views fall somewhere between clearly inferior and worthless.
When someone who has previously expressed an opinion in such a manner
suddenly does an about face, I have two reactions. First, like Gabriel,
I am delighted that the individual has been blessed with a newfound
appreciation for the benefits of multiple perspectives.  Second, if the
individual appears to be an eminently likeable and good natured chap,
I find a little jovial ribbing wholly in order.  (And I do my best to
suppress any mean-spirited urges if the about-face was by a generally
distasteful type.)

Dr T might respond to the above that his expressions of opinions have
never carried a tone of superiority.  If that is his belief, I humbly
beg his forgiveness for my misreading...which, as Grant points out, is
an ever-present danger in this world of electronic communication.

Also, beause I usually see validity in the arguments on mutliple sides
of most issues, I enormously enjoy playing "devil's advocate."  So I
confess to being easily seduced by the tempation to challenge various
Dr. T proclamations!

>Just because I now have a Realist, and can be all enthused about it's
>plusses, doesn't mean I can't still feel excited about my Nimslo.

I agree 100%!  But if Grant had spent several years telling the group
that the Nimslo was the best camera for virtually every person in
virtually every situation, he would probably notice some neDDDling
about his change of heart headed his way also!

My apologies to the list for being so long winded...but a good wind
can sometimes help clear the air!

Paul Talbot, aka The NeDDDler, also hoping his jealousy of Dr T's 7-P
             Realist is not too obvious!


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