Digital BW, The Print

>>> This list is begining to sound more and more like the other 
lists. Too bad really, I always hoped it would not deteriorate to 
this point. Now Bergh is weighing in and ragging on Roark.  I 
received an email from Bill this morning, he agrees that he got a bit 
out of hand and I think he regrets posting the way he did.<<<<

I've debated with myself about weighing in on this thread because I 
haven't been sure what the outcome should be.

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR...

We certainly don't want this to turn into some kind of religious war 
over what is the best way to print BW. And we don't want to 
discourage open discussion, especially on sensitive subjects...these 
are sensitive because they affect us all the most.

Bill touched on perhaps the most important observation...here we are 
in a tiny corner of the world of photography...the only people in the 
world who really care about digital BW printing...and we're having a 
flame war over which of two methods is the best while the other 98% 
are worrying about color or wet darkrooms or what have you.

Surely, there are members of this list who have a variety of feelings 
about Piezo...the technology and the company... Most feel positively 
(in fact most of us use the software, if not the inks), some do not 
and this is for many reasons from price to philosophy and service.

The first thing we should remember is that IJM is a business. Jon and 
his staff have the right to make business decisions and run their 
company as they see fit to survive and prosper (no one will benefit 
in this forum if he goes broke). Everyone may not like those 
decisions, but if you analyze them, it is a question of paying or not 
paying for what he offers.

I've read every post for the last four months or so, and I don't 
think Piezo or Jon have been treated unfairly here...rough 
occasionally, but both sides of a question were generally presented 
if the discussion went one way too much. 

I think it's great that Bill might drop in. Jon, too, for that 
matter. But if they do, they should expect their comments to be 
challenged with the same vigor as the rest of ours are (at least to 
the extent that they make assertions about which others might have 
opinions). If they have the time to add to our knowledge base, so 
much the better, but that is probably their secondary purpose to be 
here since they are busy running the shop. 

We've had a couple of other small bursts of personal criticisms creep 
into some threads lately as well. Hey, a little liveliness is great, 
but we always walk a fine line in public forums...the number of 
lurkers is always greater than the active participants and the growth 
and vigor of the forums (in my opinion) comes from the intellectual 
challenges that finally draw the newcomer to post and join in and add 
value to the community. So... While we want free speech, it is only 
good thinking to remember who is reading it... This is more than a 
chat session (I'm as guilty as anyone with the increasing number of 
OT posts that may be going too far...jeez, this is the best example?).

I'm personally benefited so much from the stimulation, information 
and personal help I've received in this forum that I would be 
extremely sad to see it start to unravel.

I don't have all the answers, but I just urge all of us to get back 
on the high road and engage in the very high level philosophical and 
technical discussions that have made this list so terrific.

Thanks for hearing me out if you've read this far.

Tom O'Connell

TomOC@...
www.thomasoconnell.com