MIKE GALLAGHER Loc: New Zealand

Just so you all know. . .
GinaP asked for advice on improving her photo and plenty of good advice was being offered. Then "cthahn" chipped in with a supercilious and nasty message to her. I replied to him/her pretty bluntly because I tripped over him yesterday and consequently read his history - one question and sixteen pages of his replies of a like nature, no contributions (not that that matters) and no helpful advice. So I sent the following Personal Message:

cthahn - if you offend me one more time by venting your customary vitriol on anyone where I happen to read it I will be asking others to support me in having you banned from The Ugly Hedgehog.
Mike Gallagher.

He replied by PM, displaying his usual attitude to all those the Ugly Hedgehog exists for:

If it is too hot in the kitchen, get out. I tell the way it is.
I have never read so many stupid titles, questions expecting to get answers when they do not read their manuals, and do not know anything about the basics of photography. All everyone worries about now are super zooms, more pixels, and full frame. Buy an expensive camera and now you are a photographer. Buy photoshop and never learn how to use. Elements is for dummies. I use a D200, D70IR, no zoom lenses, all raw, exposure meter, and elements. I have doing photography for 60 years, and learned a few things, not everything, by taking many classes and have a good understanding of the basics which not many do not know..
If you do not like what I write to others, that really is not your business.

(End of message)
Why, considering his disdain for novices, and lack of pleasure in what he sees here (his 16 pages of replies makes that plain) does he bother prowling our pages?
Mike.

LLucas Loc: Upstate South Carolina, USA

I suspect this is generational. He states that he's been "doing photography for 60 years," which is old school. Most of the nasty comments on here come from the older generation of white men who wish things were still the way they were in 1958 when "they were on top." A lot has changed (just in the last 20 years) and maybe it's hard to adjust and not feel left behind.
I also wonder if that generation forgot the pure thrill of learning this new skill and creating art of their own for the first time. Why else be so condescending to the new, young artists? After doing something for a LIFETIME, do you think he lost some of the magic? Didn't he have mentors when he was starting out? Didn't he ask a few stupid question, or have a lazy moment when he didn't want to look up the answer himself? The difference is, his mentor was likely a human in front of him, in a private setting- not on an on-line forum where every Tom, Dick and Harry could chime in.
Not everyone has the heart of a teacher. Not everyone has the patience to be a mentor. And not everyone has the kindness in their heart to be polite and respectful to strangers. But even their voices deserve to be heard on this forum, no matter how ugly the attitude...
(It was noble of you to stand up for GinaP. Thanks!)

MIKE GALLAGHER Loc: New Zealand

LLucas - you and Gina are most welcome.
Mike

oldmalky Loc: West Midlands,England.

So you know how we think and we are racist or is it just you.

LLucas Loc: Upstate South Carolina, USA

Racist? I said nothing about race. At all. This is about age and generational elitism.
(Why are y'all old folks so DEFENSIVE?)
I don't claim to know how you think, hence my use of terms such as "I suspect," "do you think," "I think," "maybe," etc...
Jeez.

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

oldmalky, I think Llucas must be a young black man, since "we" are old white men. I wonder why he has to divide us up into genders and races. I guess, as you imply, his racism has be encroached upon. Sad.

LLucas Loc: Upstate South Carolina, USA

No, no, no- you misunderstand.
The original intent was to try to understand why this retired guy in the UK who's been doing photography for 60 years is so mean and condescending to the inexperienced artists.
My "guess" was it's because he's old school- did you read my original post? That it is a generational thing: patience/politeness seems to decrease with age. Why is that?? I'd love for you to all prove me wrong- believe me!!
Oh, and I understand now why you brought up racism- because I said "old, white men..." I'm sorry. That was not revelant or appropriate.

RixPix Loc: Miami, Florida

Brother, you have just described 95% of the people who post on this forum.

RixPix Loc: Miami, Florida

Well, you may be right in assuming the age of the white man being in charge is nearing its end on a global basis.

Bangee5 Loc: Louisiana

I was right there with you until I got to your remark about "old white men". Yeah, I am old school also. Took a lot of great pictures with my 35mm film camera. Had two or three at one time. Done my own dark room as well and I knew what I was doing. Time has changed. I now own proudly a Canon D60. It is new to me but what I learned years ago is still with me. The love is still there. It has nothing to do with being old or being white. This guy is just a cranky person who thinks he knows it all is better than others. One day, you will be were we are now. I hope you get rid of that smart ass attitude before you get there or some one might say it is because you are just an old white man. I hope that I did not offend you with that 'smart-ass' remark. My apology.

Macromad Loc: New Zealand

Ok. I Have just gone exploring the various comments made by this person and Yes some can be construed as very impolite, abusive and harsh. The only thing I can say in this persons favour at all is that it is true that many new photographers do not read there manuals or do enough research into photography and learn how to take a good picture and use their equipment to the max.
regards to some of the replies and misunderstandings of other peoples comments regards race : I used to play the Irish drum (Bodhron or Bowron). If I played in an Irish pub I would be asked what an Englishmen was doing playing this, in an English pub I would be asked what I was doing playing Irish music.
I had a standard reply I used in these cases, Yes I was born in England but more importantly I was born a member of the HUMAN RACE, what planet did they come from. I do not judge anyman by race or the colour of their skin, nore any race by the actions of the few.

venturer9 Loc: Newton, Il.

Although I have been into Photography since the mid 50's "Brownie Hawkeye" I think was the name of my first camera. And for the most part involve myself in the process for my own fun and to have somewhat of a Visual History of my live since I was about 14yrs old (60 years ago) I, as a general rule, still expect, and get, a polite reply if I ask a Question. My newest Camera did not have a users manual when I bought it.... so I may have a question here one day and I would expect if I said... I would like to know.......???? that I would get an answer that says "try this, I think it would work. Why would I expect anything different..

After reading the bit above about cthahn I would in my own mind classify him in two sentences.
1) he may have never had a camera in his hand, and if he has one it is probably an old plastic one.
2) he may be one of those that we have all met from time to time... a dirty old man who has nothing else to do except do his best to make others miserable.....

Mike

venturer9 Loc: Newton, Il.

By the way,,,,, just as a matter of fact not BRAG..lol from November 1957 until July of 1958 I worked in the Photo lab in the Headquarters (at that time) of the NASA Photography section. I loaded and processed 70mm film into continuous developing machines and Set up, exposed, printed and Developed images as large as 4 feet by 8 feet and some are still on the walls of the old headquarters building...

I did not take these images, just processed and printed them as needed.

I enjoyed it and especially meeting lots of the Photographers that NASA employed at that time..

Mike

Samuraiz Loc: Central Florida

Sometimes I wonder why we have become so Freudian.

A miserable old bastard is just that. Nothing more nothing less.

:D

magicray Loc: Tampa Bay, Florida

Mike, I heard a rumor that cthahn is JR1's father. That would explain it all. :lol: Oh, I'm watching Inspector Morse as I type. Great show. Love it. Thanks for the tip! :thumbup: