<snip>
> From your email, I take it that an opinion isn't
> worth listening to, so why
> bother having this list?
Ian, I will step in a minute and defend Bob. The list
is INTERACTIVE, and as such, one gets a feel for who
is credible and who is not. I really believe it's
easier to make a judgement like that if you follow a
mailing list over a period of time.
You can develop a feel for who shoots in a similar
style to your own, the web really doesn't allow this.
The neatest thing about this list is the individuals
that have emailed me OFF the list about certain posts.
That has led to some real friendships, and at times,
interesting but civil arguments. I don't think the Web
surveys cultivate that kind of thing as well. MHO.
> Are you going to get better
> statistical validity by walking up to a Nikon user
> or someone that's never used
> a camera and asking what they think about a Canon
> product?
One can rest reasonably assured, most of the time,
that someone who uses this list is an EOS user whose
opinion means a little more than that of someone
plucked off the web. Again, MHO.
> This site mentions the person's experience (i.e.,
> "Semi-pro, 10-years
> experience in landscape . . ."). You can usually
> tell if the person knows what
> they are talking about or not.
That's a little easier if you read his posts and the
rest of the list's followups to it in an open forum
like this. Certain people establish a "track record"
for themselves. That being said, not everything here
is gold, but I really appreciate it when the likes of
a Dave Herzstein or Henry Posner points out a gap in
my understanding. It's WAY better than trusting the
off the rack, run of the mill camera salesman.
> AND generally if most of the comments are
> favorable, you're going to do alright.
That being said, lots of people buy McDonalds
hamburgers. :-)
> Also, the
> site lists "other equipment
> used" so they DO in fact have objective criteria in
> most cases.
"Objective" to me, means scientifically conducted,
quantitative test results.
> Not to
> mention, I don't think too many folks are going to
> go write a review on an SLR
> lens having only used disposable cameras.
Prove that... ;-)
(In this list, have there been many newbies that
haven't come right out and admitted it? And wouldn't
you know, these folks start some of the best threads!)
> All said and done, I was just giving another
> resource for forming ones own
> opinion on a product based on the experience of
> other users.
For my time, I think mailing lists work better,
because the answers aren't coming out of left field.
If you really follow the list you get to know the
people involved and get a feel for what they know. The
return on time invested really pays off.
MadMat
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