On cheerleading

[Doug Brewer]

It's getting damned tiresome going through my email and getting the feeling 
that since I, as an unapologetic fan of Pentax and Pentax gear, appear to 
be unwelcome on the PDML. It is now, I notice, become fashionably 
oh-so-clever to refer to Pentax fans as cheerleaders, in a pejorative 
sense. Isn't that fun?

But you know what? Kiss my ass. Enjoying my Pentax gear, and reading about 
others who enjoy theirs, is just as valid a use for this list as the 
constant whining and grinding negatism pouring from the fingers of those 
among us who apparently feel the need to worry about what other people use 
to take photographs.

So you use another camera brand. I couldn't care less. Why do you spend 
your time and energy worrying about what I use? Why do you feel the need to 
insult me because I use a brand you don't like? Are you really that pathetic?

Are you angry at Pentax? Fine. Sell your Pentaxes, get another camera, and 
get the hell over it. Just stop shouting at me because I haven't mustered 
up enough outrage to suit you. If you feel personally insulted by business 
decisions made by a camera manufacturer, I suggest you get out of 
photography and go find some actual issues to occupy your time.

I know someone is going to accuse me of trying to censor the list, or that 
I'm too sensitive, or that I can't stand criticism of Pentax. Bullshit. 
Valid criticism is fine. I've engaged in it myself. Anyone who knows me can 
tell you I'm hardly sensitive. And you know I don't censor the list.

All I ask is that you give me a break. If you don't like Pentax, that's 
cool with me. Just get off my back if I say I like it.